First DE Shave: Couple of Questions (maybe more than a couple)

[wad06]

Last week, I started this thread: http://badgerandblade.com/vb/showth...d-to-Make-the-Plunge-in-DE-Last-Minute-Advice.

After the very helpful responses, I ordered all of those items. It all arrived last night. I woke up this morning, showered, and shaved. First, my overall impression is that I enjoyed the process and got a relatively close shave. I do, however, have a couple of questions after my first shave.

First, I completely failed at the shaving cream thing. I used Proraso shaving cream. I squeezed an almond sized amount into a small bowl, I added a little water, and I stirred with the brush. The entire amount of the cream disappeared into the brush immediately. So, I added more to the bowl and stirred with my finger. The little bit of water I had in the bowl made it super runny. So, I then added more cream to the bowl and continued to stir with my finger. It was still runny. I finally just started stirring it with the brush again. It remained runny looking. But, when I brought the brush to my face (keep in mind, the brush still looked non-lathered) and started brushing, the cream went on perfectly with good consistency. This was all very weird to me.

Second, I went with a two pass shave - across the grain and against the grain. I know this is not recommended, but I really do have a very coarse beard and not very sensitive skin. I have cartridge shaved with one pass against the grain for a bit now with no issues. Strangely, I found myself having to apply a little pressure. Is that strange? It did not lead to bleeding or razor burn.

Third, I found that I needed to shave at a very sever angle - not 30 degrees, more like 65 degrees. Is that indicative of doing something wrong?

Fourth, I had been told that this should involve little to no pulling. I found that when I shaved against the grain, there was some pulling (not near as much as cartridge shaving, but some). Is that normal?

Fifth, I read all of the warnings about not going over a spot that had no cream. I found myself doing a little touch-up work after the first stroke on spots with no cream. I haven't seen any ill effects of that. Is the need to touch-up normal, or indicative of a bad first stroke?

All in all, I got a smooth shave (other than one spot on my neck - I just couldn't get it). I enjoyed the process, but I want to make sure I am doing things right.

I used a Merkur 34C and an Astra Superior Platinum.

Will

 

[Shave_Rat]

You got a smooth shave, and enjoyed the process? Then yep, you did everything right, for you.

There isn't really any "wrong way" or "right way". If you decide that the only water that makes a lather the way you want it is some imported bottled spring water, then that is what is right for you, and so on from there.

Cream being runny seeming in the bowl, and thickening to a nice lather on the face from brushwork is normal, that is how I work up my creams and soaps, at least for the first pass or two. Eventually it will come together in the bowl as well as you work between your face and bowl lathering and re-lathering.

Minimal pressure can be used/needed, by some. This also applies to hitting a spot that wasn't relathered. Everyone skin and it's tolerance level is unique. Some guys can use a bit more pressure than others, some can't touch a spot that doesn't have lather on it, only you can determine what will and won't work on your skin. The generic advice given to beginners prior to their first attempts, at least the advice I try to give, sort of assumes worst case scenario as for how their skin will react, so if their skin is that sensitive, and they followed the advice as best they can, it minimizes their bad first shave experience, hopefully. A better safe than sorry situation.

The angle thing... the 30 degrees is angle of the blade itself in relation to the skin. Since the blade curves down in the head of the razor, that can cause the handle of the razor to be around a 60 degree angle. I use a pretty high angle on the razor handle myself, and that reduces the angle of the blade to the face, which for me has less chance to cause razor burn.

Pulling on the ATG pass? Could be you do better with a slightly more aggressive blade than the Astra, could be still some technique to perfect regarding the above mentioned angle thing. Sometimes good skin stretching can help eliminate that as well. If you didn't get any irritation or nicks, I'd say to not worry about it, unless it was extremely uncomfortable and you think it needs to be different.

Sounds like you easily had a very great first shave experience with the DE, and it really just gets better from there over all

Congrats!

 

[Brew Swain]

Firstly, congratulations.

Secondly +1 for everything above. Great advice from Shave_Rat.

 

[Luc]

Good work on the shave.

Let me try to answer your questions.

1-It sounds like you had too much water. Try to hold on the water when you are building lather and then add it a few drops at the time. Practice your lather between the shaves, that will help. Keep in mind, it's easier to correct a dry lather than a wet lather.

2-mmkay, the aim is not to shave all the beard in 1 pass, the goal is beard reduction. It will probably take you 3 passes or even 4 to achieve a close shave. The first shave is never close. This is a new way of shaving, you need practice, you need to get used to it. You can't be the best in the house on your first attempt. Try going WTG, XTG, XTG(both XTG not in the same direction) for now see where it takes you. If going ATG didn't cause any issues, well, keep it then.

3-Is that 65 degrees looking at the handle or the blade vs skin? This might help: http://wiki.badgerandblade.com/Blade_Angle

4-No, the hair was probably too long or something like that. Do an extra WTG or XTG pass before going ATG

5-I do some touch ups here and there, often without lather but the skin is still wet so no issues here.