Greetings Gentlemen

About a month or so ago I decided I was tired of dragging my Gillette across my face twice a week and looking scruffy all the time. About the same time, I switched barber shops to a place that just opened up near my residence and saw that they offered traditional straight razor shaves. That got me into looking for a better way to shave, which eventually led me here.

I have to say that the advice I found here helped me make good decisions on how to get started. I think I made good decisions on the gear I've bought, and found some good advice on technique and how to properly perform the ritual. Thanks to all the contributors here for sharing your experience with the world. I, for one, found it invaluable.

I've been shaving with my Dovo now for 2 weeks. I started out just shaving my cheeks, but now I am shaving my full face (minus my Van Dyke). There are still some spots that give me trouble, and my technique is still fairly poor, but am already getting a better shave then I ever have experienced before and I'm enjoying the process.

Despite the wealth of information I have found here, there are still a few questions for which I haven't been able to find answers.

Honing: I bought my Dovo razor new from BM Vintage Shaving. It is by far the sharpest thing I have ever held in my hands. Yet from what I have read, it probably isn't "shave ready". I found the Member Services forum here, but it doesn't list people by region and I would prefer to enlist someone local (to the SF bay area), mostly so that I don't have to wait a week to get a good shave again. I have found a man who sharpens all types of blades at local farmer's markets, but know little about him. Anybody have any recommendations for SF bay area honing services? Or should I just go scruffy and mail my blade to Lynn?

Stropping: What is the cloth side of the strop for? I've seen answers for this that range from "it provides structure to the leather side" to "it's good for touching up after honing" and I don't know what to believe.

Nicks: I managed to get past my first shave without a nick or cut. My second shave, I nicked myself a little bit on my right cheek near the corner of my mouth. Every subsequent shave has re-nicked that same spot. Is this just bad technique / too much pressure? Or is there something else I should do? Would a styptic pencil help out with this?

Thanks again for all the help.

Ryan

G'day Ryan. Can't help with your honing issue. Way too far away for that. I would recommend that if you don't hear from a member in your area that can hone, to send it off to Lynn. A man who sharpens all sorts of blades may not be a man who has honed, note the word honed as opposed to sharpens, razors. Even if they say they can.

Stropping...Think of the cloth side of your strop, as the strop equivilent of the 8k hone. You can shave off it, but the real smoothness comes from going to a higher grit, in this case, the leather side. Don't worry too much about whatever else it may do, just use it before/after every shave to keep comfort at an optimum.

Nicks...Avoid shaving over the buggers. Otherwise they never heal.


Mick

+1 to what Mick said.
I would never trust anyone to hone a razor that doesn't use one themselves - FULL STOP
Steer clear of the nick until it heals - the only other thing you can do is not cut yourself......:rofl2:

Welcome to SRP :)

The primary use for the linen/cotton strop is to clean your razor before you use the leather. Just look at some vintage linen strops and you will see how dirty they can become. You don't want that on your leather strop.

San Francisco SRP members. here is a link to a search of the SRP member list for guys with a location of San Francisco. Maybe they can help with your honing......

http://straightrazorpalace.com/membe...rt=posts&pp=50

BTW, the other option you have is post a thread in the Honing forum asking for someone in SF area to help you.

Welcome and congrats on ditching the disposable. I wouldn't worry too much if you can't find someone in Cali to hone. ONCE YOU get it honed you will be good for months until you need it honed again. By the time you need it touched up you'll probably have interest to purchase a second one. That way you'll have a second to use if one is out of commission. Just be warned, this place is very good at making you want more razors lol.

Two honers that are on the west coast right off the top of my head are gssixgun (idaho) and maximilion (vegas).