Thread: n00b needs help.

Hey Gents from SRP

I'm quite new to the forum but have researched online and on YouTube for advice and instruction so feel I had a good grasp of the theory behind the shave but my problem is when I have tried shaving i'm getting horrible tugging and the blade at times not moving due to snagging on stubble. I have followed all advice from the forums (prepping skin by having a hot shower, followed by creating a nice lather with a glycerine based shave soap, applying the lather with shaving brush) but still cant see my problem I have a Dovo "Best Quality" 5/8 half hollow razor and a Dovo strop which I use to whett the blade before prepping my face (30-50 stokes). I know there is a learning curve and I appreciate that it will take time to get perfect but how do I prevent this painful start?

I must also mention that I have a full beard and only shave from my neck up to my jaw line and chin.

Thankyou for any help this forum has been VERY helpful.

Hi there,

Tugging and pulling are no fun.

First question: Did your razor come SHAVE READY from the seller? If it/they did not specifically say that, then you'll most likely need to get the razor honed from someone reputable.....NOT the "knife kiosk" in the mall.

Yeh sorry should have mentioned those details. The razor was brand new and shave ready from dovo.

Ok.

For what it's worth, I'd still send it out to get honed. The factory bevel or "shave readiness" probably needs to be reset and touched up.

I would honestly want to eliminate that large variable. A reputable honer will ensure that razor is perfectly sharp and smooth, which will allow you, as the user, to then say "OK, now my razor is sharp...for sure....so the tugging must be __________" fill in the blank with another wet shaving variable.....beard prep, angle, stroke, pressure, lather, etc.

That's my two cents.

Thanks again man yeh I know of a reputable razor retorer near by and think you are right better knowing it is sharp from a person in the know than assuming.

I can appreciate your frustration. I second the idea of sending the razor to a professional for honing. Unfortunately, the neck is one of the more difficult areas to shave. The skin is very tender and the grain patterns of the beard are often all over the map. This makes it even more difficult to develop your technique, so you are both comfortable and effective with your straight razor.

My advice:

• Take it slow.
• Do good shave preparation including letting the shave cream sit on your beard for at least two minutes, then refresh with more shaving cream.
• Lightly stretch the skin and only shave with the grain.
• Use a narrow angle with the razor about one spine's width off the neck. Use a light touch and just "caress" the skin.

My first week of shaves with a straight razor had lots of drag and pulling with very little hair cutting. It does get better. After 200 shaves, I can get a close, comfortable shave virtually every single day.

Don't get too discouraged. Just keep at it and it will improve.

Best Wishes and Happy Shaving!