A little unnerving, but nevertheless..

So this past Monday my Dovo finally arrived from SRD and of course being new to straight razor shaving I was excited about jumping into the deep in. I was still waiting on my brush and strop to arrive, however I had already purchased some Maca root shave cream courtesy of The Body Shop.

So naturally once my razor arrived I promptly wanted to shave with it, so I go into the bathroom and "lather" up with the shave cream (using only my hands to make a sorry excuse for lather).

It is only then that I realize, this is a huge razor coming towards my face! It really is a scary feeling! So I started and only finished the side burn on one side of my face.

I got to say, Not Bad! The razor was very sharp and cut through my hair like butter! I fought the urge to continue with the rest of my face and decided I'd wait until the rest of my materials arrived to give it another go.

This morning both my strop (Filly) and brush (Tweezerman) arrived. I promptly started practicing to strop with a butterknife and then moved onto my razor. Unfortunately I flipped the blade over on the edge side twice, but only made a microscopic nick on the end of my strop and corrected my form (as best as I could).

I soaked my brush and lathered up and got ready for take two. After correcting my grip on my razor by looking at the wiki I was a bit more confident and not so awkward feeling with my razor. I shaved both sides of my face without a problem only going WTG. I love it! I had to stop before I got ****y and moved onto my neck area!

I still have a lot to learn with stropping, I just want to make sure I'm not ruining my blade.

And I have yet to cut myself (knock on wood)...some things are just unavoidable.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Lambda89

Not Bad! The razor was very sharp and cut through my hair like butter! I fought the urge to continue with the rest of my face and decided I'd wait until the rest of my materials arrived to give it another go.

This morning both my strop (Filly) and brush (Tweezerman) arrived. . . . After correcting my grip on my razor by looking at the wiki I was a bit more confident and not so awkward feeling with my razor. I shaved both sides of my face without a problem only going WTG. I love it!

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Way to go, Lambda! Take it from this newb, you're doing great!
Namaste,
Morty -_-

I too am a beginner. I purchased a Dovo Bismarck after I got one given to me from my mom. It was my grandfathers and he used it a lot because the spine is flattening from honing so much.

My story is:
I sent the heirloom to someone to be re-sharpened. While I was waiting for it to be returned I had purchased a Dovo "Bismarck" to "practice" with. I knew it was "shave ready" is why - so I began immediately. First time was the most frightening. I felt as you - this was a "straight razor" coming to my face and I imagined "Jack the Ripper" doing ladies throats - or like that kind of imagining. Scary!

After the first time though I felt I was able to handle it good so I began relaxing and didn't fear so much being cut or sliced. I was impressed with how they shave, too. Verrrry nice shavers! I always had used a Gillette FUSION for my shaving and when I tried the straight razor I felt it was a better shave. I am "sold" on straight razors now!

I was scared to use it the first day like you were. I "nick'd" myself a few times but kept going till both sides of my face were shaved. I stopped there and didn't do my chin because I wear a goatee and the chin would have been awkward to shave with the sides of my goatee there, hanging down by the side of my mouth. One day I will try my chin but AFTER many practice sessions first.

Good luck with your new shaver. And be careful. Cuts happen soooo fast you don't even blink and you are bleeding from one. Take your time.

I found out also that your razor blade MUST be sharpened correctly or it can actually cause you a mistake from the way it goes over the whiskers wrong. I had received my grandfathers razor back from the sharpener and did NOT realize it was done wrong when I tried using it. I sliced my cheek with it (one inch vertical next to goatee). I was trimming next to my goatee. It was a different style blade too. A "wedge" style blade. I was used to "hollow ground" blades and they shave quite differently. I found out the hard way!

It's funny, scar's help you NEVER FORGET a mistake! I now have one for life! Oh well.....I will keep using it. I like the straight razor!

Kindest regards and best of luck to you!

~Phil Lanza Sr. (Modesto, Ca.)

I remember being a bit intimidated when I first looked in the mirror and brought that naked blade up to my side burn. I used a DE to finish my shave for the first two or three weeks on the chin, mustache and neck areas. Dipped my foot in the water rather than diving in as Lynn recommends here. Once I shaved my whole face and neck I put that DE away and haven't gone back to it in a couple of years. The shaves keep getting better and better. Read my sig below to avoid cuts and nicks. What the old barber told me still works for me. :)

Lambda,

Congratulations on your shaving. You are doing very well.. I use Maca Root from the body shop as well ... plus a couple of others once in a while. The Maca Root is a great scent and a great Shave Cream at a great price..and it lathers easy... If you want an even smoother glyde try their preshave oil as well.. If you ever get razor burn they have a product called Razor Relief that I like a lot...

I remember that first shave like it was yesterday... hasn't been that long... but I had the same feeling...."am I going to do this right or cut a slice of my face off"? I think the first shaves often are pretty good because you are a bit intimidated and don't have a heavy hand.. Resist going too fast or adding pressure when your confidence builds.. the added speed and pressure will cause you nicks and razor burn... for now just take your time and use a light touch.

Practice stroping if you can with something other than your new razor.. I had an old junk razor I found at a flea market for 5 dollars that served this purpose well... once you get to shaving ... keeping your razor sharp is the next trick... You'll probably have no trouble at all ... you've got a great razor..

Have fun..and... best of luck

Maq