Thread: First straight shave

Well, yesterday in what seemed a torturous wait my Dovo 5/8 tortoiseshell imitation arrived from straight razor designs, honed and ready to rock and roll

After reading as much info, and watching as many videos as I could, I decided I would try shaving my cheeks on both sides to get a feel for the blade, and work on establishing my grip and technique.

Had a shower, and while doing that soaked the Rooney 1/2 in my lather bowl with hot water as per usual, CADE soap and lathered myself up.

Drum roll please..............

I did pretty well. No corrective plastic surgery required, no call to the emergency ward. I got some confidence from shaving my cheeks, and then decided to give my neck a run WTG. That was more difficult and nerve racking, I wouldn't say it was a thorough pass, but gave me an idea of what its like. One very small nick which stopped with the cold water rinse, and no irritation.

I only managed one WTG pass, before reverting to my DE to finish off the shave. I'm going to continue with the cheek routine for the rest of the week and build up my confidence and comfort level. I will wait for the W/E before doing a whole shave with the straight, that way if any disaster occurs I can lock myself in my apartment until my face heals.

I have a few questions - with the neck pass the blade seemed to get stuck, is that angle, lather, blade or all?

Secondly, the noise the blade makes is off putting don't you think? It sounds as though your shaving your face with a cut Coke can?

Lastly the razor came exquisitely packaged (well done to the guys at straight razor designs) with a note inside saying the blade had been honed and coated in Camellia oil? I can't find that stuff locally here in Australia, for all you Aussies, what do you use, if you use anything at all?

I think a lot of guys (myself included) use plain old baby oil.

And I like the cut coke can sound, sounds manly. As an insider tip though, heavier grinds (wedges, 1/4 hollow, etc) shave much quieter than their full hollow brothers.

Congrats on your first shave. I too am pretty new to straights but I've got to say it gets easier the more you shave. My straight razor reminds me of bacon frying in the pan when I shave with it. Good luck!

Nah...I like the sound. As your technique improves, you'll notice that the sound is just the razor giving you feedback on the job you've done. When you don't hear the sound anymore, you've got all the hair knocked down.

Since your blade is properly honed, if it's catching at all, it's likely to be your technique rather than the razor.

Nice job aza. Small nick, no cuts no irratation, sounds like you are well on your way to straight razor nirvana. The hanging up, is most likely not the razor. Straight Razor Designs is Lynn and Don's razor site, Honemeister Lynn wouldn't have that. It is most likely lather, or blade angle. Try moving away or closer to your neck, the next time you shave your neck. You can also try mixing some shave soap and some shave cream for a lather deluxe. You can also add some glycerin oil for a uber-lather, as well. Shave prep can also be a issue. A hot shower helps a lot, and is a must for me, but try including hot toweling before and right after the lathering, just make sure you re-lather, after you hot towel over the lather. A pre-shave oil, may help you, just make sure you wipe it off very well, and dry your hands before you handle your razor though, please. Well, good luck, and I hope these tips have helped you in some way. Oh I love the sound bye the way.

My dear Aza,

Congratulations on your first straight razor shave. Many more lie ahead with much pleasure. Welcome to the world of gentlemen shavers.

Regards,

Obie

Aza

Congratulations!

Glad to hear that the first shave went so well. The sound is great, I actually ask my wife to leave the bathroom if I am shaving so I can hear it well, the hair dryer drives me crazy. I also have that Dovo and love it, I have an extra hollow razor that is louder, Great sounds from that blade.

I read in a thread that a member (not sure who it was) wipes the blade with 3/4 once mineral oil and alcohol mixed in a 3 once bottle after rinsing, drying and stropping. I do 20 laps on leather and use a square of toilet paper soaked with the mix to wipe the blade and tang. It seems to be working for me.

Enjoy

Lu

Originally Posted by kipper

Congrats on your first shave. I too am pretty new to straights but I've got to say it gets easier the more you shave. My straight razor reminds me of bacon frying in the pan when I shave with it. Good luck!

Originally Posted by red96ta

Nah...I like the sound. As your technique improves, you'll notice that the sound is just the razor giving you feedback on the job you've done. When you don't hear the sound anymore, you've got all the hair knocked down.

Since your blade is properly honed, if it's catching at all, it's likely to be your technique rather than the razor.

Originally Posted by STRAIGHTRAZOR13

Nice job aza. Small nick, no cuts no irratation, sounds like you are well on your way to straight razor nirvana. The hanging up, is most likely not the razor. Straight Razor Designs is Lynn and Don's razor site, Honemeister Lynn wouldn't have that. It is most likely lather, or blade angle. Try moving away or closer to your neck, the next time you shave your neck. You can also try mixing some shave soap and some shave cream for a lather deluxe. You can also add some glycerin oil for a uber-lather, as well. Shave prep can also be a issue. A hot shower helps a lot, and is a must for me, but try including hot toweling before and right after the lathering, just make sure you re-lather, after you hot towel over the lather. A pre-shave oil, may help you, just make sure you wipe it off very well, and dry your hands before you handle your razor though, please. Well, good luck, and I hope these tips have helped you in some way. Oh I love the sound bye the way.

Originally Posted by Obie

My dear Aza,

Congratulations on your first straight razor shave. Many more lie ahead with much pleasure. Welcome to the world of gentlemen shavers.

Regards,

Obie

Originally Posted by cyclelu

Aza

Congratulations!

Glad to hear that the first shave went so well. The sound is great, I actually ask my wife to leave the bathroom if I am shaving so I can hear it well, the hair dryer drives me crazy. I also have that Dovo and love it, I have an extra hollow razor that is louder, Great sounds from that blade.

I read in a thread that a member (not sure who it was) wipes the blade with 3/4 once mineral oil and alcohol mixed in a 3 once bottle after rinsing, drying and stropping. I do 20 laps on leather and use a square of toilet paper soaked with the mix to wipe the blade and tang. It seems to be working for me.

Enjoy

Lu

Thanks guys, I really appreciate the feedback and advice. Keep it coming.

im still working the same issue on my neck i know exactly what you mean by the blade gets stuckor whats sto jump and skip around

Originally Posted by BAMARACING8

im still working the same issue on my neck i know exactly what you mean by the blade gets stuckor whats sto jump and skip around

Can some elder guru's please offer some advice? I'm pretty sure its angle, so does the blade need to be steeper or flatter?