I’ve been researching straight razor shaving now for almost a year and finally decided to take the plunge. Before I purchased a razor I bought a Simpson Emperor 3 Super Badger brush , a couple of tubs of Truefitt & Hill shaving cream, and also a Premium Paddle strop because I knew I would be needing it. I started shaving with the cream and using my old cartridge razor. Really nice I thought. I like the lingering smell of the creams. I couldn’t quite decide on a razor because I was looking for one was good, but also that I liked the look of. Probably not what I should be worried about, but that’s just me. I ended up buying a few other things including a RazoRock Pure Alum block, a lathering bowl , a Dovo brush and razor stand, and some Proraso blood stop gel.

Finally, I found a razor I liked and I purchased a new “Professionally Sharpened” Dovo Desert Ironwood Stainless 5/8” as well as Lynn’s video. I got it in and was really excited to start shaving with it. The scales didn’t look anything like the picture, but I guess it is what it is and I’ll just have to deal with it. The vendor I purchased from said that the razor was shave-ready and all I had to do was wipe the oil off and start shaving. Stropping was optional. So, after watching Lynn’s video and several other videos I found on youtube I decide it was time to try shaving.

I already had a shower earlier in the day so I just did the preshave by cleaning my face with the shave cream and applying a hot towel for several minutes. I didn’t strop the razor because the vendor said it was optional. The shave was somewhat successful, but it was not comfortable at all. It felt as if my hair was being pulled out of my skin. So, I thought maybe I didn’t have my whiskers softened up enough. Today, I took a shower before I shaved and stropped the razor, but had the same result. It just hurts when I shave with this razor. So, I guess maybe my razor isn’t as sharp as it should be? I don’t really know. Also, I was looking at the razor really close and I noticed that the spine has been ground down a bit and seems somewhat uneven. Is this small amount of flatness always present on new razors? I assumed the vendor would use tape when honing the razor and it would be pristine. I’m not trying to complain and call out the vendor or Dovo directly, I just don’t know if this is what I should expect as far as sharpness and condition.

I also know that I’m going to need a set of stones and I want to get some recommendations for that. I don’t really have a budget as far as this stuff goes and I was wondering what would be the best set to get. I know that Lynn recommends the Norton 4k/8k, but is that just because of the cost benefit? I saw a set of stones, “Shapton Ceramic on Tempored Glass “, and it looks like it has everything I would ever need, but I want to make sure this is what I need before I purchase it. Again, the price isn’t a big deal, I just want something that is good, will last and I don’t have to piece together later on when I need something else. I want to really enjoy the whole process from sharpen to shave.

Thanks,

Vince