Thread: my first DE/shave

WOW! What a difference. I'm in love with this. I'm mainly gonna use my straight razors, but this is a wonderful backup.
I ended going with a merkur classic. The only thing that's troubling is that it cuts so well and efficiently that its hard to tell if its cutting or just moving across my face without the blade touching. It doesn't make as much sound while cutting as my straights.
I think I got a little razor burn on my cheek, but that's partly due to thinking that the blade was not touching my skin and tilting it at too much of an angle. Its also odd doing shorter strokes since I can get a little more stroke length with each pass on my dovo.
So here's my question. I can do ATG with my straight and get BBS without any irritation or problems. Would you recommend only doing WTG shaves with my DE for a couple weeks like the wiki recommends doing for first time straight razor users?

Hello, Salazch:

Avoid going over the same spot excessively with the DE, because that's a good way of getting a razor burn. This especially when going against the grain. You can get away with a little more of it with the straight razor. At least, I can.

As you have done with the straight razor, go slowly with the DE. For the most part, I use the same moves with the DE as I do with the straight. I even stretch for the DE, though slightly less than I do for the straight razor.

The two razors are similar in many ways, and different in many ways. Both, however, require shaving with care, keeping the pressure light, and taking your time.

Regards,

Obie

My shaving exploration was the opposite. Moved from the disposables/cartridges to the DE, then with that for an established base of experience finally ventured into straights. I noticed I was getting surprisingly less irritation and/or bumps with diagonal upwards ATG movements with a suitably sharp straight than with my three DEs of various degrees of aggressiveness. It probably depends on the particulars of your skin/face, the DE and blade being used when taking it to that level of closeness.

Originally Posted by salazch

Would you recommend only doing WTG shaves with my DE for a couple weeks like the wiki recommends doing for first time straight razor users?

You know that's not what you're going to do! The skill level required for a straight razor is above that required for a DE. Getting a close shave with a DE is a great way to develop the skills to effectively use a str8. Just learn the differences...

salazch,

When I first used a DE, I found it quite easy to get razor burn if too much pressure is used, or the wrong angle. The pressure you need is similar to that with a straight. Keeping the angle correct around curved areas like the jaw bone and chin is difficult at first.

Even now, years later, a DE shave is still more 'burny' than one with a straight razor !!

With DEs I found it useful to have more but very light passes

1) WTG
2) XTG ear to nose; repeat WTG on neck
3) XTG nose to ear; very light ATG on neck
4) ATG on cheeks; repeat light ATG on neck
5) Blade buff

Use straight style stretching of the skin helps as well.



Have fun !

Best regards

Russ

As the others have said, take it easy with the DE, as you would with a straight, but don't be afraid to go ATG. Make sure you understand the razor angle, and keep your pressure nice and light.

Be careful choosing blades as well; it takes some time to find the one that works perfect for you. For me, it's Derby, though their quality control is not always top of the pack. I've experimented with Astra, Merkur, and Feather as well, but found I didn't particularly like any of them. Feathers were great, but left lots of weepers for me on an ATG pass, Merkurs were plain awful and gave me abysmal razor burn, and Astras were OK, but closer to the Merkurs, IMO, than the Derbys. As will all things, YMMV.

Anyway, the DE makes a fabulous backup; I've started to look toward straights since starting with the DE, but I've sure all hell never even glanced back at my cartridge--even as a backup for the DE...I'd just stop shaving, I think.

So the merkur blade that came with itwas awesome. It also came with a sample pack of Lord blades. Holy crap. They suck. I didn't even have that bad of a shave on my first straight. Has anybody had any problems with Lord blades?

<laugh> I guess YMMV even with Merkur blades! I'm glad to hear SOMEONE is getting a good shave from them!

I've never tried the Lord's blades; they weren't included in the sampler I originally bought with my DE.

That's two people I know of who get on with Merkur blades! I'd still say it'd be a good plan to get hold of a sampler pack though.