Beginner Needs Some Advice

Hi, I'm new to straight razor shaving. I've always been interested in straight razors and really anything that can hold an edge. I've had a sordid past with shaving (i.e. I have a rather coarse and fast growing beard and a notoriously sensitive skin underneath) so needless to say I had completely given up on shaving with razors for at least 10-15 years now and have been using electric shavers just to trim my face. I still maintained my fascination with sharp objects, though, and apparently my Girlfriend picked up on this and bought me a cheap Shavette and a starter kit for Christmas this year. I tried the Shavette the next morning thinking, what the heck, and all be darned if I didn't get the closest, cleanest, least irritating shave (sans a few nicks) of my entire life! Instant convert!

I have been shaving with that little bugger every single day since then and been loving every minute of it (seriously, I can't wait to hop out of the shower and shave in the morning and it used to be so much of a chore for me I would only trim once a week, tops). My problem comes with my new found eagerness to dive right into this new hobby.

I just purchased a beautiful blade (Dovo "Silver Steel" 5/8 full hollow ground ebonywood scales) last week from vintagebladesllc.com after doing a lot of research on this and other sites. I read on a forum post somewhere on this sight (I can't seem to find it anymore) that this was one of the recommended sites because the razors are shipped ready to shave and honed by a hone master for a true out of the box shave ready blade. Sure enough, I read the description on the site and that is what they advertised, so I went ahead and pulled the trigger.

I received the blade along with the upgraded English Bridle Strope set a few days ago. So far I've shaved with it twice and unfortunately I have had horrible experiences with it. I've read a lot of literature on stroping and so on and so forth, I strop on the linen side 30 times with light pressure spine first and 40 times on the leather side, same technique. I haven't touched the edge of this blade against anything improper. Yet, I still get terrible irritation from this blade along with several small nicks and scratches that I have not experienced with my shavette. And after fighting through this terrible shave, I feel my face, and it's as rough as sandpaper still. I've had to do follow-up shaves with my shavette both times just to get something close to a smooth feeling face (although it feels like its on fire).

What could I be doing wrong? Should I contact the website in hopes to get it re-honed properly? Should I trust this business with honing my blade? Is it just me being a silly beginner? From the research I've done, a real straight razor should be giving me closer, better shaves than my shavette, but that's not my experience so far. Any suggestions or help would be greatly appreciated, otherwise I just dropped a lot of cash on a pretty new paperweight I'm afraid.

There are several things that could be wrong. I'm not sure of the shave readiness from that site. Improper stropping can dull an edge in a blink. In addition, I've never used a shavette, but I hear they will shave at very different angles than most straights. Try keeping the spine of the blade about 1 or 2 spine widths off your face. Using very light pressure should alleviate some of the irritation. Maybe watch some shaving videos for some tips and refreshers and try again.

Also, if you update your location in your profile, you may even be close by someone who could help evaluate the shave readiness of your blade, and perhaps your shaving technique.

Please tell us more about your pre-shave prep.

All variables come into play when beginning the journey. I see the joy in your new discovery. Keep at it. Listen to others. And, realize that each path is unique. What works for you may not work for me.

:)

I believe all blades shipped by that vendor are honed by Lynn, so it should have arrived shave-ready.

Did you strop it prior to its first use? As was said above, it is *really* easy to dull a blade with improper stropping when starting out, so that's a possibility.

+1 to the advice to watch your angles and keep the pressure really, really light. Try to let the weight of the blade to the work for you. Also, stretching your skin is very important with straights and can make a big different to the experience and to the quality of the shave.

If you haven't already, check out these links:

First straight razor shave - Straight Razor Place Wiki

Beginner's guide to straight razor shaving - Straight Razor Place Wiki

Almost forgot to say: patience is key! Stick with it and it WILL get better. It just takes time and practice.

+1 with with Cangooner. I'm also, from that source, confident your razor would have come shave ready with no attention required except rinsing the oil off with hot water, and shaving.

This video may help also........

Hang in there!!! :D

Regards,

Howard :)

What is "The Shave Test" for a Straight Razor - YouTube

Thanks for your responses. I updated my profile with my location, it's Rochester, MN. Not sure if there's any place around me that caters to the straight razor crowd, but if there is I would love to know about it (especially for honing when the time comes).

@ neon - I noticed that the shave angles were different between my blades, I'm being very conscious of my strokes (so much so that it can and has taken me more than an hour and a half to shave with my new blade, whereas I've gotten down to 15-30 min. with my shavette). I'll take this advice to heart though and try to decrease my angles and lower my pressure more.

@ siguy - My preshave is - shower before shave to steam up my beard and open pores (trying not to wash my face as I've read that can rob your beard of much needed sebum and moisture), then I dry off, use Prosoro "green" pre-shave cream (love that stuff) while I'm letting that do it's magic I'll prep my blade (wipe off oil, strop 30 on linen, 40 on leather) and then I rinse my brush under hot water for about 15 to 30 sec. shake off extra water and work it into my soap (I'm still using the soap that came with the kit so I don't know what brand it is, but when that's out I've got some Col. Conk just waiting to be lathered). I apply the soap in my brush directly to my face and neck, then dip the brush under the faucet for another sprits of hot water and work a lather up on my face until I get a good stiff lather that doesn't fade (this was a hard one to learn for me, I kept adding too much water and the lather would just dry on my face before I was finished with the first pass). Then I go after it with my blade starting WTG, the lather up again and go XTG, the I usually do ATG without lather if my face isn't feeling like minced meat (hasn't happened with my new blade yet, I usually have to switch back to the shavette for this run). Then I rinse face with cold water, pull out my styptic pen cause I'm a rookie, and finish with some Prosoro "Green" aftershave.

@ Cangooner - I did not strop on my first shave since there was a nice hand signed card in the box that said I shouldn't need to. I wiped the oil off and went to it. I actually had high hopes that my first bad experience was due to the fact that I hadn't stroped it. I did strop it my second run and have to say that one was a little more rough so I obviously don't have the strop thing down perfect, but I don't think I did any real damage either. Considering my strop is brand new, I'm accepting the fact that it will take time to break in anyways.

Thanks for the links and videos guys, much appreciated.

I also wanted to add the (although controversial and highly subjective) I've tried the HHT on my blade. As I've said, I have some thick hair and used my own head hair, so from what I've read about the test, it didn't really surprise me that my blade failed, but what did surprise me is that the blade didn't even grab onto the hair at all. I even tried to move the hair in a cutting motion across the blade and it just bend by the blade with no grab at all. Any thoughts?

Along with the HHT, I tested the blade on my arm hair (back of the hand/wrist to be more specific) and it seemed to shave at the base just fine, but wouldn't cut the hairs at the tips (I've read that this is a pretty good test to determine shave readiness).

Another question is, is it o.k. to shave consecutive days with the same razor? I've read conflicting opinions on this one. Some say they shave every day with the same razor, but I've read that some say that you need to wait a minimum of 24 to 30 hours before you use the same razor twice, or you may risk damaging the blade. I only have one razor, and most certainly do NOT want to damage the blade (hoping this will be an heirloom I can hand down someday). I would, however like to shave more often to get as much practice as I can, so what's the major consensus on this one?

jayb,

You can shave with the same razor daily. Maintain it with a daily stropping. There's an old belief that a razor has to rest periodically so the molecules or whatever have a chance to realign. :shrug: lots of old, uh, wives tales :D out there.

Best reason for a second razor is to have one in service if the other one needs a more restorative honing.

Enjoy!!

Howard :)

If you maintain a blade you can shave with it as often as needed, two or three times a day if called for and you will not harm the blade.
Barbers in days past did not use 20 razors in a day and let them rest for a full day or more.
They disinfected and stropped properly between customers and changed out blades when they did not perform.
I get on a kick and will use the same blade daily for a month, I will hit it on my 12k hone after two weeks or so,
and at that rate I will have been gone longer than the dinosaurs before it becomes an issue.

It will take a few rounds of getting it honed and shaving before you really get the hang of it all, this is not going to be enough wear to blink an eye at.

When you start to hone you may want to consider a practice blade or make some time to sit with someone who has the experience a time or ten.

Angles are different (at least they were for me I started on a shavette) it will take a few shaves to get that,

stropping is a whole new skill and it can take time for many to really get it.

Do not be afraid to lay your strop on the table if that is what it takes, or practice with a butter knife.

Use your shavette for a back up for now if needed, slow down and enjoy each process as much as the shave,

I have found a tranquility in every step of this art.

Regards
Pat