I'll keep this relatively short - Ive been DE shaving for a few weeks now. I got my Merkur over a year ago but I have been going back and forth with my cartridge razor. The problem is that I can't get a passable shave yet (learning curve). Ive gotten marginally better - the problem is that even though Ive never gotten ingrowns with a cartridge razor - for some reason I get them when I use my Merkur DE. I just want to hear some stories from people who it took a long time to get good shaves with their DE but finally got it in the end. How does the process of learning occur? I follow all the tips when I shave now - so does my technique just adjust itself somehow? If im using all the tips I know now (no pressure, mapping grain etc.) then why would the result be better a month or 2 or 3 from now?
Anyone finally get DE shaving after many months? How does the learning occur?
- Thread starter lamaman3
- Start date
Your not alone here. Read this post
http://badgerandblade.com/vb/showthread.php?t=103836
It takes time, and it takes practice, but it does come to those who keep trying.
I'll use a grossly exaggerated example - when you first started driving, you were basically doing the same thing you do now, but now, you don't weave all over the lane, and herky jerk the starts and stops. You gained experience and skill, and can even anticipate potential problems before they occur.
Keep trying and don't be discouraged.
http://badgerandblade.com/vb/showthread.php?t=103836
It takes time, and it takes practice, but it does come to those who keep trying.
I'll use a grossly exaggerated example - when you first started driving, you were basically doing the same thing you do now, but now, you don't weave all over the lane, and herky jerk the starts and stops. You gained experience and skill, and can even anticipate potential problems before they occur.
Keep trying and don't be discouraged.
I think it's because of my strop but for the past few months my straight razor would only work well for about 2-3 times before requiring honing...
That and going on vacation, I decided to get a DE, I got a Edwin Jagger and maybe it's because I was used to straight, but I got it right away.
Now I need a new strop...
That and going on vacation, I decided to get a DE, I got a Edwin Jagger and maybe it's because I was used to straight, but I got it right away.
Now I need a new strop...
For me, its been an incremental evolution. When I get done with each pass, I rub my hands over my face to see where I left stuff, then go after that area specifically. This lets me understand the technique needed to handle that specific area. I then incorporate it as a touch-up action at the end, and after a few days, evolve the entire pass around it. For example, I started with 2 WTG passes, then added ATG at the jawline as part of final touchup, added XTG for some areas on the neck, etc. I am currently at the point where I do 1 WTG, 1 XTG and 1 ATG pass. I get DFS with the first 2 passes, ATG gives me mostly BBS (some areas on the neck are still holding out).
Funny, I tried DE for a while. Never really got good at it. Went to straight razor for a year. I tried it again and for some reason it all just works. I can shave with my progress on 6 with a feather and no irritation. Weird.
Love shaving with all of my razors now.
Love shaving with all of my razors now.
You will learn. The learning will be faster if you use a DE exclusively. There are habits from a cartridge that you won't be able to break when learning the DE if you keep going back to it. If you must, wait till all your cartridges are gone and then don't buy any more. Use your DE and then, if you go to reach for the cartridge razor, it won't have any refills and will force you to stick with DE.
It took me 2 - 3 shaves with a de to get bbs and I still had some irritation but I kept at it.. But I guess when I ordered my razor and a pack of derby extra blades, then picked up a cheap marvy brush, co bigelow *proraso* and started watching the Mantic videos. Once I got my super speed and blades, I started shaving and continued it daily.. It came really easy for me, and now 10 - 11 months later, I continue to get bbs shaves daily with feathers and I have 80 Derbys 85 Astras and over 200 feathers!
Cheers,
Cheers,
In my experience, it's not something that you 'finally' (as in: suddenly) get, you get better slowly all the time. I never went back to cartridges once I started using the DE, I think doing that regularly would slow down the learning process considerably.
Well put!
I found that razor choice has a lot to do with the shave. Some guys get a good shave right off the bat with their weapon of choice.
Others, like me, had to try 5 or six styles of razor to finally stumble on what works best for their face.
Keep at it, try some different razors (the BST is your friend), and try differnt blades as well. You will eventually find what works best for you.
Others, like me, had to try 5 or six styles of razor to finally stumble on what works best for their face.
Keep at it, try some different razors (the BST is your friend), and try differnt blades as well. You will eventually find what works best for you.
Last November, I started WS with a DE and threw all my other razors in the bin. It does take time to get that Perfect shave. The whole shaving process is what I enjoy. One of the greatest benefits for me in getting a really good shave with a DE was learning to shave with a str8. I now use str8s almost exclusively but like now while on vacation I use my Merkur Futur and enjoy the shave. I could easily revert to DE if I didn't like to use the str8 so much. I still get better shaves with the DE but am willing to keep using the str8 in hopes of attaining that holy grail of BBS with the str8. Time will tell, and I figure I have about 30 yrs left to get it right. For you younger folks, you got a lot more years to get it right.
Mark
Mark
For me, it came down to the angle of my Jagger razor - at first, I was a little unsure so I used a flat angle. Only when I used a higher angle, I got BBS. I feel so safe now, that I shave fast except above and under the lips where it's a little more tricky.
[squidward voice] "You have no skills and you're a loser!" [/squidward voice]
Just kidding. I think continuing to go back to the cartridge razor is impeding the development of the skills you need to shave successfully with a DE. Trying it every day and attempting to make incremental improvement from week to week is what eventually leads to success.
Just kidding. I think continuing to go back to the cartridge razor is impeding the development of the skills you need to shave successfully with a DE. Trying it every day and attempting to make incremental improvement from week to week is what eventually leads to success.
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Keep at it. There won't be a single shave where you "get it", but at some point you'll have a great shave and realize you "have it".
I have been using a de (or single edge injector) for almost 40 years. I started with a Gillette New and a Superspeed. Razor angle is the key to getting a good shave. If the handle is too far from your face, it won't cut, and if it is too close, it won't cut. In between there ranges the good shave and the nick and cut.
Since you have been using the cartridge razor, the handle there is used almost parallel with the face. With a de the handle is approximately 30 degrees.
Even with my experience, it still takes me a week or two to adjust to a different razor, and with the rotation I make to use several of my razors, I change once a month or so.
Like others here, I use multiple passes. The first pass is with the grain, and the second pass is against the grain. My chin defies any reason of direction, so I make ten or so passes to clear the stubble.
Also make sure that you shave after a shower or other long term wetting the beard.
Since you have been using the cartridge razor, the handle there is used almost parallel with the face. With a de the handle is approximately 30 degrees.
Even with my experience, it still takes me a week or two to adjust to a different razor, and with the rotation I make to use several of my razors, I change once a month or so.
Like others here, I use multiple passes. The first pass is with the grain, and the second pass is against the grain. My chin defies any reason of direction, so I make ten or so passes to clear the stubble.
Also make sure that you shave after a shower or other long term wetting the beard.
i like that car example. Practice makes perfect.
Also, swapping back and forth between DE and cartridge probably doesnt help you technique improve
Also, swapping back and forth between DE and cartridge probably doesnt help you technique improve
R
rainman
It seems that you rely on your trusty old cartridge razor as a crutch and it is preventing you from converting.
The parts that have taken me the longest to get a handle on (no pun intended), are the "no pressure" and the shallow angle parts.
What may seem like no pressure with a cartridge, is still more pressure than you'll want to use with a DE. If you're doing it right, it almost seems like you're not shaving at all, just squeegeeing the lather off your face. Not quite, but almost.
Combine that with the proper blade angle- which in my case, is just angled enough to cut, but not enough to really have the blades get down on my face. Since I'm doing at least 2 passes, it doesn't matter if the first pass isn't exactly smooth; it shouldn't be. Imagine it as if you let your lawn go too long- the first weed-eater pass isn't to make it look good, but just hack it down to where you can get your mower onto it. Same principle applies to your face- the first pass is just to get it knocked down, so there's no advantage to being aggressive at all.
I'd guess I started this wet shaving business about 3-4 months ago, and despite having learned how (sort of) as a teenager, it's still taken me this long to where I can consistently get DFSes day after day with no irritation or cuts or anything.
Oh, and while there's something to be said for finding the right razor or setting, personally I think it pales in comparison to getting the technique down. Now that I have it down I can use my slim, my fatboy, my 33C, either of my Gems or any of my Superspeeds with the same results.
What may seem like no pressure with a cartridge, is still more pressure than you'll want to use with a DE. If you're doing it right, it almost seems like you're not shaving at all, just squeegeeing the lather off your face. Not quite, but almost.
Combine that with the proper blade angle- which in my case, is just angled enough to cut, but not enough to really have the blades get down on my face. Since I'm doing at least 2 passes, it doesn't matter if the first pass isn't exactly smooth; it shouldn't be. Imagine it as if you let your lawn go too long- the first weed-eater pass isn't to make it look good, but just hack it down to where you can get your mower onto it. Same principle applies to your face- the first pass is just to get it knocked down, so there's no advantage to being aggressive at all.
I'd guess I started this wet shaving business about 3-4 months ago, and despite having learned how (sort of) as a teenager, it's still taken me this long to where I can consistently get DFSes day after day with no irritation or cuts or anything.
Oh, and while there's something to be said for finding the right razor or setting, personally I think it pales in comparison to getting the technique down. Now that I have it down I can use my slim, my fatboy, my 33C, either of my Gems or any of my Superspeeds with the same results.
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