Thread: Sensitive skin: What should my first Safety Razor be?

The DE89 is a great shaver. Of equal importance is blade selection...as stated above be sure to get a sample pack or even 2 sample packs. Everyone has their different preferences, and not every blade is going to work for you, unless you're very lucky. Last but not least, learn to build a good lather. Oh, I would not shave in the shower until you've polished your wet-shaving skills. IMO the stability of a counter and a large mirror will be a big asset as you learn. Good luck.

Originally Posted by One2mny

hit the BAY up for an old Gillette Super Speed! I have 1 that I use often and I find it quite mild.

Agree completely . You can't beat the 1st Gillettes . The WW1 and before '04's are a great way to start. Gillette sold 3M of them to the Army for use by lads who never saw a DE before.

Originally Posted by Johnus

Agree completely . You can't beat the 1st Gillettes . The WW1 and before '04's are a great way to start. Gillette sold 3M of them to the Army for use by lads who never saw a DE before.

I'd suggest a 'Fat handle tech' over Gillettes from around 1920's, as modern DE blades fit without a problem. Early Gillettes need blades adjusting before securing them down, and it's something a newcomer might find annoying to have to do on each blade change.

I have added a DE and a SE as well as an injector style into my rotation. Not for regular use, but for when I irritate my skin too much over several days. The DE, used lightly with two passes, gives a very close comfortable shave with preferred Astra blades. I bought a vintage auto strop SE and a vintage blade sharpener recently and can't wait to try it out. Also some new blades made specially for auto strop.
I had been using a Weshi DE but have replaced it with a vintage 3 piece DE Gillette like my father used and I remember using it and getting a damn good shave.
Good luck.

The Edwin Jagger DE89 really is a great razor. Completely agree. No doubt about that. I should know it was my first DE. But it is fairly mild so if you think you may be still accustomed to adding a lot of pressure in your shaves then yeah, go for it! I would definitely rather recommend you something such as the Gillette Fatboy, which was indeed my second DE. It's an adjustable so you can make it as mild or aggressive as you'd like. Pretty convenient. It gave me some pretty great shaves and some bad ones too but well worth it. Would definitely check out ebay for them if I were you but don't expect it to be all that cheap unless of course it's in pretty bad condition. Expect to pay at least 30-50 dollars for one in decent condition or maybe even cheaper if you're lucky and even if you end up not liking it so much they're very easy to resell. It is your choice though. Happy shaving!

I switched from electric to a vintage gillette super speed and haven't regretted it. As stated before they are quite affordable and well built. My favorite is the flair. currently i'm using a slim adjustable which is nice because one can change the aggressiveness and find the most comfortable shave. they all have great grip on the handles.

Sounds Like OP is looking for a mild razor. If you are prone to getting ingrown hairs there are two vintage razors that would be perfect for you. The Gillette Tech or the Schick Krona. These are the gentlest razors I have ever used(I've use a lot of different razors). You can probably find either one for under $10 on eBay. You should also look into getting a brush and some decent shave cream. I used to get ingrowns on my neck too. Turns out the hair on my neck grows upward and I was shaving against the grain without knowing it. Don't expect a miracle the first time you use a safety razor. You will get better shaves with it but it may take practice to completely stop the ingrown hairs.

I use a Vintage Gillete DE, various blades. Just a precaution about shaving in the shower; be sure to disassemble and dry the blade and razor after each use. Your blades will last longer and give better results.

You really can't go wrong with a Gillette Super Speed--not aggressive, but effective and forgiving. Pre-1954 ('55?) or 40's SS's are ten bucks on the bay and give very good shaves but any super speed works well too and isn't harsh. I would suggest that a good sharp blade like a 7'o'clock instead of a very sharp blade like a feather would be easier on the skin too, but YMMV.

My advice would be to change your whole approach to shaving. Shower, of course, and prepare your face at the same time, then dry yourself off and start preparing properly for your shave. Whatever you select from all the good advice given will benefit from good preparation and the right after shave treatment. You will be amazed at the difference in terms of razor bumps that Alum and witch hazel can make in addition to a decent balm and A/S