New Guy Needs Some Advice

[The Velvet Monkey]

Hey, Everyone!!

I need some straight razor-shaving advice. First, a little history--I've been shaving with a Dovo Shavette for a couple of months (and fully gave up conventional cartridge shaving) and last week acquired a Dovo Special, 6/8, and have shaved with it four times (I got it from The Superior Shave and don't know if it was honed since the factory). I've read a lot about straight razor shaving techniques and I think I've got pretty good shave habits (proper stopping, pre-shave prep, lathering, etc.). All is going well, but I have the following two questions for which I hope the sage amongst you can enlighten me.

One: Do most of you get the desired acceptable results on the first WTG pass? I was definitely getting better results (close to my cartridge razor) with the Shavette on a single WTG pass, although after three passes with my Special--two WTG and one against--the results are excellent. Is this degree of effort normal to get excellent results, or the product of an early user's technique that will improve over time?

Two: Do shave soaps vary in their lubricating abilities? I like the TAOS soap I have, and it produces what appears to be an excellent lather, but there are times when I'm shaving my neck when I wish it had more lubrication. I feel that even with the lather the razor isn't gliding as smoothly as it could. Again, maybe my expectations are unrealistic or my nascent skills are to blame.

Three: Do most of you use your straight razors to shave every day that you shave?

Thanks in advance for your comments.

 

[smalltank]

1. Larry at whippeddog has great deals..or look on our buy/sell/trade..someone now is selling some nice straights at good prices

2. Cream/soap is up to you...scent/lather type

 

[Kentos]

A traditional straight is usually not as sharp as a shavette, so it takes a bit more skill for it to equal a shavette. However, a very sharp straight in the hands of a very skilled shaver will shaves equal to a shavette. Superior shave razors are finished on a coticule btw, and are considered shave ready.

How would you describe the lathers you get now? Mine tend to be wetter, thinner and less whipped cream like than what the DE crowd seems to prefer. For max lubricity more water, more product, and less air=good lather for me.

 

[jred]

I get results comparable to cartridges with two wtg passes. I had to do two passes with carts, too.

Soaps/creams are a personal preference. For instance, I don't like Mitchell's wool fat, which everyone else seems to love. I'd start getting samples & find one you like.

And yes, every time I shave I use a straight. If you aren't 100% certain it's been properly honed, you might want to send it off and have it done.

 

[jrp316]

I tend to like my lather a little on the thinner and wetter side with straights as opposed to double edge razors, where a thicker, drier lather seems to work better for me. A technique that made a great difference in the quality of my shaves was a scything stroke. When you get some experience and your razor technique down, you might give that a try. If you can swing it, you might replace your second WTG with a XTG pass and see how it goes.

 

[Mike'sWorld]

One: Do most of you get the desired acceptable results on the first WTG pass? No, I do with the grain, against the grain and touch up around the jawline

Two: Do shave soaps vary in their lubricating abilities? Very much so. Try a few of the most popular ones and you'll quickly find one that works for you.

Three: Do most of you use your straight razors to shave every day that you shave? Every day that time allows.

I hope this is helpful.

 

[Doc226]

First off, if you got the razor form TSS, rest assured it was shave ready, Jarrod puts a nice edge on all razors before they leave his store.

I do a WTG pass and 2 XTG (opposite directions), I rarely if ever do a ATG as I find it unnecessary and leads to more burn. I get near BBS shaves.

I have not touched a DE razor in about 9 months now, I can finish the shave in about 5-6 minutes.

You might have an approach angle problem, I have never used a shavette but have read they are different than regular straights.

As far as lather, use whatever you like, I would just make is a little wetter than for DE shaving-not wetter, just wetter.

 

[shakin_jake]

Hey, Everyone!!

I need some straight razor-shaving advice. First, a little history--I've been shaving with a Dovo Shavette for a couple of months (and fully gave up conventional cartridge shaving) and last week acquired a Dovo Special, 6/8, and have shaved with it four times (I got it from The Superior Shave and don't know if it was honed since the factory). I've read a lot about straight razor shaving techniques and I think I've got pretty good shave habits (proper stopping, pre-shave prep, lathering, etc.). All is going well, but I have the following two questions for which I hope the sage amongst you can enlighten me.

~~~Since you just started with a conventional straight razor, after coming off using a shavette, the shavette razor blades are quite sharp in compaerason, to a traditional straight razor. They're two entirely different edges, which probably gave you the impression the razor Jarrod sent you was not as sharp. They are different blades. Several weeks back, maybe it's been a month now, I bought one of Paco's Korean Feather DX knock offs that uses Feather Professional blades. They're like a saloon blade but better, no 90 degree corners. both ends (of the blade) is rounded a tad, on the Feather. Anyways, sharp as sin, and thin like the DE type of blades used in your Shavette so, you're going to have to learn new techniques in how to cut your beard, and someone mentioned scything strokes. That's where you slice by moving the blade diagonally while moving forward, sort of like slicing a tomatoe. You don't use a straight downward stroke when cutting tomatoes, you slice them, so same for shaving using straight razors. learn the scything stroke

One: Do most of you get the desired acceptable results on the first WTG pass? I was definitely getting better results (close to my cartridge razor) with the Shavette on a single WTG pass, although after three passes with my Special--two WTG and one against--the results are excellent. Is this degree of effort normal to get excellent results, or the product of an early user's technique that will improve over time?

~~~Larry (as in whipped dog) is a huge proponent for the n00b to use two WTG passes. he mentions this in his shaving manual. the 2nd WTG is done in the event your fist WTG missed some whiskars. Anyways, I don't think hard and fast rules apply for everyone yet I get my best shaves when I use passes from differing directions. But to answer your question...I think you will have to find what works for you, and that may change after you get some more laps around the track

Two: Do shave soaps vary in their lubricating abilities? I like the TAOS soap I have, and it produces what appears to be an excellent lather, but there are times when I'm shaving my neck when I wish it had more lubrication. I feel that even with the lather the razor isn't gliding as smoothly as it could. Again, maybe my expectations are unrealistic or my nascent skills are to blame.

~~~Yes!, shave soaps vary greatly, and I'm a big fan using shave soap instead of shave cream...but I'll use a shave cream every once in a while. Speaking strictly for myself, I get good results using both glycerin and tallow soaps. My two favorite tallow soaps are Tabac and Cella but I also use Arko shave stick (pressed into a tub) and like it quite a bit. You'll have to try a bunch of soaps to see what you prefer. Most of us switch hit when it comes to using soaps, and play with your water/product ratios. Are you face lathering?...seems quite a few of us using straight razors face lather soap. Bowl lathering soap doesn't cut it for me, it whips air into the equation which degrades the soap for me. I like to load my brush and take it straight to my face and create the lather there

That said, lately, I've been using what many refer to as Marco's method of loading soap to the shave brush, where you keep your brush filled with water and then load directly on top of the soap, swirling for a lengthy time, which tends to create a bit of lather in the brush. It's not whipping it like you would in a bowl but you are swirling for a bit on the soap surface so some whipping is involved, if you will, swirling as whipping, w/o getting air into it. Try it sometime

in regards to shaving your neck...it would not be un-heard of for you to do several touch ups in that area, if that's what it takes for you to get BBS on your neck...if BBS is your goal. Seems like for me, all of my shaves involve touch ups on my neck, and I rather enjoy doing them

Three: Do most of you use your straight razors to shave every day that you shave?

Thanks in advance for your comments.

~~~I've been straight shaving w/straight razors only for 12 months now (day in, day out). I still own DE and SE safety razors but they don't see any use. I might have used a safety once or twice in the last year, and again, speaking strictly for myself, what I like about shaving day in and day out using a straight razor, one of the reasons, I have not mastered it's use yet. It's a challenge I find intoxicating. Plus, there's nothing quite like the feel of a 3" open blade to shave one's self with. It just feels better shaving with a straight for me


Best,


Jake
Reddick Fla.

 

[Slash McCoy]

I seldom shave with anything besides a straight. I do have a couple of Rolls razors, and I have a couple of Valet Autostrops, and I am now down to zero SE and one DE, a Slim. I might break out one of these non-straights for variety maybe once a month. The rest of the time it is straights. I tried a couple of different shavettes and don't care for them. I like the monolithic rigidity and the balance and feel of a proper straight. The shavettes just don't do it for me.

A straight CAN be just as sharp as a disposable blade. Usually they are not, but that is on the honer and on the shaver/stropper and the razor. But it doesn't need to be as sharp as a disposable blade to get a good shave, once you got your technique dialed in.

My advice is to keep going like you are going, with what you got, for a couple more months. Get thoroughly familiar with your current gear before buying a bunch of stuff. Your shaves should steadily improve. Building a basic foundation of skills will help you to get the best out of future refinements in gear and technique.

+1 on the scything stroke, though I call it a sliding stroke. It is not actually a scything motion. It increases your cutting power considerably. Of course it also means you must watch pressure and angle without fail, and concentrate on what you are doing, because you can slice yourself pretty bad if you mess up. The razor should be in motion before it touches the face. I don't consider this a newbie technique but if you are comfortable with it, it will pretty much double the closeness of your shave and halve the number of strokes you need, reducing irritation. The sliding stroke is necessary for a decent shave from a single pass.

My ordinary shave is a single WTG pass. For just starting, 2x WTG is a good shave. Once you are thoroughly comfortable with that, you should be able to get a good shave with a single pass too. Or you can go with an added XTG or ATG pass for more closeness. The single WTG is a test of the razor's keenness and the shaver's technique and concentration. If you aren't up to speed yet, then the 2xWTG is the shave for you.

 

[ladykate]

One: Do most of you get the desired acceptable results on the first WTG pass?

If you mean does it make a nice swath through the whiskers, yep. But it isn't a commercial blade so a couple more passes are usually required. I do three passes usually. With a Feather AC (or equivalent), I do two passes. One pass, even with a Feather, is not enough for me. I suspect your razor is fine - just use it with the knowledge that it isn't a razor blade on a stick but a nice tool for getting the 'zen' experience from shaving. Takes a while for some to get in the zone so don't give up. The trip is well worth it. I'm babbling in another thread about a test run to see how long a Feather blade will last - so far, seven shaves and it is now acting about like a nice sharp regular straight. Most looking for the quickest cutting experience would have given up on the blade a few shaves ago ... but I started with regular straights and I'm coaxing some great, and comfortable, shaves from the blade. I expect it will last at least two more shaves. ;-}

A possible fourth question that might be placed first is: How much does technique matter in using a straight? The answer is... it is the most important variable. Commercial blades (like Feather, Kai, Dum Dum, and broken razor blades used in shavettes) don't train you on technique as much. Consequently, people who transition to a regular straight are often disappointed that they can't get a DFS on one pass. The nice news is that you CAN get a damn fine shave - you just have to use a bit more skill - and you end up enjoying it more.

Two: Do shave soaps vary in their lubricating abilities? Yes. Most can be made to work, though. Being a contrarian sometimes, I have used shower soap (some of it is very good), shampoo (not so good but I've only tried three types), and germicide soap (OK if you mix it with meltable hobby soap... makes a nice cream). But... I digress... soaps are different but usually not to an extreme. There is no Holy Grail of soaps that I've found (I've tried quite a few). I like to change around with them, though.

Three: Do most of you use your straight razors to shave every day that you shave? I do. I use the DE to shave my head when I'm in a hurry - but I use a sharp straight even for that usually.

 

[drathgeb]

I had the same problem with my neck. I assumed it was the lather drying out as the blade seemed to feel like it was skipping or getting hung up. This stopped once I started pulling the skin tight on my neck. It wasn't the lather. My technique was off and I was not pulling my skin tight.

 

[grump]

I made the switch to soaps quite a while ago and found them better to my liking(more slick to me). As already stated, make lather more to the wet side and add more if needed.

 

[Raithskar]

+1 to everything above. Not much I can say to add to it.

One thing I personally prefer are Tallow based soaps. For good lubrication and glide, IMHO, they can't be beat.

 

[The Velvet Monkey]

Thank you all for your wonderful responses to my questions.

I have had great success in using a much wetter lather than I was previously employing and I am finding a great deal of joy in the forgiving nature of my straight (versus the shavette). It makes me curse the years I've wasted dully shaving with modern equipment.

My technique is improving daily and if I really monitor my technique--and stop effectively (another aspect I also love)--I can get a very good shave on one pass, but frankly I like the pursuit of a "great" shave and enjoy the extra effort it takes. I've ordered my first bar soap (Tabac) and look forward to trying others. I like that there is no end to the shaving accouterment (I'm kind of obsessing over after shaves right now) and my side of the bathroom is making my wife's look barren by comparison.

Again, thank you for your advice. It's a wonderful forum.

 

[Kentos]

If you love to strop you need two things:

A Tony Miller, and a Kanoyama.

"need" is relative of course

 

[Doc226]

A Tony Miller, and a Kanoyama.

Kind of like choosing between BMW and Mercedes-cant go wrong.

 

[The Velvet Monkey]

Would it be wrong to have a plethora of stops. . . .?

 

[Doc226]

Would it be wrong to have a plethora of stops. . . .?

Nope.

They are all different.

If you want nirvana get a Kanayama.