Thread: Newbie in need of help

Any pimples on the face would get cut off even if you used a disposable razor. Straight razors are a little more flexible than the shavette goodies. If you're not ready to spring for a $130 razor, check the for sale section and pick up a starter vintage model on the cheap to see the difference for yourself.

Well, I'm not sure how helpful this will be as I have never tried a shavette (I just dove head first into the straight razor scene). However, I'm a young guy that has a few blemishes still, but I've never sliced one with my straight razors. I don't know if the shavette is to blame or you technique, but I would feel confident in telling you that you aren't going to find a better shave than a straight razor. Additionally, I feel confident in saying that the whole straight razor routine will help to improve your skin quality. Best of luck and welcome to SRP

I just started using a straight at the end of last week, so my shaves aren't incredible yet. I've been using a DE razor for over a year, so my standards are pretty high on what constitutes a good shave.

That being said, I haven't had a bad straight experience yet. No blood has been spilled at least. I started with a $28 restored razor I got from a sale, which, if I'm not mistaken, is not too much more than a shavette and is in fact a real straight. My advice is to check out a few vintage blades with different grinds, sizes, and weights before tossing down big money based on looks.

For example, I am using a 5/8 full hollow right now, I have a 5/8 wedge on the way, a 7/8 half hollow on the way, and a <$10 junker I got off of ebay on the way just so I would have something to practice honing and stropping with (along with trying my hand at making some scales)

All of those razors together cost me under the price of the Dovo you mentioned, by a considerable margin. And this way I am trying out 3 VERY different blades without losing my life savings. I figure this way I know exactly what I want before tossing down the big bucks.

I can't help you with the cutting them off part, but if you don't have a styptic pencil, you should get one. That will help with the bleeding. My local Walgreens has them, as does SRD.

Originally Posted by gsarducci412

. . . .I am having a problem with what seems to be cutting off the pimples on my face. I have never had nice smooth skin, but i have tried everything from using a more acute angle to the least amount of pressure possible. My face is not severly bumpy, but I do have some some small bumps.
. . . I end up with about 10 little dots on my face that bleed after every shave (none on my neck). Is it the shavette I am using, or is it inevitable with a str8? I am not getting any razor burn or pulling so I dont think my preshave is the issue.

Any guidance here guys?

It's hard to tell you what's going on because we don't have any before and after pictures to look at. I would recommend that you take a good gander at your face before each shave and note where your blemishes are located and see if those are, in fact, the spots where you are nicking yourself.

If you are nicking yourself where your skin is clear, it would seem that your putting a little too much pressure on the blade while it is at too open an angle. Sometimes, that causes the kind of nicks you are describing. Otherwise, just be careful to go lighter on the blemished parts of your face until it clears up.

Hope this helps.
Happy Shaving!

I have a benign mole under my chin. I doubt anyone even notices it. But, the same can't be said for my straight razor! It sticks up, and the straight wants to shave it off. I think this might mimic a large pimple.

When I shave around the spot, if the blade is at 5 degrees or 30 degrees, or even somewhat more, it WILL cut the mole. For that spot, I hold the blade at about a 70-80 degree angle. Almost perpendicular. My blade motion was originally completely perpendicular as well. Now, I use the very slightest scything motion. And, the razor cuts the hair off nicely, even though it is at a very vertical angle. I can drag (best way to describe) the blade over and over the bump without cutting it, all the while taking off hair with each pass. It might take 5-10 passes over the bump, but the hair is gone.

One admission is that my spot is not heavily bearded. If it was located at the thickest part of my beard, I would probably have to decrease the angle to, maybe, 50-60 degrees. (This would increase the chances of cutting, but still not as much as at 30 degrees or less.)

There is much difference between faces, and the above might not be useful to you. (Even if useful, if you have a ton of pimples, time might not allow you to use this technique.)

Hi and welcome to SRP! I don't think you mentioned what type of lather you are using and how you apply it. Are you using canned gel or aerosol foam and applying it with your hands? The reason I ask is long before I starting shaving with a straight razor I was using this canned crap. Had the same problem you mention about blemishes. I eventually switched to wet shaving using a brush and quality shave soaps and creams to make and apply lather. My shaves improved dramatically and my skin cleared up quickly. I think the use of quality soap/cream along with a brush also helps clean your skin. I now have been using a straight razor for a few months and no longer have issues with blemishes. I hope this helps.

Problem solved - it was a mix of lather and pressure. I was pressing way to hard for what i should have been and my lather was way off. I took some more time in prepping my face and went very light on both passes - all good now. Thanks for everything!

Originally Posted by gsarducci412

Problem solved - it was a mix of lather and pressure. I was pressing way to hard for what i should have been and my lather was way off. I took some more time in prepping my face and went very light on both passes - all good now. Thanks for everything!

Well Done and Happy Shaving!

Well done, enjoy your intro to the world of straights. If you want to try a real straight without dropping big bucks on brand-new ones, try the classifieds here - heaps of shave-ready razors for far less than a new one.