Finally a good shave!

Well, after joining this forum almost two years ago, and after multiple attempts at using a ProGlide, a safety razor and having a love hate relationship with the safety razor, I can finally say I've had the best shave with my safety razor. My problem the whole entire time was my angle! I had the razor handle way too high up off my face and I thought that was the proper way of holding it, I was wrong. I sat the razor at my sideburn and tilted it just until the blade touched my face, and let me tell you it was a night and day experience. I remember coming on this forum and complaining that the safety razor was litterally plucking my hairs out on my neck, well after using the "new" angle I can say that the "plucking" was GONE! I couldn't believe it, I was in totally amazement. I could finally get to go against the grain with NO pain what so ever. But even still I had bumps on my neck the next day, but NOT becasue of the razor, but becasue my facial hair has a bit of a curl, which is what I'm assuming.

- Peter

Congratulations! It's a great feeling when you finally get it right:)

Peter

Congrats on getting a good shave. I remember your first posts here. I am really surprised that I or somebody else did not mention that is a good way to determine the correct angle on a DE razor. Apologies if that was missed. Things should now just keep getting better as you shave more.

Bob

Hey BobH,

No worries about that what so ever. How have you been doing lately Bob? Do you need a refill of that Barbus shaving soap if so, let me know. I could send you another one no problem. Yeah I just started using that new angle and I used to bleed all over my neck, it was pretty scary and annoying at the same time, the plucking feeling was horrible, but I finally did it with no blood in sight, I just fell in love with the safety razor and that proglide just sit's there collecting dust. Just yesterday I bought a 5 pack of Astra Superior Stainless (the blue pack) and It was even better, casue I was using Wilkinson Sword blades. Let me know what's new with you. Take care my friend.

- Peter

Oh man, the feeling was very awesome. I was just standing there in the mirror and I couldn't believe that after all that time I finally got it right. I'm using a very mild razor aswell, I'm from Europe and Wilkinson Sword is a very popular brand here. So I have the Wilkinson Sword Classic safety razor. :)

- Peter

Interesting I ve had the opposite experience. Never considered the angle my DE gives me a great and very easy shave every time from the very first time I used it. Never even nicked myself. I am sill working at learning how to use a straight razor though, that is a learned skill.

The angle of my DE really makes or breaks my shave believe it or not :) I'd be scared to use a straight razor though, hehe. Good luck Alan.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Glow

The angle of my DE really makes or breaks my shave believe it or not :) I'd be scared to use a straight razor though, hehe. Good luck Alan.

---

Hang around here long enough and eventually you will catch the disease :)

good for you congratulations. its nice to hear success . now your ready for a straight razor soon, rights of passage.

But now after adapting this new angle for myself, I feel as if I'm not shaving the hair off, even though I am. It's such a new feeling for me casue with my old angle I guess it was too angled and I had more feedback. But anyways I'm glad I have down the basics, I was just so curious after watching people on youtube shave their neck ATG and I was just like "Damn I wish I could do that".

You will get there just give it time. I have gotten so I can just do it half way now. Slow and steady once you get the hand eye coordination down its all engrained into you.

Shaving with a DE is not all that different from shaving with a Sr. You have to learn to be comfortable and gain the skill in your hands until its second nature. The more you do it the better you become.

Stay with it.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Glow

But now after adapting this new angle for myself, I feel as if I'm not shaving the hair off, even though I am. It's such a new feeling for me casue with my old angle I guess it was too angled and I had more feedback. But anyways I'm glad I have down the basics, I was just so curious after watching people on youtube shave their neck ATG and I was just like "Damn I wish I could do that".

---

Ok I am rather new at this myself but i'm going to go out on a limb and suggest you try a different DE.
Right from the get go I could go ATG on the neck, without even thinking about it, something I could never do with a cartridge razor. I cannot imagine how you can be having so much difficulty while I find that not only is the DE a better shave but an easier and faster shave, unless it is the razor itslef. I am not exactly known for my delicate touch or anything.
What are you using? I am new and only have 1 DE a Maggard mr1 (well 2 actually I bought a cosmetically damaged one for less $$$ from them to put in my gym/travel bag, but its the same thing). I suggest you look through this forum and see how others rate different DE`s. Again I only have experience with one but from what I understand there are different levels of agressivity and perhaps you have started with an extremely agressive DE.

Hi Alan,

Well the DE that I'm using is called a Wilkinson Sword Classic, it's a hard plastic razor with a metal rod as the handle with like the same black hard plastic lining that goes over it. It's really the only one I can afford with it being 3,50€ (4-4.5 USD or CAD) I really don't have that much money to fork over and buy a Parker or Muhle at the moment, so really I have to do with what I have right now.

As far as the blades go I've tried the Wilkinson Sword, Astra Supierior Platinum and Stainless, I'm currently using the Astra blue pack, the Stainless "blues". And to be quite fair the Astras cut much better then the Wilkinson Sword ones.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Glow

Hi Alan,

Well the DE that I'm using is called a Wilkinson Sword Classic, it's a hard plastic razor with a metal rod as the handle with like the same black hard plastic lining that goes over it. It's really the only one I can afford with it being 3,50€ (4-4.5 USD or CAD) I really don't have that much money to fork over and buy a Parker or Muhle at the moment, so really I have to do with what I have right now.

As far as the blades go I've tried the Wilkinson Sword, Astra Supierior Platinum and Stainless, I'm currently using the Astra blue pack, the Stainless "blues". And to be quite fair the Astras cut much better then the Wilkinson Sword ones.

---

I dont know much about DE's but if it has plastic parts I think that is part of your problem. Spend a bit of time looking through this forum and you will discover some affordable DE's with good reviews.