Time to try something new?

Messages
75
Hi all,
So I've been wet shaving with my Feather AS D2 for a few months now and think I've got my technique down pretty well, but I'm struggling to get every hair, especially round my jaw line without having to do loads of touching up.
I love the AS D2, it's so comfortable and mild which I like but am thinking it might be the very reason I'm missing hairs.
What do you guys think? Is it the razor? Something else?
I've tried quite a few different blades and soaps/creams and I'm pretty happy with most of them.
If you think I would benefit from a different razor, what would it be? I'd like something that shaves similarly, just with more efficiency.
New razors only, the thought of a vintage or second hand one creeps me out!
Your thoughts and advice much appreciated!
 
Hi all,
So I've been wet shaving with my Feather AS D2 for a few months now and think I've got my technique down pretty well, but I'm struggling to get every hair, especially round my jaw line without having to do loads of touching up.
I love the AS D2, it's so comfortable and mild which I like but am thinking it might be the very reason I'm missing hairs.
What do you guys think? Is it the razor? Something else?
I've tried quite a few different blades and soaps/creams and I'm pretty happy with most of them.
If you think I would benefit from a different razor, what would it be? I'd like something that shaves similarly, just with more efficiency.
New razors only, the thought of a vintage or second hand one creeps me out!
Your thoughts and advice much appreciated!

1. You're never going to get every hair.

2. Do you take your own cutlery & plates to a restaurant? Think about it. Older eqpmt. is easily cleaned/sanitized just like a restaurant does. ;)
 
1. You're never going to get every hair.

2. Do you take your own cutlery & plates to a restaurant? Think about it. Older eqpmt. is easily cleaned/sanitized just like a restaurant does. ;)

1. So there is no such thing as a BBS then? My understanding of this from my limited experience is that a BBS is a completely smooth shave with no nicks. I do not get a completely smooth shave with the AS D2 without have to go over the same areas again and again, which in turn leads to irritation. I'm sure I'm getting my angles and grain right so think the razor struggles in these tricky to reach areas.

2. It's irrational I know but that just me. Happy to eat out but the thought of using a used razor just turns my stomach for some reason.

Love the way the AS D2 feels but just think the results are lacking. I've only ever uses 2 different DE's and was hoping this knowledgeable community could point me in the right direction of where to go from here.
 
Happy to be corrected on this but from what I gather the AS D2 is a posh DE89, ie a very mild razor but a very good quality one. What is your other razor out of interest?

Have you tried an open comb? Fatip Piccolo (Though I haven't used one) seems popular and cheap enough to try. Using an OC was a bit of an eye opener for me. I have an iKon B1 ‘deluxe' OC. I understand it to be relatively mild for an OC, but it's noticeably more efficient than a DE89. I know this because after making a stroke with it, and rinsing, there is more stubble in the lather in the sink that has just come off the razor, than with the DE89 or any other razor I've tried for that matter.

Also, the lather stays on your face longer before making contact with the blade; it doesn't get pushed away by the safety bar or clog the razor up. Worth a try
 
Happy to be corrected on this but from what I gather the AS D2 is a posh DE89, ie a very mild razor but a very good quality one. What is your other razor out of interest?

Have you tried an open comb? Fatip Piccolo (Though I haven't used one) seems popular and cheap enough to try. Using an OC was a bit of an eye opener for me. I have an iKon B1 ‘deluxe' OC. I understand it to be relatively mild for an OC, but it's noticeably more efficient than a DE89. I know this because after making a stroke with it, and rinsing, there is more stubble in the lather in the sink that has just come off the razor, than with the DE89 or any other razor I've tried for that matter.

Also, the lather stays on your face longer before making contact with the blade; it doesn't get pushed away by the safety bar or clog the razor up. Worth a try
No idea if the AS D2 is like a posh DE89, like I said only ever used 2 DE's. But yes very mild, well made and a comfortable shave.
The only other one I tried was a Murkur Futur but I sent it back because the guard plate was so badly made the blade was visibly skewed causing cuts to my face. Think this experience has put me off aggressive razors hence my wish to find something as mild as the AS D2 but a bit more efficient.
Might worth looking at an OC but no idea if it would suit as I've no experience. Thanks for the advice I'll look into it further.
 
Piccolo is only £20 new, or there's a Fatip in the BST for £12. Cheap experiment
Piccolo is only £20 new, or there's a Fatip in the BST for £12. Cheap experiment
Can't do BST, it has to be unused for me.

Not too worried about cost if I can find the right razor. Hoping someone on here has experience with the AS D2 and others that shave similarly but more efficient. I'd rather spend a bit more on an informed decision that waste it on a few cheaper experiments.
 
Your issue is not so much the razor, but reading too much into what other posters here & on various other forums have fallen prey to: the Sirens' call of the BBS. What many don't tell you is that it often comes with a cost, i.e., irritation & ingrown hairs. A multi-blade disposable will easily give a BBS, but with the aforementioned problems for many. I assume you don't want that.

I have never used your particular Feather razor, but many liken it to a Gillette Tech of which I have many years experience with and treasure dearly. I can get a DFS with a Tech every time and a BBS if I shave ATG which I don't do due to......you guessed it, irritation & ingrown hairs.

I went through RAD years ago and had a trove of vintage and some new DE razors. The only DE I use now is mainly a Tech or clone/variant thereof as quite simply they work when the operator does their part. Just my 2 cents.
 
The Rockwell 6C ticks all the usual boxes - well made top tier razor, not as heavy as the 6S and has a system of 6 different plates so you should always be able to find your perfect fit. It sells very well for all these reasons, plus it's the cheapest of the top razors by some way.
 
The debate about aggressive vs mild razors rages on. After 2+ years of DE/SE shaving, I've found that experience has enabled me to use aggressive razors well, but also to extract high quality shaves from milder tools. I think @Bogeyman covers this point well above. Arguably both he and I would not have realised this without going through some RAD and working out what works best for each of us using a mix of razors.

My only advice would be to hold on to whatever razors you have as you go through RAD. I have a 1940s SS that I thought for a period was too mild, but when I got back to it a few months later, I found it capable of excellent shaves that I could carry out almost carelessly.

I would add that I like @les24preludes suggestion. The Rockwell 6C and 6S get such good reviews and offer variability, and the only reason I have held off is due to budget constraints, something I plan to sidestep by asking Santa Claus to provide me with one FOC.
 
The debate about aggressive vs mild razors rages on. After 2+ years of DE/SE shaving, I've found that experience has enabled me to use aggressive razors well, but also to extract high quality shaves from milder tools. I think @Bogeyman covers this point well above. Arguably both he and I would not have realised this without going through some RAD and working out what works best for each of us using a mix of razors.

Same here.

Look at the Razorock Gamechanger, they're nicely mild to medium and extremely comfortable. The Rockwell is also very popular and lets you set your own level.
 
Last edited:
I have switched to the feather as my home razor for pretty much the reasons you like it, Ii also have an area just behind the jawbone that I cannot get to the smoothness of the rest of my face. I have tried using other mild razors to the aggressive settings on a parker and the ridiculously savage iKon tech head, none of them cleared the troublesome area to what would be a BBS, I also do not chase the BBS, I have had plenty of shaves where irritation has come about, poor technique etc, my troublesome spot has reduced overtime as I find the optimum stroke for that area, but after all the years of irritation using carts I am just out to enjoy my shaving now and the results with as little irritation as possible which the feather gives me (as long as I don't use feather blades, strangely), I generally do 2-3 passes now and each and every time left with a very smooth face.

When working away I have now settled with the iKon open comb setup, again this does not clear that trouble area perfectly but still allows me the comfortable shave while scratching the experimentation/change itch, while making sure I do not loose a treasured piece of kit. also other than the feather blade anything I put in the feather seems to be bob on!
 
I have switched to the feather as my home razor for pretty much the reasons you like it, Ii also have an area just behind the jawbone that I cannot get to the smoothness of the rest of my face. I have tried using other mild razors to the aggressive settings on a parker and the ridiculously savage iKon tech head, none of them cleared the troublesome area to what would be a BBS, I also do not chase the BBS, I have had plenty of shaves where irritation has come about, poor technique etc, my troublesome spot has reduced overtime as I find the optimum stroke for that area, but after all the years of irritation using carts I am just out to enjoy my shaving now and the results with as little irritation as possible which the feather gives me (as long as I don't use feather blades, strangely), I generally do 2-3 passes now and each and every time left with a very smooth face.

When working away I have now settled with the iKon open comb setup, again this does not clear that trouble area perfectly but still allows me the comfortable shave while scratching the experimentation/change itch, while making sure I do not loose a treasured piece of kit. also other than the feather blade anything I put in the feather seems to be bob on!

Sounds like we're 2 peas from the same pod! I find the Feather blades too harsh as well in the AS D2.

Looks like I might never get a completely BBS shave no matter what razor I use, but might ask Santa for a 6C or 6S anyway. Looks like a good bit of kit and plenty of glowing reviews around.

Thanks for all your input guys, it's been most helpful :)
 
Back
Top Bottom