Razor keeps grabbing. What am I doing wrong?

[ccrowder]

So on my 4th attempt at straight shaving today. I keep having issues with the razor really grabbing and catching on hairs. This is mainly on the chin area but I do sense the grabbing even on the cheeks. It is just not as much an issue on the cheeks and other areas since I am on a good flat surface. My chin however is a totally different story. It just grabs from the start and at times feels like it is skipping/stuttering across my face (which does NOT feel good).

I have tried various lather consistencies (using AoS sandlewood soap) but didn't really see any change or improvement. I know the chin area tends to have thicker hair and have tried a shallower angle but it still just grabs and catches on every hair.

Does anyone have any suggestions?

 

[johnmrson]

The two things I can think of is either the blade angle is wrong or the blade is not shave ready.

 

[chess1]

The two things I can think of is either the blade angle is wrong or the blade is not shave ready.

exactly . Try to change angle and make small strokes see that helps. if doesn't help then problem is not shave ready blade.gl

 

[ccrowder]

Well I got the razor from Larry at whippeddog.com so it was shave ready. Unless I have completely destroyed the edge with my stropping (I have tried to be very careful on stropping) it has to be something else. I can keep fidgeting with the angle. A shorter stroke won't really help I think since it is grabbing the second it comes in contact with the skin.

 

[Brownbear]

Just a bit further along so this is an issue with me. Here is what I've found/think.

Provided your edge is suitably sharp and your prep is good grabbing and stuttering are common for beginners. As I've gotten more skilled most of that has magically gone away. Part of it is that your muscles will get better at those continual minuscule adjustments to changing conditions along your stroke. Not much help there but practice.

But at a higher level I've found that smaller, decisive strokes help around the chin and lips. Inertia is important and you tend to stall out so a series of overlapping advancing small strokes avoids stalling in the thickets.

Angle- be sure your angle is low when grabbing is a problem.

Stretching the skin- in some areas of my face the skin gets pushed up as the stroke advances, creating a bow wave that can create stuttering or a cut. More aggressive stretching helps there. The alum block my barber gave me really helps get a grip.

There is a kind of combination of light touch, delicacy and assertive firmness that develops and then the blade skims over the skin and through the whiskers much more smoothly. Hard to explain but it will come.

 

[Brownbear]

Just saw the responses when I posted so-

i destroyed the shave ready edge in about two weeks presumably from clumsy stropping and bad technique. It happens. After a month or so I traded my original razor for another newly honed one. By then I was better at stropping and shaving and it has been great. That is the great thing about Larry, you can trade for the cost of honing.

The other thing is that if it is grabbing as soon as the blade makes contact, and if the angle and edge are good, do you have enough momentum going before contact is made? If you are mostly making contact and then starting your stroke I found that it would catch and stutter.

 

[chess1]

Well I got the razor from Larry at whippeddog.com so it was shave ready. Unless I have completely destroyed the edge with my stropping (I have tried to be very careful on stropping) it has to be something else. I can keep fidgeting with the angle. A shorter stroke won't really help I think since it is grabbing the second it comes in contact with the skin.

I don't know who is Larry . you can hurt the edge with wrong stropping.May be you have been too careful. Just don't get scare put the blade on the strop and strop a little pressure wont hurt in your case except it may help. Keep strop tight. see what happens.

 

[riooso]

Everything they said. I have found also quite simply if your razor is about the width of the spine from your face and does not cut well with what you would consider "normal" pressure it is not shave ready.

When starting "catching" is a bit disconcerting but that is what will happen with bad technique.

Take Care,
Richard

 

[life2short1971]

I believe you may have dulled the edge from stropping. Either have it sharpened again or trade it for another with Larry. When you get it back don't strop it until you have shaved with it a couple times and see if there is a noticeable difference in the quality of shave before and after stropping. It takes the lightest touch when stropping not to roll the edge.

 

[Mink]

I'm on the learning curve as well and ran into something similar. I stopped doing a prep with my DE because I found it make my skin too sensitive. I now take extra time with prep on all the whiskers above and below my chin because they are much tougher. I found that on the first pass over the chin that I had much better luck using the heel end of the blade. The toe end is better for touch ups or hard to get areas if the whiskers aren't tough. Be careful of the toe though because it can bite you if you don't pay attention to it while shaving with the heel.

Oh, and one more thing. Proraso Pre/Post shave on that area before shaving really helps me too. I expect any pre-shave oil would give the same results.

 

[Brownbear]

Another thought- If you have rolled the edge and if you got the poor man's strop kit from Larry, try the balsa strop and then leather again. Maybe start with the iron side for a few licks, leather and shave. If that doesn't do it try the CrOx, leather and shave. This may not do it if you have done a lot of damage to the edge but it is worth trying. But I also recommend keeping at it and seeing if this problem just seems to abate with time.

 

[LarryAndro]

... I keep having issues with the razor really grabbing and catching on hairs. .. It just grabs from the start and at times feels like it is skipping/stuttering across my face...

You might have dulled the edge. But, even if it isn't as sharp as when you started, in all likelihood it is still sharp enough.

When you say things like grabs, catches, skips/stutters it is most likely that you are struggling with the beard reduction phase of shaving. I think this is the most difficult aspect of shaving.

The first thing to note is that grabbing and catching IS expected during the initial shaving WTG pass! That is normal. Unfortunately, both a sharp razor and a dull razor both grab and catch during this phase. But, again, for the time being we will assume the razor is sharp.

When your beard is long, before you have reduced its length to skin level, you can shave your first WTG pass with the razor laid flat or almost flat on your skin. It will catch and grab, and due to the diagonal angle you will be cutting the now laid over whiskers, you will have to use modest force pushing forward to cut thru the whiskers.

I recommend you relather and reshave WTG, as above, until the whiskers are reduced to skin level. After that, relather, and the rest of your shave will be with the blade at a higher angle.

But, let's back up a little. The beard reduction part of shaving is the most difficult. Why don't you shave down to stubble with a safety razor. Then, shave after that with a straight razor? Temporarily skip the most difficult part of shaving.

Every shave thereafter, shave with a safety razor, but leave a little more beard for the straight. Wean yourself off the safety razor.

Let us know how it goes.

 

[life2short1971]

Now thats good advice!

 

[gull]

+1 on skin stretching.

Also make sure your beard isn't too large. I would struggle too if I was shaving a few days worth of growth.

 

[SolingenPreferred]

I, too would first question the sharpness of the blade. Having said that, though, the two most important things are the softness of the beard and the sharpness of the blade. A sharp blade will normally pass through a well softened beard rather easily.

As to proper shaving technique, the barber books say to always start the stroke in the clean shaven area, and move into the beard. If that is done, there should not be any pulling, assuming the razor's angle and pressure are correct. A too light pressure can cause pulling if you are hitting the hairs slightly above the skin as opposed to right at the skin level. Not stretching the skin enough can also cause pulling.

The purpose of using the heel end of the razor whenever possible, is to not overuse the point, thus necessitating honing before the whole razor needs it. In addition, I believe using the heel for shaving the chin is a good idea as it gives more razor control for a straighter stroke in an area that tends to have the toughest whiskers. But do watch where the point is going, lest you get a nasty red surprise elsewhere.

Also, remember that unlike tennis and golf, there is never any follow through in a shaving stroke. It is always straight in, leading slightly with the point end of the razor, and straight back. If you have any follow through, the razor will pull as it lifts off of the skin and starts grabbing hairs above skin level.

I don't know how long most people shave with their razors before honing, but I would think two weeks would be the extreme outer limit unless you have mostly peach fuzz. Most barbers I knew honed after every shave or at least every other one. Now granted they may have been using a very fine hone like a Swaty, but I'm sure they would never go 14 shaves between honings.

Solingenpreferred

 

[ccrowder]

As to proper shaving technique, the barber books say to always start the stroke in the clean shaven area, and move into the beard.

The issue I might be having is in the chin area I don't have any clean shaven area to start. With whiskers directly below my lip I kind of have to start in the thick of it (so to speak).

 

[life2short1971]

If you don't your chances of a slice are very good especially atg. Trust me.

 

[ccrowder]

I took a look at my blade today with a loupe and did notice I have four really small nicks in the edge. Is this normal for a newbie and stropping mistakes or should I send it in to get rehoned? Feel lame sending it in after only four shaves but want to make sure I am using a good blade to learn with.

 

[life2short1971]

It happened to most of us. I know I made it about a week before my blade needed attention.Don't feel bad its all part of learning.

 

[dakotaev]

It should take a few more shaves before you get it down, it will come naturally, all of the advice here helps but it comes down to experience and time. Just take it slowly, you'll have to put up with the discomfort and bad shaves for awhile, but given enough time it will click and you will solve the problem areas. The chin is difficult for most beginners. Good luck!