This is really hard. Third shave ... neck looks like mince meat.

[Ikaponthus]

One thing I've noticed is that none of the guys in the videos I watch seem to have a beard as thick as mine. Is it unrealistic for a heavily bearded man to aim for a smooth shave with a straight razor? I realise that "back in the day" everyone shaved with a straight. But maybe the guys with really thick beards just never got a good shave. Either that or they just grew a huge beard (as was also a fashion).

I know there's a steep learning curve. I'm not giving up. Just a progress report if anything. I know it takes about 100 shaves before you really know what you're doing, and just three shaves is nothing at all. Having said that, just for motivation's sake, I want to know that it is actually possible for me to get a great shave with a straight, and I'm not putting all this effort in if I'll never get more than mediocre results just due to my beard genes.

I find it's still very difficult to shave, especially with "no pressure", as the blade just catches on the hair. I have to apply some pressure to get it shaving.

The cheeks are the easiest bits. I can shave them no worries - and can even get them pretty smooth. The worst bit is my neck. It ends up red and raw and with a very, very average shave. About comparable to a bad electric shave, but also looking like mince meat underneath. Part of the problem is that the blade just feels too large and unwieldy to get neatly into the nooks and contours around my neck: there's just so many places where it feels almost impossible to keep the razor at a flat angle, and I need to make the angle a bit more aggressive just to get at the hair. In addition to that, the hair swirls a bit on my neck, so it's very difficult to keep it WTG (edit! typo!). Lastly, to top it all off, I think my neck is just much more sensitive to razor burn.

BTW, I did get my razor properly honed. It feels sharper, but the difference isn't mind-blowing. I'm sure the honemeister did a great job, and he was very helpful when I picked it up, showing me some tricks and tips to perfect my stropping technique (thanks mate!). The razor was just very sharp to begin with.

My pre-shave prep goes like this: Splash hot water on my face. Get all my shaving gear ready while I let the water absorb. Splash more hot water on my face. Rub in Proraso pre-shave balm. Splash more hot water on my face. Lather up a really thick lather (takes a few minutes as the Proraso is absorbed). Splash more hot water and apply lather in a circular motion. After my shave, I rub in Proraso pre-shave balm again (apparently it can be used as an after-shave balm as well) and splash with Proraso aftershave lotion (that hurts).

 

[hig789]

I have a pretty thick beard too and I like the heft of bigger blades. They seem to glad through with their own weight. How big is the razor you are using? You might need to step up to a heavier one. Just MO though.

 

[Bk124tt]

I am curious to watch the responses as they come in. I am in the same boat as you regarding swirling next hair making a wtg or any other pass kind of impossible thus creating the minced meat neck syndrome.As you are, I will also keep pressing on!

 

[Tkocloser]

Technique takes time to develop but one quick fix can be summed up in two words: shave prep. This link changed my shaves for the better and hopefully will help you as well.

http://badgerandblade.com/vb/showthread.php/195371-Topgumby-s-New-Shaver-Two-Minute-Lather-Challenge

 

[Haggises]

In addition to that, the hair swirls a bit on my neck, so it's very difficult to keep it ATG.

I may know diddly about straight razor shaving, but shouldn't your goal to be as much WTG as possible right now?

 

[paco664]

the "no pressure" just means no pressure against the skin.............. you still need to make a "firm" pass .. in other words... don't let the razor flop around in your fingers... thats what causing the mince meat.. the razor is skipping and bouncing and when it does.... weepers/nicks..... hold the razor a bit firmer and make careful SMALL/SHORT strokes....

give me a few mins and i will post you a video of how to do it....

 

[paco664]

boy they picked a helluva shot for the screen cap.....

 

[Ikaponthus]

I may know diddly about straight razor shaving, but shouldn't your goal to be as much WTG as possible right now?

Sorry, that's exactly what I meant! ATG was a typo.

Gaysus ... against the grain. That would rip my face off. No, I'm talking WTG. I will edit the original post.

 

[Ikaponthus]

@Paco64:

Thanks for the advice and the video (you didn't make that video just for this thread, did you?). It was helpful anyway.

You are correct, I had been holding the razor quite loosely and trying to shave using the least amount of force possible. I will try and modify that next time to "least amount of force against the skin possible". I'll put a bit more muscle into it in the "downwards" direction against the hair, and be a bit more authoritative and confident with the strokes.

 

[Ikaponthus]

Technique takes time to develop but one quick fix can be summed up in two words: shave prep. This link changed my shaves for the better and hopefully will help you as well.

http://badgerandblade.com/vb/showthread.php/195371-Topgumby-s-New-Shaver-Two-Minute-Lather-Challenge

Did my prep not sound sufficient to you?

 

[paco664]

@Paco64:

Thanks for the advice and the video (you didn't make that video just for this thread, did you?). It was helpful anyway.

You are correct, I had been holding the razor quite loosely and trying to shave using the least amount of force possible. I will try and modify that next time to "least amount of force against the skin possible". I'll put a bit more muscle into it in the "downwards" direction against the hair, and be a bit more authoritative and confident with the strokes.

yes.. i made it just for this thread ... sometimes its better to see than to read....

i hope this helps you...

 

[Doc226]

Paco you missed a spot-LOL

 

[KindestCutofAll]

Ok here's my $0.02.

I started SR shaving just over a year ago. I had the same experience as you. My beard is very tough also. I average 2 shaves with reputable DE blades before it reminds me to replace it.

I have too many straights, and find that heavier blades don't make as much of a difference as the width of the blade. My 13/16 Friodur shaves as good as my Wade & Butcher meat cleaver.

All things being equal, if you are satisfied that your blade is sharp, then it is most likely technique.

When first learning to shave with a SR don't try to get a BBS shave around the neck. That will come with time and experience. You might add an inexpensive Gillette DE for cleanup around the neck until you feel that your technique transitions to muscle memory.

When I started, I needed repetition to train my hand to follow the curves of my neck and adjust to my beard angle.

Starting out I thought I was using a light touch, but found that my attempts at the elusive BBS shave were causing me to take too many passes, increasing pressure ever so litely with each pass.

Also try switching hands. When I finally gave in and started using both hands it made a world of difference.

And finally your prep sounds fine but these are my most successful SR steps (YMMV):

1. Hot / Warm shower.
2. Shampoo and conditioner on face (let conditioner stay on until just before you get out of the shower).
3. Hot towel.
4. Cold (not Icy) Uberlather (C.O. Bigelow is my preference mixed with a little Noxema and 5 drops of Glycerin).
5. Leave the lather on your face while you strop (very taught or you'll dull the razor).
6. (Very Important) stretch your skin to keep it taught as you see in most reputible videos.
7. I use 3 passes (WTG, XTG, ATG) plus clean up, but I have very tough forgiving skin to match my beard.
7a. Optionally you can use a DE for the ATG and cleanup (I don't, but I'm stubborn and learned the hard way).
8. Rinse, leaving your face wet as you lather again between passes.
9. Hot or cold towel for cleanup.
10. Finish with your post shave preference.

Good luck and don't give up. You WILL get the hang of it.

 

[Ikaponthus]

yes.. i made it just for this thread ... sometimes its better to see than to read....

i hope this helps you...

Ha! Thanks mate. Appreciate that.

Cool accent too.

 

[Ikaponthus]

Ok here's my $0.02.

I started SR shaving just over a year ago. I had the same experience as you. My beard is very tough also. I average 2 shaves with reputable DE blade before I reminds me to replace it.

I have too many straights, and find that heavier blades don't make as much of a difference as the width of the blade. My 13/16 Friodur shaves as good as my Wade & Butcher meat cleaver.

All things being equal, if you are satisfied that your blade is sharp, then it is most likely technique.

When first learning to shave with a SR don't try to get a BBS shave around the neck. That will come with time and experience. You might add an inexpensive Gillette DE for cleanup around the neck until you feel that your technique transitions to muscle memory.

When I started, I needed repetition to train my hand to follow the curves of my neck and adjust to my beard angle.

Starting out I thought I was using a light touch, but found that my attempts at the elusive BBS shave were causing me to take too many passes, increasing pressure ever so litely with each pass.

Also try switching hands. When I finally gave in and started using both hands it made a world of difference.

And finally your prep sounds fine but these are my most successful SR steps (YMMV):

1. Hot / Warm shower.
2. Shampoo and conditioner on face (let conditioner stay on until just before you get out of the shower).
3. Hot towel.
4. Cold (not Icy) Uberlather (C.O. Bigelow is my preference mixed with a little Noxema and 5 drops of Glycerin).
5. Leave the lather on your face while you strop (very taught or you'll dull the razor).
6. (Very Important) stretch your skin to keep it taught as you see in most reputible videos.
7. I use 3 passes (WTG, XTG, ATG) plus clean up, but I have very tough forgiving skin to match my beard.
7a. Optionally you can use a DE for the ATG and cleanup (I don't, but I'm stubborn and learned the hard way).
8. Rinse, leaving your face wet as you lather again between passes.
9. Hot or cold towel for cleanup.
10. Finish with your post shave preference.

Good luck and don't give up. You WILL get the hang of it.

Thanks mate. Great post.

Cold lather? really? That's new advice.

I have being using both hands since my first attempt. Only attempt #3 now, but it's certainly getting easier.

The big problem I'm having is getting the blade into the nooks a crannies around my neck (under the jaw line, around the adams-apple, etc.) It seems a long, thick razor blade is not the ideal tool for the job. It would be much easier with a little 1cm long blade. lol. Sometimes I need to angle it a more aggressive angle just to "fit it in" where I want it to go (another example of that is directly under my nose).

I'm definitely not aiming for BBS on my neck. That would be impossible for me at this stage. I aim for "not long stubble" and without tearing my face to bits. I'm failing so far.

BTW, my razor is this one:


It's a Dovo 6/8 Renaissance.

Next time I might take a video of myself shaving. I'm sure that would be useful in offering advice.

 

[paco664]

Next time I might take a video of myself shaving. I'm sure that would be useful in offering advice.

absolutely... if not it will give us ammo to make fun of you...

 

[KindestCutofAll]

Thanks mate. Great post.

Cold lather? really? That's new advice.

Yup, it makes my whiskers stand out and my skin firmer during the shave.

I have being using both hands since my first attempt. Only attempt #3 now, but it's certainly getting easier.

Ok, then you are doing fine. I was SR shaving for several weeks before I got a shave without raw spots.

The big problem I'm having is getting the blade into the nooks a crannies around my neck (under the jaw line, around the adams-apple, etc.)... Sometimes I need to angle it a more aggressive angle just to "fit it in" where I want it to go (another example of that is directly under my nose).

It helps to move things to where they are more convenient to shave when it's a difficult angle on the blade..

For your nose, try pulling down on your upper lip or push your nose up / left / wherever you need to get a better angle on the blade.

For the difficult curve on and under your jaw try pulling your skin up. It moves you beard from under your jaw to the flat upper side of your jaw where it is easier to shave.

For the rest of your neck, go slow and keep the skin taught by pulling down as you shave.


These tips worked for me.

 

[Ikaponthus]

Cheers mate.

It's not so much the line around the jaw that gives me trouble, I just pull the skin up as you say. It's more the curves around the throat area. The "valleys" on either side.

Directly under the chin is also difficult. The hair seems to be the thickest, and the angle extremely difficult. I don't get a rash there, it's just hard to get the shave even decently close.

 

[KindestCutofAll]

Got it!

Practice will eventually get it. Focus more on XTG than ATG.

 

[Ikaponthus]

I don't got ATG at all. That was a typo.