First shave today, but need some advice please!

I had my first SR shave today, and I've concluded my razor doesn't seem to be sharp enough.

I have a Dovo Best Quality 5/8 which I purchased on line from hairscissors.co.uk, as they seem to have very good prices. They confirmed it is shave ready but I am not convinced, based on I couldn't get it to pass the hanging hair test.

Does anyone have any experience in purchasing from hairscissors.co.uk?

I eventually completed a full WTG shave of a full beard of approx 1/2" growth, but the razor appeared to pull. I had quite a bit of redness and rash, but that has calmed down after an hour with Clinique post shave healer.

Anyway the positives:

1) I managed to get a nice lather with Trumpers sandalwood cream and my best badger brush (first time attempt!).

2). No cuts!

3). I thoroughly enjoyed the experience and I haven't been put off!

I am going to purchase a second razor at the end of the month and I think I will order from The Invisible Edge as they seem to have a good reputation and their razors appear to be shave ready.

Looking for advice on whether I should attempt to hone my Dovo BQ myself or send it away to a pro?

Looking forward to my next shave!

Your razor is probably not as sharp as it could get. But it doesn't have anything to do with the HHT. I know it seems terribly simple. But how many times in your life have you used a hanging hair to judge shave readiness? I'm guessing once. I think it's in your best interest to use the search function, and read what has been typed before when a new shaver says "My razor's not shave ready because it won't cut a hanging hair."

It's probably not as sharp as it could get, because the people who hone for a living tend to shoot for a better edge than the factory would do. Have someone from the classifieds section hone your razor, instead of buying another one, in hopes that the next one is sharp enough to cut a hanging hair.

As a new shaver, the only thing you need to be worrying about is whether or not you can shave.

And no..You should not hone your razor yourself. Send it away to a pro. Then...concentrate on cutting the hanging hairs off your face. :)

It's really simple. If the razor came straight from the factory without added honing by the vendor it's not as sharp as it could be. Some factory razors are close to being shave ready and some are far from it. I suspect yours is the latter.

I just checked their website and could find anything about them sharpening it before they send it. Personally I'd send it out for professional honing since I've never honed a razor before, but if you're getting another one anyway it could be fun to give it a try. Your choice I guess.

Send it away to a pro.

Put the edge under a magnifier and you'll see what I say. Dovo's are great razors once the edge is cleaned up. Under magnification you will see lots of scratches, serrations and rough areas on the edge. New Dovo edges are horrible. But, once the edge is honed and the serrations taken off, Dovos become excellent razors. You will enjoy it once a pro re-works fhe edge for you. Don't worry, Dovo's are fine razors.