So I'm 18 days into my straight shaving experience. Shaving every day. My razor seems to not be cutting as crisp as it was when it first arrived from glen. No matter how much stropping I do. Is there a trick to refresh the edge?
Well putting a tiny bit of chromium oxide or diamond spray on the unused side of the linen helps refresh the edge, however if you're finding the razor dulling after 18 days you may need a bit more practice stropping. Ideally you're refreshing a razor only every few months, sometimes a year depending on use. If you check out youtube theres a few videos by Lynn Abrams about applying the refreshing media to strops that can help out - since too much will actually have the reverse effect and dull edges.
Shaving against the grain with a straight is called the fools pass for a reason Now that I've said that, I do one every day on my neck with my straights, I currently do with the grain twice all over, then one against the grain, stretching the skin as tight as I can and it helps me avoid weepers. I'm still fiddling with my neck areas though, the face is DFS+ with just the WTG passes.
Yea I'm pretty good wtg My chin is the only problem area. Got a dfs with one nick on my chin Finished off buffing atg with my superspeed
Try a pass that starts at the end of your jaw and goes along the jaw line to the chin. Follow the same line just below the jaw line along the neck. Everyones hair grows at different angles, I found hair naturally grew in that direction, following those lines greatly improved the closeness of my shaves.
Pastes will work wonders bringing an edge back as will a barber hone. Very hard stones or high grit synthetic hones will also but now you are talking $$$$. The first two options are relatively cheap. You can get a pasted balsa strop from whippeddog.com very cheap. Some people prefer pasting leather or felt which is fine too and if that's the route you choose you can still get the paste at whippeddog and apply it to whatever medium you choose. The balsa comes all done for you though. Some say the balsa is harsher and the felt smoother but to be honest with you I haven't noticed a difference between the mediums myself but my face is like elephant skin. Lol. Against the grain? Keep the blade close to your face until you can reduce some of the growth. Keep your razor sharp too Those are the only two problems I have ever had in this area so that's all I can speak to. I do an against the grain daily all over face and neck. The old barbers would only do this pass if asked so I guess I am asking for it.
Yes, get some chromium oxide paste or spray and some balsa wood or leather or linen/cotton/polyweb. I think you should touch up your razor whenever it tugs or doesn't cut as easily, more like every 12 or so shaves, depending. The barber hone is helpful as Waate says. I've read where Glen Mercurio says he has one razor he has kept sharp with a barber hone for years without going to further hones. When the chromium oxide or ferrous oxide or diamond or cubic boron nitride applications stop keeping the edge sharp, go to the barber hone or a 12 or 16K hone.
