Frustrating, but keeping at it

I've only received my new Dovo this past week, but have been trying it out each time I shave. I'm slowly getting better at some of the awkward places on my face, but I think the confidence in my strokes are what is still holding me back.

So far, I'm able to get a shave equivalent to a feel where I shaved a few hours ago...not quite a 5 o'clock shadow shave...maybe a noon shadow or something. Either way, for the most part it's better than my first shave, but I have noticed my cheeks aren't quite as smooth as that first shave which is a little frustrating.

The first question that springs to mind is - is it shave ready or was the package sealed when you got it?

If it was sealed then you need to get it honed.

Please don't take it the local knife guy either - have it honed by someone who uses one themselves - then you can start working on your technique.

We all want you to succeed and want to hear about your journey too

I bought it from SRD and from what it says on there, all the ones they sell are honed by Lynn...so it's probably as sharp as it'll ever be.

Then it's just a matter of practice, patience and time. I didn't get really decent shaves for a month. Now, months later, they are as good as a shave can be. It's an acquired skill, acquired with practice, and you'll just have to put in the time and pay your dues.

Well that's one variable out of the way then.

That only leaves face prep, stropping and technique - don't worry it does get better.

How's your stropping going? Do you use canvas as well as leather?

I've been using the canvas first. About 20-30 laps then about double on the leather. I'm sure it is just practice and technique I need to improve on over time. Just too bad I can't shave 5 times a day for practice!

Also I think part of my prep is still lacking as we'll. lathering the soap I'm still having some trouble with. It looks good in the mug but when putting it on my face it always looks a little thin. Not thick like in videos I've seen, I can still see through it to my skin after putting it on. As far as soaps, I've tried two. The Walmart special of van der something and SRD's bay rum

@Wxman2000

I was having a lot of issues building lather and I found this video from Lynn very helpful: Building a shaving lather with a brush directly on your face. - YouTube

I found face lathering just seemed to work far better for me (you can see my thread about it and pictures of how thin a covering I was getting before a lot of guys on here helped me out: http://straightrazorpalace.com/begin...-problems.html )

Between various guys suggestions combined with that video, I now have plenty of lather on the brush to allow me a second covering.

I'm new myself but I'm fairly sure (since you have a sharp razor) that your issue is having too great an angle (face to razor). Instead of thinking in terms of 30 degrees try keeping the spine of the razor a little closer to your face than you are currently doing.

Do that and that shave should be closer than your previous shaves.

As long as your face is wet and you have some kind of leather that's not likely to be the major issue.

I've tried the lower angle like that, but when I try that it seems like it is pulling more than cutting...time will help though I'm sure.

I watched the video link of the face lathering and I think I'll try that next also to see if that helps with the lathering.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Wxman2000

but I have noticed my cheeks aren't quite as smooth as that first shave which is a little frustrating.

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Hi Wxman,

Without seeing what your doing, it's a little bit of guess work. But based on that one sentence I'd suspect sharpness is an issue. There are a lot of things that can affect the edge of your razor, and in the beginning it's not uncommon to be doing several of them. Things that can take a toll on the edge are too steep of an angle and basically scraping the whiskers off. Too much pressure. Improper stropping. Inadequate prep, etc. etc..
Do your in between shave stropping. Try a little extra prep and soften up the beard and then keep it moist as best you can. Then, as mentioned above, try lowering the blade angle. I try to get guys to start with a couple of short strokes practically flat. See if it removed any whiskers. If not re-lather that spot, increase the angle slightly and try it again until it starts shaving. It takes some angle to get it to shave, but not so much that it has a negative effect on the edge and face. If, at that lower angle you feel tugging and pulling then I'm fairly certain your razor needs a re-honing. A lower angle does help preserve the edge by eliminating the scraping and pressure, and if you just slightly cant the razor to heel leading in the WTG, north to south, stroke it gives the edge a slicing angle on the whisker instead of a chopping cut. Don't cant it too much or you can get a cut. Good Luck!! It'll all come together, you just have to eliminate variables one at a time.

Regards,
Howard :)

thanks for the tips all...I will keep all this in mind for the next time I shave and I'll keep at it. I'm really stubborn and don't give up on things like some do. At the same time though, I'm sure my problem probably is the technique/angle and prep that I haven't gotten down. I think I'm still too new at it to question the sharpness of the blade, and since it came from SRD honed by Lynn, then I'm sure it's in great shape and I haven't ruined the edge yet.

Anyway, on top of that, I've gotten my wife interested in switching to the dark side with me, and she's using the blade on her legs right now and it's doing a fantastic job. Guess she's a faster learner than I am.

My time will come though, each time does get better, even if slightly so...so that's the motivation to keep going and I'm also sure that in a month or so I'll be able to get a shave comparable to the old electric that I was using.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Wxman2000

I've only received my new Dovo this past week, but have been trying it out each time I shave. I'm slowly getting better at some of the awkward places on my face, but I think the confidence in my strokes are what is still holding me back.

So far, I'm able to get a shave equivalent to a feel where I shaved a few hours ago...not quite a 5 o'clock shadow shave...maybe a noon shadow or something. Either way, for the most part it's better than my first shave, but I have noticed my cheeks aren't quite as smooth as that first shave which is a little frustrating.

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I think the best thing I can tell you is, "been there, done that." My first straight was a Dovo, too. Over time, I could reach the awkward places I couldn't reach before. Blade angle was another thing I had to learn on the fly. There is no time limit on how long it takes to master it. I read posts from people who got a great shave during the first attempt. I've also read advice from experts that 100 shaves is about the average time it takes. Me? In all honesty I wasn't clicking on all cylinders and getting the kind of results I envisioned when I started for two years. But I had reached the boiling point with multi-blade and electric razors after 40 unhappy years of chapped faces and at Age 54 wild horses couldn't stop me from my determination to master the straight. Boy am I glad I did.

It begins to click when you can stop thinking about what you're doing so much and just grab the razor and do it. When you're plotting your next move, which you have to do in the beginning to learn, you distract yourself. In time your hands know exactly what to do with the razor and you just stand in front of the mirror and let them do the work.

The really neat thing about this is that when you've got this thing mastered, you'll get the closest, longest-lasting shaves in your life and your face will feel great. There's a certain satisfaction and air of confidence that you'll really enjoy. It's a great way to start the day.

Stick around and stick with straight shaving. You'll never regret it. We're here to help any time you need it. :tu