Thread: Brand new, haven't even lurked that long...

... but if I had been lurking a bit longer, maybe I wouldn't have made a small mistake.

I just received my DOVO shavette a few days ago thinking that it would be a decent litmus test to make sure I could at least handle the mechanics of drawing a blade across my skin. I've had the pre-shave prep fairly well handled for the last couple of years, using (what I now know to be overpriced) the Art of Shaving pre-shave oil, AoS shave cream with an AoS badger brush, etc, nearly immediately after a hot shower.

The good news -- I am able to handle it I accidentally dug into the front of my chin just once on my first shave, but I had a styptic pencil handy just in case which took care of it. Actually did just two with the grain passes. Other than that, I was pretty pleased with the quality of my shave. Didn't quite get so close around the area of the nick - I was a little gunshy after the nickThat was yesterday.

Today I got a nick on my cheek - still not sure how - but again the styptic pencil came to my rescue. But instead of a second with the grain pass, did an across the grain pass. (The nick came on the first pass.) Still, a fairly good shave all around.

However, I'm noticing that my face still feels a little rough (razor burn?) a good 6 hours after I'm done. My post-shave skin care is generally pretty good as well - warm water, cool water, optional alum block, optional balm, and always moisturizer.

For those of you who've successfully used a shavette, how often do you change the blade? I thought I saw a reference to going a week on a single blade, but I'm thinking the way my face feels is giving me the hint that perhaps a single shave is enough per blade?

Two other points of interest:

1) I jumped straight from a cartridge, for which my last shave was maybe Monday (April 2) or so. Maybe my face isn't ready for two shavette shaves in as many days? I've rarely been a regular shaver, and often had to "work up" to being able to shave every day if I found myself lapsing.

2) I've got a "real" straight on the way

Welcome aboard. The real straight will be a completely different experience and more enjoyable (for me at least). Keep us posted.

You should make sure your using shaving oil to help the transition to a shavette, which isn't as smooth as a straight. You should be able to go alittle further than a week on a blade, but as you may have noticed there are several types of blades. Which blade are you using?

Here is my opinion:

You should only go as far as you can go. After you get the hang of it; only allow two nicks and then change the blade. The blade should smooth out a little over the week though. Towards the end of the week, maybe longer, it will start nicking you, thats the time to end the friendship and put in a new blade.

With your oil you bought I would recommend using atleast 5 drops now (you'll not need it in the future).

Originally Posted by AFDavis11

You should make sure your using shaving oil to help the transition to a shavette, which isn't as smooth as a straight. You should be able to go alittle further than a week on a blade, but as you may have noticed there are several types of blades. Which blade are you using?

Here is my opinion:

You should only go as far as you can go. After you get the hang of it; only allow two nicks and then change the blade. The blade should smooth out a little over the week though. Towards the end of the week, maybe longer, it will start nicking you, thats the time to end the friendship and put in a new blade.

With your oil you bought I would recommend using atleast 5 drops now (you'll not need it in the future).

Good question - I'm using the blade that came with the shavette - DOVO, Inox were the most distinguishing marks I can recall at the moment.

I also have a Feather blade handy (also recently bought an inexpensive DE (currently still unused) just before I got the notion to try a straight). Though from what I've read I'm a little hesitant to snap the feather in half and try it out in the shavette

I've also placed an order for a sampler pack from a user called LetterK from the shavemyface.com forum which will include Merkur, Derby, Gillette (swedish), Crystal, and some more Feathers. Failing all those, I know my local drugstore carries a few brands.

As far as the oil goes, I'm fairly generous with it... in fact I only used it today as an experiment to see if it would make things any smoother than yesterday. I was only in the habit of using it occassionally. But knowing that I may not need it after I graduate from the shavette is a little disheartening - the bottle is nearly full, and it takes forever to get through.

I also hope no one minds a few odd questions specifically about the shavette as I continue to use it until my real straight arrives.

I've used a feather blade in my shavette. It's touchy, but no more so than a Feather AC.

I followed the same route to straights as you though I went to a shavette from a DE not a cartridge.

Originally Posted by chargrill

..

Today I got a nick on my cheek - still not sure how - but again the styptic pencil came to my rescue. But instead of a second with the grain pass, did an across the grain pass. (The nick came on the first pass.) Still, a fairly good shave all around.

My guess is the nick is from tipping slightly towards the tip, that corner of a DE blade is sharp, I've done that myself. Don't worry too much about it. It takes a lot of concentration to avoid this every so often, but it doesn't seem to happen with a real straight even a spike point.

Originally Posted by chargrill

However, I'm noticing that my face still feels a little rough (razor burn?) a good 6 hours after I'm done. My post-shave skin care is generally pretty good as well - warm water, cool water, optional alum block, optional balm, and always moisturizer.

For those of you who've successfully used a shavette, how often do you change the blade? I thought I saw a reference to going a week on a single blade, but I'm thinking the way my face feels is giving me the hint that perhaps a single shave is enough per blade?

I used my shavette blades for about a week and the last couple of shaves were pretty questionable. Each side of my DE would last about as long

Originally Posted by chargrill

Two other points of interest:

1) I jumped straight from a cartridge, for which my last shave was maybe Monday (April 2) or so. Maybe my face isn't ready for two shavette shaves in as many days? I've rarely been a regular shaver, and often had to "work up" to being able to shave every day if I found myself lapsing.

2) I've got a "real" straight on the way

You might have to work up to it I did find that the shavette cut far closer than the DE I was used to and more harshly than the straights I use now.

Unless you can return that unused DE you have you might want to break it out and use it every other day as it is softer to the skin than your shavette or your cartridge razor.

Tim

Originally Posted by mparker762

I've used a feather blade in my shavette. It's touchy, but no more so than a Feather AC.

Mike, were there any issues with the blade fit or balance?

Originally Posted by FiReSTaRT

Mike, were there any issues with the blade fit or balance?

This was a Feather DE blade, so it fit the DE holder. Balance issues were no worse than usual for the Shavette, which isn't saying much.

You got my hopes up. I was hoping it was an AC blade lol