Thread: Please Help. Terrible Shaving Experience.

I used to use a straight razor with disposable blades. I got fairly adept at shaving with it and decided to purchase a DOVO SS straight razor. It came and I tried to shave with it. it wouldn't really cut my wiskers it just tugged on them. I figured it wasn't sharp enough so I tried to hone it myself but wasn't impressed with my performance so I sent it off to Lynn Abrams. The razor came back sharper but didn't pass the hanging hair test (not sure if it really matters). This is the only straight razor I've used other then the disposable and since I sent it to Lynn I can only assume that it is as sharp as it's going to get. It still only tugs on my wiskers. I've tried all different angles and when I only have stubble it doesn't really cut it. I've tried a light touch and applying pressure. Nothing seems to get the job done. I wound up going back to my mach 3 to finish the job. Any suggestions? I do have fairly thick hairs but I imagine that a well honed straight razor would get through them. I'm confused. Please help.


Kendrick

Kendrick,
Did you follow all the normal procedures of shaving such as:

Razor prep- yes it has been honed by the master himself so it is sharp but it still needs to be stropped. You did not mention that you had so I’m going to assume you did not, with the disposables there is not a need but it is a daily practice for a straight razor. I use 25 trips up and down the strop with the blade laying flat

Beard prep:
Shaving right after a hot shower or after washing you face and then applying a hot 115 to 120 degree Fahrenheit towel to your face for several minutes too soften the whiskers
Applying the lather in an even layer to your face, working the brush in a circular motion to “lift and separate” the hairs.
Then you should be ready to shave by moving the blade with the grain of your beard but in no means slicing…lateral movement bleeds very nicely J
The spine of the razor should only be about 30 degrees off you face (the width of two razor spines).

The first week or two shaving I would recommend doing it in the evening for a few reasons:
a) less pressed for time so you can perform each step properly
b) starting shaving with a straight razor is going to exfoliate a lot of old skin but that will soon lessen as you face gets used to it and there is less build up
c) your face will have overnight to heal up from the occasional nick or razor burn

The most important thing is practice, but I’m sure lots of other folks will have better suggestions.

jim

Hi Kendrick,

I shave tested the razor and it is a good one. I test them all with a down grain stroke and a cross grain stroke to make sure, before I send them out. The Dovo SS razors once honed typically are niiiiice. In any case, alot of times it can be technique or beard prep or...... A straight is different and not as sensitive as a disposable. Another possibility is stropping. If you are still having trouble, shoot the razor back to me, postage back to you on me and I'll take another look at it.

Lynn

Hi Lynn,

Sorry to hijack this thread (well, sort of), but I'm pretty much in the same situation as the original poster.

My Dovo SS was sharpened by LX Emergency (did a very good job) and the first shave was extremely close. I've been using a straight with disposables for a good 18 months before that. The straight felt much more close and comfortable.
I think I dulled the razor though just before my second shave as I stropped it on a CrO-pasted strop (not knowing this or how to strop properly).

Having tried to strop it correctly, it is still not passing any hair tests - should I try to shave with it now or wait for my coticule Belgian hones to arrive and see what I can do (or ruin ) on those?

Thanks in advance!

Originally Posted by adjustme69

Hi Kendrick,

I shave tested the razor and it is a good one. I test them all with a down grain stroke and a cross grain stroke to make sure, before I send them out. The Dovo SS razors once honed typically are niiiiice. In any case, alot of times it can be technique or beard prep or...... A straight is different and not as sensitive as a disposable. Another possibility is stropping. If you are still having trouble, shoot the razor back to me, postage back to you on me and I'll take another look at it.

Lynn

If a razor is shave ready and you strop it on the green paste, you actually can dull it. You might want to wait for the coticule and give it 10 or so strokes and then try the paste again or if you have a Norton, give it 5 strokes and try to paste and see what happens.

Lynn

I've only had three shaves with a straight so far, but the difference between 1 and 3 is tangible.

The first time I also encountered a lot of tugging on the hair. The blade needed a hone and strop and second time around a little better, but still some tugging.

The third time I had a mini-epiphany. I was going too slow and not stretching the skin enough. The strokes I was using were multiple, short, and slow. I took a leap of faith and decided to make the strokes longer, a little faster, and the whole thing went much more smoothly as a result. I guess even a sharp shave-ready blade needs some momentum to slice through stubble smoothly.

I then read the posts on multi-passes etc. and re-lathering, and that made a huge difference too.

Interestingly, I could tell immediately which parts of my face were going to suffer razor burn -- it was were I resorted to slow small strokes again! I'm finding the top lip a real pain to shave since that area doesn't exactly allow a long, smooth stroke (well, not for a newbie anyway, I guess it'll come with practice).

From a newb perspective, the lessons which have made the biggest impact for me so far are:

- well honed and stropped blade.
- a good lather and re-lather between passes.
- multiple passes, NOT multiple strokes.
- don't be afraid to use a bit of momentum: longer, slightly faster strokes (short and slow is not good in my limited experience).

That said, I'm still getting razor burn, but only in patches now, and I know why. The next step is to get good enough to avoid in future!

Thanks Lynn. I don't have a Norton but the coticules I am awaiting are two - one blue and another white/yellow one.
Following LX's advice, I am hoping to give it a go on the white/yellow stone first. Still no sign of them yet so I don't know when I'll have them.

Originally Posted by adjustme69

click above to see quoted post

It's been a loooong time since I had a new razor out of the box, but I wonder if a good stropping, in lieu of honing, would make a difference.

One of these days I'll try it for myself, but in the meantime, I wonder if anyone else has?


Scott

I haven't honed a lot of brand new razors, but I'm not impressed with Dovo's factory edges. On one razor, the factory bevel wasn't even honeable. It was too steep, so the edge wasn't hitting the stone--just the upper part of the bevel.

The factory edge seems coarse to me and it's not very sharp. I'd be surprised if stropping would be enough, but if anyone could do it, Scott could.

Josh

Originally Posted by JoshEarl

I haven't honed a lot of brand new razors, but I'm not impressed with Dovo's factory edges. On one razor, the factory bevel wasn't even honeable. It was too steep, so the edge wasn't hitting the stone--just the upper part of the bevel.

The factory edge seems coarse to me and it's not very sharp. I'd be surprised if stropping would be enough, but if anyone could do it, Scott could.

Josh

Ha! Thanks for your vote of confidence Josh. Hopefully I won't ever have to eat my hat because of that.


Scott