Tugging is the worst enemy for my eczema, sharp blades that glide through the hairs like a hot knife through butter are my best friend.
Great advice above. Tugging, uncomfortable, not as sharp, & irritation are all signs of the blade degrading. As your technique improves, you will become more aware of the nuances of your blade. The Treet Platinum is a very good blade. Enjoy your shaves!
That said, I don't want to keep using a blade to the point of its useful life, but I am inexperienced and I perhaps don't know what to look for.
As chance would have it, I've been teaching myself how to sharpen knives using the newer diamond-surfaced plates, so your post resonates a lot with me. Thanks!It isn't really that simple. MIT did a study, aware that the steel of the razor blade is fifty times stronger than facial hair.
The problem is that modern razor blades are both thinner and sharper than vintage blades.
The advantage is that they cut better but do not last as long as older blades did.
This is why, many individuals bin a blade after only a few shaves. But not for the obvious reason of becoming dull.
Razor blades will vibrate and develop micro-fracturers along the crystalline structure of the metal.
These micro-fracturers will develop into tiny cracks that erode and destroy the edge of the blade. Your blade may still remain razor sharp but the edge is now uneven.
This may ir may not result in tugging. What it will do is to remove the smooth edge of the blade and replace it with an edge that is jagged.
This will tear up the surface of your skin. It will leave it raw and sore. This is what we call razor burn!
As chance would have it, I've been teaching myself how to sharpen knives using the newer diamond-surfaced plates, so your post resonates a lot with me. Thanks!