Thread: Another newbie struggling away :(

Hey guys! Im new to this forum as well. Watched so many YouTube videos on straight razor shaving and watching those guys effortlessly glide the razor over their face was too much for me to resist. I went en route for the "perfect shave" and bought the col ichabod conk/dovo straight razor starter kit with the strop and whetstone. I've been trying for about a week now, and it seems that no matter how taught i pull my skin, or at what angle i hold the blade, it doesn't glide smoothly. It pulls my hair and i haven't been able to get a close shave at all! Im Italian and have really thick, coarse facial hair so I'm sure that makes the learning curve much tougher haha. Im getting really frustrated that no matter how much I attempt to hone and strop it, nothing feels any better. I just ordered a Norton 4000/8000 combo whetstone due to the great reviews I've read here. Do you think I'm going in the right direction? Is there anything that you guys have experienced as newbies that could help me? I of course would like to blame the dullness of my razor at this point haha. Any input would be greatly appreciated!
Ps: I'm in Canada and I've called around to quite a few knife shops and they will not touch a Dovo straight razor. Seems I'm out of luck around here :/

have a look at this thread and posts (http://straightrazorpalace.com/membe...tml#post877474)

the bottom line is: for a beginner, it is a well worth investment to get one (or two) razor(s) professionally honed (i.e. really shave ready).
after that, a decent strop, brush, soap/cream is enough to start (with maybe CrOX paste or a barber hone)

Depending on where you got it that razor is probably not shave ready. I've seen a couple come my way from BC that I can tell you I wouldn't even put to my face before they touched my hones.
If you're willing to pay the return postage you can send it my way and I'll hone it for free to get you started on the right path.

really? that would be so awesome and id be so grateful! my family is actually all from Edmonton and Camrose. I'll PM you

Let me know if you received my msg, as my mailbox says "no sent messages"

I'm in Richmond BC. You could come over for a visit.

Charles

Way to step to the plate Gents

That is what SRP really is all about...

Cool man, do you have honing equipment? If you could teach me anything i would be extremely thankful

Take these gentlemen up on their offers and above all else, please keep a knife guy away from your dovo!

I ended up going with an almost-wedge. What a difference for a rank beginner like myself! It is so much easier. I love it! I struggled with a full hollow, only to be frustrated and gave up. Get yours professionally honed and then cry after you dull it while learning how to strop. Then send it back for honing again if you don't find a barber's hone to touch up the edge. We all did it so don't feel picked on when it happens.