Thread: Doing it backwards

I just got a funky (but functional!) gilette super speed for $13...picked up some Cvs blades (persona made I believe) and am getting ready for my first shave.

ive been shaving with a straight for months but work is so crazy that I can't get to it often enough. I like to take my time and be clean shaven for for day so I may try DE for the work week. I feel like I picked up my tools in reverse, how many of you started SR before trying DE?

any advice on starting out? I'm thinking it will be straightforward but my experience is that big cuts come from big headed-ness

Hey!
I'm doing it the opposite way - I've been DE shaving for months, and am about to start with a SR soon (it's coming in the mail). For advice on DE shaving - just use very light pressure. Go WTG first. Then maybe XTG second, but I'd leave it at that until your technique is good. Don't over-reach. The SuperSpeed is a great, mild razor so I'm sure you'll have no trouble.

Yeah I actually got a fantastic shave with the razor, BBS if I may be so bold. I agree it is mild. I'm used to a little more bite on my razor but this will be the ticket for rushed days. I wonder if things would be different with an open comb style.

Thanks for the advice, I want a better looking razor already. I've seen powder coated razors I love that look.

P.s. Good luck with the straight, you will love it. For me- this combo will have me totally sworn off cans and cartridges. I was holding my Mach 3 for rush days but no more!

I was straight shaving for a full year or more before I tried a DE for the first time. The learning curve was almost nonexistent. After several years I've yet to cut myself with a DE so I must be doing something right lol

I've started using a DE for head shaving. If I'm in a rush I can even do that in the shower . I woun't take a straight into the shower.

I was 44 years shaving with a DE ,it really gave me a leg up on straights, as far as what you picked up , a super slim for that price. Good job , just keep doing what you do with your straight they are a great way to shave when you are short on time. Tc

I shaved with a straight for one or two years before picking up a DE. I had more of a learning curve than Ryan182, though: several days with a raw lobster face and a number of nicks (I'm still more apt to nick myself with the DE than the straight). But once I got a good sense of how "pressure and angles" work with my DE, things were smooth sailing.

My first DE was a Merkur slant-bar (closed comb), and just this week I ordered a vintage Gillette open-comb, just out of curiosity. Good luck and have fun!

I got a DE in a lot of brushes I won. 2 actually. I gave them a try and they are different but not better. As for speed....not THAT much faster for me. Blade choice can make a huge difference from what I hear. I used Dubl Duck blades and never had any of the problems I hear about. Some guys like this brand other like that brand. If you use it much I suspect you will try a few different ones. I also hear the rakes are a little more aggressive. A term I am not crazy about when it comes to sharp things.

Actually I did the exact same as you... I SR shaving in December ... Loving it.. Except works varying schedule was making it difficult to spend that much time... And when rushed in the morning I found that I had to slip back to my fusion on one or two days for speed.... So I just got my EJ DE89BA11 this week...Learning curve seems minimal with derby blades... Now I'm moving on to others in the sampler... Pressure seems to be my biggest issue... But no blood so far....got a BBS shave day before last...


I don't think that this route was backwards... Just makes learning DE easier due to respect given the SR....

Originally Posted by foxblade

Just makes learning DE easier due to respect given the SR....

That, right there, is the key to success of going "backwards"