Thread: First Shave Share

So regret that I had not done enough research to reach SRP before I bought a brand new DOVO carbon steel razor from my local knife store (I ended up with only 4 options, A Shanghai-nese straight razor that was already having tiny chips when brand new, DOVO carbon steel, DOVO stainless steel and Henckels stainless steel) I got everything else on Ebay, when the hone (Naniwa 8000) and strop arrived, I couldn't wait to start.

I found that my DOVO was not shave ready, it didn't pass the HHT, so I did 15-20 strokes on my hone and it passed the HHT in a stage that when cutting the hair, it gave a sparkling clean sound like running a stroke on the hone,I did know what did it indicate, a nice pass or bare pass or not, I started shaving anyway after stropping.
As a Chinese, I don't have any grains on my cheeks, the only hairy parts are my upper-lip and chin, I did not managed to have a perfect shave WTG, maybe the razor wasn't sharp enough, only did some shave on middle of the upper lip and both sides on the upper chin. I found that the shaving foam (Nivea men) I was using was like blocking the way of my razor from getting close to the skin...luckily I did not cut myself, maybe I just wasn't doing the good angle that the blade was far from taking a nice close shave.

Can't wait to try the second time! My order of Mr. Taylor shave cream and badger brush should be delivered next week, I would be able to shave with real leather next time

Congratulations on your first shave. It will only get better.

I highly recommend "The World of Straight Razor Shaving" DVD by Linn Abrams. It will save you a world of grief. A really instructive and helpful aid.