Thread: advice for a beginner who is dizzy from bloodloss

Hey everybody

So recently, after years of wanting to use a straight blade, i bought myself a shavette style razor and the necessary equipment. Im using gillette 7 o clock blades (manufactured in russia, not india) and proraso soap with a badger hair.

so, ive gotten about 4-5 complete shaves in so far with the blade (with the grain only so far) and have butchered myself pretty badly every single time. today was the first time i havent made any explicit mistakes (i.e. knicking myself with the spike points of the blade or trying to start a pass at too steep an angle and gashing myself wonderfully) but after i was bleeding like a stuck pig. it looks almost like i shaved off the tops of goosebumps or something because it was a tonne of small knicks all over the place. im getting fairly frustrated at this point because these shaves are causing me to be late for work since the cuts take forever to stop bleeding (i know, get a styptic pen but id rather just not cut the bejesus out of myself).

next shave I want to try to pull the skin tighter (im a young guy so i dont have much loose skin but it couldnt hurt i suppose) and try a steeper cutting angle (its def possible that my angle could be up to 45deg at times, still new). does anyone else have any tips/advice/resources?

thanks in advance
steve

Welcome to SRP.

First off pulling your skin taught is the key if you dont your razor will skip and that is when most knicks happen. Next read the wikis here and search the forums there is a lot of good information at your finger tips. I would also suggest to get a styptic pencil or even and alum block it will help stop minor knicks and cuts from bleeding. Make sure you keep your blade angle to 30 degrees or less any steeper and you risk injuring yourself. Lastly remember a light touch is important, you have to break your muscle memory that you have from cartridge razors you do not need much pressure at all. You just want the razor to make contact with your skin as if it was almost hovering over it. Happy shaving and feel free to ask questions around here.

William

Welcome to SRP. A shavette, using those DE blades, is far more difficult to shave with than a "real" straight razor. Get yourself a bona fide straight razor. Make sure it is from a reputable vendor and is guaranteed shave ready, and read my signature line below to avoid nicks and cuts.

When you're first starting, shaving takes longer but that will improve in time.

Instead of making your self late to work trying to get a shave done, you could do your normal shave on work days and save the straight shave for the weekends when you have more time to slow down and learn to do it right. After some time you'll be fast enough to add it to your morning routine.

There is no race to figure out how to do it all right now and you have a life time of shaves to hone your skills.

I am not sure how much advice I have for you as I am into this only 4 weeks, However, I did start out like you with a Dovo Shavette. I cut myself all of the time for two solid weeks.

It was scary sharp...and when the blade dulled, I still cut myself AND had a terrible shave, Finally a straight razor friend of mine told me to give it up (the Shavette that is).

I broke down and bought me a real Dovo straight razor. The difference was amazing. It was shave ready and cut so smoothly that I hardly noticed it. I did receive one cut on my first shave, but that was my fault as I sneezed with the blade against my skin (not recommended.)

In any case, my experience showed me that a real quality straight razor that is properly honed make all the difference.

Good luck and best regards,

Johan

I also began straight shaving with a Shavette and went 20 or shaves with it before I moved on to a proper straight. My experience was much like yours. I didn't have to worry about the sharpness of the blades. My face did the worrying for me. I may shave with the Shavette tomorrow just for old times' sake. If you don't hear back from me, you'll know what happened.

If there is an advantage to the Shavette beyond not having to worry about the blade not being sharp enough, it is that it is so unforgiving that it forces you to improve your technique to avoid the cutting. If you can stick it out a week or two, you'll find that the transition to a regular straight is seamless. When you do attempt the transition, you may find, as did I, that the sight of the much bigger and more exposed blade of the real straight is intimidating next to your skin. That's just a first impression, and there really is nothing to fear.

I would buy a Styptic pencil. I still find a reason to use one every day, and they work wonders for nicks. Good luck!

You've got a lot of good advice here and your will receive more. Let me add my two cents.

A real straight is a real straight. You strop it and you or someone else hones it. I get that. But I still use my shavette as well. I recommend the green holder and rigid backed personna blades. They are much firmer and I think they are easier for a newbie to handle. Stropping and honing (definately honing) are acquired skills. Until you've developed those skills the shavette will get you to the mirror with a bare blade in hand.

Here is the trick: NO PRESSURE. None. Zero. Zip. Go for beard reduction not bbs. If needed finish with a DE.

Stay the course. You will get there.

I agree with JimmyHAD. I would move on to a straight razor. I've been shaving with a straight since October 2010. It does require a learning curve. I'de also see if there is someone in your area who would be willing to coach you. I had JoeD and CarrieM. You can cover a lot of ground with a coach and shorten the OJT cycle.

Larry

Seven years of experience with a straight razor and I'm not ready to move up to a shavette.

good news

after allowing about a week for the brutal cuts to heal i tried again today with a steep steep angle and absolutely zero pressure (so bizarre compared to my gillette). i got one tiny nick on my chin but otherwise CUT FREE. hot damn. certainly not bbs but im feeling much much more optimistic (and less frustrated) about getting there now. and yeah, when i get some extra money im def investing in a proper blade but for now its shavette or gilette so im at least getting some straight blade practice in.

thanks a tonne everyone, im sure i'll be around on this forum in the future