Thread: Frustrations of the first week...

Good afternoon, gentlemen,

So...I went all in on this shaving thing. I didn't but the most expensive razor, but I did get a DOVO Best Quality. It seems like a solid starter razor.

I ordered it from Amazon along with a basic starter kit. I have not had it professionally honed. The first shave was alright, but by no means comfortable. The second shave was a disaster. It looked like I joined a fight club or something. Here are a series of questions that I hope the wise among us can assist:

1. Does it all hinge on a professional hone?
2. Why is lathering so hard?
3. If I have already nicked the hell out of my strop, then should I just get a new one? Will the nicks mess up my blade?
4. I'm an over-achiever. Is part of this learning experience a lesson in humility that will ultimately pay off?

I hope that I am just going through the normal growing pangs of learning this art.

Thanks for those that take the time to help.

1. Yes. You must have it honed. Everything depends on that. Think about your cartridge experiences, you threw them away when they were dull right?
2. Its not too hard. But I'm not sure what you're trying to lather. It could be your water or the soap itself. Let us know what you have.
3. Hold off on that. It might not be too bad and you might want to ensure you have the hang of it before you invest in another.
4. Yes.

All aspects of this way of shaving does require some practice.
The shaving itself, stropping(a big factor imho), making proper lather and the ALL important Beard-prep.

Have your razor honed properly so that you can check that off of the list of culprits when your shave doesn't equate a cartridge/electric shave.
(eventually it will surpass both, by a mile)

Keep at it mate, you'll get there eventually
And we'll try our very best to help you along the way!

Welcome to the group. I am still fairly new myself, but here are my 2 cents.

1) The hone is the most significant thing you can do. While it is advertised as "shave ready" I would bet apaycheck it doesn't measure up to what you really need.
2) I recommend two things. Read all of the how-to articles you can and then watch the videos. Practice a few times. I bowl lathered (playing with face lathering now) and would go through the entire lather routine multiple times, each time adding a bit more (or less water) and laoding up the brush more (or less). Makes a huge difference figuring out what works well for the type of soap you have and the water type you have.
3) Sand it out and keep going. Chances are you will end up getting another razor and strop down the road anyway. You're learning, sh*t happens.
4) Kinda... it makes me slow down and appreciate the time I have to spend on myself... lets me "center myself" a little before I start my day.

Above all, stick with it. It's a great community of people and an impressive skill set.

Well most of it is fairly well covered. I require skin stretching to go nick free. If you nick your strop there is a possibility that you may have also rolled your edge. Many have done it, I like rolling my edge so much I did it multiple times. If it is it requires a touch up on the hones, but it sounds like you need to go there anyway. Focus is key, both on the strop and shave.

should have gotten the razor from Straight Razor Designs. They come professionally honed.

Not only SRD has professionally honed razors. There more honers doing outstanding job... I would say SRD is one of the options...

Originally Posted by bouschie

should have gotten the razor from Straight Razor Designs. They come professionally honed.

If you are an overachiever...slow down. Work on your technique, having a sharp razor is very important, but, you do want to have good technique with a sharp razor or you will look like you got into a fight with a Bobcat. Every time I start cutting myself, I think it is because I hurry and have a poor blade angle. When you get that first BBS shave you will be amazed. Small nicks come and go, but if you put a good scratch or a large nick, you may have been in a hurry. I had started out slow, learned a little, got fast with the blade and then I started having poor shaves and red lather. Take your time and enjoy.

Thank you. I found on the community services a guy that will hone it.

I have a Proraso shave soap. The stuff just dries on my face in only a couple of minutes.

Originally Posted by DOGRAH

Work on your technique, having a sharp razor is very important, but, you do want to have good technique with a sharp razor or you will look like you got into a fight with a Bobcat.

That is EXACTLY what I looked like!