Anticipation or fear

[gstep51]

Just got my new Dovo Best Quality and strops today from SRD. I think I will wait till Saturday morning to try them so I have Sat, Sunday and Monday to heal up!!! You could say that I am just a bit nervous.

[ReardenSteel]

Be patient and don't rush your prep. Take it slow and I sure you will be fine. People have been shaving with straight razors for over a hundred years and now you are about to join the club. If you have not already done so, check the wiki and read Lynn's post in the beginner section regarding your first shave. Best of luck and keep us posted.

[Bill S]

Until you get comfortable handling your straight (good choice btw) stick with just shaving the sides of your face with the Dovo and use another method for the trickier areas. Lynn has a thread dealing with the first shave that would be well worth your while. Sort of a "read or bleed" post.

[gstep51]

Thanks, I have read it but will do so again. I was a little nervous when I went back to the DE after forty years but that went just fine. I have no doubt i will sustain some nicks but hopefully I will not be attempting "surgery".

[JimmyHAD]

Thanks, I have read it but will do so again. I was a little nervous when I went back to the DE after forty years but that went just fine. I have no doubt i will sustain some nicks but hopefully I will not be attempting "surgery".

Sounds like me. I had tried shaving with straights back in the '80s and gave it up because I couldn't hone what I had worth a damn. Fast forward thirty years and I came back to DEs and then to straights again. Thanks to Lynn and SRP I have gotten to where I can hone my own and shave with them.

I recall the first time I tried to shave with a straight this time around. I had a bit of the butterflies in the stomach feeling until I got going but it was all downhill from there. See my sig below to avoid cuts and nicks and check out the 1961 barber manual excerpt on stropping here. The last couple of pages are a tutorial that will have you starting out right.

[gstep51]

Well, I am still alive and with no need of a transfusion. One pass WTG and only nailed myself on the chin once. Pencil took care of it right away. Had to finish ATG with my slim but all in all I am going to say it was a success. First one down and many, many more to go.