Thread: Poor shave

Greetings fellow shavers,

I have been shaving the "way of the gods" for a while now and have noticed a major problem. I have a Dovo ⅝ and a Dovo shavette, I usually shave once every couple of days. I have noticed that my SR has great trouble cutting the hairs on my chin and basically creates a not too nice shaving experience, however, my shavette cuts through my growth with ease and no irritation. Is my Dovo straight not man enough for the task.

I really enjoy the ritual of the shave but I hate using my straight, should I trade it in for something with some more heft to it? I have had the thing honed, I've refreshed it, stropped it but it still leaves me feeling uncomfortable using it. It never feels sharp enough. As soon as I use the shavette it is a joyous experience again.

Please furnish me with your sage-like advice.

I can't begin to figure that out , maybe you could meet a mentor to have him evaluate your technique , I would say the razor isn't shave ready but you said you had it honed, but by who? And how is your stropping? If a shavette gives you a good shave and the straight doesn't , that leads me to believe technique or your razor ,, I have a feather RG for travel when I can't bring a strop, nothing sharper than it with feather blades,meet my straights are just as capable , just smoother. And my beard is like wire rope. I know this probably doesn't help , but if you always fall back on the shavette , maybe that's what your comfortable with. Good luck. Tc

I agree with TC. That Dovo should exceed the feather in comfort and closeness.
Here is a link to find members/mentors in your area.

http://straightrazorpalace.com/memberlist.php?do=search

If you are only having trouble at the chin, that would suggest this is a technique issue. Try shaving your chin only with the heal end of your razor and continue to experiment with different angles. Your straight is not to be used at the same angle as your shavette.

Originally Posted by Utopian

If you are only having trouble at the chin, that would suggest this is a technique issue. Try shaving your chin only with the heal end of your razor and continue to experiment with different angles. Your straight is not to be used at the same angle as your shavette.

I'm curious why you suggest shaving the chin with the heel of the razor. Can you elaborate as to why?

Originally Posted by PensacolaTiger

I'm curious why you suggest shaving the chin with the heel of the razor. Can you elaborate as to why?

Ever spend any time on the teeter totter as a kid?

The farther something is from the fulcrum, the less force is needed to move it. When the blade makes contact with whiskers, there is resistance. When the heel is used, there is less push back (torque) against the blade because it is closer to the holding hand.

This won't help if the blade is dull, but I suspect this is not the issue since there was no mention of the razor not shaving fine for the rest of the face.

Thanks for the replies fella's. It's not just the chin, from the moment the blade touches my face if feels vastly different from the shavette. I have tried all manner of different angles and pressures, nothing seems to work, but as soon as I use the shavette there is no problems at all. The shavette cuts with no tugging or "digging in". The blade on my straight just doesn't feel right. It is very difficult to explain.

Lots of guys up in Canada , do a member search for a mentor. , it's either the razor or you , but as Ron said chin only is likely technique, you,ve only been at this for a few months , and maybe the shavette is the one you reach for the most, hence more experience , and not much on the straight. Takes a hundred or so shaves with a straight to really get to know it , maybe less with some but it's not an instant acquired talent. Tc

Does your razor (pop) cut arm or leg hair at mid-length easily.

If you're skillful enough to shave with a shavette and not slice yourself up then my guess is its the razor, not you. As has been suggested, find a mentor with hones. Good luck.