First Impression- May need major help

[frankthetank966]

I recently switch from a Gilette Fusion to a Merkur HD Safety Razor. After being told several times that I wouldn't have as much skin irritation using a saftey razor I finally made the switch.

WOW what a huge disaster this has been. I have taken chunks out of my necks and have major issues shaving with the razor. I have watched countless videos on YouTube as to how to properly shave with a safety razor and cannot seem to do it correctly. I will walk you through my steps.

1. Fill up sink with hot water and allow Badger Brush and Merkur HD to sit.
2. Take a warm shower
3. Rinse face with exfoliating wash after shower
4. Begin lathering with badger brush
5. After lathering is complete slowly shave
6. BLEED
7. Use Styptic pencil (burn...) to stop the bleeding
8. Wonder what I am doing wrong

Please give me some advise. When I lather is the brush still supposed to be soaked? Also I think my hair grows up so I shave upwards towards my nose.... Any thoughts?

 

[RGraphics]

what brand of blade are you using and have you always used the same blade.

 

[danparker77]

3 things you can look try

1 - A better Prep http://badgerandblade.com/vb/showthread.php?t=9745

2 - Check your lather http://badgerandblade.com/vb/showthread.php?t=21136

3 - Angle Angle Angle Pressure Pressure Pressure http://badgerandblade.com/vb/showthread.php?t=130110

Hope reading through some of these if you haven't already can help. I also don't think you need to soak you razor while you shower, maybe soak you soap if you are using one but not the razor. Also what kind of blades are you using, they can really make or break your face. You might want to look into a sampler pack from an online vendor.

 

[grungegoatee]

Prep is key really im a newbie to safetys but been around straights a long time. All that you mentioned do. I would definately use a good quality pre shave oil also a hot towl . Good way to heat the towl is get it hot as you can with water then stick it in the microwave for a couple of minutes .Steaming the face first also helps.

 

[bythbook]

I suspect your ANGLE ANGLE ANGLE ANGLE is acute & your PRESSURE PRESSURE PRESSURE is high.

Before my ANGLE etc and PRESSURE epiphanies, I stayed away from ATG on my neck... you might want to take another look at the direction your neck whiskers grow... and avoid ATG until the ANGLE & PRESSURE are better.


Really.


Angle & Pressure - easy on both.

(And don't use Merkur blades...........)

 

[DavyRay]

+1 regarding angle and pressure.

It is hard to believe how little pressure is needed for a decent DE shave. I use a relatively heavy razor (1946 Aristocrat), and hold it delicately with only three fingers touching the handle. If you wield a DE like you wield a Fusion, you will have razor burn everywhere, even if your angle is right.

Expect to have to experiment a bit to learn what works for you.

 

[frankthetank966]

what brand of blade are you using and have you always used the same blade.

Derby.

 

[frankthetank966]

I suspect your ANGLE ANGLE ANGLE ANGLE is acute & your PRESSURE PRESSURE PRESSURE is high.

Before my ANGLE etc and PRESSURE epiphanies, I stayed away from ATG on my neck... you might want to take another look at the direction your neck whiskers grow... and avoid ATG until the ANGLE & PRESSURE are better.


Really.


Angle & Pressure - easy on both.

(And don't use Merkur blades...........)

Do you think if I visit AOS they would help me? I would like to get a person-to-person help. I learn best visually.

 

[bythbook]

Do you think if I visit AOS they would help me? I would like to get a person-to-person help. I learn best visually.

I don't think the pleasant folks at AOS really understand wet-shaving and probably wouldn't be able to help you (first question to ask - a [male] salesclerk there - "do you use a brush/soap/DE?" ) but that's based only on two conversations with 'em, and in a single outlet, but....

There are videos out there on YouTube that are quite helpful.

 

[talibeard]

Prep
Angle
Pressure

 

[Go West Young Man]

1. Stop exfoliating. Your skin doesn't need to be scraped over any more than it already is, right?

2. What cream/soap are you using? Can you put up pictures of your lather? If your lather is sub-par, nothing can save the shave that day!

3. Once your lather is quality, make sure you leave it one for 3-4 minutes before staring shaving.

4. What kind of bleeding are you getting - slices, cuts, blood weeping through the skin, previous cuts opening up? Each has different causes, and if you can describe the problem at bit more we can probably help you out.

Beyond the above, EVERYONE can benefit from paying attention to better lather, less pressure, razor angle, and try a few different blade brands.

 

[Kentos]

When I started I thought I had the right angle, but it was wrong. I thought the razor edge was supposed to scrape the skin at close to a right angle...kind of like using a squeegee to wipe water off glass. I got a close shave but major burn and weepers. About a Month into de shaving I still fall back into MachIII mode if I don't pay attention. For my face the angle should be as shallow as possible... The angle will either be too shallow to cut, just right, or shave off your skin. Shallow means blade parallel to your face, btw. The angle at which the razor blade itself is honed at may affect this shave angle possibly.

 

[CraigarTA]

Could be a combo of many things.
Derby's irritated me the first time I used them, but smoothed out on the second shave and did good on the third.
Badger brushes really hold allot of water so it could be that you have too much water in the lather.

I know for me I get a better shave with a little thicker lather.

 

[frankthetank966]

1. Stop exfoliating. Your skin doesn't need to be scraped over any more than it already is, right?

2. What cream/soap are you using? Can you put up pictures of your lather? If your lather is sub-par, nothing can save the shave that day!

3. Once your lather is quality, make sure you leave it one for 3-4 minutes before staring shaving.

4. What kind of bleeding are you getting - slices, cuts, blood weeping through the skin, previous cuts opening up? Each has different causes, and if you can describe the problem at bit more we can probably help you out.

Beyond the above, EVERYONE can benefit from paying attention to better lather, less pressure, razor angle, and try a few different blade brands.

Blood gushes down the neck. These are more slices/cuts than nicks I am guesssing.

 

[Kentos]

Nonserrated cutting edges generally cut easiest with a combination of downward pressure and lateral movement. Just pressing down will cut for sure albeit with the need for much more pressure. If you are getting major cuts I would wonder if you are dragging the razor in a diagonal motion across the face? I can feel when the blade catches on my skin and I stop. Maybe you are going too quickly so by the time the blade digs in you whip it through and take off the skin? Without seeing your technique it's hard, so YouTube it!! That would generate the best feedback IMO.

 

[Masterkova]

Definitely stop the exfoliating. You don't need to irritate your skin before you shave. And make sure your water isn't too hot - you want to soften the beard but not inflame the face.

 

[Kevlar Undies]

Definitely stop the exfoliating. You don't need to irritate your skin before you shave. And make sure your water isn't too hot - you want to soften the beard but not inflame the face.

+1

The Keratin that makes the hair on your beard tuff also strengthens the skin on your face. If you soften the skin by exfoliating, you remove the outer (tougher) layer, exposing less tough/not fully keratinized skin, which will be more prone to cuts.

I KNEW that Anatomy and Physiology clas would come in handy some day!

 

[Blue58]

The first thing I would do is try a different blade. Derby's seem to have a reputation of not working well with some razors so try changing the blade.

Also keep your shave strokes short and slow. Don't try to do the whole length of the cheek or neck at one time. take short slow strokes watching your angle and no pressure. allow the weight of the razor resting against your face do the work.

 

[Hex]

Definitely stop the exfoliating. You don't need to irritate your skin before you shave. And make sure your water isn't too hot - you want to soften the beard but not inflame the face.

+1

I was exfoliating and it caused my face a lot of discomfort. It got a lot better when I stopped.

+2 on the angle and pressure.

Try holding with just your thumb, pointer and middle finger.
Start with the razor flat against your cheek and begin tipping it until the blade starts to touch your face.
There is a thread here somewhere that shows the correct angle, but I can't find it.

Try another blade

Send me a PM with your address and I will PIF you some well regarded blades.

 

[Go West Young Man]

Blood gushes down the neck. These are more slices/cuts than nicks I am guesssing.

Better prep to soften your skin, less pressure on the razor, pay attention to grain growth so that your'e not shaving against the grain by mistake.