Thread: Starting out - graduated from a shavette to a 6/8 straight razor

Sounds like she's a keeper! Like others mentioned, just practice, practice, practice! For me, going atg on the neck is quite a chore because of the funky directions my hair grows. I am learning and continuing to improve though. I really have found that I can maintain a well groomed appearance by shaving every other day, and that also helps cut back on any irritation I might get from lack of technique. My beard isn't super dense or fast growing though. If you run into any questions, just ask - lots of really helpful people here!

I have read that Wiki many times. This shaving concept is really interesting and cool. My zany coworkers always ask for the morning's shave report.

I need to make sure I stretch the skin on my non-dominant side; hopefully it'll reduce the nicks. Thanks for your advice.

Your doing well man! I have been at it about a month and a half now. I have pretty good results WTG and XTG. I am still finding my technique for ATG. My dom hand does a okay job but I just have not found that "sweet" spot for my other hand yet. I ready somewhere that on your first pass WTG you are trying to reduce the whiskers, then more and more so the razor isn't trying to cut a thick brush all at once. I read one person liken it to mowing tall grass with a mower. As high as possible then lower and lower until you have what you want. Take your time but your doing great man!

Thanks man! Good luck with your shaving endeavor! This morning was my first ATG day; I did it a little bit yesterday morning just for starters. What I did was last night, I took my old shavette with no blade and did a mock shave (no blade or lather) to ATG to get a feel for the topography of my face and an idea as to how to place the blade. Well the mock shave exercise paid off well this morning. No nicks; however, I still nick the non-dominant side of my face, but I think that's because I am shaving WTG too far down my neck. Heck, I'm still learning. In time my shaving technique will get better.

I learned this morning in order to shave ATG, I have to make sure the razor's spine is "scraping" my skin that way I know the blade is flate to about 5 degress give or take. I used short strokes. I hope this gives you some insight. I read somewhere in this forum about no rinsing the lather off the blade each one or two strokes, but to leave it on for about 5 or 6 strokes to provide some extra lubrication. I'm no expert by any means, but I am willing to share my experiences in hopes they help someone else. You have been SR shaving longer than me, I think I have been at it about 4 or 5 weeks now. It's all about learning and support from good folks like you help tremendously.

I have the same issues with my left hand and that is good information! Last night was the best I've ever done with it. My right dom hand was all over the ATG and I got really close. I did better with the other hand and did experiment with the angle of the spine. Improving but still need the practice. I have been looking at those sweet Dovo's and wanted to ask you how you like that 6/8? That is the size I am going to look at because I like that heavier blade. I currently use a Wester Bros full hollow that I bought from a really great guy here on the classifieds. It is a great razor but I want to add a Dovo that is sharpened by Lynn. I have some other straights that are no where near shave ready so I really want a couple of blades to use and compare as I learn to hone. Thanks for the advice I will try it tonight!