Thread: The journey continues....

After 6 weeks of shaving with the shavette, I have noticed my improvements as I practice more and pay attention to things more overlooked such as skin stretchiing. I consistently get BBS on my cheeks and CCS/DFS on my chin areas and CCS on the moustache. i still have problems going ATG on the moustache area. Even doing my very best lathering and skin stretching, my shavette drags horribly doing an ATG pass. Just today, I got DFS on my chin...all without going to my cartridge razor for final touch up!

At this point, both in my practical experiences and by reading the posts here at SRP, I wonder if my shavette itself is beginning to limit me? As previously mentioned, I am using a cheap Magic shavette and Derby SE blades. The Magic has very little heft to it and there is some mild flex from the tang in the ultra light and cheap scales. Also, I've read that the Derby blades, while mild, sometimes can be inconsistent in quality. I've noticed that as well. Eliminating any other variable such as angle, pressure, lathering, etc, one blade can seem just right while another seems duller than a Bic single blade disposable. Today was one of the latter. While I got BBS on my chin as usual, it did not last the full day. After 12 hours, are now at DFS. My last couple shaves remained BBS for well past 15. I shaved at 8am and was still BBS when I went to bed at 11pm that night. If only I had some Astras, Gilette 7oclock yellows, or (gasp) even Feathers available locally.

If I have one bad habit, it is being way too obsessed with BBS at times. Certain areas on my right cheek just seems be be a bitfussy even after WTG, XTG, and ATG passes. I think that may need more detail to skin stretching but I think I have got that under control. At this point, I get my best shave using WTG, ATG, and then a final touch up in the problem spots. I get good traction so I know I am pulling tightly. So again, I wonder if it is the blade? However, I said I was obsessed with BBS on my cheeks. I will find myself making over 4 passes, sometimes as much as 6, in those trouble spots just to get my entire cheek BBS! That's not bad technique; that's being bullheaded! When I make more than 4, I begin to get razor burn in those areas. So, I just have to learn that if I cannot get it done in 4 passes (I dont get burn in 4 passes) in those problem areas that are no bigger than a quarter, put the shavette down and finish up with the cartridge if need be. Thankfully, bullheadednessi relatively easy to correct.

So in a little over a month when I move to a real SR, I feel I will be able to do better. With a coarse beard, I feel the added heft of a good SR will help be get a better shave if I do my part with stropping, face prep, etc.

Regardless, I am happy at my progress since my first shave on Oct 15 of this year. My disappointments and goofs do not discourage me. Rather they motivate me to examine them and look for ways to improve. And I look forward to seeing my progress as I improve. After all, SR shaving has made my actually enjoy my morning shave.

Sounds like you are doing well.
Part of the problem may be the blade. Just order a sampler pack and figure out which ones you like the best.
The other part is probably technique. It took me a good year to be able to get BBS consistently in my trouble spots. Part of it was stretching, the other part was using a sweeping motion with the blade - without cutting myself.

Hang in there and keep at it.

Originally Posted by criswilson10

Sounds like you are doing well.
Part of the problem may be the blade. Just order a sampler pack and figure out which ones you like the best.
The other part is probably technique. It took me a good year to be able to get BBS consistently in my trouble spots. Part of it was stretching, the other part was using a sweeping motion with the blade - without cutting myself.

Hang in there and keep at it.

I also think i could be a bit iffy on technique at some times. But I suspect I may not be paying attention to angle. I know my stretching is consistent. Because of the design of the shavette, I cannot use the general "spine flat on the skin" guideline for the angle. So I tend to give a bit more angle. Yet the shave befoire last that I referenced, I got BBS on those spots with 3 passes. But then, I felt the blade was better.

After Christmas, I will be making the drive to Imperial Shaving/SRD and buying a genuine straight. I'll probably go with the Ralf Aust 1402. But I have every intention of buying some DE blades to use when I need to use the shavette as a backup.

I also suspect that the fact that the blade is narrower that the blade holder could be affecting my overall technique and not just in the trouble spots. It's eaasy to lose track of where the cutting edges end when covered in lather. So I suspect my shaves will improve with the Ralf. And for those trouble spots, I suspect the greater heft of the Ralf along with the greater rigidity of the blade will help those trouble spots as well as give me better results on the chin and nose.

I'f you would have asked me 6 months ago if i would ever have enjoyed shaving in the 31 years since my first shave, I would have said you are crazy! I can honestly say I wanted to go the SR route well before I saw Skyfall, but never got around to doing it and never considered the shavette route until recently. But I never thought I would enjoy it as much as I do.

I feel like I am still in the military after reading this post due to all the acronyms that I don't know.

Anyways, I just posted in a different thread about my first decent shave with my straight razor. I had to go against all instincts when concentrating on pressure. I went so light that I fealt there would be no way I am actually taking hair off my face. Turned out though that I was, and it was working really well. The end result was a fairly decent shave with 0 discomfort. I am proud of myself as it seems to be comming together, finally.