Thread: First Shave--The Full Experience

Originally Posted by EdgeWorks

...a Dovo Black Micarta Inox 5/8". I performed a final canvas and then leather stropping, then tried a "hair test", which it didn't pass

If you purchased your razor from SRD it was honed to perfection. Lynn has honed all 5 of mine over time. The best thing to do about the HHT? Forget you ever heard about it. It's my belief it is only good for impressing your friends, not an indication of shave worthiness.

Originally Posted by EdgeWorks

Second question: If I shave at night, will the closeness be sufficient to last the entire next day, without my getting a "5 o'clock shadow"? I'm usually in a professional business environment, and hate to say this, but my looks do matter as I'm in business development and a small business owner.

Perpahs not initially, or at least, not all over.

You could, if it's not too much hassle, shave your cheeks in the evening and whip round with the mach three in the morning.

Certainly the process will be quicker if you can do something on a daily basis, or every other day or something.

Hello, everyone! Long time listener, first time caller so I'm a bit nervous, please be gentle with me.

I had my first shave last weekend and then realised that my razor that was supposed to be shave ready was not shave ready at all. After several cuts and a very poor shave, I sent it away to be honed and ordered another at the same time from Home . My first razor was from Edwin Jagger, but from what I gather it is a rebranded Dovo Best Quality 5/8 razor, the other razor I ordered was a Dovo Best Quality 4/8 this time with blonde scales. I'm using a Best Badger brush and Mitchell's Wool Fat soap, which I ordered with the ceramic bowl. I did around a dozen strokes on my strop and I'm fairly sure my stropping action would have aroused laughter from most of you, but I took my time and I'm sure I'll get better with practice.

My second shave was today with the Dovo 4/8 razor and like others here I didn't just stick to my cheeks I went all in and tried to shave all over. On my first pass I basically brutalised my face and was left with several cuts and some red raw areas under my jaw line. After some touch up work with my alum block I thought I might as well lather up and have another go and this time I just concentrated on removing the lather, rather than trying to scrape the bristles off my face. I must say that I think I was much better on my second pass and I'm sure that part of my problem was I was applying too much pressure initially. I still find it awkward to see what I'm doing when my hand is pulling my skin tight and getting under my nose is causing me problems, but I already know that I won't be going back to my Mach III. I ran the alum block all over the shaved area after my shave and after patting myself dry I gently rubbed in some alcohol free shaving balm from The Real Shaving Company. I still have a rash under my jaw line and a few cuts are showing, but I did at least get a decent shave this time.

One thing I've noticed is that I appear to have some blood stains on the razor itself. How do I get these out? I've carefully dried my razor and put it back in it's case for the moment, but ideally I'd like to clean it without dulling the edge, or damaging the metal in any way. Any and all constructive tips will be gratefully received!

Edit: After taking it back out of it's case I'm sure that it's not blood at all and is in fact rust. How is this possible? This is a brand new razor that's been used once and thoroughly dried.

Did you check with the vendor to see if it was truly shave ready (i.e., professionally honed)? If, in fact, it wasn't pre-honed then the best thing you can do is send it to someone who truly knows how to hone straight razors, not a knife sharpener. Don't use it until it has been honed by someone who knows what they are doing. Your face will thank you for it.

If it was already professionally honed, then your technique needs some work. Start with just the area between the side burn and jaw line, and WTG only. Get comfortable with the razor in your hand and blade against your face. Learn the proper angles and pressures. Once you have confidence in that then you can add other areas of your face, as well as XG anf ATG. Take your time. The learning curve can't be successfully sidestepped. It's not a race. In not time you will be getting that coveted BBS.

Danny - try using a metal polish like Maas metal polish - should hopefully clean them off. In the future though, wipe/rinse (carefully - don't want to ding it on the tap!) your blade off and dry it (and your scales, both outside and between them) before putting them away - should prevent those stains forming again.

+1 on forgetting the HHT. I got a blade honed by Lynn that failed the HHT, yet shaved beautifully. It depends on so many factors that it's just not reliable. The only way to reliably test a blade's shaveworthiness is to shave with it. If it pulls or is any other type of uncomfortable, it's not ready.

Originally Posted by mosley59

Danny - try using a metal polish like Maas metal polish - should hopefully clean them off. In the future though, wipe/rinse (carefully - don't want to ding it on the tap!) your blade off and dry it (and your scales, both outside and between them) before putting them away - should prevent those stains forming again.

I'm pretty sure I was careful about drying.

If I can't find Maas will Autosol do?

Edit: Answered my own question as I couldn't find Maas anyway, Autosol works well and my razor is all shiny and rust free again.

[QUOTE=EdgeWorks;402588]

Originally Posted by Alpsman

Second question: If I shave at night, will the closeness be sufficient to last the entire next day, without my getting a "5 o'clock shadow"? I'm usually in a professional business environment, and hate to say this, but my looks do matter as I'm in business development and a small business owner"

I learned the shave at night trick in the army-- 1 less thing to do in the early AM while the drill sergent is yelling at you...(this was with a Bic disposible, mind you)

When I do a full 3 pass shave at night, it will last me all day-- by dinnertime it still looks good. Everybody's different, give it a go Friday night sometime, and see if it works for you.


-Chief

Well, shave number two was tonight, I skipped on trying it this morning and just used the Mach III as I was short on time and didn't even want to think about rushing it. This 2nd time tonight was actually much better than the first. I stropped with the canvas and then the leather, and lathered up and went at it. I was definitely more at ease and not so timid with the blade this time as I was the first time. Actually did more shaving than the first attempt and I think it was because this time I was better with the pressure and angle, and a little less nervous. I had one heck of time doing my chin though, and still didn't get my chin as close as I would like, going around the curves is quite difficult for me. Practice, practice, practice...

Dan

Danny, from what I've read in the wiki and in viewing Lynn's DVD, I'd recommend considering applying a light coat of camellia oil after using and drying the blade if you're not going to use it for several days, if it's a carbon blade (supposedly the stainless steel blade is much more rust resistant). If used, you should wipe off the blade prior to using again. I'm sure the more humid your area, the faster the blade would rust.

Originally Posted by dannywonderful

I'm pretty sure I was careful about drying.

If I can't find Maas will Autosol do?

Edit: Answered my own question as I couldn't find Maas anyway, Autosol works well and my razor is all shiny and rust free again.

Thank you, Edge. I can't find any stockists of the oil near me, so it looks like I'll have to get some from eBay. I'm still amazed that a blade could rust that quickly, it must have been a matter of minutes!