New to DE and having problems

Hello everyone!

Last week I decided to ditch my Mach 3 and bought a Merkur DE (a barber pole HD) along with a decent badger hair brush and some shave soap. I've had 7 or 8 DE shaves now and I'm just not getting good results.

I typically do one WTG and one XTG pass with relathering between. I have no real issues on the WTG but it just doesn't remove much of my very tough beard. After the XTG pass it is better but I still am fairly scruffy. I stop there because typically after my XTG pass I have a half dozen nicks. On my attempts for a better shave by going ATG I always seem to nick myself pretty bad.

Any suggestions as to what I'm doing wrong?

-d

Sounds like lack of prep. If your stubble is especially tough, then you need to pay even more attention to it.
Are you shaving after, or in the shower?
Wash your face well to remove the oils from the beard, then give it some time to let it absorb some water. After that, massage in some hair conditioner & let it sit there for a couple of minutes. Rinse it all off & lather up.
How's your lather making?
You're probably applying a bit too much pressure too, if you're getting nicks. Try to let the weight of the razor do most of the work. Hold it loosely at the base, as far from the head as you can.
What blades are you using? Merkur blades are not many peoples favourite.

Welcome aboard!

It might take a little time for your face to adjust to the DE, just like switching from cartridge razors to a straight. Make sure you are using very, very light pressure. Cartidge razors virtually encourage us to use too much pressure. The other thing to look at is possibly the angle of the razor. I typically set the razor on my face, with the handle vertical relative to the floor, then lift the handle away from my face until I feel the blade engage my face. Then it's just a matter of keeping the angle consistent as you shave.

+1 on what Kyle said.

Another thing to consider is the blade / razor combination. I have found that some blades just don't work well in some razors. Derby's work for me in my HD, Blue tip SS, and some of my Tech's; however, in my other razors they really suck.

I would encourage you to check out the other shave sites (Shavemyface.com, badgerandblade, and theshaveden.com) that are more focused on DE's. You'll be certain to receive quite a few tips on sorting through blade sampling, head geometry, etc.

Cheers,

Rick

I've been DE shaving for a couple of months, and have only recently started getting real good at the XTG and ATG passes, so the first piece of advice is: Hang in there!

Otherwise, I'd say: Pressure and angle. I shave primarily with a Progress, and i simply hold it by the end with a finger under it for support when doing my N-S pass. That's all the pressure I need. For me the hard part has been to get the same amount of pressure when going XTG and ATG, since I don't have gravity as a guide. But practice got me there :)

+1 on prep. No prep = lousy shave. Good prep = almost as good as I can do with a str8 if the blade is new. And my beard is the steel-eating nightmare from hell. Prep is everything.

Also, since the DE does not swivel, you have to hold the correct angle yourself throughout the stroke. This takes a little practice.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by rsrick

Another thing to consider is the blade / razor combination. I have found that some blades just don't work well in some razors. Derby's work for me in my HD, Blue tip SS, and some of my Tech's; however, in my other razors they really suck.

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I think just about everybody can get a great shave from a Derby blade in a Merkur HD. I like the Feather blades too, but don't care for the Merkur blades all that much.

I agree with some of the other posters. It is what blade/razor combo works for your face/beard. Face prepand proper shave cream/shave soap is very important also. I have found that rather than go with the sharpest blade such as feather, go with a nice smooth shaving blade. I have had good success with Derby, Personna, and mu current favorite is Shark. I use a Merkur 39c sledgehammer slant and use the lightest pressure possible.

Good luck and hang in there.

PS. I am still building up to a decent straight shave. I still do not possess the skills nessessary.

Just a couple of thoughts: Regardless of the method of shaving prep is probably the most important. That being said prior to converting to a straight razor I purchased a Merkur and after several weeks of trying put it away. I switched to a Fat Boy with the same prep and lather and it made all the difference in the world. I was using Feather blades in both the Merkur and the Fat Boy. For what ever reason, and I do not pretend to be an expert, the Merkur just wasn't a good match in my hands. I am certain that it is a fine razor in another persons hands. The key is don't give up and keep an open mind. As a final thought, when I changed from a double edge to a straight razor for the first time in my life I wake up looking forward to my morning shave and the perfect start for my day.

Lewis

Quote:

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Originally Posted by sensei_kyle

I think just about everybody can get a great shave from a Derby blade in a Merkur HD. I like the Feather blades too, but don't care for the Merkur blades all that much.

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I tried the Merkur blades a few times in different razors - have yet to get a comfortable shave from them. I find they have a very harsh feel.

In 30 years I only ever used DEs. Before trying Str8s a year ago I was too tight to buy cartige razors. And being too myopic to see my face in the mirror over the sink I had always shaved by touch while in the shower.

These are the things I've found out over the years.

Don't use force. When you find yourself using force it is probably time to switch to a new blade. The first shave on a new blade is the most likely to nick you too (as your old blade got duller you might have been adding more and more force to get the same results).

Multiple short (light) redundant strokes are better than a 3-4 inch draw. This lets you cover the same area that is still moist multiple times and progressively shortens the hair. It helps you learn and keep the correct angle for that part of your face.

WTG/XTG/ATG really only helps IF YOU KNOW THE DIRECTION YOUR HAIRS GROW. Seriously - Chart your beard direction after about 3-4 days without a shave. My beard goes up, down and sideways in the damnedest places. I've even got a hurricane like whorl on the right side of my neck.

Hair moisturizer before shaving might actually be toughening your beard. Some moisturizes work by coating the hair to make it feel softer while others really do soften the hair. There is a wiki somewhere here or on B&B that covers this.
:gl:

All I can add to the excellent advice posted so far is that it is impossible to over estimate the benefits of applying a hot moist towel to your face before you lather up. An ordinary facecloth soaked in hot water and wrung out will really help soften those stiff whiskers.

goshawk

+1 to everything mentioned here. Especially the 2-3 day beard growth it lets you clearly see the direction of the hair growth and IMO gives a very forgiving shave.

Only thing to add would be watch your wrist, as mentioned earlier the DE's have no swivel/pivot so you have to keep your wrist locked straight and use your whole arm for the strokes.

:gl: