Thread: A little help please

Hello, Omid:

My good friends 1OldGI and jhenry have made excellent suggestions to solve your problem. I'll add a few more thoughts, if I may:

As a rule, I replace blades after the third shave, since I feel the blade starts to lose its edge. Also, Merkur blades tend to be rough, at least for me, and from what I've read through the years, for many other gentlemen. Try Personna (red pack), Gillette 7 O'Clock (yellow pack), and even Derby. I have found Astra to be a good blade, too. Better yet, get a sample pack to give you some good choices.

I suggest doing three passes — with extreme light pressure — one with the grain (north to south) and two across the grain (nose to ear, ear to nose) to slowly reduce the beard. In the mustache area, avoid going south to north against the grain. This tears up some folks. Try it across the grain and, if you must, angle the shave rather than going straight up.

Also preparation is important. Yes, as jhenry suggested, Williams and Van der Hagen will do for now, but do think of the other soaps he recommends. You can't go wrong with them.

Regards,

Obie

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.