Looking to get started with a DE

Printable View

09-25-2011, 11:06 PM
fast14riot

Looking to get started with a DE

I just picked up a Gillette Super Speed today, cant seem to find much about this one because it it made in England, has no date code, and I guess they used different model names. I cleaned it all up, stopped by CVS picked up a pack of house brand blades just so I had something to try. I have never shaved with a DE or anything other than these ridiculous expensive cartridges. So far I have found a decent shave cream for my current set up, Jack Black Beard Lube, and their After Shave Balm. I have gone through nearly 40 locally available products in various combinations to try to get rid of razor burn and bumps.

What do I need? Info, first. Can someone point me in the direction of good videos or how-to's?

Blades. I know it is very personal, but is there a general range of blades that work well in this razor?

Soap/Cream. I have oily skin to begin with, and I work in construction so I sweat a lot. I have very sensitive skin as well, so much so that even electric razors give me horrible razor burn. What would be a good starting point for every other day use? I have thick growth with coarse texture. Budget is a concern.

The razor itself. Is this Super Speed a good one to start with? I only paid $5.00 for it at the flea market, so no big deal. But if you have a recommendation, again for the budget mineded, please do offer it.

Lastly, I don't know what I dont know. Anything else I should be taking into consideration, equipment needed, things to look for?

Thanx in advance for any info you are able to provide.

-Xander

http://i49.photobucket.com/albums/f2...9-25155553.jpg

http://i49.photobucket.com/albums/f2...9-25155735.jpg

ETA: Found some more info about this razor...

"#18: English Super Speed; this uncommon razor is modeled after the American 1954-1957 Super Speed. Brit. Pat. 694093 and II marks, 57 grams."

"While not true Rockets by my definition I include these to clear up confusion in identification. These for all outward appearances look to be American Super Speeds, but have the signature pointed Rocket side plates. These "English Super Speeds" are less common than comparable Rockets and all of mine have "teeth" under head that are slightly different than the Rockets pictured above [in the post]."

CITED
The Shave Den Forums. Written by MTgrayling, December 2008.
Gillette Rocket, the refined DE.
09-26-2011, 06:27 AM
cpcohen1945

FWIW --

Put some lather on your face, put a blade in the razor, and start shaving. One warning:

. . . That blade is _sharp_. Use _no pressure_ on the razor -- it is _not_ like a cartridge.

People will talk about which DE razor is "better" forever. From what I've read and experienced, the old Gillettes were fine. I think, in a recent thread, the Super Speed was called "aggressive", so be extra careful about using _no pressure_.

Charles

PS -- the "Badger and Blade" website is a hangout for people who really, really care about DE razors. You might check it for reviews of the Super Speed. And check this site, as well.
09-26-2011, 06:59 AM
PhatMan

fast14riot,

The below DE video tutorials by Mantic59 are considered 'classics' in the DE Community :

mantic59 - YouTube

It is highly recommended to get yourself a blade sampler pack : e.g. from

Connaught Shaving (Connaught DE Sample Packs)

or Bullgoose (Blade Sampler Packs -BullGoose Shaving Supplies)

or West Coast Shaving (DE Blade Sampler Pack, Choice

The choice of a blade for DEs is intensely personal to you !

Have fun !

Best regards

Russ
09-26-2011, 03:43 PM
thebigspendur

Razor burn is one of those things the solution for is to prevent it not make it go away once you have it. it's one of those closing the barn door after the horse runs out things. I know of no product that will stop it. Some are better than others at minimizing it but you need to develop a technique for your shaving. Whenever you get burn it means you are damaging your skin and doing something wrong.

The main thing with the DE is using the proper angle and using no pressure. You just need to experiment and start off slow with easy strokes, nothing fancy.
09-26-2011, 04:00 PM
fast14riot

Thanx for the info. I will check out those videos for sure. A blade sampler is on my list, I just picked up some cheap ones to have for now. As far as razor burn, I meant trying to get rid of the burn from happening in the first place. I have a decent technique with cartridges to minimize it and found a cream that seems to help. I guess I am looking for a cream/soap that may help a bit more, and maybe combined with an aftershave product for good results. If someone has sensitive skin as well, feel free to suggest what works for you.

-Xander
09-26-2011, 08:41 PM
bjmoose01

Quote:

Originally Posted by fast14riot

Thanx for the info. I will check out those videos for sure. A blade sampler is on my list, I just picked up some cheap ones to have for now. As far as razor burn, I meant trying to get rid of the burn from happening in the first place. I have a decent technique with cartridges to minimize it and found a cream that seems to help. I guess I am looking for a cream/soap that may help a bit more, and maybe combined with an aftershave product for good results. If someone has sensitive skin as well, feel free to suggest what works for you.

-Xander

I use La Toja shave cream for sensitive skin quite a bit, I also like their shave stick.

One thing to consider is proper pre-shave prep. I usually do the following:

1. Wash my face with a good soap and warm water - I use Musgo Real Glycerin Lime Oil Soap.
2. Soak a face cloth in very hot water.
3. I then take some shave cream and make a good lather in a mug with my shaving brush.
4. Apply lather to face with brush.
5. Wring out face cloth and apply to face over the lather - keep it on for 1-2 minutes. This will really help soften the beard.
6. Wipe off face with the face cloth.
7. Apply lather to face for the first pass with the razor - usually WTG (with the grain).
repeat step 7 for each subsequent pass - most folks do 2-3 passes (WTG, XTG, ATG). I like to do 4 with an additional diagonal XTG - I find I can get a consistent BBS (Baby Butt Smooth) shave this way.
8. Rinse face with cold water to help close the pores.
9. Apply a good after shave balm - I like to use Musgo Real balm - LOVE the scent!

I like to take my time shaving(about 20-30 minutes), so I tend to do it before I go to bed - don't have to worry about being late for work that way...

Hope this helps.
09-27-2011, 01:41 AM
Gibbs

I am surprised that there is no date code letter - number (1-4) on the underneath of the head even if it is from UK. I thought they all had them.
09-27-2011, 05:06 AM
Trimmy72

I just started using Portland General store Shave soap and After shave, the flavor is "Whiskey" I really love it. It's the only product I have used so far that has cut down on razor burn and if you do happen to get a bad razor burn you won't know it after applying their aftershave. End results are a super smooth face. I usually get razor burn do to rushing, using a blade longer than I should be, and applying pressure instead of letting the blade work it's magic.
09-27-2011, 05:25 AM
cpcohen1945

My bias, FWIW:

Aftershaves won't help. "Balms" may do some good -- but it's better to avoid skin damage altogether.

You need a lubricant on your skin, better than lather. Two possibilities:

. . . Before lathering, put a little bit of almond oil (or olive oil), or hair conditioner, or Astroglide or other "personal lubricant", on your face, and spread it around.

. . . Make "uberlather" -- a mixture of lather and glycerin -- instead of plain lather. Do a search on this site or YouTube for instructions.

Either of those will give your face more protection from the edge of the blade than plain lather. Subjectively, they let the razor glide more smoothly over the skin.

You will have to experiment to find what works for _you_. But my experience is that razor burn, and pressure on the razor, go together.

Charles
12-11-2011, 12:20 PM
Sargon

Your razor is the British version of the "Flair Tip" superspeed model, which was the medium aggression model ( red was more aggressive, blue less). I haven't had the pleasure of the British version, but I use a US one a lot when I travel. It is a good model.

For videos, Mantic's videos are great, as previously mentioned.

Blade samplers are a good way to go, but if you have a thick beard, you'll probably need blades that are especially sharp (yellow/black/blue gillettes, Astra SP, even feather are what guys with thick whiskers generally prefer). The downside is that sharp blades are easier to nick yourself with if you aren't careful, so as a new shaver it can be tricky.

If you have sensitive skin, start with 1 or 2 with the grain passes, then try an across the grain pass, once you feel up to it, only experimenting with against the grain once you're more familiar, and are sure your face can handle it.

For prep, be sure to soften your beard with a shower, hot towel, or, at least, washing your face with warm water before your shave.

Here's my "super cheap but still decent" gear suggestion (you already have a razor that works well): A decent boar brush UNTRIMMED tips ( Omega, Vie-long, and semogue all make this sort of brush), arko or vdh delux soap, a 5 pack of IP red blades, a 5 pack of yellwo pack gillette blades. Oh. For aftershave? buy generic brand witch hazel from your grocery store or drug store.

the brush will run 10-20 dollars, the soap will run 2-3 bucks, the blade packs a couple bucks per pack or so online, and the witch hazel a couple of bucks. A small cereal bowl from your kitchen works fine for lather. That's pretty much my travel kit ( us flair tip, omega boar, a couple 5 packs of blades, and arko soap), if that helps.

Good luck, I think you'll enjoy shaving a lot more, once you give it a week or two to get used to it. It gives better shaves, and costs a lot less than electrics and cartridge systems.
12-24-2011, 12:27 AM
celestino

Go slowly and treat your face kindly and enjoy the experience. That razor will be just fine with a good blade.
Good luck.
12-26-2011, 02:34 AM
normbal

Quote:

Originally Posted by celestino

Go slowly and treat your face kindly and enjoy the experience. That razor will be just fine with a good blade.
Good luck.

Slow and steady wins the race. (Aesop 226 Perry index). I think choosing a blade is as much voodoo and stochastic processes with some Higgs boson influences as it is a guessing game and personal choice.

I'm a noob regular at the Badge and Blade.

I just suggest you pick up a copy of Leisure Guy's guide to gourmet shaving for starters. Different blades matter. Soaps matter. So do creams, pre shave prep, post shave treatment.

What's interesting to me about this is, something that many of us just took for granted as kids is coming back "into vogue," and is so freaking complicated now with all the choices available, with the same razors available (many at collector's premiums) blade choices, and so on. It used to be easy. Dad and/or Mom got you your first razor, a can of shaving cream, you just put whatever Dad's choice of blade was in the thing and went to it with a few brief lessons. Simple. And wrong. There IS some art to this, and many people dedicated to reviving it. I'm psyched about this. I've shaved five days a week for about 6 weeks with straight razors, and went back to my gillette slim adjustable for two days and the shave isn't anywhere as close as the SR. I got my first DE razor, a gillette super adjustable in 1970 and used it for about five years until I got a single blade injector which I used for another five years, switched to twin blade razors and hated them so much I switched to electrics for about 30 years. I'm tired of rushing. I like the ritual of the wet shave and am partial to Irish Moos or Mitchells Wool Fat soap and Proraso or Floid original aftershave.

Dive in to the deep end and enjoy.
12-30-2011, 10:39 PM
normbal

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gibbs

I am surprised that there is no date code letter - number (1-4) on the underneath of the head even if it is from UK. I thought they all had them.

I'm pretty sure the date codes started around 1950.

I have a super speed that's from the late 1940's, a couple of New razors and others from the teens and twenties and they don't have codes.
12-31-2011, 06:56 PM
supersco

Quote:

Originally Posted by cpcohen1945

FWIW --

Put some lather on your face, put a blade in the razor, and start shaving. One warning:

. . . That blade is _sharp_. Use _no pressure_ on the razor -- it is _not_ like a cartridge.

People will talk about which DE razor is "better" forever. From what I've read and experienced, the old Gillettes were fine. I think, in a recent thread, the Super Speed was called "aggressive", so be extra careful about using _no pressure_.

Charles

PS -- the "Badger and Blade" website is a hangout for people who really, really care about DE razors. You might check it for reviews of the Super Speed. And check this site, as well.

+1 on badgerandblade.com, that is where I started for info on DE shaving.

FWIW, I really like the Merkur Slant. A lot of people say it's too aggressive for a beginner, but I think that's nonsense. As far as a DE goes, it gives the best shaves IMO.

Now you just need to move up to a straight razor and your shaving problems will be over!