Thread: Tell me it gets better

Originally Posted by szarvi

You didn't mention how many time you use the same blade. In my shavette I used Derby blades-broken-in-half and I could use them only once. A three pass shave and that's pretty much it. Next shave - new blade. If not, then same result as you got.

Cheers

I have been using a blade for 4 shaves before changing it. This morning's shave was with a brand new blade

As money is an issue try whippeddog you can get a shave ready str8 for $25 thats only £15 including postage thats where I got mine and it only took 7 days from Texas to the Scotland. My first couple of shaves were with a shavette and they were bad but as soon as I got a str8 I never looked back and I'm only about 12 shaves in. Consentrate on your prep and finding the angle that works for you and as has been said before slow down try to enjoy it pamper yourself a bit get some bay rum for after the shave only about £2.50 from boots etc and rinse with cold water then the bay rum it works for me but you will find out what works for you and as I said enjoy it.

This was my story:

I went to a DE razor and used it for about 4 yrs. I learned alot about wet shaving by doing this including a light touch, angles, my beard direction, how to lather, etc. I think it took out many variables for me.

About 2 years ago, I tried a shavette with a Feather blade. I vowed to NEVER use that damn thing again. I cut myself so bad and I was so red and sore. Publicly on Facebook I asserted I would never do that again.

I lied.

About 4 months ago, I found this site and wanted to give it another go. This time I shaved with the idea that I would NOT get a good shave. I used it ridiculously light and used my DE to finish up. Better but I still had several nicks. I asked on this forum if a shavette would be the same as a real straight and I got alot of the same feedback you see above.

I ordered a vintage "real" straight and a "poor man's strop" from Whipped Dog. It wasn't pretty but it was cheap and I still was hesitant.

When I got this in the mail, (properly honed) I went at this VERY slowly. I won't detail all the steps (they are scattered all over this forum) but I have not used anything but my straight for the past 3 months. I'm slowly getting MUCH more proficient and I ask alot fewer questions here now Yes, you will DEFINITELY get far better but in my experience, I had to ditch the shavette to get there.

I'm sure I would be much better at the shavette now but a "real" straight is so much more forgiving just like everyone else is saying. Good luck!

Regarding your choice of blades, I would recommend trying out one of the sampler packs that are widely available on ebay and to a lesser extent Amazon. That is where I started with my Merkur DE razor and I found out that out of all the blades I sampled, Feather are hands down THE BEST. If you do not want to order over the internet for some reason or if the money is still concern, I would say Wilkinson Sword blades are acceptable also. You could pick them up in Boots for £3.99: Wilkinson Sword Classic Blades 10 Pack - Boots

I have never shaved with a shavette but I imagine it to be quite difficult compared to a real SR and especially difficult compared to a DE. Also if you can pick up a DE for cheap then I would highly recommend it (even if its just for travel/quick shaves) as it is so much cheaper than any other cartridge rip off and such a better shave!

Best of luck mate!

Daniel

Whipped dog's cheapest "the works" (I assume I'd a strop etc.) is still £50

The "Sight Unseen Deal" doesn't work? I assumed you already have a brush/soap.

Hi, I live in Devon, UK and I have bought 3 "used/vintage" straight razors off Ebay in the last 6 months. The first and costliest one (a "Famous Es-Exe" hollow ground razor) cost me £19; admittedly I did then spend an extra £18 getting it honed and cleaned up by Neil Miller at Strop Shop UK. I have since then purchased a "Joseph Elliott" wedge razor made circa 1850 for £11, and a "Famex" hollow ground razor for £6.30 3 days ago, that arrived today. I had the Joseph Elliott honed, polished and rescaled by Steve Dempster at The Invisible Edge in Malvern, Worcs, which wasn't cheap but it looks bloody amazing. The Famex is shave ready sharp but could do with a clean up and some new scales, which I'll get Steve to do before we emigrate to NZ shortly.

Stick with it, I had razor burn to die for and a couple of duelling scars but am improving all the time.

Also, I use an Omega badger/boar bristle mix brush and Mitchells wool fat soap, works for me.

Originally Posted by EggSuckingLeech

The "Sight Unseen Deal" doesn't work? I assumed you already have a brush/soap.

Apologies, I missed the fact that the sight unseen comes with strop

I know it's been said already, but it's almost got to be pressure.

What I like to picture in my head as I go is I'm sliding the blade between the lather and my skin, but without actually touching my skin. I am, of course, but I feel like the mental image helps.

Cartridge razors train us to use pressure to shave. That's a habit built up over years. It's tough to unlearn.

Try to slide above your skin, not on your skin, while still keeping the angle low. You'll get there.

For cheaper blades you could try shopping around in a local chemist or two. I picked up a pack of wilkinson sword blades for a quid. They also had another brand that I'd never heard of. It could be a cheap way to try out different blades.

I got 3 shaves from each half of a snapped blade and 3rd would be getting noticeably less comfortable. I risked a 4th once decided not to do it again. If the pic was after a shave with a new blade then I guess it isn't the main issue.