Thread: First shave, four cuts!

Hi all,

I've finally got round to giving straight razor shaving a go. Not sure how I'd get on, so I bought me the Dovo Shavette which you use disposable blades.

Watched a few youtube videos on shaving and went with the flow - darn shame I didn't read the introduction to shaving on here first, I'd have only cut myself the once as I tried majority of the face (although thankfully did give up about 2/3 the through and didn't attempt the chin!)

One question for those who know - two of my cuts were purely from placing the blade on the face (nice straight cuts!) - what am I doing wrong?! How do you make sure that you don't get cut from placement of blade? do you put it on the face flat first, then get to correct angle or what? Maybe my angles were out. Anyhow, I'll leave it a couple days, then try again with Lynn's method of learning!

Welcome to straight shaving and SRP. I started with disposable straights as well so I have a good idea of what is happening.

A brand new blade is very sharp so if you let it touch your skin and move it the slightest along the length of the blade, then it will cut the very top layer of the skin. This takes about 3 days to heal.

Going with the grain, start short strokes near the skin and bring it closer to the skin until it touches and starts shaving. You may only go with 1/2" - 3/4 inch strokes as you move down the face.

You may get some weepers just in the process of shaving. These will close up with a cold water rinse. Always, go easy and gentle.

Over a few shaves, you will develop the finesse and technique to straight shave. Of course, a good face prep, a decent badger brush, and a decent shaving soap will add to the ease of a straight shave.

Start with sections first, develop a feel for the straight razor, then add another section. Everyone goes through the learning curve.

I tried shaving the whole face when I first started and it took 45-50 minutes. I was nervous the entire time and had a flush face when I finished. My point is, no need to rush it. Build upon your success and it will come to you.

Pabster

That sound a lot like my first few shaves as well
Just be patient I guess, you'll get the hang of it.
The trick for me, as a newbie, is to start the shaving motion with the blade in the proper angle before actually touching the razor down on the face.

Welcome to SRP. Glad that you found Lynn's recommendations for the first shaves. Dipping your foot in the water instead of diving in is the way I did it and it worked well. I finished up with a DE for the first two or three weeks before going completely with the straight.

Read my sig line below to avoid nicks and cuts.

Originally Posted by Pabster

Welcome to straight shaving and SRP. I started with disposable straights as well so I have a good idea of what is happening.

...

Going with the grain, start short strokes near the skin and bring it closer to the skin until it touches and starts shaving. You may only go with 1/2" - 3/4 inch strokes as you move down the face.

Pabster

Thanks Pabster, that makes sense. How long did you leave it until you purchased a full-on straight razor? I already worked out that buying the one I did, plus a pack of ten blades (giving me 20 for the SR effectively) I've saved myself almost £30 on a the price it would be for a new gillette and 20 blades! So as long as I really get into this, despite having to pay for a whet stone, stop, decent S, etc It's going to save me a fortune over the years!

Hi anapauo,

Welcome to SRP.

As others have said, you are on the right track.

Just keep at it. Besides, the cuts make you look tough!

David

Well, this may be interesting for others starting out with disposables straights. I bought 15 disposable blades to start out and I still have 5 of them after 15 months of straight shaving. I purchased a Dovo Tortoise after my 20th shave. I knew then that I was ready to spend the big money for the fixed straights and accessories.

1 month of that straight and I bought a second fixed straight. At 6 months I bought another and at 10 months a I bought another. During this time, I did buy two other disposable straights with 5 blade each and still have 4 blades left with each.

So much for saving money in the immediate short run, but my face never looked better and I no longer got the pesky pimples from using a Mach 3. This improvement alone was well worth my investement in straight shaving and this was one of my best decision for 2009.

I still work my disposables into my rotation but the fixed razors are doing 90% of the work.

Pabster

when placeing the blade on the face go slow and easy the last 1/2 inch or so the touch here is very soft as the rest of the shave should be.with a sharp blade like a new shavett you should barely feel the blade touch the skin.the hardest thing that i had to learn in going from a bic to a real razor was the touch. with the bic. you gotta bare down frimly to get a close shave . you dont want to do that with a straight here the lightest touch will shave you close and with 2 or 3 passes it will be closer that you ever had with a disposeable. the thing to keep in mind is beard reduction not removal my cheeks go smooth in a single pass but my neck and chin need at least 2 and most of the time 3 to get it right.

Originally Posted by Pabster

Well, this may be interesting for others starting out with disposables straights. I bought 15 disposable blades to start out and I still have 5 of them after 15 months of straight shaving. I purchased a Dovo Tortoise after my 20th shave. I knew then that I was ready to spend the big money for the fixed straights and accessories.

1 month of that straight and I bought a second fixed straight. At 6 months I bought another and at 10 months a I bought another. During this time, I did buy two other disposable straights with 5 blade each and still have 4 blades left with each.

So much for saving money in the immediate short run, but my face never looked better and I no longer got the pesky pimples from using a Mach 3. This improvement alone was well worth my investement in straight shaving and this was one of my best decision for 2009.

I still work my disposables into my rotation but the fixed razors are doing 90% of the work.

Pabster

Oh, you did this to save money?

They don't call it aquisition disorder for no reason

Originally Posted by Alembic

Oh, you did this to save money?

They don't call it aquisition disorder for no reason

Thanks!

Well, my current disposable is almost giving up the ghost - went to look at buying new ones and thought it's stupid to keep forking out - okay, okay, so it was partly a good reason to persuade my wife that I should 'invest', but I've wanted to try SR (but oh how I like the ame cut-throat razor!) shaving for years. Hey, it worked, I now have one!