Just ordered the Futur by Merkur - New DE shaver advice

[evperry]

Ive been lookign at this forum for a few weeks now. I just started wetshaving about 6 weeks ago after years of torturing myself with clippers or just not shaving.

I didnt shave becuase I thought that my skin could not handle razor shaves since every time I tried I would get razor bumps. Anyway fast foward to the age of youtube and forums for any and all interests and here we are.

I currently use a bumpfighter razor with air shave gel by tend skin and afterwards I use MIN solutions for the razor bumps. This works very well and I get a pretty good shave but I MUST use the 3 pass system that many people on here or youtube talk about. WTG, to the side and ATG.

So I was wtachig a youtube video yesterday and I saw an authentic turkish barbership shave with a straight razor of course. This guy went WTG and then did a side stroke and that was it. The guy got a fantastic close shave! Needless to say I ordered my DE shaver within 5 minutes as I wanna try to get it close and not go ATG on my face.

My question is what shave cream is good for skin that is prone for razor bumps? I plan to use the air shave gel unless I find something nicer. I would prefer something that I dont have to mix and it would also be great to avoid the brush, however I am open to any suggestions. Does the brush help lift the hair off the skin to create less chance of an ingrown?

Thanks in advance.

 

[Gingerbread]

The brush helps exfoliate your skin, release trapped hairs, and lifts the hair. This all serves to reduce bumps, irritation, and ingrown hairs. It's probably the best part of traditional shaving. Also, I'm not too sure about your first choice for the razor. Search the forums for tips on how to use and take care of the Futur. It's a great razor, but it'll bite you if you aren't careful. Best of luck!

 

[Face&Head]

A couple of things on the Futur: start at a low setting, 1 or 1.5, to develop your technique. It's fairly heavy, let the weight work for you and apply very little pressure. Never try to adjust the setting with a blade loaded in it and with wet hands; it's better to cover the head with a wash cloth if you are adjusting it with a blade in it.

 

[BrookR1]

The brush is a great piece of kit that massages and prepares the skin and whisker for shaving. It only takes a minute or two to whip up a great lather that will soften your whiskers, making it easier to mow them down with minimal irritation. A hot shower before shaving will help more than any expensive cream.

If you insist on going brushless, you can find quality brushless creams such as Aubrey Organics and Creamo.

When using the Merkur, give it a few squirts of WD-40 to loosen it up a bit. BE VERY CAREFUL when adjusting it. People have hurt themselves with the razor when adjusting it with wet hands. Start on the lowest setting and work your way up slowly. I've had mine for 7 months and my max setting is 3.5.

 

[Gingerbread]

Make sure the Futur has proper blade alignment and exposure (also, search for the threads). Oh, and don't use the Merkur blade it comes with. It's pretty terrible.

 

[evperry]

I bought the futur and based on reviews I plan to start it at a 1 and work my way up from there. I read somewhere that the 1 setting is very good for beginners and its very difficult to cut yourself as you are learning the correct technique.

So with the shave cream, am I to understand that there is none that is specifically meant for razor bump prone skin? I do use secret shave oil so maybe the cream would not make that much of a difference anyway.

I will look into the brush.

Also, does anywhere skip the ATG and get nice close shave?

 

[KodiakAttack]

Regardless of what setting, you can always cut yourself with any DE razor if you're not careful. Definitely start at a low setting: 1 or 1.5 and stick with it for awhile until your technique improves.
I highly recommend getting a brush if you want the best results possible. Not only does the brush help "exfoliate" your skin, it also lifts the hair and evenly disperses cream across the face and helps it soften and penetrate the hairs. Do not apply pressure with the Future, or any DE for that matter.
As far as skipping the ATG pass, I can definitely skip it and get a comfortable shave. Sometimes with my skin if I go too aggressively ATG my skin is still irritated the next day. Id rather have comfortable shaves than painful ones. BBS may be the holy grail in shaving, but it certainly shouldn't be the main goal. Comfort should be the main goal. If you have a BBS shave and get unsightly red bumps, ingrown hair, and uncomfortable/painful skin as a result then thats just plain old silly.
You may be surprised after a few weeks or months of DE shaving WTG and XTG, your technique may develop so well that you may not even need an ATG pass to get a BBS. Practice, practice, practice! Hope this helped.
And +1 for not using the Merkur blade that comes with the razor. Its usually not a great blade for beginners, but i encourage you to try it later on. There are a few chosen people out there that absolutely love those blades, however they dont have a large fan base here on B&B.
Find a sampler pack or individual packs out there. Make sure you try out Astra SP's. They're a very solid, easy blade to work with and are well known here on the forums. They're a good starting point, and many people choose to stick with them as their Go-To blade.
Enjoy!

 

[Mick]

My question is what shave cream is good for skin that is prone for razor bumps? I plan to use the air shave gel unless I find something nicer. I would prefer something that I dont have to mix and it would also be great to avoid the brush, however I am open to any suggestions. Does the brush help lift the hair off the skin to create less chance of an ingrown?

Thanks in advance.

First welcome to B&B....

Be careful with the Futur once it arrives. You may want to go over my "Futur tips and hints"

http://badgerandblade.com/vb/showthread.php/266069?p=3690449#post3690449

I would recommend that you keep the adjustment set to the lowest setting as even at the lowest setting it is a VERY aggressive razor. I rarely set mine above the lowest setting.

As far as not wanting to use a brush. That is the more fun part of shaving (you will never get a nick from a brush).

I would point you to an entry level Simpsons brush such as a Berkley.

Finally as a good cream I would point you to the Trumpers coconut oil cream. It is very slick, cushy, and a great performing cream

 

[KodiakAttack]

Finally as a good cream I would point you to the Trumpers coconut oil cream. It is very slick, cushy, and a great performing cream

+1 on the Trumpers Coconut Oil, and Trumpers Almond Oil is also very nice. TOBS Avocado is very moisturizing and very mild as well, they're all very great performers.

 

[evperry]

Ok. I will get the brush and I will try the coconut cream also.

I just received it and i do plan to be very careful as I am concerned about my sensitive razor bump prone skin. I think im gonna do WTG and XTG only and try and work with. my hair literally grows in all directions which I believe is one of the reasons I have such a hard time shaving. The hair on my head is very strange so I guess that translates to my face.

 

[Gingerbread]

Not many people are lucky enough to have single-direction growth.

 

[FlyingMonkey]

+1 on all the above comments. Like you, I started out with the Merkur Futur as my first razor, based upon reviews in this forum and elsewhere. I had been wetshaving regularly with whatever cartridge razor was in vogue at the time (finally sticking with the M3) and always got reasonable shaves with it and Neutrogena canned gel. When I made the switch to DE, I found that I had to re-learn how to shave. Everything from pressure (or lack thereof) to blade angle to face prep needed to be re-tooled. That said, since making the switch in May, my shaves have gotten progressively better and more comfortable. I'll caveat the rest of my post with the following comment: I never really had a problem with bumps or ingrown hairs, however, I do have fairly sensitive skin that gets irritated with too many passes from a razor.

That said, I have found that technique and prep seem to be the two most important factors in determining the quality and comfort of my shave. The first takes time to master and the second, I believe, is a matter of personal preference. You'll have to experiment to see what works for you. In my case, I find that lathering my face and letting the cream sit on it for a while seems to dramatically improve the results. Also, if I can shave after showering, I have greater success as well. YMMV, of course, but these may help if you don't already do it. As for creams, I have noticed that each type of cream I have tried requires a different blend of water, lathering time and lathering time. Furthermore, some creams seem to keep their hydrating properties longer, while others tend to dry out on my face quicker, necessitating either a re-application or more water. It took some experimentation with each one for me to figure out how to use the different soaps I have tried. All that being said, once my technique was down with the Futur and I understood the properties of the cream I was using, the type of cream did not seem to matter. I have achieved BBS results with everything from Barbasol canned cream to Razorock to Musgo Real. And I still use the Neutrogena Gel whenever the mood strikes me (or I'm running late, which is more often the case).

Some quick points to wrap up what is already a too-long post:
1) Beard Mapping - Figure out which direction your hairs grow and this will guide your WTG/XTG passes. It immeasurably improves the shave and I can honestly say was one of the things that has helped me achieve superior results with any cream/razor combo (to include straight razor shaving).
2) Take your time - In all likelihood, you will cut and nick yourself as you begin the process. Don't get discouraged. Give yourself extra time for shaving in order to get it right. If you try to move too quickly, you may find yourself giving up out of frustration (and pain). With the Futur, I tried to move up in settings too quickly and ended up setting it aside for a few weeks. Start slow and gradually increase the setting. Also, I don't think you have to go all the way to 6 to get a BBS; the level you end up on may be much lower based upon your personal features. I've worked my way up to 4, and I don't think I will need to go higher. Also, you may find that different settings are necessary for different passes and portions of your face.
3) Get a styptic pencil and alum block - Both have been indispensible to me as I learned (and I'm finding I use them a lot less these days).
4) Have fun - This has been a great hobby for me so far and I have enjoyed mastering the techniques and trying the different products out there. And I haven't spent more on this than I would have replacing my M3 cartridges for a year.
5) Try different products/razors - The variety in this hobby is a testament to the individual nature of it.
6) Results are what matter - You'll see the abbreviation "YMMV" posted on almost every thread at least once. That's because, as long as it works for you, you're doing it right. Don't think that just because everyone seems to hate a particular blade or razor that it's garbage. It may be perfect for you. Just do your research beforehand and go into each purchase with your eyes open.

Did I mention HAVING FUN?

 

[Magnaminous_G]

+1 on the advice to USE A TOWEL when adjusting for the first few weeks. You will eventually get used to the pressure needed to twist the head for adjustment and will eventually be able to do it even with wet hands. That said, one year later I still occasionally grab the towel to twist if I'm not 100% confident.

 

[Redstickjohn]

The brush is a great piece of kit that massages and prepares the skin and whisker for shaving. It only takes a minute or two to whip up a great lather that will soften your whiskers, making it easier to mow them down with minimal irritation. A hot shower before shaving will help more than any expensive cream.

If you insist on going brushless, you can find quality brushless creams such as Aubrey Organics and Creamo.


When using the Merkur, give it a few squirts of WD-40 to loosen it up a bit. BE VERY CAREFUL when adjusting it. People have hurt themselves with the razor when adjusting it with wet hands. Start on the lowest setting and work your way up slowly. I've had mine for 7 months and my max setting is 3.5.

+1 on being VERY Carefull with the Futur, especially with adjusting it. I am an experienced DE shaver, but about 6 months ago I tried to adust my Futur with the blade in it.....the result was 12 stiches in my thumb and 9 in my forefinger. Never adjust it with the blade in it! Also, remember that a Futur set on 1 is approximately the same as a Fatboy set on 9. Use it on 1, be very cautious, and use the lightest touch you can. And a quality brush with a quality soap/cream is essential.

 

[evperry]

I wanted the option of adjusting it to a very mild setting so I went with the Futur. That seemed to be the highest rated one in terms of the adjustables. Is there a different razor that is less aggressive that the futur that is not adjustable? I didn't notice one.

Anwyay, I did a quick test run yesterday and I gotta say that Ive been missing out on a good shave for over 25+ years of shaving. I used the secret shave oil below the air shave by tend skin and the hair almost fell off. I was unbelievable. I was conscious on the angle and didn't press hard at all and it was a breeze.

I just ordered an alum block for the mistakes when they happen and I will check out coconut cream with a badger brush in the very near future.

This is MUCH quicker than with the bump stopper razor and I highly doubt I will ever require more than 2 pass (WTG and XTG) using a 1 setting. I suspect I should be able to shave completely in about 10-15 mins with a little bit of practice.

They should have a shaving class in high school for kids. My dad never discussed shaving with me but I just realized that when I was a kid this was the exact same type of razor he had. I spoke o him recently a he mentioned to me that in the service shaving was so important that when he was in basic training and could be stopped and have to dry shave on spot. I figured if his skin could handle it, mine could also. Without a forum like this and youtube I would still be using clippers to shave my face!!!

+1 on being VERY Carefull with the Futur, especially with adjusting it. I am an experienced DE shaver, but about 6 months ago I tried to adust my Futur with the blade in it.....the result was 12 stiches in my thumb and 9 in my forefinger. Never adjust it with the blade in it! Also, remember that a Futur set on 1 is approximately the same as a Fatboy set on 9. Use it on 1, be very cautious, and use the lightest touch you can. And a quality brush with a quality soap/cream is essential.

 

[Teddyboy]

I truly hope you enjoy it. But knowing what I know from my experience, I would hurry, cancel my order and replace it with the Progress Long Handle; it is a gem.

 

[dduck]

With all the caveats and horror stories, sounds to me like a poorly designed product.

 

[Charlie NJ]

I'm not making light of the cautions with this razor, I got bit once, but c'mon any razor can bite you if you don't respect it. That's really what is needed here. Speaking for myself it's well made, a quality product, and gives me some of the best shave to date

 

[FlyingMonkey]

I'm not making light of the cautions with this razor, I got bit once, but c'mon any razor can bite you if you don't respect it. That's really what is needed here. Speaking for myself it's a well made, quality product, and gives me some of the best shave to date

Agreed. The Futur is an excellent razor. You do have to be careful when adjusting it, but to me this is largely an issue of common sense and being aware of what you're doing; no different than with any exposed blade and any razor. If you really want to safety-proof it, just remove the blade, adjust, and then replace the blade. It's pretty straightforward.

 

[Giant Kiwi]

Good heavy razor.
I have been bitten by this razor but I'm not sure how it would give one stitches.