Thread: My first shave with a Feather dx razor

sounds like your friend is applying to much pressure while shaving & the technique for using a feather is somewhat different but i haven't had so much as a nick using it.have had some skin irritation due to being in the mind set of using a st8 & applying a bit more pressure than i should especially on the awkward areas for me,left & right side of under chin because it really does shave so close because of how sharp it is & less feedback.practice makes perfect, as for thinning of the skin i don't see any difference from using a well honed st8 although i admit i don't shave every day with it nor can i with a st8 yet and thats after using them for a mere 12months.usually every 2days followed by a good three to allow my face(skin) to recover.

Originally Posted by Snuff

A friend of mine has stopped using the feather because of that. I've never experienced it myself. But then he couldn't shave himself with one without very little blood drops appearing allover his face.

Your friend needs to improve his technique. Blaming it on the razor is not the answer.

Rick

I know but I can't hold my friends hand can I, somehow he can't do it more then 5 times in a row without getting the red drops op blood appearing. He can shave like the best with a straight, has given courses on straight razor shaving to many hundreds of people. Just received a DX japanese style yesterday btw, takes some getting used to the length of this small razor but shaves like a dream!

what blade is he using?, the standard professional blade is best to start with & is far more forgiving as the super is exactly what it says it is.

Originally Posted by Gammaray

Any razor misused can damage the skin which thickens like a callous in response.

It's actually a myth that shaving repeatedly will "condition" the skin, or toughen it up. Many new wetshavers (disposable, DE, SR users) believe this, thinking if they tough it out they will be able to shave daily without issues. I know this because I was one of them. I thought my sensitive skin would toughen up if I simply kept shaving over an irritated face, and I put up with a lot of pain as a result. Many years later, through experience and research, I realized that the myth is just that; your skin is your skin, and can't be permanently conditioned to be abrasion resistant.

In the end, no matter what type of razor you use, there is no substitute for proper prep and good technique.

Originally Posted by Ryan82

It's actually a myth that shaving repeatedly will "condition" the skin, or toughen it up. Many new wetshavers (disposable, DE, SR users) believe this, thinking if they tough it out they will be able to shave daily without issues. I know this because I was one of them. I thought my sensitive skin would toughen up if I simply kept shaving over an irritated face, and I put up with a lot of pain as a result. Many years later, through experience and research, I realized that the myth is just that; your skin is your skin, and can't be permanently conditioned to be abrasion resistant.

In the end, no matter what type of razor you use, there is no substitute for proper prep and good technique.

Good point, Ryan. I have been trying to condition my skin for more frequent shaving, but it usually ends in woe. Every two days is probably my ideal rotation, though I often shave more than that, anyway.

Really, when we talk about conditioning the skin for a straight we mean with repeated use your skin just become accustomed to the blade but the skins properties don't change any. Maybe a tad more exfoliation but that's it. I think most folks start out and really damage the skin via improper use or a razor not being shave ready. They overcome these issues and things get better and many think their skin is undergoing some major change when it's just them getting better with the shave routine.

Originally Posted by Snuff

I know but I can't hold my friends hand can I, somehow he can't do it more then 5 times in a row without getting the red drops op blood appearing. He can shave like the best with a straight, has given courses on straight razor shaving to many hundreds of people. Just received a DX japanese style yesterday btw, takes some getting used to the length of this small razor but shaves like a dream!

I had much the same experience as your friend when I first used a Feather, and it was my technique that was at fault, specifically that I was using too much pressure. Once I adjusted to the Feather, I found that my regular straight technique improved, too.

Rick

Originally Posted by PensacolaTiger

I had much the same experience as your friend when I first used a Feather, and it was my technique that was at fault, specifically that I was using too much pressure.

My friend has moved on since, he has no interest whatsoever in the Feather anymore. I never had problems with any razors as far as skin tinning is concerned. But then I have very leathery skin from being outside most of my life (military)

I'm with your friend. I think the Feather's angle is different than a traditional straight, and I think the razor is too heavy. It is easy to use but hard to keep too much pressure being applied to your face. As far as I"m concerned anyone that has trouble using a Feather should try a chain saw, it's less aggressive.

Originally Posted by Snuff

My friend has moved on since, he has no interest whatsoever in the Feather anymore. I never had problems with any razors as far as skin tinning is concerned. But then I have very leathery skin from being outside most of my life (military)