Is it experience, or is it taste, or.....

[MajorBurnz]

.......a combination of the two?

I started wetshaving (more than a year ago) with the usual SS and Tech, but I quickly caught RAD and bought many, many other razors to try. I mostly liked the Gillette NEW and New Deluxe razors, and used those almost exclusively for a while.

The only vintage Gillettes that didn't work for me were the New Improved type razors. New Standard, Bostonian, whatever you want to call them........I couldn't get them to work for me.

I recently acquired a New Improved Big Fellow and tried it, and found that I loved the shave. In fact it was on par with, or better than, any DE razor I'd tried to this point. Since I'd never used a Big Fellow before, I thought it could be a peculiarity of the model that made it such a pleasure to shave with.

However, I recently acquired another New Improved Bostonian, and found that to be a superb shaver as well. This surprised me, as I'd hated it the last time I'd tried (a little over 6 months ago).

So my questions (mostly to myself) are:

1) Is this because my tastes in DE Shaves may have changed over time?

2) Could it be that my added experience with shaving has made it possible for me to get these razors to work? (I don't think this is it, as I've used straights mostly for almost 8 months).

...and to the community:

Has anyone else revisited a razor they hated a few months later, only to find that they love it?

Either way, the New Improved razors have supplanted the New Deluxe as my favourite vintage Gillette razor heads.

 

[cooncatbob]

That's typical, your skills have improved.
I've had several razors that I didn't like when I 1st acquired them, later when I tried them again after a lengthily period of time they work great for me.

 

[woodfluter]

I think the New Improved is a wonderful razor, but it doesn't offer as much room for errors as the NEW's do. Especially with very sharp blades. So yes, very probably reflects your increased level of experience and skill.

 

[proxymoron]

I thought for sure the punchline was going to be Mandom.

 

[noahpictures]

Maybe I shouldn't have sold my Super adjustable. I couldn't get a comfortable shave with it so I sold it. Everyone seems to love that razor.

 

[johnmrson]

I've always found the New Improved a great razor and it's been in my top 3 safety razors since I started wet shaving. Surprisingly they are quite aggressive, or I think they are but they are deceptive because they are so smooth. Perhaps you werent used to an aggressive razor at the time.

 

[maxman]

I don't know how it happens, but things come and go with me too.
My Futur is always in my rotation, but the last time I got to it, it just didn't give me the shave I was expecting.
All week it was the same.
Nothing has changed. I use it all the time (in rotation).
I changed out the blade, tried different creams, but it just didn't work for me.
I recently came into an old type single ring.
That particular head didn't agree with me last time I tried it.
I haven't tried it yet, but i'm going to. Maybe this time it'll work for me.

 

[BJC]

So far, it has happened with two razors with me - my British #88 and my Gem Junior (black handled). The #88 tore my face up the first few days of use, so I put it away. Later I tried it again and it gave a great shave and still does. The GEM was a disappointment at first when I tried it after my Micromatic OC. It seemed to tug and pull - plus I usually like the heavier razors. I pulled it out last Sunday for my Sunday shave and it did much better. In fact, I used it this morning as well.

Now, I need to find another Red Tip to try it again. I wanted that one to work so badly and was disappointed when it didn't.

 

[MajorBurnz]

Well, it's nice to know that this has happened to other people.

So I'll hold onto my very nice New Deluxe Big Boy set that I was having problems adjusting to. It could be another case of learning the right technique to get the best out of the razor.

 

[Brownbear]

The body is an amazing and adaptable thing. The same thing has happened to me. That GEM that felt so harsh a year and a half ago gave me a smooth, close shave this morning. Oddly it can work the other way too. I came across a nice Fat Boy the other day so I had to buy it and bring it home. The Fat Boy was my first vintage razor after I moved on from the Merkur HD. I shaved with it for months then moved on to various forms of open comb. So when I put a blade in this new Fat Boy and gave it a go it ripped my face to shreds, even on 5. I used to shave with it set on 9 and never found it a problem. My hands have apparently adapted to open combs, and more recently, SE razors and now the Fat Boy will require relearning.

I've ordered a straight to try, I expect I'll have to learn all over again.........