Thread: 1 Shave with a DE and I'm ready to quit... Help!

I've been shaving with a SR for almost a year and switched to the SR because of razor burn from traditional razors. Literally, from that day on 95% of my razor burn disappeared.

About 2 months ago, I figured I try a DE. After some research, I went with a brand new Edwin Jagger DE-89 and some Feather Black blades. After researching technique, I prepped and followed the technique for my first shave.

I have never had razor burn like that in my life. The redness and sting took almost four days to go away. Additionally, I had approximately 15 ingrown hairs on my neck the day after that shave.

Since then my DE is sitting in a drawer collecting dust.

Is a DE just not for me? Any suggestions?

I tried a couple DEs a couple times and had similar results to what you explain. I think in my case, I just didn't prep well, and did not have decent blades.

However, I concluded that DEs were not for me. I simply had no passion for them unlike my straights.

I'd suggest that if you really want to shave with a DE, there is a combination out there that you will like, but you might need to do a little experimenting.

Feather blades are wicked sharp. You might want to try a more mild blade before you give it up. If you have a Wal Mart near you, go grab a pack of Wilkinson Sword blades and give them a try. It will set you back a whopping $1.79 for 10 blades at my local wally world.

Also, blade angle and pressure are very important, along with a good lather. You should have a good handle on lathering and prep, but I felt it's important to tell you that it is just as important with a DE as a straight.

Any idea of where Derby blades fall into the sharpness scale? I got a pack as a bonus, but never tried them.

I hate them. Like shaving with a steak knife, but YMMV and all that... Some folks love them.

Come on now. Imagine for a moment that one of your lackeys came in and said I tried to make this really cool advertisement and I hated it after the first try!! It was the worst marketing attempt I ever made! What would you tell him?

I can only echo the fact that angle and pressure along with a good lather are just as important with a DE as with a straight. When I shave with a DE the only difference is that I am using a DE not a straight, everything else is the same. I get very similar results with either. OTH I have never used a DE-89 or Feather blades either. Dialed my Gillette Fat Boy in on Astra SPs and never felt the need to experiment. Possibly trying different brands of blades might help too.

Bob

DE's are just as sensitive to angle and pressure as SR's, possibly even more so due to the nature of the blades. If you have a good blade/razor combo, keep your angles consistent and pressure at zero you should be able to tame the beast. You literally have to let the weight of the head do all the work for you. If you are getting burn it's almost always due to technique. If you're getting ingrowns it's because you aren't paying attention to growth patterns and are cutting hairs below skin level.

If it sounds like I'm crapping on you, I'm not. I was plagued with all the usual problems back in my cart days, which was promptly cured when I switched to a straight. I picked up a DE further down the road and it's been all good since. I attribute my success to my straight shaving skills.

I would tell him "D@MN YOU LACKEY, WORK HARDER AND MAKE ME MORE MONEY!"

Seriously though, try the Derbies since you have them. Some people like them, don't rely on my experience alone. And focus on angle and pressure. NO pressure!

That is the set up I DE shave with except I use feather platinum blades. It was a Bugger at first very rough at first. I have to almost try to skim the razor across my face especially my neck. Those are the sharpest dang blades ever. After a while now I have the angle and the pressure down I can shave away. You can do it, use no pressure none and see how that works.