Thread: First straight razor shave. absolutely horrible what am I doing wrong?

There ought to be some experienced members in New Jersey.

The best thing you could do is get together with one for two things:

1. A test of your razor, by someone who knows what "sharp" means;

2. A checkup on your technique -- lather, shave prep, blade angle, pressure, etc.

The problems you're having are very difficult to diagnose online.

. Charles

Any chance you're trying to start your first pass against the grain instead of with it. I had this problem in my first few attempts. With very frustrating results I might add.

First shaves are good if they are survivable. That's about all one can expect from a first SR shave. There was a guy who posted months ago that he had his first shave, got a total BBS shave with no problems whatsoever. He was not heard from again. Either he killed himself on his second attempt or what he termed a BBS shave was in actuality really a BS shave.

Originally Posted by rmani

Update guys. I just got my razor back. Since i was traveling for business i mailed it to straight razor designs. It came back in two weeks and they said they tested it out.

Well. This shave was possible worse than the original. I stroped it as seen on youtube videos. Used a proper shave cream and applied it with a brush.

The tugging and pulling was worse than a rusty 100 year old butter knife. My face felt as though it was on fire having gone over several areas multiple times. Finaly in disgust i used my old disposable razor and got a smooth shave though my face felt so raw afterwards.

Im at a loss for words ive wasted so much money on this only to find a $1 disposable razor is better than a $200 dovo. I dont get it...

I hesitate to say it, but I went through the same experience. I followed a YouTube video of someone shaving, memorized each stroke, and still got lousy shaves. I contacted the person who did the video and he said from my description of the problem, the hone job was not good. He offered me to send it to him. He re-honed the razor, and I still had trouble with it (although I didn't tell him). I bought an inexpensive vintage razor here on Classifieds and it shaved somewhat better. I found another YouTube video to study and literally watched it hundreds of times and finally mastered the beast two years later. When I mastered it I went back to the original razor I had honed a second time and got a good shave with it. So the original hone job likely isn't a problem.

My point is, there have been people before you that felt exactly like you did and I am one of them. You didn't waste your money if you want to learn straight razor shaving, because I did. We're here to help you, but you have to fight through that stage of helplessness if you want to emerge victorious. In my case, cartridge/disposable razors tore my face up for about 40 years so my attitude was, what's new if I'm going to finally learn something that will alleviate that? I remember when I visited my parents that Mom had a jar of Avon Moisture Cream waiting for me to heal my face between cartridge/disposable razor shaves.

Pressure and angle are all factors that figure into a close, comfortable shave, and with time and practice you'll get it.

Here's the video that got me over the hump eventually. I watched it probably a couple of hundred times, but I knew it would train me because I would pick up new things with each viewing.
Chimensch's Shaving Video - YouTube