Thread: Starting out - graduated from a shavette to a 6/8 straight razor

After shaving with a shavette for 2 1/2 weeks, my wife was impressed with my learning how to straight shave and she ordered me the kit from SRD that I pointed out to her. Since I have not been straight razor shaving a month, is it better to shave WTG for a while before attempting to go XTG and ATG just to get the feel of the razor and comfortable? Or should I just plunge in and start learning ATG right away? I have mostly been WTG even with the shavette and this morning when I first tried my new DOVO, I tried to go ATG, but the whiskers seem to "stop" the blade, so throwing caution to the wind, I did not try to go any further. So it was two passes WTG today. A couple nicks but nothing styptic cannot handle. But I am looking forward to tomorrow morning's shave though.

I have the pre-shave prep down well (wash my face with body wash well in the shower, use a pre-shave oil, a good rich lather that I let sit for about 2-3 minutes, and I reapply the pre-shave oil and re-lather for the second pass WTG) and I have stropped my DOVO Best Quality 6/8 well. (Mind you, I watched some videos on proper stropping.) My wife donated a long hair strand and the blade cuts right through the strand without bending it; so I know my DOVO is shave-ready.

I am open and appreciative to input and advice to work my way to a BBS shave.
Thank you in advance,
Patrick

Well done with the Dovo! On xtg/atg, it really depends on your own level of confidence, it really is not harder than wtg. It does require a little from your technique, but really the only way to learn is to try it. Short, light and careful strokes should do it. Atg is perhaps the most demanding, so try xtg and see how that goes. Don't be afraid to stop with the straight razor and finish up with your shavette though, there is no need to push past your comfort level.
A good preshave prep is a good starting point, but it sounds you got that part down.
Best of luck, and have fun.

Edit: Oh, and for xtg/atg, try a shallower angle and make sure your skin stretching is working.

Very cool that your wife is so supportive. I think you are on the right track with taking your time and getting comfortable with the razor and so forth. No need to be in a rush to go XTG and ATG. I think early on it is better to focus on a comfortable shave rather than worrying about getting to BBS. I assume you have read this: First straight razor shave - Straight Razor Place Wiki . It gives advice than goes far beyond your first shave - really more of an intro piece and well worth reading.

I'd stick with WTG until you've got that right. If you need to finish up with something else for a while, that's fine. I think it is important to take your time with learning straight shaving. It's a long haul.

Just from my own experiences, I'm six weeks or so in and I would strongly support goinf for comfortable over smooth. I pretty much removed six or so layers of skin on my chin in my first week (angle all wrong and too much pressure) trying for BBS.

Take it slowly and also perhaps shave every other day (depending on your lifestyle), I'm only now going for ATG passes on my cheeks and still don't feel ready to run a blade south-north on my neck. The shave is getting better every week though.

Well done, to have such a supportive partner. Keep her around....especially when you start wanting more strops, razors and hones!

As said above, I'd stick with WTG for a while, just until you get your angles perfect and you become more confident with your technique. There is plenty of time to learn the other passes.

Glad to have you on SRP!

Thank you all for your kind posts, advice, encouragements, and welcome.

I wear a full beard trimmed close, so I mostly shave my cheek area above my beard line and I shave under my jaw just underneath the beard line and course my neck. I usually shave six days a week, Saturdays are usually "no-shave days" to give my face a break unless there is a reason to shave. It's interesting because I originally purchased the shavette to get in tight in my cheek area on top of my beard line where I would mess up with the Mach 3. Then I would use the Mach 3 on my neck and under the jaw. I got proficient with the shavette and I thought, "Hmm, why not straight razor shave instead of using the Mach 3?"

I am blessed with a supportive wife. She also looks at straight razor shaving from this point of view:
a. no aerosol cans to dispose of
b. no propellants from aerosol cans (she calls it "gas")
c. no more remembering to pick me up some Mach 3's
d. she sees a savings over time
e. she thinks it's pretty cool - she can get "old school" like me
f. she loves me

Keep telling her about that "savings over time" part, especially when you start getting lots of deliveries of razors, strops, soaps, hones, and, well, you get the point.

shavette's are a little different than regular straights. the angles are different and you just need to play around. as for going ATG, stretching the skin is definitely the key. just keep at it and you'll get it!

Man, I've been at this for almost 2 months now, and I still can only barely go XTG. ATG only on the upper neck.

It sounds like your going down the correct path, and these folks here will never steer you wrong.!!

Good luck mate!!