First Time Out... Won't Cut

[seveneighth]

It's all making more sense now - I realise you have posted related questions in a separate thread.

To make a DE razor work well you need a different approach and mindset to using a cartridge, and indeed what works with a cartridge won't work with the safety razor and vice versa.

I recommend watching the videos posted on the two threads. Some things to look out for :

1) Shorter strokes along a plain. (short stroke, move sideways, short stroke, move sideways). In order to get the angle consistent and correct. You control the angle with a safety razor, the razor doesn't.
2) Good preparation - brush, heat, moisture, lather. The longer / more effectively you can do this before putting blade to face, the better the shave.
3) Progressive hair reduction not removal. It takes longer, but the end result is better.
4) Good post shave - make sure you clean residue from your face and tone your skin. Cold water is best, but for sensitivity carefully experiment with other options (alum, witchazel, balms)

Ultimately it's a more involved process with a greater number of movong parts. As the forum members here have found, once you have found the combination that works for you, you will get a much better shave. It also means that you have more components of the shave that you can adjust to deal with sensitive skin problems.

 

[dave79]

"No pressure " is a misnomer.

"Use light pressure" is better.

Good point, even though I myself said "no pressure" earlier in the topic. Light pressure is what I meant really. You need just enough pressure for the razor to glide through the lather, you shouldn't be slamming it onto your face because you think its not cutting.

 

[dave79]

Day 2 and we have contact!

I have managed to remove some hair from my face. I should mention I've shaved in the shower with no mirror using cartridge razors and canned gel for the last 20 years so my habits are no doubt quite unhelpful for moving to DE. When using a cartridge razor I've got into this technique where I hold the back of the cartridge upright to stop it pivoting about and press it more into my face as it doesn't cut otherwise, so I'm quite dysfunctional across the board.

I haven't done a particularly acceptable shave, and there is a patch under my jaw on one side that's basically unshaved, but I have made progress. There's a couple of areas which are a little bit sensitive feeling now, but overall not in any pain compared to a decent shave with a cart.

I will persevere, though my initial impressions are my razor is a lot milder than I was expecting - maybe this will change as I get the technique and angle down.

Thanks to everyone who replied.

Good that you've made some progress. It takes time. I'm not sure I'd believe anyone who says they've cracked DE shaving in a week, coming from years of cartridges, unless they have spent countless hours in that week reading tips and watching videos! With your technique of holding the cart head still, it sounds like you've been ready to try DE shaving for a while (or a non-pivoting, fixed head cart razor) & it sounds like that's one aspect you WON'T need to re-learn. Entire unshaved patches may happen as you improve your technique, just allow time for the whole process, that is each pass followed by touch-ups of missed areas. I have a really good look now, before washing my gear, that I haven't missed anything (usual spots are on the chin, bits of jawline & between nose & lip), as its a pain to have to get it all back out again after you've cleaned up.

Thanks for the advice.. With carts I would always need to do at least 2 passes including an ATG but I thought mainly that was just to lift the hair up as those carts sure seemed to want to skim over the skin and not cut.

To my knowledge, the purpose of lathering with a brush is to lift the stubble and prepare it for cutting. Even then, as has been said, shaving is beard reduction, not beard elimination, so don't expect to get it all done in one pass like the cart adverts would have you believe. Also they say that with a multi blade cartridge, the first blade lifts the hair, then the second cuts it. Which begs the question - what the hell are the 3rd, 4th, and 5th blades doing? Cutting the hair BELOW the skin, which is what results in ingrown hairs / razor bumps, etc.

You'll learn a little bit here and there each time you shave, read a tip on here, or watch a video, so keep going and enjoy the journey. Rome wasn't built in a day !

 

[buddha]

As my skin wasn't on fire I went back for a second shaving session earlier and managed to get quite a very good result overall... I was less afraid of going ATG and it worked out well, I'm liking what I'm seeing - smoother than I've ever known. Some rough spots still, and one little nick though.

Looking forward to improving with practice.

 

[Palmolive fox]

As my skin wasn't on fire I went back for a second shaving session earlier and managed to get quite a very good result overall... I was less afraid of going ATG and it worked out well, I'm liking what I'm seeing - smoother than I've ever known. Some rough spots still, and one little nick though.

Looking forward to improving with practice.

Follow your own words.Quote....".Looking forward to improving with practice.", Keep this in mind, then your on a winner.I was less afraid of going ATG and it worked out well...Practice makes things enjoyable, "We only fear, what we don't understand", once we do understand, the fear is no longer within ours minds. Enjoy your shaves. B.

 

[Paul L]

As my skin wasn't on fire I went back for a second shaving session earlier and managed to get quite a very good result overall... I was less afraid of going ATG and it worked out well, I'm liking what I'm seeing - smoother than I've ever known. Some rough spots still, and one little nick though.

Looking forward to improving with practice.

A word of caution here. . ,

Only shave when you NEED to.
You could aggravate your skin further if you shave when you don't really need a shave.

 

[buddha]

A word of caution here. . ,

Only shave when you NEED to.
You could aggravate your skin further if you shave when you don't really need a shave.

How do I know when I need to shave? When I have a life-threatening amount of hair growth, or when I have an important meeting? Deep philosophical questions need to be asked. Do we need to shave at all? Why are we here?

 

[Nisse]

You can do it, shaving with a safety razor is not rocket science, proved by millions of men over the years

 

[Sportsbike]

YouTube is your friend. Nickshaves has a beginner series, which is great. Check out Kevyshaves, Paulhfilms, Anothercutabove with cris and many others. Cris has a great tutorial on creating a lather. Take your time and you will be rewarded with great shaves. Before long you will be ordering more razors, blades, soaps etc. I ordered another razor today from Shave Lounge ( great customer service btw) a Fatip Piccolo. Enjoy your shaves and take your time. Before long you will reduce the time to shave and will have a face like a babies bum ( not saying your face looks like a babies arse but you know what I mean)


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

 

[Paul L]

YouTube is your friend. Nickshaves has a beginner series, which is great. Check out Kevyshaves, Paulhfilms, Anothercutabove with cris and many others. Cris has a great tutorial on creating a lather. Take your time and you will be rewarded with great shaves. Before long you will be ordering more razors, blades, soaps etc. I ordered another razor today from Shave Lounge ( great customer service btw) a Fatip Piccolo. Enjoy your shaves and take your time. Before long you will reduce the time to shave and will have a face like a babies bum ( not saying your face looks like a babies arse but you know what I mean)


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

Kevy's "first DE shave" video would be the one for any newbie to watch.

 

[Old-git]

I used de razors for a few years before changing to cartridges in the 70's, but have recently changed back. I do shave daily (hate stubble), and it has taken a few weeks to get back into the swing and achieve acceptable results. I find the Edwin Jagger gives best result for me, paired with a feather. However, what used to be a 2 minute shave with cartridge now takes 15 minutes, but I enjoy the luxury of the 'me' time. Stick with it, try not to rush and I'm sure you'll find the technique and kit that suits you.

 

[buddha]

Day 3 and I'm getting somewhere. Unfortunately I have a couple of rather bad spots to navigate around when shaving my neck at the moment (possibly ingrowing hairs), but I have not developed any new spots since changing to DE.

I'm growing in confidence each time now, still wary, but it is encouraging and enjoyable. I don't think I could ever go back.

Thanks to all the links and suggestions to videos - I've put in a good 10 hours on youtube and watched many of these recommendations before I started and have been reviewing the same videos since, though I feel I've got it down in the main now... Just need more practice.

Trying my best not to fall down the rabbit hole of excessive purchasing. I seem fascinated with the brushes in particular, though see no reason at all to have more than one (and believe me, I'm trying to find justification to buy more as best I can). I'm sure many can relate to that initial buzz of getting into something new and having to buy all the things!

For now though, I'll keep with my current setup for a good while.

 

[dave79]

Day 3 and I'm getting somewhere. Unfortunately I have a couple of rather bad spots to navigate around when shaving my neck at the moment (possibly ingrowing hairs), but I have not developed any new spots since changing to DE.

I'm growing in confidence each time now, still wary, but it is encouraging and enjoyable. I don't think I could ever go back.

Thanks to all the links and suggestions to videos - I've put in a good 10 hours on youtube and watched many of these recommendations before I started and have been reviewing the same videos since, though I feel I've got it down in the main now... Just need more practice.

Trying my best not to fall down the rabbit hole of excessive purchasing. I seem fascinated with the brushes in particular, though see no reason at all to have more than one (and believe me, I'm trying to find justification to buy more as best I can). I'm sure many can relate to that initial buzz of getting into something new and having to buy all the things!

For now though, I'll keep with my current setup for a good while.

It will take time for the cart-caused ingrowers to work their way out, I got loads of long, horrible ones after using Fusion 5-bladers, I'm glad that carnage is over now. I get virtually none now on DE shaving. The only strange hairs I get are flat-lying ones under the skin now and then, for which I have to avoid the temptation to pick out.

I'm not sure any of us NEED some of the stuff we buy, but its human nature to want what you haven't got, and so its easy to become obsessed with a hobby, whatever it is. I have 3 main brushes I use in rotation (all synthetic), at times I think of getting another but I certainly don't need a whole cupboard full of them. Then again, when I think of how I once obsessed over buying golf clubs, balls, etc when I used to play a lot, spending £15-20 on a shaving brush is hardly a big deal.

Glad things are improving for you.

 

[buddha]

I'm not sure any of us NEED some of the stuff we buy, but its human nature to want what you haven't got, and so its easy to become obsessed with a hobby, whatever it is. I have 3 main brushes I use in rotation (all synthetic), at times I think of getting another but I certainly don't need a whole cupboard full of them. Then again, when I think of how I once obsessed over buying golf clubs, balls, etc when I used to play a lot, spending £15-20 on a shaving brush is hardly a big deal.

Thanks Dave.

Yes I've had quite a string of way more expensive hobbies/interests than this. This is by far my most affordable interest, and at the same time the most personal and self-indulgent in a way. I've never bought 'product' before in my life, I have always had the most basic toiletries which I've stuck to forever... Now I'm looking at new face washes, balms, after shaves, moisturisers, and I have to say - I quite like it.

Will see how long I can last before the next purchase.

All the best.

 

[Rhubarb]

Thanks Dave.

Yes I've had quite a string of way more expensive hobbies/interests than this. This is by far my most affordable interest, and at the same time the most personal and self-indulgent in a way. I've never bought 'product' before in my life, I have always had the most basic toiletries which I've stuck to forever... Now I'm looking at new face washes, balms, after shaves, moisturisers, and I have to say - I quite like it.

Will see how long I can last before the next purchase.

All the best.

Wet shaving has given me an unhealthy obsession with soap lol

 

[buddha]

Wet shaving has given me an unhealthy obsession with soap lol

Yeah I've gone from 1 dorco cartridge razor and a can of whatever the cheapest shave gel I can find in the supermarket to 2 DE razors, 2 brushes, 3 shaving creams, 2 after shaves and 2 balms. Plus trying out 2 new facewash products and witch hazel / alum block, and a couple of moisturisers. This is in the space of a week.

I used to be into fragrance for a while which at £50 a bottle makes this stuff seem cheap to experiment with. I plan to have a fragrance clear-out to raise funds for more shaving products guilt-free.