Thread: Newbie's progress to date

I started with a Parker Shavette. It too took half a razor blade. It took me several weeks but I started to get some pretty good close shaves.

I started first doing just downward passes on my cheeks then on my neck. I would go back to my DE on my chin and finish off. Every couple of days I would add another bit of facial real estate and practice. It doesn't take long before you can get a good result without nicks. But don't rush, it is a skill to learn.

Prep for me I thought was already sorted because I came from DE shaving, however it took me longer to shave so things changed, my lather didn't seem so good. I learned to just soap up the areas I needed on the second pass. You can practice making lathers in a bowl or on your hand and not use them to shave, just feel them between your fingers for consistency or practice on your arm. Make loads of lathers and you'll soon get the consistency you want.

Its difficult to give you the best soap recommendation because all skin types are different but for me Proraso green cream and Nivea Sensitive skin balm seemed to work for me. I avoided alcohol aftershaves (which I love) while I learned to be kind to my hacked up skin.

I now use a straight razor, and yes it is smoother. I did cut myself with it lots when I started but the Parker Shavette had helped for sure and without it I wouldn't have continued into this world of straight razors.

Just keep practicing, read lots on here and take it slowly. Rushing will cause frustration and skin irritation. Soon if your like me, you'll prefer your shavette and want to move on to a straight, or you'll decide its not for you and go back to your old method. Over the next few weeks you'll keep changing your mind, but Keep going and the practice will pay off. The shavette need to be mastered, it is different than a straight, but its still a good skill to learn as there is pleasure to be had for sure.

I hope that helps.