A razor tailored to me

[Deadlyapollo]

Hello again, I'm posting a request in an attempt to find that perfect razor to suit my needs. I'll start by saying my face grows diamond coated piano wire whiskers, to the point where I have to shave twice a day. Being military, this is a huge hassle as I'm always catching flak for a 5oclock shadow at 10am (shaved at 4am). Im looking for a razor that could at least get me that super smooth shave (with feather and Astra SP blades) that will last most of the day. I currently am using the merkur #180 and it does a decent job, providing smooth shaves but not so close as to where I only need to shave once a day.

Now I enjoy shaving but twice a day is murder on my skin and the second shave is always irratated. So in short I am asking if there is a razor out there that is aggressive enough to eliminate the piano wire on my face?

 

[buca3152]

With very coarse hair your prep is very important. I have coarse hair but I wouldnt call it piano wire. YMMV but I use preshave, I cold water shave, I let the lather sit for a minute or too on my face to soften the whiskers, then after I rinse use alum rinse rosewater and variuos as balms like nivea, proraso, aos, even shea butter. Any slight irritation is gone in a minute or so. Maybe 2 dfs shaves will be better for you. Keep trying different thing until you find it. I use straights, I dont know if you can use those in the military. My straight shaves last longer than my de shaves. Good Luck!

 

[plpenn]

Try some different razors, my SE's seem to get closer then my DE's did. You may need to use a Mach 3 or something that lifts the hair before cutting so you do actually get a closer shave. With good techniques and products I can get a better shave from them now then I use to get before I converted.

 

[BigNickel]

Slant Sledgehammer /w a super sharp blade, and a final ATG pass might get you through the day. Or an agressive open comb..

 

[buca3152]

Hello again, I'm posting a request in an attempt to find that perfect razor to suit my needs. I'll start by saying my face grows diamond coated piano wire whiskers, to the point where I have to shave twice a day. Being military, this is a huge hassle as I'm always catching flak for a 5oclock shadow at 10am (shaved at 4am). Im looking for a razor that could at least get me that super smooth shave (with feather and Astra SP blades) that will last most of the day. I currently am using the merkur #180 and it does a decent job, providing smooth shaves but not so close as to where I only need to shave once a day.

Now I enjoy shaving but twice a day is murder on my skin and the second shave is always irratated. So in short I am asking if there is a razor out there that is aggressive enough to eliminate the piano wire on my face?

I forgot to ask, are your shaves bbs? If so you cant shave closer than bbs.

 

[ironfist]

Muhle r41. Will do the job

 

[redrako]

Chris, long-handled Slant, R41, SE's? The trend seems to be suggesting that you try a more aggressive razor, which may be the way to go. The problem is that you could spend quite a bit of time, not to mention some serious cash, trying all of the various razor possibilities.

For "diamond coated piano wire whiskers", I might suggest going with a simple Cadet open comb razor (Bullgoose, Shave-a-Buck, Italian Barber (branded as RazoRock). It's a moderately aggressive razor, more aggressive than your Merkur), but not full-throttle aggressive like the Muhle R41. They are mostly brass construction, well chromed and modestly priced so you can check out if more aggressive is the way to go.

A more immediate solution would be to ramp up your shaving prep. Along the lines of Buca3152's suggestion, working to see that your face is hydrated as much as it can be will optimize your shave. I realize that you are in the military and shaving at 4 o'clock in the morning, so I don't know if my suggestions are applicable, but here they are:

1. Be sure to intentionally wash your neck with soap and face cloth while showering. The full neck, especially is an easy area to overlook.
2. Use a pre-shave soap for a few minutes as you build your lather. I use either s glycerin soap, from Whole Foods for $1.99 a bar others use Mugso Real Glycerin soap, a little more money. Sometimes, I simply use the olive oil soap that I use to shower with.
3. When you first lather, let the lather simply sit on your face for a few minutes as you brush your teeth.
4. Consider a hot towel soak for a few minutes to soften your beard. This can be used with the pre-shave soap or pre-shave shave cream.

A short note about Singe Edge razors. There is a range of aggressiveness in SE's. You can find a lot of information on the SE board, but the elevator speech version is that 1912's are moderate razors, GEM open comb micromatic razors are more aggressive.

Good Luck, Chris

 

[redbike]

I think the Open Comb Micromatic should do it. They're known to be aggressive, very close shavers, they're easy to obtain and they're inexpensive. If I were in your position, I'd alternate the OCCM with a milder razor, maybe an adjustable so you could dial it down if necessary. Good luck.

 

[rxonmymind]

PM sent for trial purpose Thank you for your service.

 

[Ducati Scotty]

Slant Sledgehammer /w a super sharp blade, and a final ATG pass might get you through the day. Or an agressive open comb..

+1. I don't have one myself but many people claim a closer shave with fewer passes using a slant. It might be just what you need.

Scott

 

[Deadlyapollo]

Wow so many responses! Still learning with straights and I can only get dfs out of em as im too terrified of doing a ATG pass yet (yet I can do a wicked manscape with them ^_^) But as far as DE's go, I can occasionally get BBS but only once have I gotten a shave out of my Merkur #180 that lasted me almost a day and a half of no shaving and I have no idea how I got it. Since then I tried to replicate it but alas to no avail I still have to shave by noon. I was looking at some "agressive" razors like the Merkur 38C, Muhle R41, and a Edwin Jagger (model number escapes me atm) but I only want one as I have no need for hundreds of razors just loafing about. I very much appreciate the responses and I try to soak up as much knowledge as I can. Still learning after many years of so called "shaving" with gillette disposables and other things my father failed to teach me about. Just so we get it out of the way my prep goes like this: Shower/lather/lather soaks/WTG/relather/XTG/relather/ATG(which this actually causes discomfort due to tug on cheeks and neck) and all of this with either an Astra SP or feather blade (Ive seen no difference from every blade Ive tried, which is about 15 other brands) Im on the fence between the Muhle R41 and the Merkur 39C slant........

 

[BigNickel]

I'd go with the Slant but you could flip a coin, both are considered aggressive. How often do you change the blade?

I might suggest, especially once you have a more agressive razor, skipping the WTG pass. Do a good XTG shave then finish the key areas with ATG, if your prep was on and the blade is sharp you should be able to get away with this. Don't over shave the neck, especially the sides and lower. Just get your cheeks/chin/mustache areas BBS and you should be able to look good for most of the day. That's the shave that I aim for, as I am prone to razor burn if I go too far as well.

 

[buca3152]

+1 on the wtg pass. I only use it for under the nose. keep at it. if you got bbs before and it lasred longer than a day it will come to you. pay attention to what works. stretching helps but watch the cuts. good luck. i think the technique is more important in the end than the razor.

 

[Lmarkow]

The R41 gets me almost a day and a half without a need to shave again. You might also do the ATG pass second, before your face is irritated by two previous passes, then finish with XTG. Thank you for your service.

 

[santamariasteve]

The most agressive razors I am personally familiar with would include (in random order):

Gillette Super Speed Red Tip
Merkur Slant
Schick Injector Type E
Gillette Fat Boy (at its highest adjustable setting)
Gem Micromatic Open Comb

The sharpest DE blade I know is the Feather, and the best Injector blade I am familiar with with be the Schick made-in-China blades.

Good luck! And let us know how it goes.

 

[CGW409]

Wow so many responses! Still learning with straights and I can only get dfs out of em as im too terrified of doing a ATG pass yet (yet I can do a wicked manscape with them ^_^) But as far as DE's go, I can occasionally get BBS but only once have I gotten a shave out of my Merkur #180 that lasted me almost a day and a half of no shaving and I have no idea how I got it. Since then I tried to replicate it but alas to no avail I still have to shave by noon. I was looking at some "agressive" razors like the Merkur 38C, Muhle R41, and a Edwin Jagger (model number escapes me atm) but I only want one as I have no need for hundreds of razors just loafing about. I very much appreciate the responses and I try to soak up as much knowledge as I can. Still learning after many years of so called "shaving" with gillette disposables and other things my father failed to teach me about. Just so we get it out of the way my prep goes like this: Shower/lather/lather soaks/WTG/relather/XTG/relather/ATG(which this actually causes discomfort due to tug on cheeks and neck) and all of this with either an Astra SP or feather blade (Ive seen no difference from every blade Ive tried, which is about 15 other brands) Im on the fence between the Muhle R41 and the Merkur 39C slant........

Our fathers never taught us how to shave properly because they figured these "new" cartridge razors were so simple that we didn't need to be.
I also have the whiskers of steel and I've found vintage Gillette Red Tips to be a nice aggressive razor and any of the vintage Gillette adjustables do fine though it sounds as though a Gillette 195 (AKA Fat Boy) might be on the tame side for you even dialed up to 9 so either a vintage Slim or Super Adjustable ( long handle for me at least)might be the way to go.
As far as open combs go maybe a short comb NEW might be good.
I have some areas on my face where ATG is a bit dicey what I do is a sort of slightly angled ATG that does the trick without the risk of the Gillette Slide.

 

[LiveOak]

I really agree with the suggestion of an open comb micromatic. It is a very aggressive razor, but not scary to use. If you are getting very close shaves, there's nothing else you can do. You just have one of those manly man beards that I do not envy. Even if you could pluck every hair out by the root your beard would grow at the same rate.

It may be time for lasering .

 

[alanbarnes]

I only want one as I have no need for hundreds of razors just loafing about.

Maybe an adjustable? I happen to like the Merkur Progress...

 

[wimbouman]

The R41, make sure you get the new 'tamed' one.

 

[Snuff-Belgium]

to the point where I have to shave twice a day. Being military, this is a huge hassle as I'm always catching flak for a 5oclock shadow at 10am (shaved at 4am).

I'm feeling for you, I had to shave twice a day for 30+ years in the military to pass inspections. Now that I'm retired and have tried all kinds of razors, soaps, brushes, methods and used anything from very mild to super aggressive razors, straights, Feather razors with replaceable blades, etc.... I think I have to disappoint you if your hair growth is anything like mine, no matter what I use a few hours later there is stubble on my face (I can have BBS every time when I shave, doesn't matter).