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Hang in there and keep on keeping on. I am only about 5 shaves into my new Dovo Bismark and so far have cut my earlobe wide open, put a 2" cut on my jaw, nicked my new SRD strop. I have been shaving with a DE and finish up my straight razor shave with my DE. There is nothing dishonorable with doing that until we get the hang of using both hands to shave without cutting our faces off! Keep at it and so will I.
Thank you all for such good advice, I don't feel so alone. I refuse to give up!
I have several soaps and one has glycerin in it - worth a try. And yes, it is my plans to try a Feather and a real Straight by Dovo (Dovo 5/8 Folding Straight Razor w/ Black Handle, 1/2 hollow ground). And a strop to. I need to look at the progress in terms of months not days.
Some other good advice is that I need to move off the Shavette. Yes, DE blades are sharp - ouch! I went from a Fusion and canned cream to nice pure Badger Brush and a variety of soaps and mugs. I actually have two brushes, one is a very nice travel one. Lots of Prep and Post stuff that you all recommend too.
I don't miss the canned cream and I can't tell you how good it feels to prep the face. I went for the straight razor but I am sure it would be good to invest in a DE razor also, besides it would be good to master that one.
Shaving with a Fusion and prior to that a Mach 20 (just kidding) Mach 3 but using these razors you can press extremely hard and whip them all over the face. Not so with the Straight and from what you all said not so with the DE.
In preparation for all of this here is what I am doing. I'll shave some with the Shavette until I get it replaced. I'll still use the Fusion some and master areas with the straight. With the Fusion I make only ONE PASS WITH THE GRAIN. In other words, I am fine and look fine with one pass. Yes, I can feel that it is not BBS. So I am lowering my standard even with the Fusion.
I am confident that I can get there and in the end be it a few years get as good a shave with a DE or Straight that the Fusion provides. Maybe I am crazy but I want the sense of accomplishment that I learned to do this and did it. Cuts and all. I have gotten worse cuts doing other things and fortunately I heal well and fast.
Many thanks
I started with the Shavette, then went to straights, and they are still my preference. But the Feather SS with the Feather Pro Guard blades was a revelation! So easy to use, so less likely to cut you, and the shaves are really impossible to believe. I highly recommend that approach for a beginner. If you eventually move on to real straights, that's fine and your choice, but your Feather SS will still give you better and quicker, easier shaves.
+1Quote:
Originally Posted by Johnus
I've noted in what seems to be the unofficial Feather Forum that if I had it to do over a Feather SS would have been one of my first three razors and not #40 something....
On the other hand learning how to SR shave with a Shavette is a very steep learning curve indeed.
It seems harder to "land" (the process of bringing blade to face and then starting the stroke) than any other SR type system I have tried.
Hang in there Bill, you will look back on this in a few months and say "I can't believe that was so hard to do"
And there is nothing like that feeling, when you rinse off at the end and your feel you BBS face with your wet hands and say to yourself: "I did that with a Straight Razor...and there is no blood..."
And you spend the next 20 hours looking forward to doing it again...
It does change your day and outlook on life for the better...IMHO
Stay Calm....Carry On....
I also started with a Shavette, and yes, they are unforgiving, but don't give up. You will continue to improve your skill and technique. Remmeber to use VERY light pressure at all times, and you will see better, closer, and more comfortable shaves. Also, try holding the wet styptic pencil on the cut for a while, with some pressure. It will eventually stop bleeding. Hopefully that was your last big cut. Good luck!
Well,
I appreciate the encouragement. I ordered a Feather SS with Pro Blades as it might be a little forgiving. I have so much to learn and time is an issue.
The reason for my attraction to disposable is time. I take care of my Dad now. My Mom died of ALS. I worked remotely in Florida over the summer to help her as she died. I moved my Dad in to live with me. He is 87 and uses a walker. I put in a chair lift for the steps, I help him shower and dress and fix breakfast before I shave but I will try shaving at night. I work 10 or 11 hour days plus two hours on round trip commute. I work as a CPA for a private company - love the work but all accountants work terrible hours. As many of us here. My Dad is also a WW2 vet, has fascinating stories about liberating the concentration camps.
All that said I will try the Feather before moving to the Dovo SR. Lots to learn, there is no rush, told the wife to pick up a box of small bandaids at the grocery store.
Patience, practice with butter knife, and listen to all this wonderful advice. Oh yeah, one commented on my mild shaving nick, cut yourself shaving? Yeah, learning to use a straight razor. There eyes get real big and they get quiet.
It will take time to learn, but the Feather SS is leaps and bounds from the shavette. It is for me very very close to a full steel blade. The Feather Pro-Guards, are a little more forgiving than the Pro, IMO. But the pro will serve you well. Just remember light pressure!
Sorry to hear about your mom and good luck with your dad. I hope I can do the same for my dad when and if he ever needs care at that age (he's 79 and in relative good health, thanks God). Good luck! Double O
Bill, be patient as it will improve with time and dedication. Good luck.
I also started with a shavette, thinking it would be easier. I cut myself far more with it, than when I moved up to the Dovo Bismarck. I couldn't believe how much easier it was, even though at first it seemed like a giant compared to the shavette.
Started with a feather RG myself after using DE's for about 6 months. Sliced myself pretty good on my right cheek, still got the scar to prove it. The feather SS at westcoastshaving.com is much closer to a real straight, and more forgiving at that. Just remember, NO pressure with these things. The disposable straights are sharper than the real thing, and usually lighter so you tend to want to push the blade a bit...BIIIIIIG NO NO, just let the sharpness of the blade to the work, all you want to do is guide the blade where you want it to go.