I've been messing around with a slim and futur each day seeing if i can get away with dialing it up one more. Today I finished after starting my first pass on 6 then 5 for second and 4 for the third. I started this way with 3 for my first pass then 2 then 1 (until now i start at 6). I definitely got a closer shave and no more irritation then i did on milder settings. Im just wondering what problems people run into if they feel they dialed up too much because i didnt seem to have any. Why wouldnt you want to shave with your razor at the most aggreive setting as that would provide the closest shave?? I used a feather blade and TOBS avocado cream.
Disadvantages to dialing up?
- Thread starter shadowjim
- Start date
When I switched from merkur blades to feather on my futur which was set to 3 at the time I got so much irritation that i felt my face was begging me not to do another pass.
The blades really matter and I think if you dial it down you'll still get the close shave and NO irritation. Right now you say u don't get MORE irritation on the higher settings compared to the medium settings, I think you can do without the irritation by lowering it to 2 for example.
The blades really matter and I think if you dial it down you'll still get the close shave and NO irritation. Right now you say u don't get MORE irritation on the higher settings compared to the medium settings, I think you can do without the irritation by lowering it to 2 for example.
G
gone down south
Higher setting = closer cut = potentially more irritation.
Maybe you were lucky, maybe you're better than you thought, maybe the next shave will tear your face up. Only way to find out is to try
Maybe you were lucky, maybe you're better than you thought, maybe the next shave will tear your face up. Only way to find out is to try
Maybe it's easier to trim longer hair with a higher setting. That might explain why you dial it down after each pass--the hair's shorter or there's less of it. When I first got an adjustable, my instinct was to do the opposite, to dial it up on each pass to get closer. That lasted about three shaves. I'm just fine using the lowest setting for everything, and don't seem to have much use for an adjustable. Using a gillette sa on the lowest, the shave is so gentle I have no trouble buffing or just going over an area several times without relathering, and basically cut my routine down to two passes and maybe a bit of touch up here and there. I could easily dial it up a little and bear down a little more and get cleaner with fewer passes, but I find it less irritating to use more light mini-passes on the gentle setting. The higher settings seem to do nothing except let me dig in with more pressure, which is pretty useless on the lowest settings. Maybe what it comes down to is do you prefer fewer more aggressive passes, or more gentler passes? Either way, I think the higher setting is more of a crutch, but I've been using a DE a very long time, and have little trouble feeling the actual blade on my face through just about any curve. So I'd add... maybe the higher setting makes it easier to keep the blade on the face for those who can't do so easily on the lower settings.
To sum up, use a higher setting if you haven't shaved for a few days or want to retrim sideburns. Also keep it dialed high if you just like how that feels. Otherwise, it's a crutch for less than ideal technique. However, if you want to improve your technique, you should definitely use all the settings.
To sum up, use a higher setting if you haven't shaved for a few days or want to retrim sideburns. Also keep it dialed high if you just like how that feels. Otherwise, it's a crutch for less than ideal technique. However, if you want to improve your technique, you should definitely use all the settings.
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I put a shim in either my R89 or my 33c (can't remember which). It had a maw on it like you wouldn't believe. I'm talking 5 mm or something. I didn't get a better shave than using it unshimmed.
- Thread starter
- #6
youre right I do like the feeling of the heavy blade on my face. I felt that on the lower settings, if my hair was lying flat on my face, the blade would only catch the tip of the hair and tug on it rather get even with the skin and slice it like a higher setting makes it easier for me to do. did not get any irritation and was able to get away with one less pass i will try it a couple more times to make sure and it wasnt just a fluke.
B
BrightFutur
I use my futur on 6.5, and probably always will.
I have to be a little more careful with it, but it gives more control over the closeness and 'safety' of the shave.
I have to be a little more careful with it, but it gives more control over the closeness and 'safety' of the shave.
With my futur I either stick to 2.5, or do the adjustments lower and lower as I shave. Starting out between 5-6. Adjusting down to 3.4, and touching up under my neck on 2-2.25.
Honestly for me it takes the same amount of time. Having it above 3 would irritate my neck if I where doing touch ups or on a pass beyond my second one. That is for sure. My neck is stubborn and super sensitive. Never cut myself with the Futur though. I still enjoy it every week.
Honestly for me it takes the same amount of time. Having it above 3 would irritate my neck if I where doing touch ups or on a pass beyond my second one. That is for sure. My neck is stubborn and super sensitive. Never cut myself with the Futur though. I still enjoy it every week.
- Thread starter
- #9
- Thread starter
- #10
I don't have a Futur (but one heck of a past! 
Sorry for the pun....)
I have a Vision (ok, I'll stop...
)
Since it doesn't have numbers, it's set to the "diamond" which I believe is equivalent to a 2 - 2.5. I simply can NOT dial up beyond that. The blade does not sit concave enough (like in a Progress) to be able to go that agressive.
That said, I still get BBS at the 2.5 setting. I just don't see a need to go any more agressive. I don't get any better shave for the added irritation. And, I don't need the dial-down on multiple passes.
Sorry for the pun....)I have a Vision (ok, I'll stop...
)Since it doesn't have numbers, it's set to the "diamond" which I believe is equivalent to a 2 - 2.5. I simply can NOT dial up beyond that. The blade does not sit concave enough (like in a Progress) to be able to go that agressive.
That said, I still get BBS at the 2.5 setting. I just don't see a need to go any more agressive. I don't get any better shave for the added irritation. And, I don't need the dial-down on multiple passes.
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