So for the sake of reference, I'll let you know that I went to The art of Shaving, and purchased one of their straight razors, a badger brush, some pre shave oil, shave cream, and a strop. Thats what I've been using to shave. So now to the question at hand. I'm primarily using these to shave my head. Face is secondary since I have so much less real estate to shave with my goatee and all. So given that I'm not going bald, and my hair grows in really thick, it takes a lot to get a close shave, and I've found that many times during the shave, I have to strop my blade just to be able to have a comfortable shave. 1. Do you guys find that you have to do that often? I mean should I not be alarmed that I have to strop my blade 4 maybe 5 times for a complete shave? 2. Do you guys have any suggestions for ways to prepare my hair, (head or face) for the shave? Any tips and tricks on getting the hair softer? I've tried the pre shave oils, I've tried sitting in the shower for 20 minutes with scalding water, I've tried all different methods, but nothing seems to ease my shave over just lathering up and getting to business. 3. The hair on my neck seems to grow out diagonally from left to right, which means that in order to get a really close shave and go against the grain, I have to turn into a contortionist, and even then I've yet to be able to place the blade square on my skin to go across the throat, not up or down. Any suggestions? 4. Could someone suggest what would be the best hone for me to start with to keep my blade sharp as a newbie? or should I even be worried about that, since I've heard everything from if you strop it properly, you won’t have to sharpen it for a year or more, to oh I recommend you re-hone it at least a few strokes every few weeks.
I go about 4-5 passes before getting that great BBS shave...why..some guys want it closer I think..my skin is sensitive n coarse hair as well...thats probably why I do what I do
So how sharp is a newbie, anyway? :happy097 Seriously though: An 8000 grit ceramic hone and a paddle strop charged with .05 paste (the green stuff) will allow you to touch up your razor when it needs it. For me that seems to be after 10 - 15 shaves. Specialty woodworking shops, like Lee Valley here in Canada, carry a selection of fine hones strops and pastes for their wood carving customers. Alternatively you can go to the classifieds here or at straightrazorplace.com and look for a barber's hone and strop. To begin with though I would send the razor to a honer with a good rep, like gssixgun here at the Den, to be sharpened. That will give an benchmark to maintain. After that, don't be afraid to work on your own razor. Whatever you need to do, just think about it carefully and then do it slowly. And keep asking questions. If you do that, you probably wont go too far wrong. Best Regards goshawk Speaking if gssixgun, take a look at his recent thread "Beginner's Questions And Tips" started a day ot two ago - much of the info you need you'll find there.
Thank you.. Ok, speaking of which. Whats the deal with a strop paste? I've read varying things about that too.. Some say that all you need to do to maintain the sharpness of your blade is to strop it between 20 and 50 strokes depending upon your defenition of a stroke. Some say you should do it dry, meaning no paste, others say you should use strop paste, and then others say that if you DO use a strop paste you should make sure you have one strop that has paste on it, and another one that doesnt? So could someone please let me know... do I need to go buy another one? and have one with paste for sharpening, and another just for maintaining?
I have a pasted paddle strop for touching up every few shaves and a hanging strop without any paste for daily stropping before shaving. Best Regards goshawk
This works for me, when a clean strop won't sort out the razor dragging a touch up with the diamond drops brings it right back.
You did send your razor away to be professional honed before you started using it correct? Dovo's from Art of Shaving don't come shave ready, and would be quite dull fresh from the factory. If you haven't you need to immediately send your razor away to have it honed to a sharp edge!
