experiencing alot of "drag" uncomfortable shave.... first timer

Hello everyone,

I appreciate all your guys efforts in helping out newcomers to the world of straight razor shaving. A select group in which I'm a proud new member. However I can't say my first experience has been a great one.

I purchased a brand new, shave-ready dovo razor, on ebay i might add. I moistened my face and applied lather and all that as I'm not a noob to shaving, just straight razor shaving. When I went to swipe the razor down it just clung to hairs and had to be forced through. It was a very uncomfortable shave.

I noticed that I did do better on my strong side under my sideburn as suggested in one of the beginner "must read first" threads. However it wasn't as smooth as I expected.

The first time I shaved I didn't strop. I haven't received my strop yet and used light brown leather belt with a smooth finish since that's all I had the second time and the results were about 5% better.

Any suggestions or questions are much apprecaited. I know it's lengthy but I feel the details are probably important.

Thank you!

Paul

I would sadly say that even though the Ebay description said it was shave ready, there is a great chance that it was not. I suggest you find a honemeiser near you, send it out and have it honed by a pro.

If the box was opened you should find out from the seller whether the razor was honed, when, by who, etc.
It's somewhat likely that the edge isn't very good, at least I have had less than 0.5% of the razors I've picked on ebay have an edge that can shave.
You don't mention any stropping either - that's a necessity as well.
Once these are taken care of you should be looking mostly at your technique.

though im still new to straight razors. I would have to agree with them on weather or not the razor IS "shave ready"

The Dovo I got from SRD was shave ready and didnt act like what you described

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Maskwa

I would sadly say that even though the Ebay description said it was shave ready, there is a great chance that it was not. I suggest you find a honemeiser near you, send it out and have it honed by a pro.

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+1 on what Maskwa said above

-Robert

In addition to the recommendations you've received to send your razor out to be honed by a pro, I might add that it is unrealistic to expect a really good shave the first time out even with a truly shave ready straight. I had my first full-face three pass shave on March 26 with a shave ready razor I bought from the SRP Classifieds. A lot of pulling. A LOT of razor burn. Pretty much the same disappointment you feel, even though I was expecting it.

Now a month later, I am getting better shaves with NO razor burn with the same blade and it only gets a stropping just before my shave. No honing since.

The difference? My technique is improving. Yours will too; just give it some time and remember: This is something you can do.
Namaste,
Morty -_-

Sounds like it is not "shave ready".

I am tempted to say strop on a rolled
up newspaper rather than a brown belt.

If stropping does not bring it back to life
send it out to a professional.

Thanks to everyone for hearing out my case. Funny that you mention if the case was opened when I got it. It was not opened. However it was razor sharp. I did the hair test and although I couldn't split a hair with it straight on, I could split a hair if the razor caught it just a bit first. It sliced a bit of my belt i was using for stropping like butter.

I was hoping I wouldnt have to hone it but I'll look into it. I did expect difficulties with starting out and am sure it will be a bit before I get the hang of it.

As far as an ebay'er saying it's "shave ready" I would imagine one with experience would not agree. I have ready that "shave ready" razors aren't always shave ready.

Thanks again everyone!

I suggest you read our list of Frequently Asked Questions - Straight Razor Place Wiki, especially the Common misconceptions and mistakes.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by dovopaul

It sliced a bit of my belt i was using for stropping like butter.

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Please, do not use your razor like a knife. The edge will not slice/cut materials other than hair and retain its sharpness.

The hanging hair test (HHT) will not tell you whether a razor is shave ready or not. Only a test shave can tell you that. You can own a razor that will not pass an HHT but will give you a great shave and at the same time you can have a razor that will pass an HHT but gives a lousy shave and still needs honing.

Based on what I've read in the Wiki and in the forums here, about the only thing an HHT is useful for is determining when a bevel is set during the first stage of honing a dull razor.
Namaste,
Morty -_-

Lol, sorry morty, I forgot to mention that it was an accident. I was stropping and nicked my belt. It's a presicion thing I hope to get the hang of.

I have read the informative links and their a big help. I think getting my razor looked at by pro will be the best move.

Other than that I can try to play around with the techniques because I'm sure that's half of it as well.

+1 on the links posted by BeBerlin..

Slicing a leather belt will take the edge back a notch or
two.:cry:

You need to strop it correctly and that takes practice.

Between the above line and this I just washed the
pots and pans from dinner thinking about what
hint I could give to help teach a better strop technique.

I think I would advise a smoothly rolled up newspaper.
Sit on it and squash it down so it is oval and no more
than four inches wide in diameter and a length of about 18 inches.

Lay the roll of newsprint on a table and reach and set the
back of the razor on the paper then the sharp edge.
Pull the razor so the back/ spine leads and the sharp edge trails .
Roll the razor over on the back changing direction and
push again have the sharp edge follow the spine in a
normal stropping motion.

Do this for about two min and then take a five
min break. Do it again for two min and relax for five.
After 15 or 20 min or so put it up for the day.

Yes you can lather your face and shave test it....
Do give your hand a full five or ten min to relax
after stropping so you have fine hand control back.

Next day do it again, 2 min, 5 min on off slow
deliberate even flowing strop motions.
Again stop after 15 or 20 min and put it up
for the day.

Newsprint has enough 'tooth' to it that it
may recover the edge for you. While nicking
the newsprint will dull the razor it will not
take a chunk out of your wallet.

This is a roll of paper so an X is in order to cover the full
width of the edge.

Paper is flexible so it is easy to see pressure flex the paper.
Stropping (and honing) need a light touch so let the weight
of the razor do the work. There is no need for more
than the weight of the razor.

Smooth and deliberate maybe twenty X strokes a min
no faster.

It is possible to hold the roll of paper in your hand and
set the other end on a table or counter and strop as
if it was a hanging strop. Try this with only one or two sheets
of newspaper rolled up. Pressure will collapse the roll...
the weight of a razor will not.
:gl:

Yea I really wish I hadn't cut the belt, it was a very small slice but from what I've read about razor edges that's all it takes to manipulate them. I didn't realize how EASY it is to F up the edge. I have read alot but actually doing it is something else.

Looks like I will have to put in my time. I will use your advice and try to restore the edge with good ol manual labour.

Now when I get my 2 sided strop do you think it would be enough to strop the razor on the back of the strop to help restore the edge somewhat? Assuming I know what I'm doing. I ordered the strop the same time as the razor, strop hasn't arrived yet.

I appreciate your help. Seems there's no easy way to go about it. It is quite the art and the reality of it is kickin' in.

I nicked my strop and it still works just fine

thanks prez, yea I've been keeping a close eye on the blade to see if i notice any nicks. doesnt look like it