Starting to get the hang of it - any advice appreciated

[dreadpirate]

Ok - three small cuts - but that was on the ATG pass. So I basically used the this wiki ref as a guide for how to hold the str8 for each pass:

http://wiki.badgerandblade.com/index.php/How_to_hold_a_Straight_Razor

and switched off hands; right hand for right side of my face, left hand for left side. In the center of my face, I preferred my right hand.

That seemed to work; I used a shallow angle being very conservative and not getting quite as close a shave as I want - but am still getting the feel of the razor so this is acceptable for now. Just used the DE to touch up. Also used hair conditioner as a preshave to soften up the beard, and Musgo Real w/ lanolin, which provides decent lubrication. Will use Proraso tomorrow, which I think is another good choice for a str8 novice.

I did not strop the razor today (strop is arriving today). I will carefully and thoroughly strop the razor tomorrow and go for a little closer a shave.

 

[johnmrson]

My advise would be to start with just a WTG pass first. Once you've got that under control, add an XTG pass and once comfortable with that, start adding the ATG pass. Good stropping is important to keeping your edge as shave ready as possible. Also, take your time and enjoy the experience.

 

[TstebinsB]

A razor must be especially keen for you to do ATG passes comfortably. That means besides proper technique, it must be properly honed and stropped. Many edges can cut hair WTG and XTG without a problem but will pull on ATG passes. Keep that in mind if you want to go ATG regularly.

 

[dreadpirate]

I am a strop flop!!! I have stopped this thing over and over an cannot pass the hanging hair test!!!

 

[DavyRay]

Did it pass the hanging hair test before you stropped it?

(Your avatar is a Johnny Depp character. Do not strop like Johnny. He did it wrong in Sweeny Todd.)

 

[Slash McCoy]

Ok - three small cuts - but that was on the ATG pass. So I basically used the this wiki ref as a guide for how to hold the str8 for each pass:

http://wiki.badgerandblade.com/index.php/How_to_hold_a_Straight_Razor

and switched off hands; right hand for right side of my face, left hand for left side. In the center of my face, I preferred my right hand.

That seemed to work; I used a shallow angle being very conservative and not getting quite as close a shave as I want - but am still getting the feel of the razor so this is acceptable for now. Just used the DE to touch up. Also used hair conditioner as a preshave to soften up the beard, and Musgo Real w/ lanolin, which provides decent lubrication. Will use Proraso tomorrow, which I think is another good choice for a str8 novice.

I did not strop the razor today (strop is arriving today). I will carefully and thoroughly strop the razor tomorrow and go for a little closer a shave.

For optimum results, you MUST strop before shaving. You will notice a big difference when you shave after a few dozen laps on the strop, assuming good stropping technique.

I also am with everyone else who reccomends only WTG for the first few shaves. A single pass is tempting fate quite enough while you are learning.

3 small cuts, considering everything, is decent results and much better than it could have gone.

 

[Luc]

I am a strop flop!!! I have stopped this thing over and over an cannot pass the hanging hair test!!!

Don't worry too much about that. I have very sharp and very shave ready straights that don't pass the HHT...

 

[dreadpirate]

Not sure if it passed HHT before; did not try until after I started stropping.

I did not see Sweeney Todd; did not even think about that! Hmmm.

Did it pass the hanging hair test before you stropped it?

(Your avatar is a Johnny Depp character. Do not strop like Johnny. He did it wrong in Sweeny Todd.)

 

[Freehand]

Neither of my Lynn honed Dovos will pass the HHT, but trust me....the blades are sharp and provide an extremely close shave.

I don't put much stock in the HHT anymore.

If it shaves good....it's sharp.

Freehand

 

[fccexpert]

The HHT is a parlor trick and tells you nothing about how well the razor will shave. The thumb pad test (if done correctly) is the best non-shaving test.

I would ignore the whole WTG, ATG, XTG stuff and just go with what seems natural to you.

You do need to strop the razor before shaving, this polishes the edge and greatly increases the comfort factor. A sharp razor will shave well without stropping, but it will not be the most comfortable (the edge will feel harsh).

If the razor pulls and does not give you a good shave with a single pass, it is not sharp enough. If it feels right but does not give a good shave it is probably technique. If it does not shave at all, but feels smooth, it was probably over honed.

 

[Munxcub]

I agree that the HHT is not a pass/fail type of test. And if you pass you'll have a great shaver.

BUT

With that said it can be a good indicator if you use the same hair source for your test. I know that I had a great shaving razor, it would pop the hairs from my wife's brush in the HHT.

I have another razor that does not pop the same hairs the same way (or at all) and it shaves poorly.

Much like body fat % it is not a quantitative measurement, it is more for showing trends in how well your honing is progressing.

Some like it, some don't. A pass or fail does not mean a great shave will happen or not, but it can be a useful tool if used properly.

IMHO, YMMV, etc, etc...

 

[rawface]

If you're new - forget about the hht. It won't mean anything for a while. at 6wks, I couldn't lop a hanging hair w/ a professionally honed blade from a shapton 30k - but a thumb pad test could easily turn into a rib cage test if I wasn't careful.

As you begin stropping, maybe practice w/ a couple sheets of newspaper. 'hard to describe how light the contact pressure is - just the weight of the blade. One excellent guy finally said it so it sunk into my rock hard head: Pressure is the enemy: in honing, stropping and shaving.