Thread: Started DE shaving....must be doing it wrong.

I have not used my electric razor the last few days. Today, the shave I have is the best I have gotten with the DE or any other method. I started changing blades every day. on day 2, the shave is perfect with no razor bumps/burn on my neck.

I also started 'choking up' on the razor and using ridiculously short strokes.

My ultimate plan is a SR, but I wanted to master the DE first.

I have used a DE with shave brush, mug and soap for about a year now. When I switched I found out that I get little to no razor burn. I love it.

Originally Posted by dpete

I seem to have fallen back into my pre-DE shaving habits. I run the electric razor over my face for 5min, esp my neck. Then I lather up for the DE. It seems to shave the neck better. I have lots of engrown hairs on the neck area, for some reason. the seem to be deeper than my skin contours and will NOT stand up to be cut. electric seems to do that. then the DE shave smooths them out. I feel I have 'sold out'.

not sure if i will do back to DE-only or not. I HATE that I did this, but I just couldnt take the rash, etc anymore and I love the wet shave.

I was doing 5 passes. I cant imagine why this would be a learning curve beyond what I am doing. Up, down, back, forth, criss/cross, etc. there are no other angles existing. My shave seems the same, regardless. really upsetting.....

I sympathize. Ingrown hairs suck.
I have heard of folks using an exfoliant in the shower to get hairs to present themselves prior to shaving. I've not tried this.

Though I'm sure, after 5 passes, that my face would be mad at me.

Update.

In March 2014, i bought 100 Astra Superior razors, a merkur razor, TOBS Sandalwood, and an escali brush. I have about 90 blades left.

my equipment has changed. My wife started DE shaving, so she stole my merkur. I bought a 1949 Gillette butterfly for myself. For father's day, I was given a Parker best badger brush. The brush is fantastic.

My TOBS sandalwood is about gone. I also bought TOBS St James and TOBS Avocado. I hated the avocado, since it is toooo flowery, and smells like Lily of the Valley. However, i have to say it has grown on me, and whenever I shave at night, which I usually do at least once per week, it is my choice. St James, I like so much I bought the aftershave and deodorant. TOBS sandalwood cologne, i also have. TOBS sandalwood does have a slight 'old man' odor, but i still love the smell and so does my wife.

One other cream that i came across by walking into Bath and Body with my wife. They had C. O. Bigalow in the green tube. After reading the back, it is proraso green cream, not soap. I love it. it is cool, minty, and fresh for morning. it is awesome.

I have recruited my little brother as well. I bought him the Bigalow, an escali brush and a 1969 Gillette razor (the year he was born). He had great close shaves on day-one. I struggled a month, before i was happy, then at the 6 month mark, all of a sudden, shaves just got fantastic for me. I can stop at 3 passes, but i always do 4....mainly because my brush is still loaded and i just enjoy it.

My son is 20. he uses a straight shavette. he also uses proraso red soap. he has never used cream.

all-in-all, i am loving this hobby.

It took me a while to get to the point where I was proficient with a DE. Apparently the Marine Corps wants you to come to work in the morning without a 1400 (2 o'clock) shadow, so I would only shave with a DE on the weekends until I felt comfortable with it. Haven't looked back since.

I have been DE shaving for about 6 months now (nowhere close to experienced). I got lucky from the start. The Shark blades that were sent have worked great for me, I know that other people like other brands. I typically shave every 2-3 days when I have time. I try and relax by listening to jazz (classic and upbeat music as it was meant to be). I typically take about a one inch stroke, as opposed to the whole face. The key has been patience and learning what works best. Everyone has their own best practice. There is no cookie cutter way of real shaving. That is what makes it so much fun! Patience and relax are the two main points. Sorry I did not find this thread sooner. I am new to this forum

That's right everyone's face is different , that's why you really have to do the work to get it right for you , and by the way if shark is all you have tried , it's hard to tell if their that good ,, but I've used them ,, not really my favorite blade ,, I have over 44 years on a DE. wasn't till the last 10 years that there was info out there to find different products and most on the Internet in the last 6 years, but a life time of using old spice soap and crappy Wilkinson blades,made me a pretty good DE shaver. Now when I do shave my equipment is much better ,, same razor though a Fatboybset on 9 with a feather blade , I change every shave just because I can , and my 2-3 passes I usually dial it down to 7 for the buffing ,, stretch that skin and it's pretty good shave , just takes time to learn your own face. Tc

Originally Posted by roden011

It took me a while to get to the point where I was proficient with a DE. Apparently the Marine Corps wants you to come to work in the morning without a 1400 (2 o'clock) shadow, so I would only shave with a DE on the weekends until I felt comfortable with it. Haven't looked back since.

I was issued a Schick Injector at Parris Island and the rules were the same. I remember the day 1 hygiene class. 2 DI's and 2 recruits (one white guy and the other a black guy). They stood at attention while the DI gave a class using their faces to demonstrate proper shave technique. They would occasional pause the class to scream at them for not standing still. Cant help but chuckle thinking about it, their eyes were huge.
Annixter, have you tried a shavette with 1/2 a DE blade for styling your beard?

As mentioned it takes time, find best angle, using the right amount of pressure, it too me awhile when you factor if finding a cream/soap that worked good and blades also.
Rinsing face between lathering makes a difference also, not sure if your doing that already as not mentioned in the original post.
Good luck hope thing come together with the shaves.

1-year update.

Ok, here goes.......

started DE shaving in 3/31/14.
my original equipment: merkur SX05, astra superior blades (100 pack), TOBS sandalwood, escalli brush
current equipment: 1949 Gillette butterfly razor, crystal blades (100 pack), parker best badger brush

current method: pass1 WTG; pass2 nose-to-ear; pass3 ear-to-nose; pass4 WTG. For my neck, i go the first 3 passes WTG, then on pass4, i go slowly AGR/XG. my neck is tough with tough wayward hair.

My 20year old son has been using a shavette for 1 year now with proraso red soap.

my wife uses my merkur SX05.

As far as changing razors. I experimented over and over with different razors, and how many shaves i can get, etc, etc,. its one of those things where, you never know how far is too far until you have gone too far.... then and only then, you figure it out. also, its not consistent. Here is what I do. Most will find crazy, but I realize these blades cost a dime a piece. I find the best shave is a new razor EVERY DAY. i get the best shaves this way, with less brand sensitivity. I find the main difference in the brands is how many successful days you can get. I use a new razor and I pass the blade that I have used once to my wife's razor. so, each day, i change our blades after i shave (her legs are less sensitive to razor burn than my face is). with a new razor each day, i am spending a whopping $0.70/week on blades. Its NOT worth sacrificing burn just to squeeze an extra day from a blade. not me.

the parker best badger brush is fantastic. i would recommend such a brush for a beginner, unlike the escali. i have no idea how i used this thing now.

i have found soap drys my face. i like creme. my son found that soap works well on his face. he had light acne before, and now he doesnt. combination of soap and scraping.

i have used, with great success and love for the smells:
Bigalow green from bath and body (made by proraso). $10 tube. eucaliptus and mint. great for summer.
Taylor of old Bond street - sandalwood, st james, avacado, lavender, Mr. taylor. all fantastic and all smell great. I have also purchased the cologne matching the sandalwood and the mr taylor. all great.

i am still learning and getting better. i no longer get blood on my shaves or razor burn. i take the 4th pass as fun, but it does go very slowly ATG/XG on my neck. its only after 3 passes that i can do this, lightly, with no razor burn or weepers.