The Sting of the First Shave

About a week ago I got my first straight razor, a dovo, from Straight Razor Designs. It was their cheapest one there; I didn’t want to spend too much on my first razor. I also got a Strop, a SRD red Latigo, D.R. Harris Shaving soap as well as Harris’ aftershave milk. I also got Lynn’s DVD as well. First thing I did was to pop the DVD in and watch, very informative I thought. The next morning I headed into shave. Well, I don’t have that much to shave. I’m sporting some old time mutton chops so my chin and neck are the only area to take a blade to. So I jumped to it. A hot rinse, lather up, hot towel, more lather, then unsheathe the blade as if it was a rapier and then got down to work. The process was nice. The prep and then the shave itself was a bit like meditation, all thought was on the shave, very relaxing. That is too say until I put on the aftershave milk. Now my throat was red, but after the aftershave treatment it turned purple. After the initial shock of the sting wore off I smiled. “Just classify me as a purple throated dandy” I thought to myself. Purple throated dandies might look a fool, but they learn form their mistakes. I took a look at my shaving paraphernalia and said “that strop needs oil”. On went the oil and now the strop is stropping much better. After the shave the next day I didn’t see a dandy with a purple throat lurking about the bathroom.

Now for a question, I’m still having problems with red bumps and it doesn’t feel like the blade is giving as close of a shave as it should even when I go against the grain. It feels like it’s pulling the hair slightly before cutting it when I try to go against the grain. Should I strop more? I do 60 passes on my strop and am wondering if I should do 100 passes, but on the same note can one over work the blade by doing too much stropping? And then what about the linen side, is it unnecessary, or should I be using it as well?

I must say the first shave with a straight razor beats even the best shave with a multi bladed razor. It’s fun, even if it leaves one’s neck a bit on the tender side.

The tenderness goes away for most in just a couple days. Take a look at the Wiki at the shaving angles for across the grain and against the grain passes. Remember to use short little strokes with larger clean up strokes. Sounds like you are doing good. It gets better with practice. 60 strokes is not too much on the strop.

Lynn

Hi. and welcome. Like Lynn says, check your blade angles out. Once you get them down you only need the lightest of touches with the razor and this eliminates razor burn. If you're already getting a better shave with a straight than with a multi-blade you're doing pretty well actually.

+1 on whats been said. This is more than just a shave it's an art and the more you shave the more you'll learn. Take your time and enjoy, try changing your angles a little until you find what works best. You may want to get a day or twos growth and then "feel" your wiskers so you can get an idea of the direction of growth. Understanding what direction the hair was growing helped me figure out the best plan of attack (attack may not be the best word) and went a long way towards bettering my shaves. The thing is patience is the key and if we enjoy what we do we will strive for the best. Keep going you'll get there.

Thanks for the info all. I sure will check out the razor angles. Maybe my skin is a pit too sensitive to go against the grain just now. I haven't shaved with any sort of razor in about 5 years. I've been using my beard trimmer to do the job cuz the last inch or so of the hair on my neck is just so hard to shave. It lays so flat against my skin that the multi-bladed razors wouldn't cut the hair but pick it up between the blades till it gets to the base then would take a chunk out of my skin. No matter what I did, pulling, streching, or contorting would give me a shave that didnt look like I took a belt sander to my neck. So, I gave up till I thought maybe a straight razor will get the job done. So here I am.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by LeeringCorpse

Should I strop more? I do 60 passes on my strop and am wondering if I should do 100 passes, but on the same note can one over work the blade by doing too much stropping? And then what about the linen side, is it unnecessary, or should I be using it as well?

---

Welcome!

^+1 all great info above

To answer one of your questions you use the linen side before the leather side 30 laps on the linen should do it.

Blade angle and too much pressure is usually the cause of irritation for people just starting out. Remember light touch and if you feel resistance or tugging try readjusting your angle.

Also the neck and chin are usually the hardest areas to learn to shave (lucky you) but it sounds like you have the patience to master the craft and enjoy the zen of shaving ^_^

How is your lather coming? What kind of brush do you use?

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by mbwhoosh

To answer one of your questions you use the linen side before the leather side 30 laps on the linen should do it.

---

+1

The linen will help prep your razor before taking it to the leather. Personally I find it necessary to use the linen side before stropping on the leather.

This link may help Razor Strops

Thanks for some more good ideas and the nice link. This seems to be a great community of people. Shaving went a bit better this morning, using less pressure sure helps. However I found it near impossible to keep little pressure on the skin and still be able to shave against the grain, it kept wanting to skip across the beard rather then cut it. Next time I’ll try using the linen side before I strop on the leather side, see if that will give me a bit sharper blade. I also tried some new angles, some worked better and some didn’t, just needs a bit of experimentation. As for my brush it’s badger hair, a simpson beaufort 4. When I lather up I only give the brush the light snap to remove a slight amount of water, then I start working up a lather. When I first ably the lather it is rather thin, but after I do the hot towel treatment the water soaks into the soap and with a little more brush work gives me a thick silky lather that just feels great going on.

Ok here's the deal if you bought a Dovo it most likely did not come "shave ready" what that means is you have to hone that puppy , it sounds like thats the problem , go with a norton 4k/8k water stone , if you only want one stone go with that one .. oh yeah you also need a flattening stone to flatten the norton . you can check out honing methods on you tube . It shouldn't take that
that long to hone depending on the hardness of the blade , if thats not it work on you're stropping technique laters

"good razors aren't cheap and cheap razors aren't good "

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by razormike

Ok here's the deal if you bought a Dovo it most likely did not come "shave ready" what that means is you have to hone that puppy

---

He mentioned buying it from SRD, so it should be considered shave ready.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by LeeringCorpse

Thanks for some more good ideas and the nice link. This seems to be a great community of people. Shaving went a bit better this morning, using less pressure sure helps. However I found it near impossible to keep little pressure on the skin and still be able to shave against the grain, it kept wanting to skip across the beard rather then cut it. Next time I’ll try using the linen side before I strop on the leather side, see if that will give me a bit sharper blade. I also tried some new angles, some worked better and some didn’t, just needs a bit of experimentation. As for my brush it’s badger hair, a simpson beaufort 4. When I lather up I only give the brush the light snap to remove a slight amount of water, then I start working up a lather. When I first ably the lather it is rather thin, but after I do the hot towel treatment the water soaks into the soap and with a little more brush work gives me a thick silky lather that just feels great going on.

---

In time the shave will become easier and you will be a pro at it, it takes practice and repetition to get it right. Everyone has a different beard, so the shave is different for everyone.

I still remember when I first started shaving, I just did not have a sharp enough blade so it would drag across my skin and was not entirely comfortable. I was also a tad shaking sticking an extremely sharp blade so close to so many important arteries. One slip and I would be in trouble.

Thanks for all the good info, I've already put it to good use. Stropping on the linen did give the blade a bit more sharpness, thank you for that good sir and next time I'm in town I'll look into some glycerin. I have to say this morning I got the closest shave to date. After looking at the Wiki I decided to try the scythe, guillotine and slice techniques. They are much better then the one I was using before. In one pass they sheered me closer then in two passes from my old technique. This is a great site with a help full and knowledgeable community. Thank you all for the help.

Glad to hear the shaving is going well!

Yes this forum is very helpful and the members are some of the best people I have ever met (and I haven't even met them:p).

Might I bug you for your routine:IE
pre prep-(example hot shower, hot towel)

equipment-strop how many what material
razor
soap/cream
brush

post shave-(warm water rinse, cold water rinse)
astringent(witch hazel alum bar)
aftershave(old spice, aqua velva)
moisturizer/balm(cornhuskers lotion)

also you mentioned a rapier in you OP are you a fencing man? I learned the foil and dabbled w/ the rapier but never got into the sabre myself.

My shave routine goes as thus

Pre shave: I usually do a hot towel treatment, seeing as most times I shower in the evenings.

The equipment :
My strop is a Straight Razor Design 2'' red ligato. I strop 30 passes on the linen side then 60 times on the leather side.
The razor I am using is a Dovo Solingen Best Quality
I use D.R. Harris Lavender scented shaving soap
And a Simpson Beaufort 4 pure badger brush

The Post shave: I do a warm water rinse to get all the soap out of my mutton chops
I do not use a astringent
Then D.R. Harris aftershave milk
As for a moisturizer, I don't use one. The aftershave milk keeps me well hydrated.

A fencing man, me? No, I'm just a chap that uses the odd simile now and then. Although when I was young I thought about doing some fencing, but didn't have the coin for it. And now the violin takes up most of my free time, as well as my spare funds.