Thread: Razor advice!

FWIW (I'm late to this thread) --

I bought an EJ 89 Barley a few months ago, based on Obie's (and others') recommendation. It's a great razor -- all my other DE's gather dust.

IMHO, it's more aggressive than the Weishi (which gives a very mild shave). So if you're using any pressure with the Weishi, be sure that your touch with the EJ 89 is _much_ lighter!

I think that every time the blade goes over an area of skin, it abrades it just a little bit. "Scrubbing" -- multiple short passes over the same area -- might work with a cartridge, but it'll be very hard on your skin with a sharp DE blade (e.g. an Astra or Feather) in an EJ 89. The first pass, your skin gets some protection from the lather. But after that, you're running a blade over bare, drying skin -- not a good idea!

It sounds like you're doing multiple passes, hoping to get every last bit of beard off. And the result is irritated skin. So, FWIW, a prescription for improvement:

1. Use a pre-shave (Proraso, almond oil, hair conditioner) -- something to lubricate your skin under the lather.

2. Do two passes -- not more -- and don't try for perfection. Any hair that survives two passes has earned the right to live one more day. You'll get it tomorrow morning.<g>

As I think about this, it might be worth putting pre-shave on your face before the second pass -- that is:

. . . pre-shave;
. . .. . lather;
. . . . . . .shave first pass;
. . . . . . . rinse face;
. . . . . . . . . . pre-shave;
. . . . . . . . . . . lather;
. . . . . . . . . . . . . shave second pass;
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . rinse face.

I've never tried that myself; my skin isn't sensitive enough to need it.

Charles

Originally Posted by cpcohen1945

FWIW (I'm late to this thread) --

I bought an EJ 89 Barley a few months ago, based on Obie's (and others') recommendation. It's a great razor -- all my other DE's gather dust.

IMHO, it's more aggressive than the Weishi (which gives a very mild shave). So if you're using any pressure with the Weishi, be sure that your touch with the EJ 89 is _much_ lighter!

I think that every time the blade goes over an area of skin, it abrades it just a little bit. "Scrubbing" -- multiple short passes over the same area -- might work with a cartridge, but it'll be very hard on your skin with a sharp DE blade (e.g. an Astra or Feather) in an EJ 89. The first pass, your skin gets some protection from the lather. But after that, you're running a blade over bare, drying skin -- not a good idea!

It sounds like you're doing multiple passes, hoping to get every last bit of beard off. And the result is irritated skin. So, FWIW, a prescription for improvement:

1. Use a pre-shave (Proraso, almond oil, hair conditioner) -- something to lubricate your skin under the lather.

2. Do two passes -- not more -- and don't try for perfection. Any hair that survives two passes has earned the right to live one more day. You'll get it tomorrow morning.<g>

As I think about this, it might be worth putting pre-shave on your face before the second pass -- that is:

. . . pre-shave;
. . .. . lather;
. . . . . . .shave first pass;
. . . . . . . rinse face;
. . . . . . . . . . pre-shave;
. . . . . . . . . . . lather;
. . . . . . . . . . . . . shave second pass;
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . rinse face.

I've never tried that myself; my skin isn't sensitive enough to need it.

Charles

Thanks for your advice! During the week I did try multiple short passes over the area, but after applying shaving cream for the 4th time I still had bits missed. Which is why I think yesterday I didn't take my time, and also pressed too hard. Don't really want to go to work with patchy bits missed. Once my face has recovered I will try again, even if its take me 5+ passes. The youtube videos I have seen say it should take 3-5 passes, but i seem to be different. I'm still trying to figure out which way to shave on part of my neck, as it goes straight down one side. But on the other part of the neck it goes sideways.

My Edwin Jagger DE 89BA11 Barley Chrome just arrived But sadly I won't be able to use it for a week...............that after shave cream I bough (no-alcohol) gave me a nasty burn/rash. So letting the skin recover for a bit! In the mean time I have been practicing getting a good lather for the soap.

The Barley Chrome is probably the best looking EJ razor. Like all the EJDE89 razors, it is very smooth, especially when combined with a smooth blade such as Astra SP or Personna platinum.

Originally Posted by TucoRamirez

The Barley Chrome is probably the best looking EJ razor. Like all the EJDE89 razors, it is very smooth, especially when combined with a smooth blade such as Astra SP or Personna platinum.

Its super smooth Just shaved with it and it a totally new experience, its that good !!!

Obie thanks for suggesting that razor as it is indeed silky smooth!!! Took my time with it and made small strokes, just need a little care on my neck next time! Oh and the 7 o'clock blades you suggested....................love them! Waiting for the blades from myerno24 to arrive, and will try those too! Just need to work on getting those parts where the hair grows very clode to the skin, almost (and it might be) in-grown hair.

Thanks again all!