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I need your suggestions and advice.

I decided to take up DE shaving about a week ago after years of using a Fusion and ProGlide Fusion. However, I have been using a brush and cream (Art of Shaving) for about six months now and loved switching from mass marketed caned stuff.

However, my DE shaving experience is off to a rocky start. I know I'm still developing technique, but the Shark blades that came with my DE cut my face up like nobody's business. The thing is the grain on my neck goes across my neck, not up or down, so even with the Sharks (which most reviews tend to say are on the sharper side) will not give me a clean shave going up or down. I have not got a sampler pack yet, but am going to order one soon, but I would like to know any general recommendations first.

I am also new here, so hello.
 
Hey howdy hey, and welcome to the boards... Many here are going to lead you in the right direction, but you will soon learn that everyone's face has different growth patterns. By the sound of it, my neck grows similar to yours. I provide myself with a 3 pass shave with a clean up pass after. I do 1/2 my face at a time. Right side, then left. First I do WTG (North to south), then XTG (Ear to nose on cheek / south to north on neck) and finally ATG (South to North on cheek, and Right to left on neck). For the first few shaves with the DE, it's best to skip the ATG pass while you get your technique itself down. Many people show the most irritation with ATG passes at first until you get the right amount of pressure. I myself haven't tried Shark blades (I have some in the mailbox now) but started out with the Astra SP and I found them to be very forgiving to the amount of pressure I was using at first, as I learned to hold the razor better and balance it in my hands. Best of luck along your learning curve and always ask questions here, plenty of people to help you and lead you in the right direction!!
 
My grain goes from the left of my face to the right. So to go against the grain I would have to take the razor across my neck from the right to the left (painful).
 
Welcome to B&B!

I have the same problem with my left lower neck. Beard grows completely sideways and getting a BBS there is always right on the ragged edge of razor burn. I've found that going against the grain with an adjustable turned way down seems to help. And, surprisingly, an injector razor (which tend toward the aggressive side) also keeps the burn at bay. I've also come to grips with the fact that the only person who knows if my face is BBS clean is me. If there is the smallest patch of invisible stubble but no red/sore neck I can live with that.
 
Welcome to B&B!

I have the same problem with my left lower neck. Beard grows completely sideways and getting a BBS there is always right on the ragged edge of razor burn. I've found that going against the grain with an adjustable turned way down seems to help. And, surprisingly, an injector razor (which tend toward the aggressive side) also keeps the burn at bay. I've also come to grips with the fact that the only person who knows if my face is BBS clean is me. If there is the smallest patch of invisible stubble but no red/sore neck I can live with that.

I also have the hair growing across my neck on the right side, and I have found that it really doesn't bother me if i don't get it BBS there, the irritation I get isn't worth it

Im in to this for about 8 months now and I'm still learning techniques, pressure, and when to stop, sometimes I still do too much in the quest for super smooth face and end up red, bleeding and irritated

Welcome, hope you learn a lot and that your DE experience improves!
 

Toothpick

Needs milk and a bidet!
There are way to many blades available to settle on one that tears your face up. The sample pack is a great way to go. although many here will say if you are just starting out to stick with one blade until you learn your beard growth and technique. I don't think you can go wrong with Astra Super Platinum. then try any Gillettes such as 7 o'clocks, BlueBirds are a great blade as well IMO. No one will be able to tell you X blade will be best for you, so you just got to be comfortable with the razor and try new blades until you find a few you like. those are my recommendations anyway.
 
I'm using a Parker 71R, which some people have said is particularly irritating due to the large gap. It really isn't bad if I am going up or down with the strokes, but leaves a lot of stubble. Once I start going side to side things get bloody.

I picked up some Wilkinson swords to give those a go.
 
Welcome! The sample pack of blades is always recommended. Also, be sure you aren't using any pressure and that the razor blade is just touching your skin. Patience and practice will pay off with great shaves in time.
 
Welcome to the forum. I hate to say it, but I'd recommend getting a little less aggressive razor like an Edwin Jagger or Merkur 89, a vintage Gillette Tech, a Gillette Super Speed (not red tip) or Lord L6. I'm almost positive this would really help you out while learning. But while you have this one, as others have said, really watch your pressure. Just let the weight of the razor do the work.
 
Well I switched back to my AoS unscented cream, from the sandalwood, as the sandalwood has never really given me a smooth shave even with my Gillette. At the same time I gave the Wilkinson Swords a go and they are worlds better on my face than the Sharks. Just as close, but so much more forgiving and less after shave irritation!

I'll never know which move made all the difference. But I'm still going to try a sampler pack and maybe a different razor.
 
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I don't understand the love for the Sharks. Actually, most of the Lord mfg'd blades do not work for me in any way. You need a sample pack. I get the best results with Gillette Silver Blues, but also get great results from all of the 7 O'Clock range, Astra (blue and green) and of course Polisilver SI's.

You probably have a pile of bad habits to un-learn from your Fusion days. Can you get a decent shave from a single blade disposable? That's generally my indicator of "equipment vs technique" If you can get a great shave from a single blade disposable but cannot with a DE, then you probably have an equipment compatibility issue.
 
Update: I got a sampler pack in today, as well as some ToBS Avocado shaving cream.

Switched from:
Every day to every other day.
AoS Sandalwood to ToBS Avocado.
Shark/Wilkinson to Astra SP.

I got one small nick, but other than that nothing. Most importantly my neck does not feel all "tight" like it did with the Shark/Wilkinson. I changed way too many factors in one go, but what ever I did made all the difference.
 
I found sticking with a blade (not just the brand but the actual blade) for a number of days results in a progressively milder experience, suitable to my learning curve, and redeemed a few types of blades in my opinion. Too easy to fall into the "changing blade brands to find THE ONE" leads to constantly facing a new-sharp blade; not good for my technique level.
 
Welcome! You've made a great decision getting into DE shaving.

There's a lot of great advice in here, most of which I second. I also started out with a Parker, the 91R I believe, and I still regret it. As soon as my new Merkur arrived in the mail the Parker arrived in the trash can. I wouldn't even step up and order a brand-new Edwin Jagger or Merkur. Check out the BST section, there are always Super Speeds going there for about ten dollars, a fraction of what you would pay for a new Merkur or EJ.

Sampler packs are fantastic, and my advice with regard to them is to stick with one brand blade for three days, use another blade from that same brand for another three days. That way you can eliminate the possibility of a bad blade; they're rare but they happen. Astras get a lot of love here for being a mild blade for a mere pittance. For my money, it's Gillette 7 O'clocks all the way.

Going from Sandalwood to Unscented shouldn't make much of a difference, especially in such a rock-solid brand as AOS. All of their software is beloved here.
 
I also started out with a Parker, the 91R I believe, and I still regret it. As soon as my new Merkur arrived in the mail the Parker arrived in the trash can. I wouldn't even step up and order a brand-new Edwin Jagger or Merkur. Check out the BST section, there are always Super Speeds going there for about ten dollars, a fraction of what you would pay for a new Merkur or EJ.

Sampler packs are fantastic, and my advice with regard to them is to stick with one brand blade for three days, use another blade from that same brand for another three days. That way you can eliminate the possibility of a bad blade; they're rare but they happen. Astras get a lot of love here for being a mild blade for a mere pittance. For my money, it's Gillette 7 O'clocks all the way.

Going from Sandalwood to Unscented shouldn't make much of a difference, especially in such a rock-solid brand as AOS. All of their software is beloved here.

Well I'm pretty sure I got an old batch of AoS Sandalwood as when my first tub of Sandalwood broke, I swapped it out and I noticed a difference in quality between the two tubs.

I'm really liking the Astras so far, and for the price they would be hard to beat. I am curious about the razor recommendation though. What exactly would be the difference between the Parker and a Merkur or EJ? I mean my lady friend told me to put the stop on the cologne purchasing, so I have to replace that need with something, right?
 
The difference between razors varies. Blade gap, blade exposure, geometry and many other factors contribute to the overall experience.

Very mild razors - such as aforementioned EJ 89 and Mühle R89 - often have a medium to small blade gap, small blade exposure and rather heavily bent blade. They are by no means inefficient - just different and less technique-demanding as, say Mühle R 41, which is a very aggressive razor. I use both 41 and 89 - and straight razor - depending on my feeling. I stepped up from Fusion / Fusion Proglide and haven't had any regrets. Comfort, result and aesthetics just are head and shoulders above even the best cartridges.

Technique just needs to be built carefully. From the advanced techniques, the "Gillette slide" is really useful - especially against the grain.
 
Welcome! Most guys' beard grows sideways on the neck, so the ATG pass is from outside towards the Adam's apple. This is very tricky and should really be skipped until you develop the feel for what is light enough touch to avoid irritation/razor burn, yet strong enough to provide a close shave on the neck. It took me a while to learn that and the choice of blade is not very relevant. 95% of it is technique. I now use a Merkur Progress, but I do not re-adjust it for the ATG neck pass as I used to. I simply go light and REALLY concentrate on the angle of the head of the razor to the skin. It is extremely important on the sensitive neck skin to have the proper angle and light touch. The angle should be the steepest you can manage and still cut. Imagine the blade being almost parallel to the skin. Experiment with the angle on your less sensitive areas like cheeks. Put the handle of the razor perpendicular to the skin, then lower it slowly until you feel the razor begin to cut. that's the angle. Many razors will cut at a less steep angle, but then it's more "scraping" than cutting. This scraping will kill your neck skin and will not accomplish a close shave at all. Mind that angle on the neck and use a very light touch and the ATG pass on the neck will produce a BBS or almost BBS with no irritation. This may not work for a while, but keep at it and one day it will work and you'll be set for life. Choice of blades will no longer matter. Until this magic moment I suggest a milder blade like Shark SS or Dorco ST300 or Merkur. Astra SP is a sharper blade, but very smooth, so you can use that once you get a little better at it. Just remember that getting good close and comfortable results is 95% technique. Most products used by people on DE forums are so good that it is only a matter of preference and not really a matter of serviceability.

Best of luck and please, keep at it, it will work.
 
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