Thread: Salutations from Middle Georgia

I got my new DOVO straight razor today with much anticipation from Vintage Blades LLC. I watched the lengthy World of Straight Razor shaving before attempting my shave. Took my time getting all my materials together for pre-shave. Examined my beloved new SR, and handled it until it felt comfortable in my hands. After a nice relaxing shower, I mixed up a lather with my shaving soap (Amber) and then proceeded with a towel treatment. Though I don't feel this step is particularly necessary, it's all about the experience, and IMHO you can't get the full experience without a nice hot towel on your face for a few minutes. I whipped my lather up a bit more and started. I ignored the recommendation to just do from sideburns down to your jaw, and actually successfully shaved my entire face with nothing but the SR. I had no nicks or cuts, but I'm also quite good with a pen knife or really an razor. Just takes some finesse. I only went with the grain of my hair, and man is it smooth going down. Can't wait to do another shave and really get the smoothest shave possible. I have to say, I have some work to do with my off hand, as it's not used to the required dexterity, but I managed. I did not forget to strop the razor before shaving either, though I didn't mention it earlier. One thing I did notice is that the razor didn't really pull per-say, but it didn't cut extremely easily either. I expected more of a glide. I thought it might be attributed to the lather drying a little too much before I started my shave, but am not really sure. Also, I'm pretty sure that the SR was honed by Lynn Abrams before Vintage Blades LLC shipped it to me, as the packaging for the razor itself was already opened. Perhaps more stropping is required before I get the shave I'm looking for. Tips are welcome. Anyhow I'm delighted to say I love SR shaving, as well as the whole routine associated. Just thought I'd share my experience and say hello to everyone out there. Cheers, and happy shaving.

If it was honed by Lynn, you wouldn't have needed to do your initial stropping,but providing you did that well and didn't dull the edge slightly, it could just be an angle issue. If your lather was too dry, I would imagine it would be a bit more grabby against your skin. Then again, it would depend on just how dry or not quite dry the lather is.
Well done on completing your first full shave all the same.

Mick

Day two:
Did my second shave, and got through with only one little nick and some slight razor burn on my lower neck. I did have a lot more luck with the shave though outside of the nick and minor razor burn. I added more water and made my lather a bit differently and it was far more creamy and less sudsy, as Mick suggested. It made the razor move much easier over the skin and much smoother. I attempted my cross grain shave with some success. My neck is difficult due to odd contours. I've watched Mr. Abrams video several times when he's shaving. I just have a much more difficult neck to shave, with more contours and a large Adam's Apple. Also the hair on my neck is more in a spiral pattern towards the lower part of the neck. Perhaps some of you may have seen a video to give more advanced tips on how to handle odd contours? Cheers, and happy shaving!

Dye

Everyone is differnet, especially on the neck. You just have to map the direction of the hair growth and find the best angle from there. Sometimes perfection isn't achievable, and you just have to settle for a DFS instead of a BBS. My neck pattern is about an 85 degree growth towards the addams apple, at which point it forms a swirl on each side just on the adams apple. There are patchs on the neck and the adams apple that just can't be done without risk of burn. My technique and angles of attack get most of it though, with DFS where the hollows are under the corners of the jaw and the swirls on the side of the adams apple.
Map the growth, and shave small patches at a time working the direction of the growth (or XTG/ATG) as necessary. Have a really close look and you'll probably notice intricacies that you've not noticed before.


Mick

Hello Dye, I also have a few spirals on my neck and had to learn some tricks to shave those areas well. Look close at the hair growth to determine where the hair changes direction. Remember your first pass is WTG so when it comes to those areas follow the direction of growth. Most of the time I forgo at the ATG pass to avoid trouble like razor burn in those areas. Perform small, exacting strokes and use light lather so you can see which direction to shave. Allow those areas to grow out a day or two until you become more familiar with your neck and shaving with a straight. Most of all, maintain consistency and consciously introduce subtle changes so you can determine what works best for you. I had the worst time with ingrown hairs on my neck even prior to using a straight but it has been months since I had to dissect one out! Good luck!

Oh, I forgot, I pull my skin left and right of my Adam's apple to shave there rather than trying to battle all the contours.

Dye, bravo for a great start.

The whole dry lather thing really is a setup for nicks. If running water won't rinse the lather from your blade, its too dry. Its not enough to wet the brush and dab the moisture on top of the dry lather - the moisture has to make it to skin level. Thanks go to Mick - good help on angle and lather.

On the cow-lick - swirl pattern. It means that there's no single direction you can stroke to get it perfectly smooth. Some directions are either difficult or impossible - kudos again to Mick to give DFS a good name. Chasing BBS can give some colorful lather & razor burn in the pursuit. On the Swirls, keep your stretch good, bring the skin away from the adam's apple to the most flat spot you can reach, and try different stretches and stroke - trying to stroke the swirls from multiple directions.

It'll seem alot different a few months from now. Keep up the good work!

Many thanks to Mick, Whiskey and Pinklather. I've been kind of mapping out my neck growth in my head as I sit with the wife and watch tv. Thinking about which way it grows and direction of shave and angle of the blade and handling of it. Gonna give it another shot tonight. I wanted to get a day and a half's growth so that I had more to work with on the neck and gave my skin a little rest. My neck got slightly irritated last shave, though my cheeks, chin and lip have had no issues at all. In face it took almost a full 24 hours before I had scratchy stubble come back. Fantastic! With cartridges it took usually only about 5 - 8 hours. I know my shaving is far from perfected, but I definitely am getting a better shave already than I was with a cartridge razor and I now enjoy it thoroughly. I used to despise having to shave, so that says quite a lot. I'll let you guys know how my results are tonight with working on the neck using your advise. Thanks again! Cheers!

-Dye

Well done Dye. Hopefully it will only go up for you from here on in.


Mick

I am looking forward to hearing how your next few shaves go. I was about a month into straight shaving when my shaves were consistently better than cartridge shaving. I think between all of the great advice above you will start to see better results on those swirls and with your shaves in general. One word of caution, when doing short passes in several directions chasing the swirl be sure to pick the razor off the skin so you don't perform a slicing motion with the toe when changing direction. Judging by title alone, pinklather may have some expert knowledge in this area I know I have tinted my lather crimson as well due to not paying attention to the little details like watching the toe!

Best Regards