Thread: Problem unique to shavettes?

Howdy,

So i have been shaving with a straight razor for maybe two months now, using a dovo shavette with a variety of blades, and I find I seem to cut myself alot more with a new blade, then after a shave or two I either get alot better or its because of the blade being dulled down a bit. Is this a problem I will have when I finally buy an actual straight razor? Or will the stropping help prevent this. I just worry that since every time I seem to barely touch my skin with the razor at not quite the right angle I get a deep cut, that maybe straight razors arnt for me

Thanks

Dan

I was having the same problem, I was finding myself not wanting to switch to a new blade because I knew it was going to leave me cut to pieces. So I went back and watched some videos again and found I was using to much pressure after a little more practice I am now having little to no issues with my shavette and really great results. Pressure was my key. It really is about whisker reduction. Not shaving.
Hope that helps

I don't think this problem is specific to Shavettes. I think it is a matter of knowing how sharp the blade you are shaving with is, respecting that sharpness, and allowing it to do the work for you. With a really sharp blade, any additional effort applied is unnecessary and will cause nothing more than problems.

The two gentlemen above have some great advice.

The only thing I will through in is that shavettes are a lot less forgiving then a real straight so most likely you will not have this issue.

Also the edge of a real straight is not as thin as that of a shavette blade giving the blade more stability.

The length of a straight is also longer. I find that with a shorter blade you need to stretch the skin more so you have a smoother smaller area to shave. A longer blade seems to demand less stretch. Or it could be just that I have more folds(:-)

The shaving part i dont seem to be having as much of a problem with, i think its just more clumsiness with the razor, suck as when I set the razor to my skin under my nose for example, I seem to set the razor down with the edge at a 90 degree angle and just that light pressure seems to cut me. Good to know that things will get easier!

From my personal experience I think straights are more forgiving than shavettes. I think I nick myself less with straights than shavettes.

With that being said the incorrect the incorrect angle will cut you no matter what.

For shaving directly below your nose I would recommend turning the shavette vertical, makes it a little easier shaving there.

Pressure! Use no more than it takes to remove the lather. Maybe tape over a blade and just experiment, see how light you can go and still move lather off your skin. That should be your shaving pressure.

Good luck with it, let us know how it works out for you.

And, of course, Welcome to SRP!

Have you tried Derby blades? I used a shavette for a few weeks while waiting for my straight to arrive and found Derby to be less bloodthirsty than others. A real straight razor is quite a different experience. Much nicer to use, and I've barely cut myself with it at all. I used a multi blade cartridge razor for years before switching and the feeling of shaving with no pressure and no pulling takes a little bit more getting used to than I expected.

Absolutely do make sure that you don't start the blade from a dead stop on your skin. Under your nose, it's tough to do, but is one thing you have to master to help prevent cuts. And as the other guys have said, pressure-or lack thereof-is key to shaving with a straight or shavette. Gradual beard reduction is what you are after.