A Couple Shaves IN

So I needed something to shave with while I send off my straights for sharpening. I picked Up a new Feather (yeah the cheap $20 version) with some Feather blades. Before I had a chance to try it my oldest boy snatched it up, liked it and dear old dad is once again out of luck. So i picked up a 1967 Gillette. I have shaved with it a couple times now (with fore mentioned Feather blades) and am not liking it much. I hurt after shaving. I am not getting cut or bleeding at all just burning like I would get when going against the grain with a cartridge razor. I know it is probably my technique or blade selection. I may be able to get better with it but its disappointing. I am going to try a different blade as well as a shaving cream instead of soap before I give up on it.

Ha technique coul be it , also could be the razor and or blade , myself I get great shaves from a feather blade , but I use a DE for over 40 years , but different razors will not be good for different blades. Tc

I'd buy a sampler pack of blades. Find one you like the best and stick with it for a while. Once you feel comfortable that your technique is good, go back and try all those razors again. A razor you hated with poor technique you might love with good technique.

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Originally Posted by roden011

I'd buy a sampler pack of blades. Find one you like the best and stick with it for a while. Once you feel comfortable that your technique is good, go back and try all those razors again. A razor you hated with poor technique you might love with good technique.

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Sounds like a good idea I will get one ordered

Watch pressure. NO PRESSURE is the mantra. Let the weight of the razor do the work. The blades are sharp, and do not require ANY pressure to do the job.
I would be willing to bet pressure or angle is the culprit. My money is on pressure.

http://youtu.be/ufG1dPmVo8Q

+1 on SRNewby unconsciously if you're used to using a multi blade I guarantee that when you first start with a DE you'll be using too much pressure and the wrong angle. Also be aware it will take more than one pass to produce a really close shave.

i had same problem at the beginning with a plastic DE razor, once i got a nice heavy metal Merkur one and only used the weight rather than pressing myself lovely shaves achieved. Took about a week with serious razor burn and too light razor for me to decide to buy a decent one.

Just my two cents on blades too. I have tried Merkur, Wilkinson Sword and cheapo Shark. The Sharks were so much smoother than the other two for me that i didn't even bother trying any more. Although they don't last as long, the comfort of shave was what was most important to me. Think this may be because they have no coating, if i remember correctly the other two had titanium coating. Please excuse if that's wrong, i threw them away months ago, only have the Sharks around.

I know the feeling. Feather DE and Feather Pro SE blades are super sharp. I would normally start to get good, comfortable shaves after 2-3 uses.
I started corking my blades before use and if the first shave wasn't comfortable the second one was. You may give it a shot.

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Originally Posted by tab

I know the feeling. Feather DE and Feather Pro SE blades are super sharp. I would normally start to get good, comfortable shaves after 2-3 uses.
I started corking my blades before use and if the first shave wasn't comfortable the second one was. You may give it a shot.

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Corking?I am unfamiliar with that one. I am finding a better shave on the third and fourth, could be the blade becoming dull, my technique improving, or both.

Corking is basically dulling a blade intentionally before use.
Grab a cork from a bottle and before using a new blade drag the edges across the cork lightly cutting it.
I found this was enough to remove harsh edges from the super-sharp DE blades I came across (Feather & Gillette Blacks)

Feathers are among the sharpest DE blades, and as such they can seem harsh to someone whose technique hasn't adjusted to that initial sharpness.

In my experience, the shaves got better after I'd used them for a while.

Just to echo what has been said, feather makes the sharpest blades out there and are my go to brand. You do need to be careful with them or you can do some damage especially if you are using an aggressive DE to begin with. pressure and angle are the key here.

There are so many brands out there it's just a matter of experimenting to find the blade that best matches your razor and you. The sample pack is your friend here.