Real newb-needs advice!(long post!)

Ok so I bought myself a nice lil Dovo (though I don't know the size and the knife seller didn't either)- 100% sure it's authentic though and paid about 100 for it. Bought a nice strop to go with it- canvas and leather- a german brand for about 60 bucks. Today was the day that I was going to try out straight razoring for the first time. I used the hot towel for a few minutes, put on some pre shave oil from AOS and then- unfortunately as it was all I had- used some cheapo gillette cream with my nice little badger brush. Then shock and awe! Though I didn't cut myself I have some nasty razor burns- prolly from shaving ten times over the same spot. It was pulling real hard so I stropped it in the middle of shaving a few times- another uneasy task for a newb- which seemed to make it a bit better. All I wanna know is will it get better!? It took me like an hour to shave my face complete but I'm still not all that smooth- though no less than with a safety razor- but like I said horribly burned up! Could the pulling have come from the oil? Could the blade be too big for me-which it seems like it is? What's my next step? I just bought another Bokor from the classifieds on this site and I'm waiting for it to come so I can compare razors. BTW- I stropped after shaving as well. So what did I do right and what did I do wrong? How can I make my next shaving experience better or do I give up bc I'm not so hot at it to begin with? Whats my next step?I love the shaving technique but am a bit frustrated! Let me know and thanks to all who respond!

Welcome to Srp!
sorry about the first shave most likely you had the factory edge on the razor and that is not always shaving ready. yes you will get razor burn from too many passes especially with a less than shve ready razor. what happens is that you unintentionally put too much pressure on the blade and it scrapes the skin raw.

other than the razor needing a proper honing every thing else sounded good. the Foam in a can will work it is just not the best it tends to dry out too soon at least that has been my experience.


i know you do not want to hear it but you should send the razor to an expert to get it honed try looking in the vendor section for one near you or at least on your continent.

keep up the effort ... but practice proper precedure with a cartridge or double edge razor until you get the Dovo back

dovo and bokers are both great razors.... and yes the shave will get better

jim

Maybe your Dovo wasn't shave ready? And if it was and you stropped it, you may have rolled the egde?and seeing how your a newb I wouldn't expect great results at first. I'd wait until you get the Boker seeing how you got it from the classifieds here it probably is shave ready, they usually will say in the ad. When you get it, if it is shave ready don't strop it. Also you may want to invest in a shave soap or cream. Look at the forum under soaps and creams for suggestions. As far as how long it took you to shave, I wouldn't worry about it. As your skills improve the less problems you may have and you will spend less time shaving. A lot of information on SRP, check the Wiki out for some guidance on shaving with a straight, watch some video's of people using a straight, stropping and making lather with your brush. I'm sure you will get a lot of input from people here.

Thanks for the replies guys it seems like the razor might not have been shave ready! Ill wait for the boker bc its listed as shave ready and compare the two- if I have to ill send the dovo out. Definitely will invest in some good shaving cream now!

Thanks for the replies guys it seems like the razor might not have been shave ready! Ill wait for the boker bc its listed as shave ready and compare the two- if I have to ill send the dovo out. Definitely will invest in some good shaving cream now!

If the razor was shave ready, it could be pressure and angle. That's a very common beginner problem. Also try to find some local help, it's really worth it

Thanks the guy that I bought it from is actually a sharpener himself so I'm going to go to him and see what he thinks of the edge if the boker doesn't match up

Invest in having it honed by the guys in the classifieds on here! Worth the 15-20 bucks and you will get an idea of what a straight is suppose to feel like!

Any specific recommendations?

I have to say I was frustrated before but now looking at it I didn't do that bad of a job! At least I'm not all bloody! I suppose there's a big learning curve in this the style of shaving.

What you did is akin to a 16 year old wanting to learn how to drive and he just gets the keys and tries to drive an 18 wheeler and if he is lucky enough to get it started doesn't get past 1st gear before the crash.

The idea is to start slow with the easiest part of the face and when you have facility with the razor then move on to more challenging areas and initially do WTG strokes only and move on there too. it can take months of shaving to become really competent.

As far as you problems, with the lack of experience it could be your razor, your stropping, or you technique or lack of it or a combination of everything.

Also remember, the more passes in the same spot the more irritation you will have.

Goto classifieds anybody with a large number of posts will be good .. Everybody I have used has been awesome !! ( mason razor works gem star customs both great) I've used those guys just my opinion gem star is gssixgun

Yeah I get that all now it's too late though- probably should have done more research before hand. But hey now that I know I know where to come for advice and questions! Thanks for the reply. By the way is it normal for them to come out of the box brand new and not shave ready?

Thanks copper!

Not to late send the razors out its worth the 30-40 bucks. Most likely even if it says shave ready from the factory there not really shave ready, when u send ur razors out to have them honed by a pro they will take the time and care to work and hone just ur razor. Worth ever penny until u get there . I started back in July and just getting my stropping down pat. Watch the videos on here and go slow. The mistake I made was spending lots on razors and learning on them, there are great inexpensive razors out there to learn on...

I noticed that you're from the Long Island Queens area me as well do you know anybody out here?

Pm me were actually having a meet up jan 13 in nj

http://straightrazorpalace.com/get-t...nd-meetup.html

Sounds good will be in touch

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Originally Posted by anthogia

I have to say I was frustrated before but now looking at it I didn't do that bad of a job! At least I'm not all bloody! I suppose there's a big learning curve in this the style of shaving.

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Yup -- the learning curve is measured in months, not days.

When you get the Boker, _do not_ strop it before shaving. Just use the edge it comes with. That first shave may be a real eye-opener about what "shave-ready" really means.

. Charles

I am only a few weeks ahead of you my friend and you landed in the right place here. I found the you tubes of guys shaving an eye opener. I learned by shaving the cheeks and jaw and finished with the old plastic junk. Took me 2 weeks to get the nerve to even touch my neck. 3 most important things I have learned. 1. Never get in a hurry. 2. Always be careful. 3. Repeat steps 1 and 2. Oh and get a styptic pencil or some alum because if you have one of these you may not need it. If you don't have one you will need it. That's been my luck anyway. It gets better each time.

Hi Anthogia,
I had the exact same problem with my straight razor. I switched to DE shaving shortly after and realised that my straight razor was nowhere near even the dullest of DE blades, not at all.
I also intend to send my straight razor to a professional to get it honed, as soon as I have the funds :)

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Originally Posted by anthogia

Yeah I get that all now it's too late though- probably should have done more research before hand. But hey now that I know I know where to come for advice and questions! Thanks for the reply. By the way is it normal for them to come out of the box brand new and not shave ready?

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more than normal. it is in fact very rare for a new from the factory razor to be truly shave ready sure they may be sharper than any other blade you can get but still not ready to meet your face. Factory edges are often close to ready but even if they left the factory shave ready by the time you purchased it there could be enough microscopic rust on the edge to be dull.

You said that the vendor does sharpening which is fine but if he does not understand the art of honing he probably will not be much help with your razor. unless he uses a straight himself his sharpening could really damage your razor.

Welcome to the site!

I would not take it back to the seller for honing. I doubt he knows how to get a blade shave ready. If he did, then he would have done it already. Given that he wasn't able to even tell you the size, or know that the razor wouldn't shave, it doesn't seem like he knows his razors. I'm sure he is a competent knife sharpener but I'd be wary.

Enjoy your new boker, and find a good honer for your dovo. It's not hard to find someone here to hone for you. Read a few posts and it will be apparent who knows what they are doing.

Michael

Yeah I agree with you guys I've searched this site in pretty much have my mind set on sending it to somebody from here again thanks for all the replies!

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Originally Posted by anthogia

All I wanna know is will it get better!?

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Once you have a real shave ready razor and all the gear and stropping down it will get a lot better, so much that you will look forward to the next shave.