Thread: Hello SRP, this is Matt from Germany

Hi,


I'm Matt from Germany and I'm new to this forum and to shaving with a straight razor.


I had my first shave with a double-edged safety razor (Merkur 23C) a couple of weeks ago and it went quite well. Quickly after that, the idea of shaving with a SR grew on me. I went and purchased a Dovo "Barbarossa".

That shave did not go as well. I think I did okay, got the job done, just the dominant hand, little bit of blood.

I think the Dovo came shave ready, but I'm a noob with my first SR, so I can't really tell. It was tree-topping arm air quite nicely. It also appeared to cut well enough during the shave.

After the second and third shave, looking into some other razors, some videos on youtube, some jnats,... I'm quite sure that this is a hobby I might have to be careful not to go too crazy with it. But one or two more razors wouldn't hurt, especially when I'm more experienced in using them. And some of them just look oh so beautiful to me already.


Yeah, so, there's a whole lot for me to learn. Looking forward to reading through all the info here and to having some good chats with you guys.


That's it from me for now, see you around

Matt

Welcome to the forum
Enjoy your time here p

Welcome to the forum. Yes, you are jumping in to the end of the pool by going quickly to shaving with a straight razor. I would read what is in the forums library before going any deeper into it.

It takes time to learn how to make a good lather which helps immensely in getting a good shave, it takes time to learn how to strop a razor properly where you don't degrade the edge while doing it and about 100 shaves with a straight razor before you get consistently decent shaves. While learning to shave with a straight razor you will dull the edge faster too. Be prepared to send the razor out to be honed more frequently than normal or learn to touch up the razor yourself. If you elect to learn to touch up the razor yourself, that leads to another learning curve too.

All that is said not to discourage you but warn you what you will have to be prepared to do. It can be a long and at times frustrating journey that needs a lot of patience to get through. When you do get through it there is a great deal of satisfaction to be had in the end.

Bob

Hi Matt,

Pleased to meet you.

I was stationed in Paderborn for 5 years.

I don't understand not going too crazy with it, course you should

Dovo razors recently have had a poor reputation as far as their factory edges being shave ready. There is a difference between sharp, even tree-topping sharp, and honed properly enough to be termed shave ready.

You have to start with a properly honed razor. The Dovo you purchased is a good razor and should provide excellent shaves for a lifetime once honed. properly. I suggest you send yours out for a professional honing. We have members from Germany and elsewhere in Europe who can offer some suggestions.

Then you have to master the techniques of stropping a straight razor to maintain that edge and of shaving with a straight razor to optimize it’s use. Check out the beginner section on the SRP home page for some specific suggestions.

We have a lot of members with a lot of expertise who are qquite willing to share it with a new member.

Welcome and enjoy the experience.

Originally Posted by BobH

Welcome to the forum. Yes, you are jumping in to the end of the pool by going quickly to shaving with a straight razor. I would read what is in the forums library before going any deeper into it.

It takes time to learn how to make a good lather which helps immensely in getting a good shave, it takes time to learn how to strop a razor properly where you don't degrade the edge while doing it and about 100 shaves with a straight razor before you get consistently decent shaves. While learning to shave with a straight razor you will dull the edge faster too. Be prepared to send the razor out to be honed more frequently than normal or learn to touch up the razor yourself. If you elect to learn to touch up the razor yourself, that leads to another learning curve too.

Originally Posted by DZEC

You have to start with a properly honed razor. The Dovo you purchased is a good razor and should provide excellent shaves for a lifetime once honed. properly. I suggest you send yours out for a professional honing. We have members from Germany and elsewhere in Europe who can offer some suggestions.

Then you have to master the techniques of stropping a straight razor to maintain that edge and of shaving with a straight razor to optimize it’s use. Check out the beginner section on the SRP home page for some specific suggestions.

If I were starting out, all over again, I'd follow these rules:

• Learn to face-lather. Learn to do a proper three-pass shave. Learn your beard. Until you do, keep shaving with a DE.
• Stick with a single straight razor, brush, and shaving soap.
• Learn to shave with both hands.
• Buy an inexpensive, 3" strop.
• Always buy "used" razors.
• Don't buy any hones!

Smooth shaving!

Hello Matt and welcome. Yes it is true that there is a lot to learn for it to go smoothly but it goes faster than it sounds. Before you know it things start to improve and then you realize that you're getting good results and wonder how you didn't always. Just take your time and don't get frustrated. You'll get the hang of it. Definitely read the beginners section and definitely watch some videos but be careful about which ones. There are some clowns on YouTube that will steer you wrong. Pretty much any you see recommended here will be helpful

Originally Posted by matt84

... I'm quite sure that this is a hobby I might have to be careful not to go too crazy with it. But one or two more razors wouldn't hurt, especially when I'm more experienced in using them. And some of them just look oh so beautiful to me already.

That's what I said about 180 razors ago. Be sure to watch out for the various acquisition disorders like:
RAD: razor acquisition disorder
HAD: hone acquisition disorder
SAD: strop acquisition disorder and soap acquisition disorder...

You get the idea. And don't count on anyone here to save you from these maladies as there are enablers around every turn here. Basically, we will help you fall down the rabbit holes every time.

Enjoy your stay and feel free to ask questions because someone is always here to help.

Hi Matt and welcome to SRP.
Enjoy the learning process and your time here on the forum.

Pete <:-}

Welcome to our site.

You've gotten some really great advice here.

The only thing I would say is to get that razor honed by a pro who does razors and preferably shaves with one too.

Then I'll second learning to use that strop. Start with a butter knife to learn pressure and position. You can ruin an edge on a strop very easily if you are ham handed with it.

Other than that it just takes practice, a lot of practice.

Originally Posted by rolodave

Welcome to the forum
Enjoy your time here p

Thanks rolodave!

Originally Posted by BobH

Welcome to the forum. Yes, you are jumping in to the end of the pool by going quickly to shaving with a straight razor. I would read what is in the forums library before going any deeper into it.

It takes time to learn how to make a good lather which helps immensely in getting a good shave, it takes time to learn how to strop a razor properly where you don't degrade the edge while doing it and about 100 shaves with a straight razor before you get consistently decent shaves. While learning to shave with a straight razor you will dull the edge faster too. Be prepared to send the razor out to be honed more frequently than normal or learn to touch up the razor yourself. If you elect to learn to touch up the razor yourself, that leads to another learning curve too.

All that is said not to discourage you but warn you what you will have to be prepared to do. It can be a long and at times frustrating journey that needs a lot of patience to get through. When you do get through it there is a great deal of satisfaction to be had in the end.

Bob

Thanks Bob,

I will definitely go through the forums library to educate myself. I also watched a couple of how-to videos before I gave it a try.

Good point on the stropping and the lather. I will try to hone the razors myself at some point, I already have some stones for knive sharpening. But I will start with cheap razors and also will send my Dovo to someone who's good at honing to have a reference and a feeling for how a decent edge should shave.

Thanks for taking a moment to give some valuable advices. Not discouraging at all, if I wanted it easy, I would have taken a different route for sure. We'll see how it's working out after another 97 shaves.

Originally Posted by STF

Hi Matt,

Pleased to meet you.

I was stationed in Paderborn for 5 years.

I don't understand not going too crazy with it, course you should

Hi STF,

thanks, pleased to meet you as well.

I would be lying, if I said I know Paderborn very well. I'm from the south of Germany and I've been to Paderborn only once. I hope you had a good time there and enjoyed staying in Germany for quite a long while.

Also, thank you for your service.

You know, trying not to break the bank. Already got some razors on my wishlist, some seem to be unobtainium.

Originally Posted by DZEC

Dovo razors recently have had a poor reputation as far as their factory edges being shave ready. There is a difference between sharp, even tree-topping sharp, and honed properly enough to be termed shave ready.

You have to start with a properly honed razor. The Dovo you purchased is a good razor and should provide excellent shaves for a lifetime once honed. properly. I suggest you send yours out for a professional honing. We have members from Germany and elsewhere in Europe who can offer some suggestions.

Then you have to master the techniques of stropping a straight razor to maintain that edge and of shaving with a straight razor to optimize it’s use. Check out the beginner section on the SRP home page for some specific suggestions.

We have a lot of members with a lot of expertise who are qquite willing to share it with a new member.

Welcome and enjoy the experience.

Hi DZEC,

when I said my first shave with that Dovo didn't go as well, I meant it wasn't as easy as with the Merkur. But that was to be expected. I wouldn't blame the factory edge, tho. I like the brand. Don't want to feed the poor reputation, when the real problem was me not knowing how to shave.

The areas that were the easiest for me to shave actually went smooth and felt really good. Areas where I did too many passes and where I had some nicks of course not. But the blade was cutting cleanly without tugging or pulling, even against the grain. Just wanted to clarify that.

After my first stropping attempts and the three newbie-shaves it definitely decreased in keenness, that's why I certainly need to let it get honed.

thanks for the welcome and taking your time to help a newbie find his way

Cheers