My 2nd razor

I just got my 2nd SR, a Dovo Flowing 6/8 from SRD after following the advice of a forum member to have a 2nd shave ready razor for a reference. I'm about 3 weeks in to straight razor shaving with a Dovo Ebony Silver Steel and am happy so far with my shaves. After the first week my face was really getting irritated and I decided to refresh my razor with a C12K and then CrOx on the linen. My shaves got better and I've been pretty happy with the shaves the last two weeks, no razor burn anymore and hardly any irritation. I shaved with the Dovo Flowing last night and comparing it to my Ebony Silver Steel I did a pretty good job on the refresh! I can't tell the difference really so I'm happy I can at least refresh the blade myself.

One question though, on either side of my mustache above the corners of my mouth and just below my lower lip in the center I have noticed after I shave that there are finer blond or white whiskers that the razor is just not cutting. Anyone else experience this or is it just me? It cuts through the darker, thicker whiskers just fine. The new Dovo Flowing didn't cut them either so I know it wasn't my first razor that was dull. Now I'm still new and I don't do a 3 pass. I just do WTG and then on the 2nd pass I do XTG on the cheeks and do the best I can at XTG on the chin and mustache area. I'm not ready to do ATG and probably never will because I'm quite satisfied with the results I get now with just a 2 pass, minus the little white whiskers that are left. I'm guessing that they are not thick enough and the razor is gliding over them going WTG. I try to go XTG but not very comfortable with that yet because that's where the whiskers are heaviest. So I keep trying different angles, everything but ATG and it just doesn't seem to get them all and that's where I get the irritation. I have been trying not to use my old cartridge at all, even for touchups because I feel I'll learn faster if I don't use it as a crutch. I may have to resort to cleaning up these areas with it though. My prep is good and my lather has gotten a lot better and I cold water shave. Any ideas?

Pics or you don't have it! That is an interesting problem but I have no experience with that.

I had the same problem exactly. Had to touch up with a Mach III in that spot and under the butt of my chin until I read this thread.

http://straightrazorpalace.com/begin...explained.html

Very, very light pressure so it feels like the razor is just gliding over your lip and the perfect angle (which I inevitably have to find again every morning, however briefly) does the trick for me. Hope this helps.

Attachment 129403Attachment 129404

Ok, here's the pics. I'm glad somebody knew what I was talking about. Also glad it wasn't my razor and that my refresh was good. I'll just chalk it up to inexperience and technique and keep plugging away til I figure it out. It's just kinda weird that it will get the thicker, darker whiskers and then there's these finer hairs underneath that are left and I just can't seem to shave them off. :banghead: Thanks for the replies!

Hi Jetmech, I think i had the same problem you are describing. I still haven't mastered those little hairs, but was given what has so far been some good tips, and am making progress. First of all, my finer hairs always seem to be in very sensitive areas. I have only been straight razor shaving since January... and cringe at the idea of going ATG in the corners of my mouth. I dont have a 'stache and have those fine little hairs left all around my mouth after my first pass. I tried all kinds of things (not ATG), and only accomplished epic razor burn in those areas. So now, i only hit those areas 2 times...then a light (very light) touch up if needed. What helped me was the suggestion to stretch the skin by opening my mouth very wide, yeah i had already done that with no success. What i hadn't done was use my tongue to apply a small amount of pressure from the inside of my mouth as i was holding my mouth open...thus stretching the skin, and making more of a straight surface for my razor to glide across. BE VERY CAREFUL, and only use a little bit of pressure untill you find that sweet spot. If you make the corners of your mouth or that patch under your bottom lip, stick out too far...well you will have less of those corners to worry about untill they grow back. This has helped me all around the troubled spots on my mouth, and i have less and less fine hairs left each time. So far i have kept all the skin too...I hope i didn't just jinx myself! So just stretch the skin however you can, no one will see the strange faces you make, while you are using your tongue to make those fine hairs easier to get to.
I hope this helps. I had just never thought of using my tongue to make things more flat. I havent given anyone advice before about straight razor shaving, I hope this is helpful. I really hope that your dont end up looking like The Joker, and post a pic in the cut of the day thread...blaming me for your deformity. :)

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by IronMonkey2772

Hi Jetmech, I think i had the same problem you are describing. I still haven't mastered those little hairs, but was given what has so far been some good tips, and am making progress. First of all, my finer hairs always seem to be in very sensitive areas. I have only been straight razor shaving since January... and cringe at the idea of going ATG in the corners of my mouth. I dont have a 'stache and have those fine little hairs left all around my mouth after my first pass. I tried all kinds of things (not ATG), and only accomplished epic razor burn in those areas. So now, i only hit those areas 2 times...then a light (very light) touch up if needed. What helped me was the suggestion to stretch the skin by opening my mouth very wide, yeah i had already done that with no success. What i hadn't done was use my tongue to apply a small amount of pressure from the inside of my mouth as i was holding my mouth open...thus stretching the skin, and making more of a straight surface for my razor to glide across. BE VERY CAREFUL, and only use a little bit of pressure untill you find that sweet spot. If you make the corners of your mouth or that patch under your bottom lip, stick out too far...well you will have less of those corners to worry about untill they grow back. This has helped me all around the troubled spots on my mouth, and i have less and less fine hairs left each time. So far i have kept all the skin too...I hope i didn't just jinx myself! So just stretch the skin however you can, no one will see the strange faces you make, while you are using your tongue to make those fine hairs easier to get to.
I hope this helps. I had just never thought of using my tongue to make things more flat. I havent given anyone advice before about straight razor shaving, I hope this is helpful. I really hope that your dont end up looking like The Joker, and post a pic in the cut of the day thread...blaming me for your deformity. :)

---

Yep, that's exactly what I have. Little fine hairs around cornes but also under center of lower lip. I'm too scared to try ATG also. I have tried the tongue stretching but have not felt comfortable at all with that so I stopped before I cut myself. I think the hairs are so thin and soft that they are just laying down. Believe it or not, when I'm done shaving and gave up trying to get them and rinsed and dried my face off, I actually VERY LIGHTLY shaved them and it got most of them. I think I'm asking for a cut that way though! Thanks for the reply. Good to know I'm not alone. I'll try the tongue thing again.

Well, I've had everyone tell me that if it feels wrong..STOP! So far thats been good advice. I've heard of people don't a dry touch up thing. If you dont get the burn from that then, go for it. You could also use some pre/post shave oil before your last touch up, maybe that would protect ya...but still get those fine little guys? My guess is that with us just paying attention to these little details, and trying new things...we will figure out what works for us!
It could however been a conspiracy!? I to...shave with a Dovo!!! :)
Take care!

Sorry , I mistyped: "I've heard of people don't a dry touch up thing". I ment to say, " I've heard of people doing a dry touch up thing". I dont even have a good excuse as i am on my laptop and not my phone.

Alright I am going to share this weather I get chastised for it or not.

I have the same thing although I do not shave the upper lip (I have done it in the past) I clean it up and have the same type of hairs at the corners of my lip and at the top of my bottom lip.

The hairs are so fine they just bend away with the normal shaving angle.

I must be careful and pay due diligence but I hit them pushing perpendicular, as if I was doing the Coup de Maître right there in the open.

It kind of pins the fine ones down and makes them cut.

Be careful and go slow if you want to try this but it works well for me.

Yeah, that bit below the lower lip is one of the trickiest spots for me. That link reminding not to pressure the edge to the skin was worded well. And the idea that if something hurts or doesn't feel quite right not to do it is good stuff as well.

Being only 30 or so shaves in with straights all I can say is that some things just clicked when I was DE shaving. There is stuff that I do with razor now that I could probably do with my eyes closed that seemed impossible for awhile at first. I do the close to perpendicular thing with a light touch on the DE effortlessly, but right now I wouldn't dare it with the straight - I still need more touch and practice with the new tool.

p.s. That's one of the coolest Dovos I've seen. Someone who disliked the awkward to strop with handles of the la forma traded it for my best quality and I've been really happy with it - love the look of the shoulderless blade and I hear they are easier to hone.

That is a NICE LOOKING Razor!

I haven't experienced the situation the OP has with whiskers that won't cut, but I just got a Dovo Flowing from Vintage Blades. I saw that they had them in stock and SRD didn't and they also come honed by Lynn. I absolutely love it from the worked spine to the shoulderless heel to the fantastic scales. I really like the look of the two pins at the toe end. I have been getting great shaves with it, but will be decreasing my pressure after reading the thread linked earlier in this thread.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by pfries

Alright I am going to share this weather I get chastised for it or not.

I have the same thing although I do not shave the upper lip (I have done it in the past) I clean it up and have the same type of hairs at the corners of my lip and at the top of my bottom lip.

The hairs are so fine they just bend away with the normal shaving angle.

I must be careful and pay due diligence but I hit them pushing perpendicular, as if I was doing the Coup de Maître right there in the open.

It kind of pins the fine ones down and makes them cut.

Be careful and go slow if you want to try this but it works well for me.

---

That sounds a little tricky and scary.

If you shave your moustache area via the Coup de Maître it is the same principle,

I use facial expressions to stretch the lower lip taut on my teeth,

I come in at probably a 75 to 80 deg. angle and roll the razor in the same fashion as the Coup de Maître.

On around my third attempt at this I got one of the worst cut's I have had using a straight,

I have not made that mistake again.

Now that move (sans cut) is second nature.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by pfries

If you shave your moustache area via the Coup de Maître it is the same principle,

I use facial expressions to stretch the lower lip taut on my teeth,

I come in at probably a 75 to 80 deg. angle and roll the razor in the same fashion as the Coup de Maître.

On around my third attempt at this I got one of the worst cut's I have had using a straight,

I have not made that mistake again.

Now that move (sans cut) is second nature.

---

I may wait until I get a few more shaves under my belt before I try that. At least under my nose I can rest the spine on my nose and use it to steady the razor. Not so sure with the blade out in the open. Ouch!

OK, I tried the stretching the lip with the tongue along with a steeper angle and that is getting them. Just have to be careful.

Dude that razor is sweet.

While I shave the whole mustache area, I do have some issues with those same area (again really fine hairs). What I found that works for me is for the corner areas (and rest of mustache area) is to actaully pull my nose over in the opposite direction while while keeping mouth open. I don't me hold the tip of your nose but have 3 fingers holding near the base and using you hand to bend it over. It seems to help pull those corners up and to the side and makes those hairs stand up so the razor can get them.

For the lower lip I just fold my lip over my lower teeth and have my mouth in a grimace; again it gets those hairs to stand up. I do have to go ATG to get a good shave but if you take it slow and practice it it is actually quite easy and have never had an issue with blade slipping into my lips.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Jetmech

OK, I tried the stretching the lip with the tongue along with a steeper angle and that is getting them. Just have to be careful.

---

Glad to hear you are starting to get the results you want.
How steep of an angle is your approach? (pun intended)

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by pfries

Glad to hear you are starting to get the results you want.
How steep of an angle is your approach? (pun intended)

---

I'm guessing 45-50 deg. I was initially thinking I needed a lower angle and it was just the opposite! They were just laying down. I just started increasing it til it cut. Still not perfect but a lot better. Under lower lip is still the problem spot and seems very tender also when stretching lip over the teeth.

For the corners of my mouth and lower lip I "inflate" my cheeks one side at a time and catch the fine hairs with a steep angle (40 ish). Try to use only the very tip of the razor. I find it easier to go across the grain along the bottom lip. A square point razor makes this a lot easier since you can see exactly where the edge is making contact. I find that using the "inflation" technique causes less irritation and gives the razor a bit more cushioning than drawing my lip over my teeth does. I also hold the razor like a Japanese style SR for these areas.


-Dan