Thread: First shave... not Good

I think you did the right thing by stopping the shave. I see others have given some good advice here, the only thing I would add is to get yourself an inexpensive ebay razor and a strop that you don't mind getting a few nics in, to practice honing and stropping with. It is a great way to learn the ins an outs of honing and stropping without messing with the Dovo...

Emil

If the razor is honed by just about anyone you should be able to get a decent shave from it, maybe not great, but atleast passable. I would try a few things before sending it to Lynn, mostly because he can work out whatever you screw up, sans, a wicked nick. I don't see how his turn around time makes any difference if the razor isn't shaving. I think you should worry more about the time it'll take you to learn how to strop, its longer than Lynn's turn around time.

True. I need to get a used one on EBAY and practice. Thanks

That is a good idea, I inadvertently did that by getting such poor quality sutff (pre being and SRP member obviously) that it was only worth practicing with (and cutting insulation off wires). Dont be worried if you stropped it badly, many of us have done that before, just send it to one of the honemeisters and work on your technique while its away.

Although, the angle can make a real difference. When I first started, that was what took the most getting used to for me. Maybe its worth another go on the sideburns as theyre the easiest to shave, taking care to get a 30 degree angle. If it still pulls then stop immediately and finish off with the backup of your choice.

Caesar,
Sorry that shave did not go well. I do sharpen all the razors before sending but I do not shave with them as a test. I do a thumb test and hanging hair test but without a test shave I cannot assure you it is as sharp as it should be.
I would work on that pasted strop a bit and am sure that will quickly get you where you need to be. Start again on the 3.0 side, go 20-30 passes slowly, keeping the blade completely flat to the strop. Move to the 1.0 for 30, the 0.5 for another 30 and again on the 0.25 and try it again.

Tony

Its hard to give you real effective advice because there are so many possibilities here. It could be the razor, the stropping, your inexperience or maybe evil spirits.

When I first shaved with a straight I was very careful to read everything I could and I bought the best creams and strops and hones and a new TI razor. Of course I really didn't know to use any of the stuff but I sure thought I did and I expected my first shave to be textbook perfect. Boy was I wrong. My first shave left me with nicks, massive burn and a very poor shave.

So the moral of the story is that before you spend more time ruining you nice new razor by trying to hone it or improperly strop it consider it just might be your inexperience. If thats the case each shave should get better and better. Some pick it up much faster than others but eventually everyone does. Its true that most new razors never shave to their potential out of the box and this varies from razor to razor and brand to brand but you still should be able to get a passable shave from any new one unless you got one honed by a drunk or something. Since tony hones them before sending them out thats probably unlikely so my advice is to go slow and start with just the basic strokes at first and watch the angle of the razor to your skin. Expect to have to finish with a DE or disposable at first.

Most of us here shaved perfectly on our first try .

Be careful once you do get it to the right angle and right sharpness. I had my face pulled tight while shaving with the Cattaraugus from Lynn and barely touched my chin at the wrong angle and a nice sized slice opened right up. Didn't even feel it at first. hadn't even started shaving. just noticed the red popping out at the razors edge.

I understand that feeling so well because it was just a few weeks ago for me. It almost feels like you are playing Russian roulette. My first shave was also with a dull razor. I did not know this sight with all this help was here until about five weeks of trial and error. My wife still thinks I am crazy, but the scars are starting to heal and the doctor said I should look normal at some point.

Don’t give up it really is a great pleasure when it is right.
d

Great..slicing off a chunk of chin, I know , I was very uneasy putting the straight to my face,so part is fear and of coarse inexpierence. i don't believe the straight needs to go away for honing,i will do what Tony is recommending
and paddle strop. the hanging strop (when i used it the first day) may have not been taunt enough, I went slow and flat, But it was my first time.And I will practice on my sideburns for a while and finish off with a razor.
all of your input has been reasuring and I will not give up. Its good to hear that some have felt or done the same, so I have faith and trust on SRP
Thanks again,
Caesar

Caesar -

My wife bought me one for X-mas, no strop, no hone, no cream, nothing - just a 5/8" DOVO. I guess that's what happens when you mention “hey, I’d really like to try that” and actually have a wife that listens to you…

So I looked at it for a few days, got some material off the web on how to shave with a straight, and one evening while she was at work I poured myself a small Scotch and then headed into the shower to get ready. Yes, I was nervous – removing a part of my face was not what I wanted.

Like you I did all the prep and then I couldn’t cut anything with this razor… I didn’t know I had to sharpen it before I used it...

So look at it this way, you are way ahead of me – I am now (two months later) at a point where I feel comfortable putting a sharp razor to my face.

Do I still nick myself occasionally, yes, but in general things are getting much better every time I shave.

Hang in there – it takes time.

Cheers,
Keith