Victory!!!!

So after a few weeks battling to get the technique right finding the right angle and blade etc, I can declare a small victory! Just finished my shave and only took 6 passes which is down from 10 I think, so still some way to go but better result and less razor burn/bumps. Have slight razor burn on part of the neck (small area) and some under my nose area, but compared to other attempts its nothing! Really took my time to make sure the angle was correct, and that short passes were taken. I also made sure my face was moist enough between each shave which really helped, and most importantly I did not wash my face with cold water after I had finished. Before when I did this I would get immediate razor burn and bumps would appear, this time I damped some warm water to wash the reaming cream off and pat dried. And another factor which could have played a difference is I shave two days in a row, and for some reason my skin was a lot more accepting :) Made a blade change as well to the Dorco (ST 300) blades, and so I might try them for the next few shaves. A few bits of skin feel tight not sure why (made wrong angle but enough to cause a razor burn?). but only the whole a much better experience!

One quick question for you guys- How should I leave my razor after a shave? I take it apart and wash and dry it, but leave the blade out as I find it gets grubby (rust maybe?)

So thank you to all who gave very helpful comments and tips :)

So glad I made the jump to a DE :)

:tu

For DE: Remove the blade a wipe it off with a wad of toilet paper. Remove the moisture from the inside of the razor with toilet paper or a towel; reassemble and just let air dry. You shouldn't have a problem with blade getting funky or rusty as long as the blade and the interior of the razor are thoroughly dried first.

For Straights: I limit the blade's exposure to moisture during the shave by wiping it off with a disposable sponge which I've moistened with hot water and wrung out thoroughly. Once I'm done shaving I normally just dry off the razor with a dry towel and give it 20-25 laps on the strop.

I usually just loosen the mechanism so the air gets to it after a good rinse. Most blade makers specifically tell you not to wipe the blade. Blades have coatings on them which are what's responsible for how they cut. That coating can come off really easily. Now that's stainless blades. Carbon steel might be another issue.

Cheers!

Not shaved in the last few days but have noticed that my skin is peeling meaning i'm having to wet it a lot, not sure if I shaved too close last time?

Just a quick question, are you really doing 6 complete passes? I would get razor burn for sure if I tried that, normally do 3. With my DE i just shake the excess of the razor and hang to air dry. I clean the interior when I change the blade out.

Bob

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Originally Posted by BobH

Just a quick question, are you really doing 6 complete passes? I would get razor burn for sure if I tried that, normally do 3. With my DE i just shake the excess of the razor and hang to air dry. I clean the interior when I change the blade out.

Bob

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No not 6 full passes just 3 full passes with maybe 3 touch up on small areas.

Just had a wet shave at a barber shop just had to touhc up a little area, but the shave was a lot closer! Don't think i'm ready to consider a straight razor on my current performance with a DE, so may wait a while for trying that myself.

OK, I gotcha now. Yea, 3 full passes and touch ups are what I do too. Lately been doing the first pass with a SR and finishing with a DE. I think you are right to get the DE down pat before trying a SR and when you try an SR doe so in small steps like it is posted here in the Wiki. That also what I did and so far, touch wood, it has been working out.

Bob

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Originally Posted by BobH

OK, I gotcha now. Yea, 3 full passes and touch ups are what I do too. Lately been doing the first pass with a SR and finishing with a DE. I think you are right to get the DE down pat before trying a SR and when you try an SR doe so in small steps like it is posted here in the Wiki. That also what I did and so far, touch wood, it has been working out.

Bob

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I still ahve some hairs that are under skin but a lot better look. Will try and shave ever day until Monday when I will let it grow a bit, so I can go back the barber and ask what they were using.

AledJ,

If it's taking multiple passes to get a smooth shave with a DE I'd guess that you haven't found the right blade for your razor. With the perfect razor/blade combo shaving should feel like a velvet squeegee on your face, just like a well honed straight. Have you considered getting a blade sampler?

AledJ,

I rinse the razor under hot water, shake off the excess, then sloosh in alcohol (IPA) and air dry. This works very well for my DE and SE razors.

When changing blades, a quck spray of the razor with a bathroom cleaner (I use CIF), scrub gently with an old toothbrush, rinse and dry.

Have fun !

Best regards

Russ

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Originally Posted by Ryan82

AledJ,

If it's taking multiple passes to get a smooth shave with a DE I'd guess that you haven't found the right blade for your razor. With the perfect razor/blade combo shaving should feel like a velvet squeegee on your face, just like a well honed straight. Have you considered getting a blade sampler?

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I have tried a few and so far the Dorco blades seem to work well, although there not very sharp so will try a few more blades in the next week.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by PhatMan

AledJ,

I rinse the razor under hot water, shake off the excess, then sloosh in alcohol (IPA) and air dry. This works very well for my DE and SE razors.

When changing blades, a quck spray of the razor with a bathroom cleaner (I use CIF), scrub gently with an old toothbrush, rinse and dry.

Have fun !

Best regards

Russ

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Found some CIF today and cleaned the razor after I had a shave, will try the alcohol clean for the blade as I just wash it and dry it.

My shave is looking a lot better now still a bit to go with the angle and find the right blade, but I have found a trick if I feel razor burn. Before I would wash my face with cold water and if I had no been careful with the angle, then the cold water would let me know about it. But I have found that if I wash my face with warm water water after a shave, it would dampen any razor burn that I might have. Today I had no razor burn but decided to still wash my face after the shave with warm water, as it felt better than cold water.

Shaving ATG is now ok although I have to slow and careful and check the angle, that way I avoid any or at least reduce the razor burn. Now for shaving day after day should I still start with a WTG then XTG, and then (at least for me) ATG? Or is going for a ATG pass ok? I understand some get a great shave with the WTG and XTG, but for myself I need at least one ATG.

Also found the best way to get good lather and avoid the brush aggregating the skin is to heat my brush in hot water, then shake off the excess and lather directly onto my face. Why that works better I have no idea only finding out, when I was too lazy to fetch the shaving bowel.

Today shave has been the best yet using the Gillette 7 o'clock blades, with no razor burn apart from one small area where I accidentally put pressure on. Now getting treatment to rid my neck of the in grown hair, so in a few months should be a all good.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by AledJ

Today shave has been the best yet using the Gillette 7 o'clock blades, with no razor burn apart from one small area where I accidentally put pressure on. Now getting treatment to rid my neck of the in grown hair, so in a few months should be a all good.

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Straights seem to be the better remedy for ingrowns than DE's, at least for me. Even after many years I still get the odd razor bump, and chances are it was from a DE. I guess they will sometimes pop up no matter what, but not nearly as much or as frequently as with a cartridge razor.