Thread: My first "clean" shave, at last!

Today I finally managed to get a shave without cuts. Before I start writing about my expierience, I would like to sincerely thank everyone here. It would be impossible without your advice and tons of knowedgle I found here. Thanks, guys!

I started to complete my shaving set before last Christmas. First I bought Omega badger brush and shaving soap and was using it instead Gillete gel. After some practice in making lather, I found it much better than all canned gels and foams. I bought my first blade about two months later. I was Dovo Pearlex. My first attempt was terrible: the blade was pulling hair and didn't shave at all, it certainly was not shave-ready.

I had two options: to send the blade for honing or try to hone it myself. The first option was sure easier and cheaper, but wasn't really good for long term. I decided to learn to hone myself. I ordered a Norton 4k/8k and bought a Wapi (also not shave-ready) as I didn't want to ruin the Dovo blade. It took me so long to do all these things that I had my first honing sesion just two weeks ago.

Firstly I did few laps on 4k, then some more on 8k side. Then I proceed to a test shave. Finally, I felt that razor was shaving. It wasn't my best shave, but the progress was noticeable. Before next shave I performed an Agressive Pyramid as it was written in SRP Wiki. I finished on a 12k Chinese stone. That was it, the shaving was much easier and more comfortable. I also learned on my face what "razor sharp" meant: any careless or stupid move of blade resulted in a cut.

I shaved 3 times since the honing and today it was first time without cuts. I tried to be as much careful as possible, stretch skin and work out the best angle. It felt really good and relaxing. It was first time when I was able to shave whole face without shaving second time with regular cartrige razor. Some irritation occured, but I was less painful than earlier shaves. One more time, it wouldn't be able without your advice. Thanks!

I thought my biggest mistakes was when razor stopped, due to bad beard prep or angle change, and I was forcing it anyway. Again, cut guaranteed. Now I'm convinced that stretching and good angles are really important.

I am newbie myself, but I hope someone will find my post helpful. I'm shaving with Wapi now, but after I will learn to hone correct I'm gonna start using Dovo. Can't wait till then

Anyway, thank you once again and sorry for long message!

Congrats on your shave.

I have a Dovo and a Wapi, and I like my Wapi more...so when I start to hone I'll be using the Dovo as the learning blade

It sounds like you are doing everything right! That's pretty unusual for a newbie! However, it you are still getting irritation, it might be the blade and it might be technique.

Most likely it's both. You might still benefit from finding a honemeister in Europe in order to eliminate one of your two variables. That will guarantee that you only need to work on technique in the beginning. Later, you can improve your honing technique.

Keep at it!!!

Congratulations on your progress. You get out of it what you put into it and sounds like you are on the right track. It will get better and better as time and practice go on.