Dovo Shavette to a Dovo Straight razor

[BJC22]

Started DE shaving about 2 mths ago and quickly picked up the technique to shave 'leak free'. I have wanted to go to a straight, but the maintenance of the blade is somewhat daunting, so I decided to try a Dovo Shavette. First shave with the dovo shorts was a crime scene, switched to a Derby for the last 3 shaves, and touched up with my DE. Today another fight with an alley cat has be wondering if this is for me. I have heard that a shavette is a tougher shave than a straight.

I realize that this all comes down to technique, (or lack of), but should I keep trying with different blades in the shavette, or would I be better going to a straight now, or stay with the DE for a while? I just find that the shavette seems to 'grab' my beard and this pulls the angle steeper, which leads to the damage.

Love the sight and have already learned a ton here. Any feedback, thoughts would be appreciated.

 

[smalltank]

Shavette is a good way to get the idea for how to use a real straight...a straight will be very smooth when honed properly...the edge can be smoothed out and a shavette blade is machined sharpened..I didn't like the edge..but YMMV

 

[BJC22]

Would switching to longer blades for the shavette make control easier (Personna, used with the green holder)? For now I am staying with my DE.

 

[ladykate]

This question has been asked a lot. I am one of the people who think a shavette is not the best entry razor for straight shaving. It will do the job - so will several other options that are uber sharp. However, a regular straight will be much more forgiving. If you like to learn by blood, the the shavette is your tool. If you like to actually walk away without a weeper or cut - even when you are learning (most of the time) - think about using a whippeddog regular straight.

 

[BJC22]

Thanks Kate for that, I am learning (the bloody hard way) that the shavettes unforgiving and have suspended operations until my personna blades come in, or if I buy a true straight. There is a Dovo I am looking at, but am also looking to see who is local that can hone it for me, at least the first time.

 

[Kentos]

Are you bleeding from weepers or out and out slices?

You can try dulling the shavette's edge on a wine cork and see if that helps at all.

 

[Bk124tt]

My man!! I took the same road as you. Today was my first "real" straight shave with a straight from Larry over at whipped dog! I stuck with my shavette for about 2 months and got pretty good with it but certainly not really good. I think sticking with the shavette until I was ok with it made for an easy transition to today "real straight" shave. See my thread bk124tt first shave.
you can't go wrong with a whipped dog set up. But I think you should stick with the shavette for a while so when you switch over it will be easier for you (since most say a shavette is harder to navigate than a regular straight).

 

[BJC22]

they are in between the weepers and slices, although I have had a couple mini slices, nothing that hasn't healed up in a few days, but did make my next lather look like a campino candy, a nice red swirl. I have heard about the corking and will give it a try as well, Is it a matter of simply running the blade through the cork once or twice?
Thanks for the tip Kent, or as they say in Hawaii, Mahalo.

 

[Kentos]

Yup, just lightly draw it on the cork. You aren't trying to cut into the cork, just glide it over with the weight of the razor.

Aloha!