More aggressive=less irritation?

[bryan1980]

I'm starting to wonder if that might be the case. Take this for example:

I've had two weeks of close, irritation-free shaves with my short-comb NEW (one week loaded with an Astra SP, the other with a Voskhod). I've been using a 40's-style SS loaded with a 7 O'Clock Yellow, and I've had irritation (albeit minor) along my jawline. Granted, this is my first time with a 40's style, so I might not have the angle down quite yet. But, can it really be that different than a flare-tip SS?

I probably need to spend more time with the 40's style, but its hard to get away from what works, and the NEW has been working great for me. I've got one more shave with the SS/ 7O'Clock Yellow combo this week. For next week, I can try a different blade with either the SS or the NEW, and right now I'm leaning towards the NEW paired with a Gillette Silver Blue.

I thinking I need to try a few more open combs perhaps!

 

[engblom]

It might be half truth. If I pull R41 (very aggressive razor) with the grain, I do not have almost any trouble. I get more off than with a mild with fewer strokes. On the other hand, if I would go against the grain, I surely get irritation with R41, while it is OK with both my Tech and 15C (both are very mild).

 

[Eeyore]

Each new razor requires minor adjustments. I wouldn't judge that superspeed until after a few uses.

 

[ArNav]

In my opinion irritation doesn't have a direct connection either to mild or aggressive. It has to do with how you use the razor. That said, it might be that some razor tends to irritate more than another, even with the best technique, and that can mean that the razor it not the best design. But sometimes it's also a kind of a deal - you accept a razor that can cause more irritation if it gives you a closer shave - in this case it's an issue of what you get for what you give up, i.e. whether it's worth it.

 

[aimsport]

Empirical data: My r41 2011 two pass shaves using a great soap like Mike's Natural or Napa Soap Ocean Blend or cream like KMF Key Lime leave my face calmer than a DE89L three pass shave.

Anything but great soap or cream and the outcome is reversed, greatly.
Anything but the smoothest stiffest blade and the outcome is reversed, greatly.

 

[bryan1980]

Each new razor requires minor adjustments. I wouldn't judge that superspeed until after a few uses.

I agree, I'm not going to give up on it just yet. Two shaves is nowhere near enough time to get to know a new razor. I guess I'm still shocked at how good the shaves were with my NEW. I've always thought open combs were just for guys with heavy beards, which I am not. I was halfway expecting to get bit the first time I used the NEW, but it was the exact opposite.

 

[Haiku]

I found I was getting major irritation using my fatboy at 3. I dialed up to 5 and got way less irritation. I'm now using it at 7 or 8 and get irritation free shaves. YMMV.

 

[musicman1951]

I found I was getting major irritation using my fatboy at 3. I dialed up to 5 and got way less irritation. I'm now using it at 7 or 8 and get irritation free shaves. YMMV.

I have the opposite experience with my Mergress.

 

[Icebear]

If out of respect for the more aggressive razor, you use a better technique and thorough prep and end up with a DFS after two passes, you might have less irritation than a 3 pass shave with less attention to angle and a little too much pressure etc.
It all comes together, wet shaving is quite complex.

 

[LaTuFu]

Shaving with a Super Speed or Merkur 23c, I had to use 3 and sometimes 4 passes to get a reasonable shave out of them. If it took a 4th pass my face felt like I was turning into the Red Skull.

Using the same blades (Feathers or Gillette SBs) in my R41 or Fatip, I got better shave results in 2 passes. No irritation afterwards, too.

I'm confident that it is a YMMV issue, but OC/aggressive razors work very well for me. When I first started shaving with a DE, I would not have thought that possible, given how sensitive my skin can be.

 

[StubbleTrouble]

Here is a great, thought provoking post from a similar thread I posted a little while ago, and I can begin to see some of the logic from Mike's post after switching back to milder razors for a time. I suspect time and experience will continue to solidify that logic.

 

[Jray19306]

Ended up being the case for me. The more aggressive the razor, the easier it cut the hairs.

 

[Haegar]

Try to get a BBS shave with a fatboy on setting 1. When done you'll be impressed how much AS can burn.

 

[Jeff_H]

I have 2 words for you. Yes.

 

[bryan1980]

If out of respect for the more aggressive razor, you use a better technique and thorough prep and end up with a DFS after two passes, you might have less irritation than a 3 pass shave with less attention to angle and a little too much pressure etc.
It all comes together, wet shaving is quite complex.

Good point. I can see how one might be a bit cavalier about using a known mild razor like a Tech or a SS, compared to any OC or slant. I'd like to think I've been wetshaving long enough to have dropped any of my bad habits when using ANY razor, but I know for a fact I was very careful the first time I used my NEW

 

[JSB33]

Since moving on to more aggressive razor I have had much more comfortable shaves with a lot less effort and irritation.