Thread: Well, took the plunge

x2 on the Wilkinson swords. Got a pack of them from the pharmacy. I couldn't believe how smooth my face was after, it was ridiculous. As another member put it, I couldn't stop faceturbating it was so smooth.

+1 on viewing Mantic59's videos and getting a blade sampler. With proper technique, a BBS with a DE is in your future.

Hey guys, well managed to find some wilkinson sword blades, so will give them a try when i get to the rig, also found an old old barber, been there for forty years, in addition to looking out his old straights for me, he's also has a full card of vintage gillette 7 oclock blades (has them up fr the sake of nostalgia) but they're all mint said he'd sell me a couple of packs.

So i did have another full shave (full prep etc) but i'm still having this problems area at the base of my neck, the one that was created by years of mach three abuse. Now, with the straight, there's no issues, but it's an area the shave is never BBS. the skin is a littl bit rougher than the rest of neck/face. The straight shaves it just fine but only direcionally smooth. Just can't go against the grain there. The DE isn't fairing so well, i'm gone back to first principals, short strokes, no pressure, but the DE just rakes that area bad, lots of little blood spots etc and razorburn. Yes it's probably my technique, but i also feel its the nature of the DE as well. when i do that area with my straight, i can use minute little strokes with the toe, almost getting at indiviudual hairs. The de is more of a "shave the area" type razor.

Originally Posted by TonyN

+1 on the sampler pack. I couldn't stand the Merkur blades that came with my 34C. Some of the best shaves I've gotten are with Gillete 7 O'Clocks, Personna Med Preps and Crystals (Israeli Personnas).

I noticed the drilling and H2S. You must work on an oil rig, having to be clean shaven to get a good seal on the SCBA. Be careful out there!

Yup, that's the reason, and we have an H2S potential job coming up soon so no manly rig stubble..

Will get one of the sampler packs from connaught when i get back and try everything out, i have a bunch of soaps i wanted to get off there too anyways

Originally Posted by tekbow

i'm still having this problems area at the base of my neck. Now, with the straight, there's no issues, but it's an area the shave is never BBS. the skin is a littl bit rougher than the rest of neck/face. The straight shaves it just fine but only direcionally smooth. Just can't go against the grain there. The DE isn't fairing so well, i'm gone back to first principals, short strokes, no pressure, but the DE just rakes that area bad, lots of little blood spots etc and razorburn.

Not to worry, I had the same problem (neck base irritation). My whiskers in that area grow flat against my skin, so any ATG shaving ends up with ingrowns there. The solution is fairly simple: don't shave ATG in that area. It sounds redundant, but it's the best method to avoid irritation. Sometime you have to sacrifice a perfectly smooth yet painful BBS shave for a comfortable (but not quite as close) shave. And TBH no one but you is likely to notice anyway.

I'm willing to bet you are having some pressure/angle issues as well. It's all part of the learning curve. There's also much better blades out there than Wilkinson and Merkur, and with DE shaving blade choice makes all the difference in the world.

Once you get the hang of it (and I'm sure you will) you'll be surprised at the excellent shaves that a DE can provide. If you can't match your straight shaves you're doing something wrong.

hey Ryan

+ about a million to what you said, especially on the subject of blades, as everyone else pointed out too. The shave i described above was done a day ago, As stated i picked up some wilkinson swords and just gave them a whirl, big difference, much milder, so will give the sampler pack a whirl and see what else i can find that i like,

And i agree with not shaving that area ATG, i definitely don't with my straights, however..

Paying extra extra attention to the pressure and angle this time, and with much much working in of the lather in that particular area, and with obscene attention paid to strecthing, i just managed something i've never managed before. BBS on my rough spot with no redness rawness or raking sensation.

Am liking this.

As comparison to my straight, i think this shave has got on average, similar results, with a few differences. the DE is giving better results on the aforementioned rough spot, around the edge of the chin and the upper lip. Its not as good as the straight along my jawline and just under, and around my neck in general, but both are very close in all the areas mentioned so the difference is only very slight. the only area it didn't come close was directly below my nostrils, still a few rogue spikers there. In the areas where it was the same (cheeks etc) it was well.. the same really, so all in all good. The advantage of learning with the straight was that i know my hair growth pattern, know how to stretch, so i was able to apply that to the DE and make this a fair comparison.

will definitely make the DE part of the shaving rotation, there's just as much zen to using it as the straight IMO, although I'm still a "straight" guy