Is it my razor or me?

Ok, i know this is a serious newbie question. yesterday, i got my Dovo razor from Vintage Blades llc. Ive wanted one for a year now and in the waiting time i have watched every blasted straight razor shaving video on youtube, gurantee it! ive learned all about how to know if your razors sharp, proper technique, how to strop a razor, the importance of not applying pressure, etc etc.
I got the razor with a sticker on it from vintage blades llc that said "this razor has been professionaly honed by one of our Honemeisters at Vintage Blades llc. It is shave-ready and does not need to be stropped before use". I dont think that was correct. The first shave was a nightmare. I applied as little pressure as possible and all that jazz. Today, i stropped it on my Vintage Blades llc strop, bout 40 on linen and 40 on leather. I did the dangling hair test. The first two times, my chop didnt cut the hair but the third time it did. I had a better shave, but it still didnt quite float across my cheek like it seems to do for everyone else and DEFINATLEY isnt as close of a shave as everyone tells me it should be. My question to you guys:
1)Is it possible that the guy at vintage blades llc didnt quite hone this one to perfection.
2)is there something in my story that might have been reason for a bad shave
3)Is there a better way of knowing if your razor is sharp enough?

p.s For any people who read that are debating where to get their straight razor: I am in NO way un-satisfied with my expierience with Vintage Blades LLc. They have been wonderful to me and im sure that this problem is an isolated incident. The perfect: Ship on time, prompt updates on order status and even a free sample of Vintage Blades Brand Shaving Cream and free steptic pencil. No doubt, this is where you want to buy your razor.

Hi, Welcome to SRP. I know Jim and Erin over at Vintage, and I know who hones their razors. Your razor is fine. The odds of it Not being shave ready are about a million to one. There's a serious, serious learning curve when it comes to str8 shaving. Not one of us here, picked up a blade, and got a nice blood free, nick free, smooth shave the first time out. Give it some time, don't be discouraged. I'm not sure where you are in the world, but chances are, there's a member nearby that would glady check your razor and if not, I'd be happy to. There's so much to consider including your preperation. There are other tests, Check our WIKI, but when your new, it's really hard to make sense of them, Even the HHT test takes a little know how....I did the same as you, I watched everything, read eveything, I even bought Lynn Abrams DVD. I thought, This is going to be No Problem....Wrong...It took me a while, but I got the hang of it.
Be patient, ask us questions, PM me if you want, and be aware of the angle of the blade when you shave. As I said, if you'd like to have your razor checked, Tell us where you are, and I bet someone will check it for free...

Rich

Welcome to SRP

Statistically speaking from much experience with the same question in the same spot in the Newbies Section of the forum.... We have found that most of the time it is actually prep or technique rather than the actual edge of the razor...

Razor has to be sharp #1
Prep has to be good #2
Technique must be good #3

1+2+3= Close comfortable shave

There is always a chance that your razor is not quite sharp enough but numbers 2 & 3 are more likely off than number 1

Usually the first shave is not very pleasant, give your skin some time to get used to the blade.
When someone gives you she ready they can only test on themselves, so whats shave ready for someone might not necessarily be most comfortable for another. Strop, run the razor on CrO strop, etc and the edge will eventually be to your standards.
Another important point is beard prep, no matter how many vids you have watched, you need to figure out how to prep so you get better shaves.

hmmm ...

1. Probably not. Of course, this is given with the benefit of the doubt.

2. Answering this one could take a while. Basically, shaving with this instrument isnt easy. It takes a few times to get the hang of it. Technique is really important here. Instead of using lather, try using olive oil in lieu of soap. You dont need too much, but it is easier to see what the blade is doing when it isnt covered up with lather. What is the condition of your beard after your 'shave'? Alot of razor burn, perhaps? You mention nothing about beard prep. This is important as well.

3. The shave test is the best test on the street.

Dont worry, most of us went through the same thing when we started. It takes a couple runs to get the hang of it. My first shave took me almost 45 minutes. I was a nervous wreck ... lol...

Stropping is a whole other ball of wax ...

One thing at a time, ok ?

God that was quick. I bet im just not used to a straight yet. My skins always been a bit sensitive. I guess i just gotta bear it a bit. Im gunna get a CrO strop set up once i get some money. If theres someone in Greenville or Columbia SC out there you guys know of let me know, just for future reference.

Yes there is someone in yer neck of the woods I will direct him to this post....

Whiskers, and others,
My beard prep was pretty text book. Sharpened the razor, took a shower, came out and shaved. I dont use a fancy lather or brush, just barbasol. I dont think the lather was the problem because yesterday i used the Vintage blades brand shaving cream sample that came with my razor.

Another thing that I didn't see pointed out above is the importance of stretching the skin as you shave.

If you keep the skin taut and pulled in the right direction, it will help considerably!

Like everyone said, make sure you prep your face WELL, stretch, and take it a little bit at a time. Experiment with blade angle a little to get it right for your face.

When I started, I did just my cheeks, then gradually added a little more each time with the straight. Finally got to the point where I could do my whole face. Then I cleaned it up with my other razor. Now, I don't even need to clean it up with another razor.

It might take you a month or more to get to the point of getting a smoother shave, but it will come! Keep the faith and good luck!

We're here along the way if you need help :)

Thats gotta be a big part. I didnt really stretch the skin that much. Thanks everyone for all of your help. In a month or so, ill be shaving like the big kids.

Thanks again,
Zee

Zee, have you ever wet shaved before? If not, you might try a week or so of daily shaving with a bic or similar disposable razor while focusing on prep. Make sure you're getting your whiskers nice and soft before you shave. I recommend that you shave without any prep at all, then shave with a lot of prep, and notice the difference. (With a cartridge razor. Don't try it with your straight.) It'll help you know how to ensure a nice soft beard.

Once you know you have good prep, try shaving the under part of your forearm or the backs of your hands to at least get a start on technique.

I know some of the old-timers here will disagree with me on both of these recommendations, but they come from my own personal life experiences. I've owned and sharpened knives since I was 10, and I've always tested the sharpness by shaving my arm-hairs, so I alreay had a good idea of the best angles to hold the blade. Also, I wet shaved for years with cartridge razors, and I would run the entire range of prep from literally stepping out of the shower and running the razor over my face (no soap, cream, etc.) to hardcore, intensive hot towel and soap lather prep. I honestly believe that those two things gave me a good foundation of experience to be able to pick up a SR and get good results right away.

Oh, and one other thing: buy a brush and lather. There's no right kind of lather, just use whatever shaving soap or shaving cream you want/like. The point is at least use some sort of hot lather. It'll save your face.

Zee, You said, you sharpened the razor, How did you that?

Zib, I think he means stropped, not sharpened.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by aragornelessar86

Zib, I think he means stropped, not sharpened.

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Your probably right...Thanks....!

There is a learning curve for using a straight razor. PLEASE read the WIKI.

If you bought a grand piano - never having played the piano before:
The first time you sit down and play - and it does not sound like Mozart, do you:

1) Blame the grand piano?
2) Blame the piano-tuner?
3) Practice, practice and practice some more until you have learned how to play?

1) Blame the grand piano?
2) Blame the piano-tuner?
3) Practice, practice and practice some more until you have learned how to play


The 1 Million Dollar Answer ! :rofl2:

Hang in there new guy, I'm in the same phase (3 shaves in) but you gotta check your angles, stretch the skin. If you're not getting good shaves on a side then check the way you strop.

From my personal experience it will be technique more than anything.
I learnt on an old antique cut-throat at first I thought was sharp - was sore more than anything with my first shave. Second time I got it a lot sharper and I got a better shave. Third time and I pretty much cracked it - not perfect but a vast improvement.

Just got a TI from the classifieds on here and found I'm learning again.. The TI is far far sharper than my vintage Kropp (also feels a lot different to use) so I'm having to use a lighter touch and am more aware than I might actually carve my face up if I'm not careful.

It's like anything I suppose - practice makes perfect.

Hey Zee, welcome to the wonderful world of straight razor shaving! What everyone else said is absolutely correct...you will get the hang of this!

My first shave with a straight razor seven years ago was very similar to yours. I remember my hand was shaking, and I was sure I would cut myself badly. It wasn't a good shave at all, and I made the mistake of lathering up and reshaving about six times to get all of the whiskers that I missed--at the end of all that I looked like someone had hit me in the face repeatedly with some old golfing spikes, and my face burned like crazy.

I think it takes your skin a few shaves to get used to a straight razor, and it takes you shaving with a straight over and over to get the technique that works best for your beard and face. I'm still making small adjustments to my technique all the time.

I definately would use a brush and some shaving soap. The foam shaving creams don't give you the kind of lubrication that you need for a good experience.

Just hang in there and play around with your prep and technique, and you will be an old pro before you know it!

I just had shave 3 and its going better. I used the advice on practicing on my arm for technique practice. I dont have a "wet-set-yet" but im getting one within the next week. Im about to read the Wiki, thanks for the link i couldnt find it before. I really think my face has to get used to the razor as well as get a good lather. I used a nice lather, vintage blades brand, the first shave. The razor went over my face smoother i do admit. I did get horrific burn/bumps, but i think thats my "virgin" face to blame. And i did use a strop to sharpen, sorry bout that.
Now i am pretty sure the razor isnt quite sharp enough. I cant dangle a hair and cut it. I stropped it more and that helped a bit, but still i only cut the hair 1 outa 10 times. i watched the youtube video of Lynn Abrams sharpening a razor in between hones with a felt strop and diamond spray. Can anybody tell me how to set that up? or, is CrO better to use?

you can buy that set i think from SRD.straight razor design.