As the title suggests, I've struggled with DE wetshaving and I'm tempted to give up and revert to the Mach 3 (sacrilege, I know). So I'm looking for advice on what to change.
By way of background, I switched to DE wetshaving to find a more environmentally friendly, more ethical and less expensive way of shaving. (I was perfectly happy with the Mach 3 shaves I had before.) I have a light beard and seem to have sensitive skin.
I've been using a Gillette Super Speed flare for about 5 months now. I've mainly used the one shaving cream. I've had trouble finding a blade I'm happy with - I quite like Derbys because they're gentle but after a shave or two they seem to drag. Dorcos last better but cause a bit more irritation. Other blades are too irritating.
The problem is that I can't get a satisfactorily close shave unless I shave ATG, but that pass creates irritation. Even if I do shave ATG and risk the irritation, the shave is not perfectly smooth. My neck is also problematic because the grain mostly runs horizontally (each side pointing towards my adam's apple) and so WTG and ATG passes are almost impossible because of the curvature of my neck. That leaves XTG but that doesn't give me a good enough shave.
By way of comparison, I get perfect shaves from even a blunt Mach 3. No irritation whatever direction I shave - the cartridge has a wonderful way of distinguishing between hair and skin.
I have a Gillette Slim coming so I will see if adjusting to a milder setting helps. I'm also aware of the usual pressure and angle advice, but I think those aspects are as good as I can get them at the moment. I'd be grateful for any advice on what else to try. Thanks!
By way of background, I switched to DE wetshaving to find a more environmentally friendly, more ethical and less expensive way of shaving. (I was perfectly happy with the Mach 3 shaves I had before.) I have a light beard and seem to have sensitive skin.
I've been using a Gillette Super Speed flare for about 5 months now. I've mainly used the one shaving cream. I've had trouble finding a blade I'm happy with - I quite like Derbys because they're gentle but after a shave or two they seem to drag. Dorcos last better but cause a bit more irritation. Other blades are too irritating.
The problem is that I can't get a satisfactorily close shave unless I shave ATG, but that pass creates irritation. Even if I do shave ATG and risk the irritation, the shave is not perfectly smooth. My neck is also problematic because the grain mostly runs horizontally (each side pointing towards my adam's apple) and so WTG and ATG passes are almost impossible because of the curvature of my neck. That leaves XTG but that doesn't give me a good enough shave.
By way of comparison, I get perfect shaves from even a blunt Mach 3. No irritation whatever direction I shave - the cartridge has a wonderful way of distinguishing between hair and skin.
I have a Gillette Slim coming so I will see if adjusting to a milder setting helps. I'm also aware of the usual pressure and angle advice, but I think those aspects are as good as I can get them at the moment. I'd be grateful for any advice on what else to try. Thanks!