Hello from Erie, PA

Greetings everyone, my name's Dave. I'm 29 from Erie, PA. I've had issues with razor bumps/burn since I started shaving in high school. I tried cartridge razors with 3,4,5 blades, different shaving gels, aftershaves, electric razors, nothing was helping. I've been reading up on wet shaving for the past few weeks and finally decided to order a starter kit from Straight Razor Designs last week. Got the Merkur 23C DE razor.

I've had two shaves with it so far and all I can say is I'm convinced, it's amazing! I never thought a single blade could give a better shave than multiple blades. From mapping my beard (in which the grain seems to make a maze, it changes direction so often), doing a solid pre shave, and then shaving with only the weight of the razor (I was always prone to too much pressure before), for the first time in as long as I can remember, I finished a shave and didn't feel in pain. And I only have very minor irritation on my neck, with no razor bumps. I think improving my technique over the next few weeks will dissipate irritation all together.

Wet shaving is awesome, I don't know why it's such a big secret.

welcome Dave, sounds like you could of done with finding us sooner!

Welcome, glad you have found us, sounds like you are pretty well sorted, business feel free to ask questions.

Hi and welcome. Sounds like a familiar path to a lot of us. Hope the shaves improve and you never know we might even convert you to SR. Good luck. Ed

Thanks for the welcome guys and Ed I think I may go SR one day. I figure DE to be a good stepping stone. At this point, honestly I find SR a little daunting with the honing, stropping, and fear of slitting one's own throat, but maybe one day, haha.

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Originally Posted by flares2

Thanks for the welcome guys and Ed I think I may go SR one day. I figure DE to be a good stepping stone. At this point, honestly I find SR a little daunting with the honing, stropping, and fear of slitting one's own throat, but maybe one day, haha.

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There is a bit to straights, but it isn't that bad, the honing can be done by others for you. But there is nothing wrong with the way you have decided to go. And a D/E is always going to be useful anyway.

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Originally Posted by flares2

Thanks for the welcome guys and Ed I think I may go SR one day. I figure DE to be a good stepping stone. At this point, honestly I find SR a little daunting with the honing, stropping, and fear of slitting one's own throat, but maybe one day, haha.

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You would be surprised how focused and steady handed you become when you have a straight razor on your neck :)

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Originally Posted by DaveTheGeordie

You would be surprised how focused and steady handed you become when you have a straight razor on your neck :)

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True, as long as you can eliminate external forces such as pets, partners or children.at least for a while.

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Originally Posted by edhewitt

True, as long as you can eliminate external forces such as pets, partners or children.at least for a while.

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I was thinking several locks and bolts may work, a reinforcing bar and a deadlock too. That should keep the wife out. Children, well, you need to get creative there. My nephew got into the locked cutlery box in which my razors are kept, not by picking the lock but by prising the top of the box off. Got to give him credit for that I suppose. How he got it off the high drawers I still don't know! Box now resides atop the wardrobe (much higher)