A very poor shave yesterday

[Nic The Blade]

I've been doing the DE shaving for just over a week now and tend to shave each day.

I'm using a wilkinson sword classic razor and wilkinson sword blades. As posted on newbie thread I am waiting to purchase an EJ and some better blades.

Anyway I had a hot towel and rinse, soaked my blade and brush in hot water and mixed up a lovely creamy lather bowl of Taylor Of Old Bond Street. Three pass shave WTG, XTG, ATG respectively.

Could feel it a little and if I'm being honest it was as if the blade was missing bits.

Anyways I rinsed off face, then a cold rinse followed by a dab dry and applied some Loreal men expert hydrating energise. After 5 mins and clearing my shave area I applied some Jovan Musk Cologne.

I then went to work and face felt very rough and quite irritated. A couple of wee rash like marks (nothing major) on my neck aswell.

Very dissapointed. I'm putting it down to the blade but if anyone can suggest anything else is appreciate it!

 

[Rockminer]

Couple of suggestions;
1. Always be deliberate, The tendency is to revert back to old ways. ( if you used to use a cart )
2. If you even remotely feel like the blade is the problem, stop, and replace it. Blades are cheap

 

[oakeshott]

Nic,
I'm going to be guessing here based on the info you've provided and extrapolating from my experience. I don't know the razor you're using, but the first blades I used when taking up this hobby were vintage wilkinsons from my stepfather's kit. They were perfectly acceptable blades.

Like you, I started with a three pass wtg/xtg/atg shave. This is typically a mistake as new wet shavers tend not to have the technique down until a few months, not weeks, have gone by. This is not universally true, but it is common. For right now, limit yourself to two passes only and get rid of the ATG pass. After a couple of weeks, extend to a third pass with wtg/wtg/xtg. Stay with that for a few weeks. You will see noticeable improvement. After you go a week without any irritation, change the three pass shave to wtg/xtg/atg and then you're off to the races. Remember to use one razor and blade and soap so that the only variable is your technique. I make this recommendation out of bitter, bitter experience.

Another thing that is missing from your routine is an alum block. After shaving, rinse with cold water and then rub your face all over with Alum block. Wherever it stings is where you've applied too much pressure. Let it dry, rinse it off and then apply either an ASB or AS. I'm not familiar with the L'Oreal product you're using, but one of the best ASB's I've ever used is the one Nivea makes for sensitive skin. Holy cow is that stuff good. I would never have bought it, but it was part of a mystery box I purchased and during the dark days of my trying to learn how to wet shave and using a different razor every other day with a different soap and blade, my skin was in revolt. The Nivea calmed it all down.

 

[California Cajun]

I've been doing the DE shaving for just over a week now and tend to shave each day.

I'm using a wilkinson sword classic razor and wilkinson sword blades. As posted on newbie thread I am waiting to purchase an EJ and some better blades.

Anyway I had a hot towel and rinse, soaked my blade and brush in hot water and mixed up a lovely creamy lather bowl of Taylor Of Old Bond Street. Three pass shave WTG, XTG, ATG respectively.

Could feel it a little and if I'm being honest it was as if the blade was missing bits.

Anyways I rinsed off face, then a cold rinse followed by a dab dry and applied some Loreal men expert hydrating energise. After 5 mins and clearing my shave area I applied some Jovan Musk Cologne.

I then went to work and face felt very rough and quite irritated. A couple of wee rash like marks (nothing major) on my neck aswell.

Very dissapointed. I'm putting it down to the blade but if anyone can suggest anything else is appreciate it!

My gut feeling is that the new razor and blades will nip your problem in the bud. I've never heard anyone complain about an EJ razor. My first DE razor was defective and when I got one that actually worked I couldn't believe how easy it was.

Rather than complicate matters, let's wait for the new equipment to arrive. Then if you're still having issues, let's re-visit what you're doing and see if we can help.

 

[Mick]

To help cut down on irritation you can try using your off hand (the one not holding the razor) to stretch your skin. Pull up at your sideburns. Puff your cheeks to shave them. Lay your hand flat below your lather and pull down while shaving your neck and throat, moving your hand around to be under where you are shaving. For your chin you can pull back at your cheeks to get that area tight. Use alum on your finger tips to help you grip your wet/soapy areas. Play around stretching your skin without shaving (while sitting around) to find out where you need to pull to get an area tight so that when you are all lathered up you know what to do.

When shaving try to use short rapid motions, not long slow ones. You want to cut your beard not mow it down.

Try to lock your wrist and elbow and move the entire arm that is holding the razor from the shoulder. This will help you keep a consistent blade angle as the entire razor will move in one plain since you are not adding several additional movements with your wrist and elbow

 

[ReAndyMator]

I was down south on business this week, so I was using my old (Relatively speaking!) WS razor, albeit with my usual Astra SP / proraso pre-shave / red cream. I just couldn't get as good a finish as I do, with a fraction as much effort with my EJ, even though the rest is the same. I think the WS is just too mild. You almost have to dig it in to make it cut. I agree with Mr Cajun. The EJ will improve matters no end....

And personally, I reckon long slow cuts work better. I think speed is generally my enemy. The blade will cut more hairs, better, if it's brought up to them slower, although I'd use the same analogy - you want to cut them, not mow them. I guess YMMV....

 

[celestino]

Great suggestions here. i would have to agree with reducing the number of passes and eliminate the ATG for now until you get better technique and find the right set up for you.
You may want to try some organic unrefined shea butter for a post-shave. Unbelievably good! Good luck.

 

[JerryM]

...Puff your cheeks to shave them...

It's kind of embarrassing to admit that I hadn't thought of that. So I won't.

Seriously, that's a great tip. I used it today for the first time, and it works so much better than trying to use the off hand. As a newb, I've read a ton of posts here and, oddly enough, this is the first time I've read this one.

Thanks, turtle!

 

[Derdonkderd]

I thought I was the only one doing puffy cheeks... Oakshott has some good advice. Before you go blow a bunch of money on an alum block, check the deoderant section at a drug store (they only have it in the lady's section at my stores). I haven't used those kinds, but my understanding is that alum is pretty much alum. (I spent $20 on one, the deodorant is like $3...) I like the stingy feeling of the alum. And- don't get discouraged. I have a bit more time in but am certainly a newbie, today I had like 8 nicks all over my face (I blame the fact that my face decided to break out like a 15 year old out of hte blue), and I was trying anew razor (silver flare tip) for the first time, so I didn't do an ATG pass on my neck, and now it is bothering me. Like I said, take your time, and don't worry if you don't get a perfect shave right out of the gate, or every single time.