Climbing the learning curve

Hi all
Keen to master the skills of straight shaving (to turn a boring chore into a satisfying challenge)

I just got a Dovo Shavette for two reasons 1) cheaper way to test waters 2) I am always travelling so it's easier to pack

A few questions arise after giving it a burl this morning

1) It seems really hard to actually see what your doing with your hand in the road.. am I doing something wrong? I nearly sliced my ear off peering over, then under the blade trying to see where to start a first pass!

2) When the barber does the back of my neck with a straight they seem to use many short strokes, is this the way or are long passes better?

3) Any tips for doing around the adams apple? I don't want to die yet

4) The Dovo full length blades seem very long, almost hard to manage. Do I get used to it or get the smaller blades?

5) Whats the best way of cleaning the blade as your shaving? It's fiddly to pull apart and wash, and a tissue just smeared lather everywhere. Tips?

It's great - I used to drink coffee to get my heart rate up, now I just put an open razor next to my jugular.

Watch some of the videos in the "shaving with a straight razor" area of the main site, and also some of the member videos. Lynn (the founder & guru) recommends short strokes, others have different views. I use short on pass # 1 and longer once I've mowed some of the growth down. never used a shavette, so I can't help there! As to the hand in the way, we all struggle with that, especially when trying to stretch our skin....just trial and error and some "blind shaving" by feel for me so far.

Hi, you will no doubt get many answers to your questions, and most will offer similar advice I imagine.

1 a good way to start is find a comfortable to reach part of the face and just shave that until you are comfortable and confident in using the blade, the side burn is usually a good area for this ( use you normal methods of shaving for rest of face) once you grow in confidence progress to the rest of the face.

2. Short stokes are best

3. As per answer 1, get confident before taking it. When you do keep your strokes straight, bad cuts only really happen if you making a slicing motion

4 not sure sorry.

5 I just wipe on a towel

If you have not already done so check out the beginners guides on here and watch vids on YouTube to learn techniques. Good luck!

I also realised about the blind spots very early and made a big effort to learn to hold the razor in either hand. I find I can stretch and shave my whole face this way

Stretching can be tricky, try wrapping your stretching arm over the top of your head.
Pull the skin sideways to shave around the adams apple.
The short blade might be more manageable to start with, but I don't really know.
With regards to blade cleaning, don't stress too much if all the lather doesn't come.off during the shave. But you could wipe the blade on a damp sponge or cloth to get the worst off during the shave.

I will just mention in response to #5 that I previously was rinsing my shavette off in hot water between strokes, but recently switched to wiping it off on a damp towel. It gets the hair off faster and I just rinse off the towel thoroughly afterwards (though if I owned more that 2 towels, I would use a fresh towel each time, but it doesn't strike me as a big deal).

So +1 for wiping on a towel.

Hey folks. Op, I'm using the Dovo Shavette just now as well. I'm no master and have only been using it for going 3 weeks now but think I'm starting to loosely get the hang of it. So as we're using the same equipment I can say I have run into some of the same problems.

1. Like some of the other guys have said I would reach over ur head to keep your hand and arm outta the way to allow you to see and still keep the skin taught.

2. Generally with a proper straight Im not too sure but from one newb to another using a shavette I use shorter strokes.

3. Like one of the guys said above I would probably pull the skin taught to the side of your Adams Apple or go over it very lightly, like only have the weight of the blade against your skin as the cutting pressure and keep an eye on your angle.

4. I use the smaller blades for the red sleeve now as when I started using the shavette I was using the bigger blades for the black sleeve and they were a nightmare, I was constantly cutting myself, one other member had asked me if they were the dovo blades I was suing ( which they were ) and had said If so to change for the smaller red ones as the Dovo blades aren't so good, which I did and the difference was night and day.

5. For cleaning the blade as Im shaving I stand at the sink with some hot water in it and a hand towel tucked into my waist or into my bath towel if Iv just gotten outta shower or bath, I would just wipe it off with that hand towel.

This is what I do when using the shavette and seems soo far to work for me, Im like you very new to this though but soo far so good these things have worked for me. Good luck and keep us Informed.

Cheers

Quote:

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Originally Posted by TurbineBlade

4. I use the smaller blades for the red sleeve now as when I started using the shavette I was using the bigger blades for the black sleeve and they were a nightmare, I was constantly cutting myself, one other member had asked me if they were the dovo blades I was suing ( which they were ) and had said If so to change for the smaller red ones as the Dovo blades aren't so good, which I did and the difference was night and day.

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Thanks very much for your advice fellas.

The towel is a great idea I just used a face washer rinsed in hot water, very interesting TurbineBlade about the Dovo blades. Have you tried Wilkinson Sword blades? They are the most available blades in supermarkets here in aus

N

Great questions for a beginner (as I am). I look forward to seeing everyone's responses.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by nonick

Thanks very much for your advice fellas.

The towel is a great idea I just used a face washer rinsed in hot water, very interesting TurbineBlade about the Dovo blades. Have you tried Wilkinson Sword blades? They are the most available blades in supermarkets here in aus

N

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Hi buddy. I just find it easier to have the towel there to clean it off after each stroke. Its Wilkinson Sword Blades Im currently using for the red sleeve as opposed to the dovo blades for the black sleeve, give them a try, youl see a big difference. :D

This morning I tried the shorter Merkur Razor that came with the Shavette. I must say I got on better with the shorter blade. I don't know how the Merkur blades compare to the Dovo but it was easier to use.

To anyone considering a Shavette I am glad of a little design feature - see the pic there is a small extension in the insert at the end of the razor - This is a great help not slicing yourself with the edge of the razor. I have read posts where others had problems cutting themselves with the trailing edge. Thumbs up for that one Dovo.

This morning I was congratulating myself on shaving carefully and not getting any cuts yet and I took the top off a little mole I have on my chin. Bleed!? Whats with the face? It's like your chin comes on the PA "all available units of blood to the front desk please"


Question for anyone who might know - I use a cheap common shaving cream so far but this morning I was taking so long shaving it actually dried out on my face. I was taking off chunks of dried shaving cream with the razor and it felt really rough. Do more expensive creams lathers etc not do this? I couldn't find any ingredients on the tube.

Cheers all
Keep on the straight and narrow :-)
Nick

That's good all went well matey, apart from shaving the mole, but hey, otherwise a good outcome. I definitely seen a big difference moving from the dovo blades down to the smaller ws blades, much smoother and no Irritation by comparison. I know what you mean aswell with the little corner guard on the shavette makes a big difference as most of the time when you slice yourself its the corner section of the blade that's doing the slicing. So well done to you matey, sounds like your heading in the right direction. Re the shaving cream I use Taylors Of Bond Street Sandalwood soap and a badgerhair brush which works well and gives the blade a good glide and also smells great as well. You should see If you can pick yourself up a brush and some soap or cream recommended for use with Straights, check out the Soaps and Creams section, you'll get some info there re recommended soaps or creams. ;)