Thread: Hello new world!

I've been shaving with a Merkur 34c for about 6 months and decided to step up my game a bit, so I bought a used Dovo 5/8" full hollow and all the trimmings (strop, brush, stand, cream, pre-shave, which were all used only once) for $100. I thought it was a great price. Two shaves in and I love the idea of straight razor shaving more than the actual practice of it. I'm sure it'll get better with experience!

I'm able to shave, but notice that my Dovo isn't sharp enough to cut a hanging hair, even after stropping. It seems to be skipping and the razor doesn't cut through my facial hair as well as I'd like. Stropping isn't my strong suit (nothing straight razor shaving is), so I could be making the blade more dull as I go. I don't think the original owner honed it and just shaved once and didn't like the outcome, so I'm sure it doesn't need honing. His loss, my gain.

Youtube is my friend and I've learned a lot about the particulars of straight razor shaving. Thanks for such a great place for the newbies to learn from others' mistakes.

Welcome aboard! The learning curve sure is fun, isn't it? So then, a few things.

The HHT (hanging hair test) can't test much, and won't work for everyone because some people just don't have the kind of hair that will "pop" when it touches a razor. HHT will not work for me. Best to get a 30x to 60x lighted loupe online for about $3, watch the vids & learn to inspect the edge visually. Somebody will be along with a link to the vid with several methods for inspecting an endge. Hard to dig up vids from my phone .

Do you know if that straight has been honed? By whom? When? If the previous owner only used it once & gave up... combined with your own difficulties using it, it is entirely possible that it only has the factory edge for sharpness. It probably needs a good professional honing.

Now, how about your lather? Did you make the switch to building your own lather the same time you picked up a straight razor? We noobs almost never build an adequate lather right out the gate. Tip 1: MORE WATER! You want meringue; and as long as you are still getting those beautiful peaks in lather that don't drip down, it's hard to have too much water. Tip 2: Lather in sections. It takes longer to shave when you just start out. Lathering each section before you go to shave it helps keep the lather from drying out on your face.

One last thing. With both shaving & stropping, NO PRESSURE is critical. Weight of the blade is fine for stropping, but it should effectively feel like no pressure applied by your arm. Shaving? You are "wiping the lather away".

Hope this helps! Enjoy the sport. And keep away from the 'ADs.

Hi and welcome. As suggested it likely isn't shave ready. Send it to be honed and know for sure. Have you been making lather with your de. With the de transition it should make it easier as you already know your face but make sure you are stretching the skin while shaving with the straight as well. Good luck with your shaves and any questions feel free to ask

Hi Brian
Welcome to SRP.
Below is a list of members/mentors in your area.
Crawler has given you some very good pointers.
Check the Classifieds for honers.

http://straightrazorpalace.com/memberlist.php?do=search

Welcome Brian. Looks like you have a good starter set. Like others have mentioned. You probably need to have it honed to be sure.
What I like to do is pluck a few hairs, either head or whiskers from the stache. Even hair from a brush, and try the HHT test. This will give you a reference point. It may just need a little stropping.
Its hard to purchase something and immediately send it out again, but sometimes you have to do it.
Check the classifieds or ask around, I'm sure there is someone local that can hook you up.

Welcome to SRP.

List your location and others close to you may be able to help.

Ya have it looked at , your new so stropping might just make it worse , but even if it's shave ready the new thing still cones into play , it takes quite a few shaves before you get the technique down . When I first started I thought my razor was dull so I got another and had it hone by a pro , I still had trouble till I got a few shaves under my belt , after 75 or so shaves I tryed the other razor as I was doing good with the second razor, and whallaaa. It was sharp ,, but always start with a pro honed to eliminate all the possibilitys ,, good luck. I,m sure you just have a factory edge. Tc

I live near Marysville WA, and now I'm planning on sending my razor in to get it honed. I ordered a pocket microscope to inspect my edge, and I'd like to check it out before I send her off.

Last night, I saw a video from Nick Shaves on location at "the perfect edge". He honed a razor up to 30k. Does that make the blade easier to dull, even though it's incredibly sharp? It's been my experience with knives that the finer it's honed, the quicker to dull.

Originally Posted by briancorneal

Last night, I saw a video from Nick Shaves on location at "the perfect edge". He honed a razor up to 30k. Does that make the blade easier to dull, even though it's incredibly sharp? It's been my experience with knives that the finer it's honed, the quicker to dull.

Depends on the user & the individual razor not if it's finely honed.

Welcome. Enjoy all there is to learn