Thread: Maybe my last DE shave

How long have you been shaving with a DE?
Learning the pressure/angles/stretching/prep&lather thing does take some time. When I started I was using the same pressure and strokes from the cartridge..the burn was worse than the nicks.

It's like learning to play the clarinet - in the beginning the output is kinda scary...but it does get better, quickly.

Good luck...

Originally Posted by bcw

Grateful for the collective wisdom. I'm an only child, so patience is a struggle. Just finished a "by the book" DE shave. Once WTG, and one XTG. No blood. No rash. No itch...yet. I appreciate this forum or wailing wall in my case. Going forward by the numbers!

Only children unite! We're people too, with shaving challenges.

You might try a Gillette SuperSpeed or Schick Krona razor, which are milder, if you continue to experience irritation. These are vintage razors that are fairly easily obtained through the classifieds here (none are available as of this writing) or ebay (schick krona razor | eBay). I'd look at the one for $18.50, which is a fair price. You can also get a blade sampler pack from various online vendors so that you can try various brands.

Here are examples of the Gillette SuperSpeed Gillette superspeed | eBay. I think the Krona is a little milder than the SuperSpeed, which is why I suggested it first. SuperSpeeds are more popular, probably because the bread and butter of Schick's business was injector razors. (I had an injector once and it really irritated my face.)

I'm a devoted straight razor shaver, but it took me two years to master it to my satisfaction (it takes most people less time). I love doing it.

But what I think you need to do is find a way to get a close, comfortable shave first. For me that was the DE razor.

I moved on to straights just because I was always fascinated by them in movies, etc. But as I said, I recommend that you find A way to get the job done first.

I, too, have a fascination with straights. I used to watch my grandfather shave with his, and I also remember his sharing other uses for the strop...At his death, my grandmother got rid of them, and I mourn that. Wish I had them. The De shave yesterday was good. Lots of conflicting thoughts about stretching skin using a DE, blades, etc. I'm working on the virtue of patience...The only child would like a 7/8 quarter ground Hart, but that is on the back burner. Thanks for the input. Shouldn't be,this complicated to remove whiskers from one's face...

Originally Posted by bcw

I, too, have a fascination with straights. I used to watch my grandfather shave with his, and I also remember his sharing other uses for the strop...At his death, my grandmother got rid of them, and I mourn that. Wish I had them. The De shave yesterday was good. Lots of conflicting thoughts about stretching skin using a DE, blades, etc. I'm working on the virtue of patience...The only child would like a 7/8 quarter ground Hart, but that is on the back burner. Thanks for the input. Shouldn't be,this complicated to remove whiskers from one's face...

When I started straight razor shaving I preferred big "meat choppers" such as the 7/8 because it felt like the razor did more of the work. When I finally reached a comfort level with straight shaving I much preferred the smaller ones (5/8) because I found them more agile. But everyone's journey is different. What I'm saying is, don't be surprised if your preferences change while you're developing your skill. All Hart razors I've seen have a square toe (tip). I personally prefer rounded toes because the sharp corners can bite.

I think shaving became complicated during the past 40+ years with multiblade razors. I started shaving when these monstrosities took over the market and never could achieve optimum closeness and comfort from them. The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results. Finally in early 2010 I lost my temper and searched the internet for alternatives. That's how I got into DEs, then straights. It amazes me that I was 54-years-old before I ever tried a DE razor.

It took me to age 65...classic slow learner

something no one else has mentioned here (as they are all making very good points about the Learning curve being much larger) is yer comment about $ output to get into SR shaving... I understand the desire for a big beautiful brand new razor, I made that choice when I started about a month ago... However, If I had it to do over again, I would prolly leave the $160 Dovo Inox where it was and go for one of the less expensive but beautiful Vintage Razors available from the members here on SRP... Right now there are some amazing looking shavers available for less than $50!!! take a look at them and see if anything meets yer desires, then maybe start slow while you get better with the DE, shave once a week with the straight, by the time yer excellent with the DE you will likely be competent with the Straight! Good Luck!!

+1 on Murmle's advice. You don't have to put out a lot of cabbage to get started with a great straight. Last I remember Larry had a good starter kit for stolen goods prices, and you can always spend more later.

When I DE shave I use Wilkinson's and they're fair baldes. Not nearly as horrible as some people make them out to be, but not the best either. Locally that's all I can get. The nearest big town has another brand (Astra's I think) at their grocery store, but we never buy groceries there so I can't remember. Point being there are other local blades you can try.

Personally, I didn't really know DE's existed until shortly after I got into straights. They have their pro's...less risk of major cuts, some stretching, some blade angle help, etc. and their cons...mainly that none of the blades I've tried were as smooth as my straights. As a result, when I DE shave, I two pass WTG and XTG. That gets me a good shave with no irritation.

When I straight shave I three-four pass. WTG, XTG, XTG and some ATG. I can do all that with no irritation and get a phenomenal shave...but I have to do the extra work because the straight is long and doesn't get into the hollows around my neck muscles as easily as the DE does. It's a better shave, but it takes a little more time and effort and a fair amount of technique above the DE.

Two paths lie before you...the great thing is, you can take both!

Peace,
Jim

an EJ is a pretty mild razor, so I suspect that isn't the issue. Lather might be an issue. Kiss my Face is pretty good in a superlather, but on its own, but the lather tends to be a bit thinner than what you'll get with Proraso, Elglish creams, and even some of the nicer budget creams like Erasmic and Arko. That said, sicne you use a pre shave oil, I suspect that is enough to at least get by on that front, too (I've shaved with an OCMM using *ONLY* oil and had a dfs, so oils are pretty protective in my experience)

That said, my guess is that it is the blade and or the balde plus technique. One of the more common ways to get irritation i to use a too dull blade, since the natural reaction is to increase pressure to
compensate... Not liking Derby blades doesn't mean that feathers, astras, and such won't be better, because , while Derbys blades have their fans, they are also infamous for irritation with a lot of guys.

Still, if you want to try straights, you should, just don't expect them to make things easier any time soon.

Originally Posted by Sargon

an EJ is a pretty mild razor, so I suspect that isn't the issue. ...

I have shaved with a number of different DE razors, SB and OC, and I would not call the EJ mild. If you don't have sensitive skin and your skin is smooth (no acne, moles, scars, etc.) then the EJ is a middle of the road SB razor. If the above is not the case, the EJ, Merkur HD and other medium razors can be very difficult to shave with. Razors have to be evaluated in light of the individual's issues. All users will never agree on a description of a razor, one needs to determine what challenges he has to deal with and evaluate a razor from that perspective. IMO.

Straights are significantly more difficult to use than DEs. I would master the DE before moving to straights, especially if you're just coming off of carts.

I agree with the posts about the razor. Start with a double edge razor that's milder like a Gillette Tech or a Schick Krona. Find one on ebay or do a WTB ad on the forum here and one of us will sell you one reasonably. Once you learn the technique on a mild Tech or Krona, you can start moving up to more aggressive DE or SE safety razors.