Here's my introduction and plan.....................

My name is Evan and I've been wet shaving all my life. I started shaving in the 60's with a DE, and recently (July) was bitten by the return to DE's and collecting. I've jumped in with both feet and have a nice sized collection of DE razors. The soaps, creams, brushes have all come along with it as well.
While spending countless hours on B&B, eBay, and on all the vendor sites, straights have been calling me. I find them elegant and beautiful. I have a suspicion that all this is sounding very familiar to you.
I would like to give straights a try. I have been reading since 8AM this morning and joined this forum today. What I am thinking of doing is this. Order a new middle to low line Dovo from classicshaving .com and have them hone it for me. Try the razor to see if I like it and master it. If it works out, then I can move forward with the upkeep associated with this hobby. Strops, hones, etc. Does this sound like the proper way to start? If not please point me in the right direction. Currently I can achieve a BBS with any DE. I'm even confused about the quality of the shaves I'd be getting. Would they be that much closer than say a Merkur slant/feather combo?
Any help would be greatly appreciated.......
Thanks in advance,
Evan.

Welcome aboard!
Make sure you get a strop, at least, when you order your Dovo as you will be using it every time you shave!

Welcome aboard the straight train, may you have a smooth long ride!!!!
+1 on the strop that ya gotta have ASAP.... Most here would reccomend Tony Miller's strops.....
I had never used a DE but I can tell ya even with my sensitive skin I can shave every day with no irritation, which is one of the reasons I came back to straights again.... As to BBS ??? yes you can get there, but I believe that the learning curve is slightly steeper, then other shaving systems, when you start with a straight razor.....

welcome aboard. sounds like a good plan. I hear the tortoise dovo special is pretty nice, and yes get a strop as well - I'd probably get Tony Miller's beginner/travel.
And yes to the above - don't try for BBS, accept that it'll take you weeks to get your basic technique down, but it gets better all the time. You'll get there eventually. Certainly straights are much more fun than cartridge or DE and very addictive. Take it slowly and enjoy the trip.

Looking at the classicshaving.com site, can anyone suggest the size that I should start with. Are they referring to the blade width? In addition, some razors are offered in stainless steel. Wouldn't this cut back on maintenance? Thanks again and can you direct me to Tony's for the strop? Thanks again for all the help.
Evan

I would go with a 5/8s or 6/8s as my first razor and if you can find a 1/4 hollow as opposed to a full hollow I think that would be the way to go! Stainless is an option I wouldn't choose as a beginner, especially if you are going to learn to hone!

As far as shave quality goes I'm only just now starting to get shaves which equal (and occasionally exceed) the quality of shave I can get from a DE. I've been using straights for around three months and for most of that time I've had inferior shaves. Judging by other members comments I seem to have made slower than average progress but nevertheless I think (unless you're very exceptional) there will be a significant learning period you just have to put up with and work through.

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Originally Posted by trewornan

As far as shave quality goes I'm only just now starting to get shaves which equal (and occasionally exceed) the quality of shave I can get from a DE. I've been using straights for around three months and for most of that time I've had inferior shaves. Judging by other members comments I seem to have made slower than average progress but nevertheless I think (unless you're very exceptional) there will be a significant learning period you just have to put up with and work through.

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My learning curve just to get a decent shave was something close to a year, so you are doing good!

Hello and welcome to SRP.

honestly, i am not sure that i would buy a new dovo. you can get a great str8 on the BST threads for much, much less money. that way if you don't like it and go back to the DE, you can probably resell it for what you bought it for. just my thoughts.

btw, welcome to SRP!!!

vgod

For a new razor I would also recommend the DOVO "Special" Tortoise 6/8 or 5/8
, pre-honed. The B/S/T forum will let you get started with a nice razor at lower cost and will state "shave-ready" in most cases.

I like the straight because I get no irritation and bleed a lot less compared to any DE I ever used.

Welcome aboard.

Please excuse my newbie ignorance but what does BBS stand for?:thinking:

BBS = Baby's Butt Smooth

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Originally Posted by trewornan

BBS = Baby's Butt Smooth

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Ahhhh, got it. Thanks

Quote:

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Originally Posted by vgod

honestly, i am not sure that i would buy a new dovo. you can get a great str8 on the BST threads for much, much less money. that way if you don't like it and go back to the DE, you can probably resell it for what you bought it for. just my thoughts.

btw, welcome to SRP!!!

vgod

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I agree with this 100%. Being someone who bought one of the starter kits with a new dovo, I can say that after buying a second, older razor (W&B 8/8 For barber's Use) and honing it up it out-performs the dovo MANY years its junior, and was cheaper. As well, just cut the crap and start out with a big razor...you know you will be looking on eBay for meat choppers about 2 weeks after you start and they seems to shave alot better, requiring FAR less pressure (almost negative pressure in my view) than the thin light razors. And lets be honest...taking that huge hunk of steel to your face is half he reason you started, no matter what people say about no irritation, closer shaves, etc (which are all legitimate reasons to start straight shaving mind you). My 'new' dovo will find a home with my roommate who wants to try straight shaving and after that will probably be relegated to backup (way back) duty. Unless someone wants to buy it.

Or you could buy one of those Wapi's from eBay that seem to be all the rage nowadays for only $17 and hone it yourself (or send it out). But you will have to purchase stones which sort of runs counter to your budget concerns (unless of course you plan on being in it for the long haul in which case the stone will be necessary).

I will keep you posted on my progress and will not forget your collective responses and advice.
Evan

Welcome aboard.

Lots of great information. As someone new to straight razor shaving myself, I'd have to recommend a 6/8 over a 5/8. I think that eighth of an inch makes it easier to strop, and I find them easier to use. I'm also finding that square-points make life easier when trying to take care of those small areas. Trying to get the whiskers just under my big nose using a round point can be tricky. Oh, and don't tell anyone I told you this, but I like my Thiers-Issard better than I do my DOVO...but I've only got one shave in with the DOVO, so take that with a grain of salt. :w

Welcome to SRP Evan!