Hello there, and thank you all for hosting and posting this helpfull site.
Well I am new to wet shaving, I picked up a new straight razor last week. YAY me!
Anyway, for some reason my new razor is intent on hurting me. I have read and reread several instructional sites on wet shaving and am following most of them to the T. I am following all the pre-shave prep and stropping instructions. I am currently using Williams shaving soap although I just recently placed an order for Portugese Musgo as it came highly rated from another website.
What I am having trouble with is I can't seem to shave any more than a half inch or so at a time. It is alot more painful than I expect it should be and no where as effective as it should be. Quite often it requires multiple (read close to a dozen) strokes over the same area to get all the hair. The effect of this leaves my face raw and is causing a acne breakout of sorts. As well as leaves stubble in certain areas.
I am shaving at roughly 30 degrees, though I find 45 degrees to be slightly more efficient. I do have rather hard to shave hairs (mach III blades last 1 maybe 2 sessions at the most). But I find this rediculously painful and tedius. It takes roughly 30-45 minutes to shave (not including prep).
My guess is that I am not stropping correctly and the blade is not being sharpened enough (this is due to a surprising lack of blood for a begginer). However I am following all the instructions I have read so far and can not for the life of me understand what I am doing incorrect. Do new blades need to be stone sharpened or professionally honed before use?
Any hints, tips, comments or advice would be greatly apreciated. Thank you.
Well I am new to wet shaving, I picked up a new straight razor last week. YAY me!
Anyway, for some reason my new razor is intent on hurting me. I have read and reread several instructional sites on wet shaving and am following most of them to the T. I am following all the pre-shave prep and stropping instructions. I am currently using Williams shaving soap although I just recently placed an order for Portugese Musgo as it came highly rated from another website.
What I am having trouble with is I can't seem to shave any more than a half inch or so at a time. It is alot more painful than I expect it should be and no where as effective as it should be. Quite often it requires multiple (read close to a dozen) strokes over the same area to get all the hair. The effect of this leaves my face raw and is causing a acne breakout of sorts. As well as leaves stubble in certain areas.
I am shaving at roughly 30 degrees, though I find 45 degrees to be slightly more efficient. I do have rather hard to shave hairs (mach III blades last 1 maybe 2 sessions at the most). But I find this rediculously painful and tedius. It takes roughly 30-45 minutes to shave (not including prep).
My guess is that I am not stropping correctly and the blade is not being sharpened enough (this is due to a surprising lack of blood for a begginer). However I am following all the instructions I have read so far and can not for the life of me understand what I am doing incorrect. Do new blades need to be stone sharpened or professionally honed before use?
Any hints, tips, comments or advice would be greatly apreciated. Thank you.