Should I give it a rest?

Gentlemen,

Wanted some advise. I want to know if I should give my face a weekend off.

Here is some background. I have shaved everyday for the past twenty years since I was in boot camp. I enjoy being clean shaven. I would almost feel like something is missing if I left the house without shaving that morning. Sort of like forgetting your keys....

I started shaving with a straight razor this week. I am learning with a Dovo shavette. I plan on upgrading when I get my technique down. The problem is, I have cut up my face the past couple of days, and I am wondering if I should let it heal. Could I just use the electric razor for the next couple of days instead?

I have been putting a stypic pencil on the cuts and they are not looking completely healed. Also, I have been loading up my face with baum each day.

Best,
J

Yes, give it a couple days off, then shave only the easy spots (sideburns and cheeks) with your straight. Shave with what you're used to on the harder bits (chin, adams apple, wherever you're not confident yet with the straight). Don't rush it or, well, you know what'll happen.

Extend your range with the straight as you get more comfortable with it. It's as easy as that.

Good luck!

yup, give it a break and let it heal. I shave with 3 passes every other day. If i had to shave every day i would just do a with the grain shave. But i like the BBS to much!!!!!!!!!!!!

Yeah, let your face rest up a bit. If you shave over nicks, you just aggravate them. Give your face time to heal. If you have been using an electric, use that for a little while and come back to straights. Also, some people have reported that the shavettes can be less forgiving on your face than regular straights, so if you want to upgrade to a "real" straight razor, you might as well do it now.

Goodness yes, I don't even know if I'd use the electric.

It might even be a liberating experience!:beer1:

Quote:

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Originally Posted by markevens

Also, some people have reported that the shavettes can be less forgiving on your face than regular straights, so if you want to upgrade to a "real" straight razor, you might as well do it now.

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+1 to this. I was going to say that you should definitely give your face a rest, but when it's healed, invest in a traditional straight razor. The one time I used a shavette, I had serious issues with it. A regular straight will be much more forgiving and have better feedback so you will probably avoid slicing up your entire face. :tameshigiri: A nick here and there is expected, but I think you will see a big difference.

I agree with rest. You should give it rest until it heals.
if you have less cuts(1 or 2 )spot then you can manage shave rest of your face and leave a lont that 1 ,2 spots.( it will look ugly but who cares this is just learning curve).
good luck

Use an electric razor :dropjaw: Thats blasphemy!!! lol
But kidding aside..by all means give your face a rest..even with the smooth shave I get from a straight I still only need to shave every couple of days.

Definitely give it the weekend off. Personally I wouldn't use the electric razor either since I don't think the rubbing would help. I think a regular straight razor is in order.

Get a real straight and your face will thank you.

Agreed. Rest for a few. I had to this week myself.

I've been shaving with a shavette style for just over a month now (I use a Parker SRW). I've experimented with three different brands of blades...Shark, Derby, and 7AM double edge (breaking in half to use).

I'm really sold on this style of shaving, but I had a few nicks that simply needed to heal. It bugged the crap out of me going to work without shaving, but I didn't shave from Monday through Thursday evening. Best decision I could have made. I went back in and took my time shaving with a brand new Derby blade (one of the best blades, from what I've read and they are incredibly sharp in my limited experience with straights). I carefully went over where the nicks had healed with no trouble. I was able to get BBS easier than I ever had before. Even though I love to shave now, I will have to remember to let things heal up occasionally.

Also...for what it's worth...I personally have no plans to switch to a "regular" straight from my Parker SRW. I'm not patient enough to strop and hone, and too cheap to buy a quality "real" straight. However, I get much, much better shaves with the Parker.

Honestly, I got into this to save money as I was tired to paying Gillette's prices on their cartridges and I gave up on using an electric years back (although I still have that old Remington in the drawer around here somewhere). I got my Parker and two boxes of refills for under $30.

Best of luck! :beer2:

Goatee.

I found that the Dovo blades for the black holder to work the best in the Shavette... I did buy a mid priced Dovo SR got it about a week ago and still havent gotten a better shave from it then the Shavette with the Dovo blades..... And yes the SR was "shave ready" I just need to learn the SR.

Thank you are for the advice. I have considered giving up the shavette. I am going to wait until after the holidays though. I am looking at a Dovo primo right now. Hope you all have a wonderful holidays.

I have been wet shaving for more than 28 years and had to be clean shaven every work day for 25 of them. I started str8 shaving this past January. I think you should give your skin a rest from shaving periodically from a razor no matter what kind it is, St8, double edge or multi-blade.
A few times a year I shave on Thursday evening and don't shave again until Sunday to give my skin a rest.

Just my 2cents

I feel your frustration. I was ready to give up myself but kept perservering. Don't know if you've seen it yet or anyone posted it but the FAq section is informative: Frequently Asked Questions - Straight Razor Place Wiki