My First couple of Shaves

I recently have purchased a Dovo Shavette to see if I will like to fully invest into straight razor shaving. I used a soap:soapbox: and brush kit that I got at my local Wal-mart and a styptic pen I found at my grocery store. Well first i know I got to get used to shaving but my face looks like I lost a fight to a cat. By shave 3 I have not cut myself as much but my skin is really irritable. I also have used an alcohol based after shave which feels good right after the shave, (besides the cuts) does anyone have any advice for a newbie?:boohoo:

Thanks
Ben

Sounds like you need to ease up on that heavy hand of yours :). When I started, I had the same problem...heavy handed pressure from twenty years of cartridge shaving. It wasn't until someone explained it like this; imagine the razor is a feather and you're gently touching it to your face like you're trying to tickle yourself. That's the kind of pressure you need.

If I have a shave that isn't going my way, I lean on my witch hazel to help with the irritation and razor burn. You can get a large bottle at Target for under $3...after that dries down and gets some of the irritation knocked down, I move over to the alcohol aftershave.

Before I got started I thought long and hard about whether to get a straight with disposable blades or just go for it. After doing the math I decided to just go for it.

IMHO I think a real straight shaves a little different than a shavette. You may find that going for it improves your experience and you'll have a razor that will last your forever. It is addictive once you start, and you can always sell it if you want out.

Two things:
1) if your face hurts, take a day off. No one will be the wiser, except your boss.
2) I tried a shavette once or twice and was afraid to use it after a while. It just seemed flimsy.
3) I am still a newbie so any advice is just from my limited experience.

That's three things! DOH!

It take a while to learn to use a straight razor. I think everyone goes through the same newbie period. I had a time when my face burned so badly after the shave I was ready to throw in the towel. Thanks to many members here I am still using the str8 and now even enjoy it tremedously.

Give it time, hang in there and come here and look for advice.

Ben,

++1 on the previous advice. You needn't apply a lot of pressure to the blade to achieve a good shave. This is especially true of a shavette which, although it looks and shaves similar to a straight razor, is not a straight razor--in the strictest sense of the word.

Let your face heal for a day or two, then try shaving again, using gentle pressure to remove your whiskers.

Just my 2 cents.