A Bad Shave: Opinions?

[Devrens]

So I've been wetshaving for a little over a month now with a Gillette Flare Tip/Rocket (unsure which). I recently picked up a Gillette Slim and had my first shave with that using the same blades I've been using, Polsilvers. During my shave I absolutely butchered my chin area for the first time since I started shaving with a DE. I wasn't rushing, I always take my time and watch the angle. I'm by no means perfect, but I've never nicked or burnt myself anywhere but my lower neck so far, so it seems to me like something else is to blame.

Possible reasons I could think of are...

I usually have my shaving soap in the bottom of the mug when I make my lathers. This time I was using a new one, and decided to try running the brush on the soap for a bit before making a lather in my mug. The lather was still making peaks when I began, however the lather felt thinner than normal.

The other thing I could think of is I had dropped the razor off the desk in my room while the blade was in it. It didn't land on the blade although I guess it could have hit the desk on the way down.

The rest of my face was fine apart from my lower neck which I burned again on the left side. Could the lather have been to blame?

 

[Ron Scott]

I doubt the tools are to blame since the issue is limited to traditional problem areas. Wait an extra day and give it a go again...and good luck!

 

[santamariasteve]

How tough is your beard, and what setting was your adjustable Slim on?

 

[Devrens]

How tough is your beard, and what setting was your adjustable Slim on?

Slim was on setting 4. I'm not sure about my beard. Any way to gauge it?

 

[BRITD]

Practice Practice Practice. New tools sometimes require new technique and getting used to. Also what blades work well in one razor, may work poorly for you in others. Good luck.

 

[Curlingfly]

Practice Practice Practice. New tools sometimes require new technique and getting used to. Also what blades work well in one razor, may work poorly for you in others. Good luck.

+1 try a diffrent blade that also worked for you and see if that makes a diffrence.

 

[rider4life]

Part of the issue may be that you tried two new things at once. Either go back to your old razor and try your new soap or go back to your old soap and try your new razor. Whenever you introduce something new, especially when you yourself are relatively new, you introduce another avenue that can cause issues. You said you always take your time which is great, just make sure you take your time with trying new things too! One at a time.

Cheers,

M.

 

[rand77]

Practice Practice Practice. New tools sometimes require new technique and getting used to. Also what blades work well in one razor, may work poorly for you in others. Good luck.

+1 on this. I had back luck when I used a slim for the first time. These days the slim is my goto razor, and I typically use it wide open. Perhaps you can try a different blade with that new razor.

 

[Devrens]

Just a follow up guys!

I had to give my face a few days to heal, had all sorts of ingrown hairs pop up and grossness. :\ However, shaved again tonight and made sure to get a good lather and swapped the blade for a new one as well as change the setting on my slim back to 3. Shave was great, I only went with one WTG pass tonight, however I had no irritation even in my usual problem area on my neck! Good stuff!

 

[musicman1951]

My Mergress loves Med Preps. My Slim hates them.

Try a different blade.