Thread: Tell me it gets better

Originally Posted by phunni

I'm now 9 shaves in with my shavette (can't afford a normal straight & don't want to bother with stropping). I'm still cutting myself a lot - although only in problem areas: upper lip, chin and when I go across neck. I'm also very sore for a few hours after shaving.

Honestly, unless it gets better and I can do this without soreness & cuts, then I should go back to my mach 3. It gave me a good shave, but wasn't as much fun to use! It also never left me sore.

Tell me it does get better!

Yes it does, but first you must get better at it! Use a very gentle touch. You can't just slap these things to your face and shave away like a bat out of hell. Take it slow and gentle, and you will get there. I would suggest it would be a better shave if you were to go for a proper cut-throat over the shavette though.


Mick

I'll add to the chorus on a lighter touch and less steep blade angle.

I have several regular straights and use them most of the time. I also have a Feather AC that I use occasionally. Even though I'm more practiced than you in shaving with a straight razor (though not an expert by any means) every time I use the Feather after not having shaved with it a while the first thing I do is give myself a pretty good cut. This serves as a reminder and after that I'm OK.

Remember: you're cutting the hair off, not scraping it off.

I know money is an issue but try different blades. I use a shavette as well and I use shark blades. Get something else to try because it could be the blades. Especially on the internet there has to be a nice inexpensive alternative.
Good luck. I don't know how well it would work but I could mail you some to try. I am in the states tho.

A few less pints at the pub.....and you will have the extra flow for some new blades.And good not great shaves are felt around the 100 mark ..not after 9. Some good advise has been posted and I do like my beer too !!

Always expect generic advice like the "go lighter, lower angle" stuff. Sometimes they're right and you don't realize it, but try not to get too frustrated if the advice doesn't really apply to you.

My advice is also generic but hopefully can help: slow down. I don't just mean soak the beard longer or lather more carefully; most disposable blades are more than sharp enough to handle beards with less than perfect prep. I mean shorten and slow your strokes, and give the scientist part of yourself a few moments to process what's really going on with the razor and your face. Don't just try to turn the exercise into 100% muscle memory; figure out when a cut is going to go badly, and start coming up with hypotheses for why it is.

Sometimes, just a few strokes among the dozens you might make in a given shave can cause the majority of your problems. You'll need to pinpoint them and diagnose them. You're depending on limited visual and auditory input and supplementing it with tactile feedback, so there's a lot to figure out.

I think I'm going to try my shavette again tonight just for giggles.

I'm with the rest, take your time. I'm a year in and still learning. Did you mention if you've tried a DE before? That's always a good go between for when your face is a little sensitive

Originally Posted by aespo

I know money is an issue but try different blades. I use a shavette as well and I use shark blades. Get something else to try because it could be the blades. Especially on the internet there has to be a nice inexpensive alternative.
Good luck. I don't know how well it would work but I could mail you some to try. I am in the states tho.

Thanks for the offer, am UK based though, so I'm guessing that won't work.

I may look at some prices for other blades - can't hurt to look!

Originally Posted by nessmuck

A few less pints at the pub.....and you will have the extra flow for some new blades.And good not great shaves are felt around the 100 mark ..not after 9. Some good advise has been posted and I do like my beer too !!

If only it was that easy - but I don't drink!

Originally Posted by phunni

I'm now 9 shaves in with my shavette (can't afford a normal straight & don't want to bother with stropping). I'm still cutting myself a lot - although only in problem areas: upper lip, chin and when I go across neck. I'm also very sore for a few hours after shaving.

Honestly, unless it gets better and I can do this without soreness & cuts, then I should go back to my mach 3. It gave me a good shave, but wasn't as much fun to use! It also never left me sore.

Tell me it does get better!

First off...a shavette is not a good representitive of a straight razor as the blades are a bit brutal...so it's not you per se'. You will see a better learning curve on a straight. Till then....for the love of shaving,if you must go back to a standard shaver,at least go DE. It's very enjoyable,it's way cheaper than those cartridge monsters and it's something you can pass down to your kids. Look at Edwin Jagger DE's. Very affordable...good shaves.

Also.....if you are using that foamy stuff in a can, go brush and soap instead...makes a huge difference.