Can you have the wrong razor?

[Brew Swain]

Hi everyone,

I'm new to the DE shaving game and am full of stupid questions, so forgive me if this is another one.

i have three DE razors:

Gillette Super Speed Red Tip (1958)
Gillette Slim (1966)
Mühle R89 Grande (new this month)

I have fitted all of the above razors with Derby blades, as they are the only ones I have available to date, and had great success with the Mühle over the past two weeks. Some of the best and most pleasurable shaves of my life in fact.

Knowing that my wife and I were going out last night, I gave myself nothing more than an adequate daily shave yesterday morning as I had already decided that this would give me the opportunity to have a pleasant "touch-up" shave, and time to relax, before the evening began. I had also made the decision that this would be a good time to try out one of my other razors. I followed my established routine and picked up my Red Tip.

What followed was a very poor shave, not a slice and dice type of shave you understand, just a poor quality shave that left me and my face feeling as though I really shouldn't have bothered. It left me very dissatisfied and with a pretty sore face. All over sore not just in certain areas. I didn't get anywhere near as close of a shave as I have and yet I was in more discomfort.

So, to my question. Is it possible to have a razor that is just 'not for me'? Even something as well respected as the Red Tip? I haven't given up on this lovely little razor yet. I have a sample pack of blades coming and I will try it with some of these but if it does not improve things I will have to. There is just no point in having an unpleasant shave. Right.

 

[Wcoppage]

Well, all I can say, is that it took me awhile to find the razor that I could always get my best shaves from.

 

[gearchow]

It can also be that certain razors are easy breezy to shave with, others require a bit more use to get the hang of. And some are just probably never be for you.

just think about all of the different kinds of razors out there - it isn't all marketing.

-jim

 

[gangaskan]

Hi everyone,

I'm new to the DE shaving game and am full of stupid questions, so forgive me if this is another one.

i have three DE razors:

Gillette Super Speed Red Tip (1958)
Gillette Slim (1966)
Mühle R89 Grande (new this month)

I have fitted all of the above razors with Derby blades, as they are the only ones I have available to date, and had great success with the Mühle over the past two weeks. Some of the best and most pleasurable shaves of my life in fact.

Knowing that my wife and I were going out last night, I gave myself nothing more than an adequate daily shave yesterday morning as I had already decided that this would give me the opportunity to have a pleasant "touch-up" shave, and time to relax, before the evening began. I had also made the decision that this would be a good time to try out one of my other razors. I followed my established routine and picked up my Red Tip.

What followed was a very poor shave, not a slice and dice type of shave you understand, just a poor quality shave that left me and my face feeling as though I really shouldn't have bothered. It left me very dissatisfied and with a pretty sore face. All over sore not just in certain areas. I didn't get anywhere near as close of a shave as I have and yet I was in more discomfort.

So, to my question. Is it possible to have a razor that is just 'not for me'? Even something as well respected as the Red Tip? I haven't given up on this lovely little razor yet. I have a sample pack of blades coming and I will try it with some of these but if it does not improve things I will have to. There is just no point in having an unpleasant shave. Right.

there are razors with certian aggressiveness and there are some that barely cut. the slim on 1 is the farthest away you will get, your red tip is pretty agressive but how many shaves did you get on the red beforehand? could have been a dull blade, or such.

your blade choice may be also a factor, because you really need to find what blade is "best for you" and not what other people rant and rave about.

 

[Mick]

I followed my established routine and picked up my Red Tip.

What followed was a very poor shave,

I didn't get anywhere near as close of a shave as I have and yet I was in more discomfort.

There is just no point in having an unpleasant shave. Right.

What is your "established routine" ?

 

[Brew Swain]

Gearchow. I figured that this might be the case.

Gangaskan. It was a brand new blade. I will change it out just in case it is a defect and see what happens.

Wcoppage. Noted. Thank you.

 

[Brew Swain]

Turtle,

I shave after a good shower. I used the same cheap assed Wilkinson Sword soap that I have used with the other razor and whipped up a lather with my brush and cup. Probably not the best lather, again, cheap assed soap, but it serves me well enough with the Mühle. I put plenty of hot water on my face and apply the soap with my one and only brush. I then proceed with a WTG pass followed by an ATG pass. This has provided me with great results so far.

Brew

 

[Brew Swain]

I suppose this could well be due to the difference in weight between the two razors.

 

[mdw15]

While trying out razors early along the learning curve, only one was "not for me." Surprisingly, it was the EJ89L, a popular and respected razor. After unsuccessful runs, at two different points, I gave it away. I did so because other razors were "working," and I figured this one was not likely to move into that category. Or at least I didn't want to work through the unhappy shaves to make it happen. Three years into the learning curve, I can see now how another try could yield better results. But I'm content with the razors I have and don't feel the need to revisit.

Many people on this site feel that one can learn with any razor, pretty much, so that sticking with the one you have while improving your technique is the best way to proceed. I understand the point and certainly, to distort it a bit, fishing around for different razors aimlessly is counterproductive. One needs to learn technique more than anything. At the same time, for me, ditching the one not for me--at least early in the process--was a good move.

 

[sjsowa]

It maybe technique. Different razors require some minor adjustments to your technique. Also different razors work better or worse with different blades and creams. To figure out what the problem is change only one thing at a time.

 

[Mick]

Turtle,

I shave after a good shower. I used the same cheap assed Wilkinson Sword soap that I have used with the other razor and whipped up a lather with my brush and cup. Probably not the best lather, again, cheap assed soap, but it serves me well enough with the Mühle. I put plenty of hot water on my face and apply the soap with my one and only brush. I then proceed with a WTG pass followed by an ATG pass. This has provided me with great results so far.

Brew

I suppose this could well be due to the difference in weight between the two razors.

I razor jump daily. I use a different razor, blade, soap/cream, and brush every day that I shave. I may go months before picking up the same razor again.

I find that given a good full technique (clean face, adequate lather) all shaves I give myself with all razors/blade combinations are enjoyable.

I would think your problem lies more with your prep or technique then the actual brand of razor/blade you are using.

Have you ever tried using cold (out of the tap) water when you shave? This will keep the pores of your skin closed and many get far less irritation with cold water then with warm water. You should avoid HOT water, except as part of your pre-cleaning prep before shaving.

Do you stretch your skin when shaving? You do not need to pull it tight as a snare drum head but if you keep your skin taught where you are shaving you will find that you have less irritation and less chance to nick yourself.

Do you maintain the same angle between your razor and face on each stroke and during each stroke? IF you lock your wrist and move your entire arm as one unit you will find that you can maintain a perfect 25-30 degree blade angle which is what you need with a DE razor. It may seem awkward at first but after a while it will become natural. Shaving with a flick of the wrist is a mistake many make which leads to an uncomfortable and irregular shave since it is harder to maintain the proper angle when flexing the wrist

 

[Shantytownbrown]

It sounds like you and I are in the same boat. I have days where my shaves are close and comfortable, and days where i could have sworn that combination "A" that worked before, didnt work a second time around. (I am still only about 4 months into this). I do keep going back to my EJ89 (same as your Muhle), and now am looking at getting another "modern" razor after going on a RAD for vintage Gillettes. I have also been playing around with razor/blade combos, and do believe some combos really are better than others, but for me, I am down to 3 favorite blades and some "runners-up", and a few favorite razors.

In addition, I find my best shaves have come with certain creams (haven't ventured to soaps yet), and got a big upgrade when I switched to my Semogue Boars.

I am still experimenting, and i guess you will be too for a while now...

I can empathize as you can get very discouraged when the shave you want doesn't occur when you want it (going out, before a big work presentation, family holiday gatherings, etc)!

We will get it "right" eventually!

 

[Brew Swain]

So does this imply that having a technique that works well with one razor does not guarantee that it will work with another?

 

[TGilly]

I don't think the razors are the problem, but more so the blades. Derby's just aren't for me after trying multiple types. Good you have a sampler pack coming in, some blades work better on different razors.

 

[deruitem]

I hate Derby blades! I would try getting a sampler

 

[kingfisher]

So does this imply that having a technique that works well with one razor does not guarantee that it will work with another?

Most assuredly.

 

[CGW409]

The Derby blades might be the problem as while some people love them the vast majority I've heard can't stand them.
When I started DE shaving nearly a year ago I purchased several packs of different types of blades and the Derby blades were the only ones I swapped out after one shave and set aside.
I later tried another just in case I'd gotten one bum blade,that one I swapped out half way through the first pass and pitched the remainder.
BTW the red tip is a more aggressive razor so that combined with a crud blade could give you a less than satisfactory shave,try going to your Slim and start at a lower setting and adjust up accordingly and get a blade sampler pack.

 

[Mike H]

Maybe yor face did not like shaving twice in one day.

 

[Teddyboy]

One can definitely have the wrong razor for himself. However, judging from your trio of razors, you are not likely to be one of them. Enjoy.

 

[Brew Swain]

Maybe yor face did not like shaving twice in one day.

Certainly an option. Yes.

Thank you very much for all of the advice gentlemen. I really do appreciate you taking the time.

I have just returned for a shopping trip with some Proraso anti irritation pre-shaving cream and soap. Both from their green line. I will give these a try out shortly to see if my cheap-*** Wilkinson Sword soap is partly to blame. I will try a new blade too, just in case this one is garbage, and I will see how it goes. When the blade sampler arrives I will try out some new blades too. I'm sure that there is a combination that will work with this razor and who knows, it could improve my R89 shaves too.

Thanks again,

Brew.