Thread: WTF DE Razor?!?

+1 on the coments of pressure, angle, and blades.

I don't know anything about your DE or the blades you're using. My DE in a Merkur Vision (which is adjustable) and I have it set in the middle range of aggressiveness (which is very aggressive for my face).

At my setting, I let the weight of the razor do the work (and it is a VERY heavy razor!). I apply absolutely no pressure to the razor at all on any part of my face. Think "woman's touch" here. Apply any pressure at all and you'll live to regret it! (That was also true of my Parker DE that I learned to shave with).

The angle is also critical as to removing just whiskers, or whiskers and skin. I don't know what the angle I'm using, I just try to "feel" it (very similar to developing a feel for a straight). I only create enough of an angle until the whiskers start disappearing. Beyond that angle (or perhaps too less of an angle, as well), IMO, and you're going to irritate the hell out of your face, and start getting nicked or sliced.

I actually haven't shaved with my DE since I did my first straight shave, so I'm having a hard time remembering what the angle might be, but, you get the jist.

I don't know how good the blade is that you're using, but crappy blades end up with crappy results. I was using Wilkinson blades (not the best, but not the worst, either) and would toss the blade at 5 shaves max (depending on how much I used the blade in earlier shaves for a closer, or not so close, shave).

And, of course, your face prep is just as important, IMO, with a DE as it is with a straight. Just because you can shave faster with a DE doesn't mean that shave prep is any less important!

Kent

I never got a good shave with a DE. I get better results with a cartridge razor than a DE.

It sounds like you might be pressing the razor into your face while shaving. Lighten up the pressure - a lot

Also, are those American Gillette blades? Choosing a DE blade is something of an art, and it'll vary for everybody, but modern American Gillette blades are generally regarded as awful. Try getting a blade sampler -- you never know what blade will agree with your face.

There are many different DE blades out there. Not that many are good.

My favorite and they are fairly cheap are the Derby's.

The Wilkensen's swords and the Domestic Gilletes are not that popular.

I used to buy some Persona's at Walmart and Walgreens that are pretty decent.

The Merkur's are known to be good and a standard.

Japanese Feathers are extremely sharp but some, myself included, do not find them to be that smooth.

If you can find some persona's locally that would be the way to go. If you can get some Merkur's even better.

Razors, ie holders, will have different angles and that will also affect the quality of the shave.

Good Luck.

Ed

I started on DEs and have since switched exclusively to straights. Recently took a vacation and just took a DE. I know how you feel. I'd forgot basically how to shave with a DE and that you need very light pressure.

Funny that when I switched to DEs over cartridges I thought I was getting amazing shaves and after using a straight for awhile then trying a DE I was thinking "really I thought this was amazing"

Just takes practice and it is all about pressure.

For what it's worth, about every 10th shave or so I use a DE, mostly because I have three of them and a boat load of blades.