Thread: New shaver

Hi all. I have been using a dovoshavette with no issues . So I took the plunge and bought a new blade from invisible edge here in the uk. It came shave ready. So to say that I was excited about using this was a bit of an understatement. So if I went and the result was shocking. There was blood everywhere. So many small nicks. I thought I done everything correctly pre oil lather.shave. The strip I have is just leather. I would appreciate any advice please. I don't want to stop shaving with my pride and joy.

Welcome Steve. Did you strop your razor before shaving? A common issue with beginners is that they sometimes roll their edge due to incorrect stropping ( turning the blade on the edge as opposed to the spine for example.

Assuming your razor was properly honed, which I imagine is the case, I highly recommend you find a local member that can troubleshoot your edge and help you with stropping technique. Keeping your razor sharp is the key to success and good stropping technique is essential .

Hey congratulations!

I don't know anything about that vendor... taking it at face value that they prep the blade properly, it's down to your technique.

You are likely using too high of an angle combined with too much pressure if you're getting all nicked up. Start with a very low angle, about two spine widths off the skin. Concentrate on shaving the lather, not the skin. Think of it as just wiping the lather away. Skin stretching will help as well.

Start slow. Practice with the grain on the broad sides of your cheeks. If you get through that with no nicks, next shave move on to against the grain or across the grain.

Chin and around the mouth will come later. If you start there without building up your skills, you'll look like you got in a fight with a cat. Fool's pass (against the grain under the lip) some people never try at all.

Pre-shave oil is largely unnecessary by the way, and won't help with poor technique (or dulled edge)... a decent soap lathered up and you'll never miss it.

Welcome to the forum
Put your town in the avatar. There may be a member nearby.

Check out the beginners section. Lots of info there

Welcome to the forum. I have not used a shavette but understand that shaving with one involves a bit of a different technique than shaving with a straight razor. If that is the case then possibly some changes to your technique may be necessary. Never bought a razor from The Invisible Edge but have not heard anything bad about the shave ready edges they put on their razors.

Bob

Shaving with a shavette and a straight are slightly different. First the angle of attack need to be lower with a straight razor. There are some things that help me in my straight razor shaving. Most of it should be the same. Skin stretching and holding, nice slick lather and low blade angle are key. The spine should be two thicknesses raised above your skin, sometimes less.
Good luck.

Yes. Slightly different tool. As said less angle is needed. I use both and with a straight razor im more like one spine width off the skin. 2 at most. With a Shavette you cant get the edge to shave at that low of an angle because its made differently.

Go slow and try again with next to no pressure. As stated, your shaving the lather off not the whiskers. It takes time but you can do it. And Welcome to SRP.

Keep at it, it clicks into place quickly

Hi guys yes I have stropped with the spine could it be the leather. I will try the shallower angle I was trying for 30°

This is the leather that I'm using. I will try for a shallower angle.Thanks again I will keep trying .