Well that's too bad (not liking a razor that much anymore)

[Surgeon]

In a span of a few months I went from loving mild razors and fearing aggressive ones to absolutely loving more aggressive razors and disliking the mild ones.

I realized that I haven't touched my merkur 1904 and RR Protege (DE89) since discovering the RR Mentor and Rockwell on plates 5 and 6.

Just for fun I decided to give the 1904 again tonight and it's just that: I miss the closeness and effortlessness of shaving with a more aggressive razor. The feeling of having almost no stubble left after a single pass and feeling like all I have to do is let the razor graze my skin to have a great shave. The razor even tugged over 3-days growth and it had a fresh blade.

The 1904 was a gift from my wife so it's not going anywhere (might make a good travel razor due to its size) but the Protege might go to my brother or a forum PIF in the end. I don't see the point in keeping a razor I don't enjoy, unless there's some sentimental bond.

Funny where this journey is taking me...

 

[SanKaloon]

Yeah I stayed away from aggressive for a long time simple because of the word "aggressive". It's too bad we don't just call them "efficient" and not scare everyone away. For me, aggressive/efficient razors work much better than mild as well.

 

[Feather-man]

I've come to prefer aggressive razors, even unforgiving ones that boss me around. But when I absolutely positively have to have no chance of a mistake I'll go to the Rockwell number 1 base plate. That is one well behaved lil' shaver.

 

[Surgeon]

Yeah I stayed away from aggressive for a long time simple because of the word "aggressive". It's too bad we don't just call them "efficient" and not scare everyone away. For me, aggressive/efficient razors work much better than mild as well.

Yeah, it all comes down to me not trusting myself enough. I was a great frog surgeon (really) during my master's degree and I don't trust myself with a DE razor in my hands you know? I'm always thinking I'm not experienced or good enough to use a "serious" tool. In the end, the first weeper I've had in over 2 months I got tonight with the 1904 because I pushed a bit too hard...

I've come to prefer aggressive razors, even unforgiving ones that boss me around. But when I absolutely positively have to have no chance of a mistake I'll go to the Rockwell number 1 base plate. That is one well behaved lil' shaver.

Good for you, I can't even think of using anything milder than plate 3...

 

[DVPremo]

Funny where this journey is taking me...

Enjoy the ride. In a few years you may give it another try and because of your technique (grip, angle pressure, etc) you may find that the 1904 is a joy to shave with again.

 

[TobyC]

I don't use the word "aggressive" anymore when describing razors, it's not accurate.

 

[Merle]

Works, or doesn't work so well. Just different anymore. Although some feel different, and that's a whole new semester at school.

 

[BSAGuy]

It's all about what works best for you, not anyone else. Enjoy your journey wherever it takes you.

 

[nemo]

Enjoy the ride. In a few years you may give it another try and because of your technique (grip, angle pressure, etc) you may find that the 1904 is a joy to shave with again.

Lot of truth here. Trust me, you'll go back eventually. Maybe not to that particular razor but to some smooth and mild one.

 

[pbrmhl]

Lot of truth here. Trust me, you'll go back eventually. Maybe not to that particular razor but to some smooth and mild one.

I'm not sure I agree with this. I just spent a couple of weeks dialing in a Gem MMOC, allegedly one of the most "aggressive" single edge razors around. After I convinced myself a couple of days ago that I was getting a close and aggressive shave with the MMOC, I switched to my Ikon Shavecraft Tech yesterday and today. The difference is night and day. The Ikon Tech is my most aggressive--and most efficient--razor among many. Two passes, without extensive buffing, are wondrously close. I haven't used my mild razors in many months, and expect I never will.

 

[SanKaloon]

I'm not sure I agree with this. I just spent a couple of weeks dialing in a Gem MMOC, allegedly one of the most "aggressive" single edge razors around. After I convinced myself a couple of days ago that I was getting a close and aggressive shave with the MMOC, I switched to my Ikon Shavecraft Tech yesterday and today. The difference is night and day. The Ikon Tech is my most aggressive--and most efficient--razor among many. Two passes, without extensive buffing, are wondrously close. I haven't used my mild razors in many months, and expect I never will.

Yeah, the Ikon Tech was what sold me on efficient razors as well. Since I got it in January, I've used one other razor once, and that was the Krona, just for old time's sake.

 

[rabidus]

I'm a convert. I like more blade exposure now then when I started.

 

[imatabor]

This is the road that led me into straights...you have been warned!

 

[Surgeon]

Thank you for the input guys very interesting. It's definitely not a matter of "better" but "better for me at this point".

Imatabor: please tell me it ain't so!

 

[Downing]

Ah, straights. I met my match.

I took to DE shaving like a duck in water. After all, I'd been cartridge shaving in the shower for 40 years.

After a couple of years, I thought I'd try straight razor shaving. Didn't look that hard. Read up on it, watched some videos and ordered up a Boker. Got to where I could do my cheeks WTG no problem. Could never master under the nose, the curve of the chin and ATG. Finally threw in the towel and went back to DE.

 

[imatabor]

Imatabor: please tell me it ain't so!

I actually picked up a few SE razors as well. Most of these have some "blade feel". I grew addicted to feeling the blade.

Straights aren't that bad, I do 90% of my shaves with a straight now.

 

[BobLH]

Yup, after learning shave well with a straight razor mild safety razors just do not do it for me any more. It takes a Muhle R41 2013, Fatip, WR-1 OC with a 0.74 blade gap and a couple of GEMs to get a long lasting shave that satisfies. Each to their own, whatever works for you.

Bob