Thread: What Am I doing Wrong.

Hi Guys. This is my first post here and I thought I might be able to ask you guys a few questions. I'm new to straight razor shaving, been using a straight razor for 2 weeks now. The razor I'm using is a dovo shavette with the black sleeve. The problem I'm having is that when I'm shaving with it , it feels as though the blade isn't cutting the hair but pulling it out and is almost painful when shaving, I've tried changing the angle of the blade to my face yet it doesn't really seem to make any difference and when I'm done, even with 2 passes I've still not really got a very close shave. I always shave straight after a piping hot bath and use pre shave oil and lather applied with a badger hair brush, where am I going wrong? The other thing I wanted to ask you guys is, do you think its actually easier to shave with a conventional straight razor as opposed to a shavette, as the shavette uses feather blades that are that sharp and quite flimsy so cut you really easily ( not that a normal straight razor wouldn't ) or is it just my inexperienced Imagination? Thanks for any Input and Info in advance guys.

Are you stretching your skin? There is a learning curve for SR shaving.
A "real" SR is more forgiving but again it is a little different technique.

STRETCH your skin...go LIGHT let the blade do the work... Good Luck Bro.....

It really does sound like an angle and pressure thing to me. The angle of the blade to your face needs to be really shallow. Like 20 to 30 degrees. In regards to pressure you should be just trying to wipe off the lather.

You said you are using the black sleeve, so I'm assuming you're using the Dovo blade that came with the razor. If so, I can say that I was not terribly impressed with that blade. I suggest you try the red sleeve with any quality DE blade and you will find it much sharper. Also, the shorter blade might be easier during the learning phase.

Light touch, light touch, really light touch. As they say, just imagine you're wiping off the lather, not actually cutting anything. And pay particular attention to the position of the blade edge during the landing on the skin...that's when I get most of my nicks.

Best, Alan

Superpeedracer. Hi mate, yeh I've been trying to keep it as close to 30 degrees as possible and as light on my skin as possible but will keep working at it.

Alan, thanks for your Input matey, yeh Its the dovo blades Im using with the black sleeve. Like I said earlier It just feels as though the hair is being tugged and ripped out as opposed to cut or shaved, kind of like the feeling you get when your mach 3 blade ( or any other razor ) needs changed. Will try and get some of the smaller blades for the red sleeve. I also find that most of the nicks and cuts Im getting are on first contact with the skin, maybe still a bit too heavy handed with it. Do you guys think in general its easier or more forgiving as was mentioned by Chevhed to use a SR in contrast with a shavette? Thanks guys.

A nick or cut with first contact as well as pulling makes me think of an angle thats too high. Try an experiment, in an easy area, say cheek or side burn, lather up like normal, start with the spine of the razor barely off your face. Make one stroke, if no whiskers are cut, relather and repeat the process with the spine just a tiny bit further out from your face. Continue until whiskers are cut and note the angle. The idea is to kind of sneak up on the angle so you can actually see and feel what is correct without a nick or cut. To me it seems that 30 degrees is on the high side for the angle of a shavette. A good blade in a shavette certainly shouldn't pull and hurt. Good luck to ya.

Originally Posted by Chevhead

Are you stretching your skin? There is a learning curve for SR shaving.
A "real" SR is more forgiving but again it is a little different technique.

STRETCH your skin...go LIGHT let the blade do the work... Good Luck Bro.....

This is my thoughts too. Regards ed

Well there ya go...
If TWO Ed's agree it is almost like a LAW!

Originally Posted by Chevhead

Well there ya go...
If TWO Ed's agree it is almost like a LAW!

Well they do say that two 'eds are better than one

I tried shavettes when I started out, soon switched to a real straight razor and found it a much better experience. Like the other guys have said angel, pressure and stretching the skin are key. When starting out I found watching vids on YouTube really helped.

Personally I found a big difference in the blades for shavettes and some really were uncomfortable, so it is possible it's the blades?

Also I notice you are in Scotland, if you're anywhere near the wishaw area I could possibly lend you a real straight to try, pm me if interested.



Good luck and hang in there it will come good with a little perseverance and its amazing when you get it right.