Finally!...after two months...
Just had my first perfect shave...I mean of all, and I'm 52 years old. I shaved most of my adult life with a can and a Trac II. About two months ago I began this journey and bought a Dovo best 6/8 full hollow. Ive been using it with moderate success and have only now gotten to where I can shave pretty much every time without a nick.
Yesterday, I had neglegted to strop (sort of a test, I had read you only have to strop every third of forth shave) WRONG. I was hlfway into the shave and decided just to grab the old Trac II and finish the job, as I strop with a paddle sitting at the kitchen table. The result was a very good shave leaving me wondering why I am fooling around with the straight?
This morning I took the time to do a very thorough stopping...did the hanging hair test and used the Dovo again. Im not sure what it was but I know I was concentrating on light pressure, and angle and viola! Up to today I have had to make a full second pass for a close shave.
So...I think I have finally put the pieces together and would like to tell others new to the old ways - listen to what the codgers around here say like;
1. any razor as long as it is sharp will give a good shave. This is true.
2. shave prep matters.
3. define a set of protocols for your shave to be carried out each time exactly the same until you find something not working and then concentrate only on that problem to define if a change is needed.
4. this is like anything else in life that produces gratifying results...you only get out of it what you put into it.
5. If that first razor you bought was made of quality materials, and is truly shave ready then you can't blame the grind, the weight, the point, or the name for a bad shave. This takes practice.
6.You will transition from shaving as a nessecity to shaving as a pleasure.