First few weeks....

Here is an update to my first few weeks. I had ordered a Dovoshavette, Escali badger brush and Proraso shaving soap through Amazon. After Ireceived it I took a few days of practice prepping my beard and mixing up somelather but continued to shave with my disposable razors. Once I thought I hadthe hang of mixing up the right consistency of lather I took my first crack asshaving with the shavette.

Well, that didn’t go so good; mostly my fault. I had everyintention of just shaving a small area from the sideburn down for about 2inches, using my right hand for the right side and left hand for the left side.
The right side went fine and so did the left. Then I got abit cocky and sloppy, thinking I had this down. Well, the angle of the shavettewas probably closer to 45 degrees and I had forgot to stretch the skin as Ibegan to work across the left cheek. My reward was 2 nice slices about ¾ of aninch long which bled like hell. It took all of 7 or 8 days days going to bedwith Band-Aids and Neosporin for things to heal up.

I then decided to order a Dovo Best Quality 5/8 razor and a3” Latigo leather strop from Straight Razor Designs. If I was going to do thisthing I might as well do it right. While waiting for the new items to bedelivered, and my wounds to heal, I practices stropping on a folded towel witha table knife and continued using the Proraso and brush with my disposable. I

For the past 4 days I have been shaving with the straight; justa small area on each side from the side burn down to the jaw bone. I’m usingthe right hand for the right side and the left hand for the left side. Nextweek I will attempt to do the entire cheek on each side, the week after theneck and finally, after another week the chin. That’s means about a monthbefore my first complete shave with the straight.

So far all is going well, no cuts or nicks and after about40 passes on the strop the razor shaves cleanly and smoothly.

I have to say there is quite a difference between the shavetteand the straight. The shavette is very light, too light I think, and it seemstoo sharp. I feel that I have more control with the heavier straight and itshaves just as close.

I’ll probably carry 2 thin, fine, hardly noticeable scarsfrom that shavette but on this 61 year old craggy face it won’t make muchdifference and perhaps they will remind me to slow down when I have thestraight in my hand.

Oooooo ouch. Well kind of sounds like my first attempt. I looked like I was in a chain saw fight and couldn't get mine started.

Good choice, by the way, on the Dovo. Start with 30 passes on the cloth side, then another 60 on your leather, I think you will find that's a pretty good combo for your stropping.

Hey, if anyone asks about your 'scars', just tell them they are dueling scars. Go slow. It sounds like you are on the right track, just don't let your ego get in the way of your caution.

P.S. This 67 year old face has some 'dueling' scars as well, they are called CHARACTER lines. :gl:

Most folks agree that straight razor shaving is easier than shavette shaving. I tried shaving with a shavette and couldn't seem to get the hang of it. Shaving with an actual straight razor sure seems easier to me.

"my first crack asshaving....." Funny but purely unintentional :p

I'm pleased it brought a smile!