SHAVETTE Of The Day

My first ever attempt at a shavette, and it wasn't quite what I expected... I am currently waiting on a Ralf Aust straight razor and during the waiting period I thought that learning on a shavette would help me get some experience... After all it looks so damned easy to do ...

I must admit that youtube makes everything look simple, it's just that everyone in the videos fails to mention how they felt on their first shave.... especially just after that point where your fine motor skills seem to flown out the window...

A mixture of excitement and pure fear would probably sum things up ..... It's almost as though your face was pre-formed in order to make using a straight razor/shavette nigh on impossible.

* The cheeks weren't to much of a problem, nice big surface, easy to blow up the cheek and have a nice tight surface.

* The jaw line along along to the chin, my hands didn't know how to hold the razor or seemed to disagree with any and all movements, extremely uncomfortable. Defiantly not a close shave here, I found it difficult to mange the tightness of the skin with the correct hold/hand movement...

* The chin, Ok, not too bad , small movement, constantly need to change angles..

* Under the nose and the the top lip, scary as hell , I thing I scraped more than I shaved, not an easy part. Feel like it would require a 1/8 to get thing done ...

* The neck, depending on the exact area, I found to be very difficult and slightly nerve racking...


Strangely enough the shave wasn't too bad, two very small weepers, nothing worse than that, the cheeks, top lip and chin were actually quite smooth, at least as good as a DE.. The neck was not so great and the jawline was terrible...

Overall though I am really happy that I managed to get everything done, I presume that it will take a dozen or so attempts to find the angles and correct hand movements/directions..

My wife doesn't like the Asian Plum, she thinks it smell like chewing gum..... it's a shame because I actually like it, she thinks that it lacks virility, ggrrrrr..

I can only get better :)


IMG_20210521_204804_resized_20210521_084829170.jpg
 
Roy_FR said:
My first ever attempt at a shavette, and it wasn't quite what I expected... I am currently waiting on a Ralf Aust straight razor and during the waiting period I thought that learning on a shavette would help me get some experience... After all it looks so damned easy to do ...

I must admit that youtube makes everything look simple, it's just that everyone in the videos fails to mention how they felt on their first shave.... especially just after that point where your fine motor skills seem to flown out the window...

A mixture of excitement and pure fear would probably sum things up ..... It's almost as though your face was pre-formed in order to make using a straight razor/shavette nigh on impossible.

* The cheeks weren't to much of a problem, nice big surface, easy to blow up the cheek and have a nice tight surface.

* The jaw line along along to the chin, my hands didn't know how to hold the razor or seemed to disagree with any and all movements, extremely uncomfortable. Defiantly not a close shave here, I found it difficult to mange the tightness of the skin with the correct hold/hand movement...

* The chin, Ok, not too bad , small movement, constantly need to change angles..

* Under the nose and the the top lip, scary as hell , I thing I scraped more than I shaved, not an easy part. Feel like it would require a 1/8 to get thing done ...

* The neck, depending on the exact area, I found to be very difficult and slightly nerve racking...


Strangely enough the shave wasn't too bad, two very small weepers, nothing worse than that, the cheeks, top lip and chin were actually quite smooth, at least as good as a DE.. The neck was not so great and the jawline was terrible...

Overall though I am really happy that I managed to get everything done, I presume that it will take a dozen or so attempts to find the angles and correct hand movements/directions..

My wife doesn't like the Asian Plum, she thinks it smell like chewing gum..... it's a shame because I actually like it, she thinks that it lacks virility, ggrrrrr..

I can only get better :)


View attachment 70254
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Excellent, that sounds like a good start. Just keep at it with a light touch and it will just get easier and more natural over time. Once I'd got my first week out the way I was well on the way and it was feeling less alien.
 
I hardly ever do more than a single WTG pass. If I do I'll probably use a DE.

To get around the jawline, put your fingers somewhere above the jawline and pull up. If you experiment a bit you'll find the right spot to pull the skin up taught over the jawline. When you let go.. hey presto! You just shaved around the jaw bone without having to shave around the jaw bone.

If you throw your head back the skin on the neck should come taught. You can also put a finger either side of your throat and pull down. Should be pretty straightforward, except for the Adam's apple - go slow there!

Muzzle & chin is definitely a difficult area. Maybe you'll suit a goatee..?
 
mcgruff said:
I hardly ever do more than a single WTG pass. If I do I'll probably use a DE.

To get around the jawline, put your fingers somewhere above the jawline and pull up. If you experiment a bit you'll find the right spot to pull the skin up taught over the jawline. When you let go.. hey presto! You just shaved around the jaw bone without having to shave around the jaw bone.

If you throw your head back the skin on the neck should come taught. You can also put a finger either side of your throat and pull down. Should be pretty straightforward, except for the Adam's apple - go slow there!

Muzzle & chin is definitely a difficult area. Maybe you'll suit a goatee..?
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I tried to pull along the jawline so now I see my mistake. I will try pulling up as you memtioned..

As for the neck, is it best to use the right hand for the left side, or the right hand for the right side? I just couldn't find the correct orientation.. I was nervous as well which didn't help...
 
MarkP said:
If going wtg (N to S) I use my left hand for all of the left side of my face, and my right on my right side.
I use the opposite for atg. Left hand for the right side and right for the left.
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For the neck are you making upwards or downwards movements ? I would presume upwards..
 
Roy_FR said:
I tried to pull along the jawline so now I see my mistake. I will try pulling up as you memtioned..

As for the neck, is it best to use the right hand for the left side, or the right hand for the right side? I just couldn't find the correct orientation.. I was nervous as well which didn't help...
Click to expand...

Left hand for left side of face; right hand for right side of face. Using your non-dominant hand feels insanely dangerous at first but take your time and you'll pick it up much faster than you think.

Some people do shave with one hand but IMO it's much easier using two - or at least it will be after you've trained up your non-dominant hand.
 
vates said:
It's still STR8 Tabactober for me and I've got a new whisker-removing tool:

sotd_225.jpg

It's very light and nimble albeit less assertive than my other half-DE driver (Chinese 'kamisori'). Quick 2-pass DFS ensued.
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That is one nice looking shavette
 
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