Thread: Third shave with cheapo razor and my thoughts on it

Sorry all, I could not come up with a snazzier subject text

Quick re-cap, I am a newbie to straight razor shaving, and the forum. I have shaved with a SR 3 times total with VASTLY varying results. If you had happened upon my introduction thread I bought a cheapie "Magic" razor from Sally's beauty supply on the 14th. This thing takes the standard double edge blade, broken in two, and inserted into a holder that slides within the blade. I'm quite sure you are all aware of this contraption but in the event you are oblivious to its existence here is a pic:



So when I purchased this device I MISTAKENLY bought the wrong blades for it. These are for something called a "hair shaper" and are like a hardware store type single edge razor, only half the width seen here:


Soooooo... Anyway, I was so dang anxious to try this out the first time on Sat. that I figured I could "get by" with hacking (sorry, could be a distressing word) the two together to form this.

The blade was not really supported with anything but friction. As long as you did not push the edge into anything I figured it would work. Hey, we are supposed to be using light hands anyway right?

Well, as I said in my intro post I had a great first time shave, no cuts at all! It was super close and not painful. The next day I saw some razor burn but hey I'm a beginner. I have been moisturizing after and since with Nivea aftershave balm.

Ok well here comes Monday and thinking I should really do things the way the manufacturer intended I get a pack of the DE blades (the one in the first pic), and try shave number two. OMG. I now know that you can take a styptic pencil and roll it over your whole face and save a trip to the emergency room in a pinch. I had about 10 cuts in all types of weird designs, knicks, weepers, pain, the razor was dragging all over... it was ridiculous. It was bloody.

Well the bandages came off today and I was due for round three today (Tuesday). I figured "Hey that new blade must be a bum one, toss it and get a fresh DE and have a go!". Well I did so and right when the blade touched my sideburn and made a cut I stopped.
"Hey stupid! Why not do whatever it was you did Saturday, that worked...."
OK, I jam that personna blade in there and razor burn/scabs be damned did I not get what i felt to be a fine shave. 1 tiny nick, everything was fine! Even with three passes over razor burned flesh.

What did I learn?
1) For some reason I am fine with that big silly blade that is not even supposed to be in there. Why I do not know. I'm hoping someone can explain that to me.
2) I'm not shaving again until my 5/8 Dovo round nose gets here. I ordered a half hollow. Do you think that is appropriate for me being a beginner?
3) Are real straight razors of the half hollow and full hollow type more like the big silly blade or the thin DE blade?

I know I still have years o practice to go but I feel like the thinner blade just made it ridiculously more difficult. Much more difficult than perhaps it needed to be?

Any thoughts?

Welcome! I have never seen or heard of a razor like that until just now. I do think that as a beginner, the Dovo you ordered will be just fine, and you will probably get fairly good results to start with, and maybe not so much blood! A properly sharpened straight razor should compare to a thin DE blade (provided you've had some practice). Hope this helps, & good luck!

I really think you'll do better with a proper straight razor. Good luck!

I think that the hair shaping blade was not as sharp as the DE blades, and you got away with your technique with it until the DE blade showed you the error of your ways. There are better replaceable blade straights, the Feather SS being my favorite, but the Dovo on its way to you should give you a baseline for what a proper shave should be like. Praise the lord and pass the Styptic!

Originally Posted by ace

Praise the lord and pass the Styptic!

That should be your signature line!