First Time with a Straight Razor.

I recently decided to start shaving with a straight razor, because I dread shaving five days a week since i'm active duty USAF. So i bought a DOVO blackstar, because i thought it would make me look forward to shaving. which it does! My first shave went ok, but i don't think its "shave ready". I didn't get it honed from where i bought it, because i didn't think i needed too since it was a brand new razor. I did strop it, it shaves my cheeks good, but not my neck and chin where there's more hair. Does anybody have any pointers? Should I send it to get professionally honed? I tried to do the hanging hair test, and the razor didn't do very well. Does that mean it's too dull for shaving? Thanks in advance for your help. I'm really glad there is a forum about straight razor shaving! I need all the help I can get!
Brian

Hey Badkins, I'm a noob too, but I am at least a few shaves in. I too started out with a Dovo, but mine was honed by Lynn Abrams, the boss of this site. One thing I've learned from my reading here is that a factory edge is NOT shave ready. Send your razor out to one of the pros on this site, and you will be amazed at what a shave ready razor truly is. Also, don't bother with the HHT. There are too many variables, and it's not reliable. Keep reading everything you can on this site. The guys here are awesome, and are so willing to help. Also, ask questions! There is a steep learning curve here, but it's worth it in the long run. Have fun!

Welcome to SRP.

You know, it is impossible to say wether or not it was in fact shave ready from the factory.
They sometimes come with a good edge, sometimes not quite ready.
The hanging hair test will tell you squat at this point in time.
The shave test is where it is at, but of course, at your current level of experience, that isn't conclusive either.
Your first post resembles that of hundreds of other newcomers:)

My advice would be to get it honed by someone who knows how.
That way you won't have to worry about that factor.
Once it has been honed to a shave ready state, you will know what it will take of you to get a good shave from it.
Keep practicing and good things will eventually happen:)

Good luck with it and do keep us posted!

Thanks everyone for the help! I'm going to get it honed by Lynn and then I'll know what shave ready means.

As others have said, ignore the HHT - your best method of testing right now is the shave test (:

As for your razor, Dovos are good but you might want to start with something that you don't need to cherrish too much. I'd recommend grabbing another razor so you can keep practicing while your Dovo is at the spa. Take a look at Whipped Dog's sight unseen offerings, they're cheap, good shavers, and ready to go when they get to your door (but they won't be "pretty"). Whipped Dog Straight Razor Shaving Equipment


By the way, 2 of my razors came back from honing and neither passed the HHT test - yet both passed a shave test with flying colours.

Please check the classifieds here at SRP under "member services". Welcome to SRP!

I agree to ignore the HHT. Get your new razor professionally honed AFTER you learn how to strop. Most newbies, myself included, dull their first razor while learning how to strop. Do NOT worry about honing your own razor for many months. Learn to shave and strop first, you've got time before it dulls, then start learning the next undertaking; honing.

Sent my razor to Lynn today to get it honed, can't wait to get it back! I need to get a cheap razor to learn to strop with and learn to hone later on.