Thread: A little help please

Originally Posted by OmidFarahbakhsh

So I've been shaving with a DE for a few weeks now (merkur 33c/ merkur super blades) and I've found that second pass ATG on my upper lip always feels like I'm digging under the hairs, lots of pull and razor burn, little bit of blood from time to time, which as you can image doesn't feel too good. Just wondering if someone can tell me what I'm doing wrong without actually watching me shave. Is it my angle, beard prep, am I not removing enough hair on my WTG pass, dull blade ( I only shave once or twice a week and have been using the same blade for about 3 weeks)? Any help would be greatly appreciated.
As a side note I'm getting the the end of the wilkinsons sword soap i bought a few months ago anyone wanna recommend a good decently priced soap to try preferably something I can get at a local drug store (in Canada).

Cheers
-Omid

Try switching your blades. I prefer the feather blades or red personas. A good sample pack of blades should help you out.

Another thing I will do is to tip the razor's handle away from my face, reducing the angle and using the edge of the safety razor to lift the blade away from my face. This allows for a more controlled depth of cut for me. Good luck!

Originally Posted by Obie

Also preparation is important. Obie

++++1 Great advice!!!

Some great advice above. I concur with the common wisdom that 3-4 shaves from a DE blade is pretty much the max. I have, in the past, squeezed a 5th shave from the odd blade, but I don't do that anymore. And ditch the Merkur blades. They're okay the first shave and mayber the second, but the quality drops off sharply after that. For me they never seem to shave well ATG, even when new. A blade sampler pack is definitely the way to go.

Originally Posted by Ryan82

Some great advice above. I concur with the common wisdom that 3-4 shaves from a DE blade is pretty much the max. I have, in the past, squeezed a 5th shave from the odd blade, but I don't do that anymore. And ditch the Merkur blades. They're okay the first shave and mayber the second, but the quality drops off sharply after that. For me they never seem to shave well ATG, even when new. A blade sampler pack is definitely the way to go.

It's funny how different everyone's experiences with different blades is. There is no doubt that personal experimentation is the only way to find the solution for you.

Personally I don't shave AGT on my upper lip. I did it once and thought I was gonna die I was in so much pain from the razor burn. I just stick with a WTG and then finish it off with an XTG pass (the upper lip that is). Also the moment you start feeling it tug at the hair, abandon the pass you were going to do. You will regret it later with razor burn and irritation that may take a few days to get rid of.

I agree with Ryan that you should try some other blades. If you ARE on the west coast, I know Vancouver has a good shaving store (though I don't know the name) where you can pick up some other blades. As for the soap, try Proraso. It is cheap, widely available (where I'm from anyway) and probably one of the better drug store products.

Sounds like a bit of dullness to me. Most DE blades are really sharp, and should hesitate cutting through any hair growth.