My Beard is Blade Killer?

[roaduck]

Some shave prep can help. That Cremo you have been using could be good for prep. Mix just a little of that with warm water and apply on the beard, let it soak for a few minutes and rinse off.



How do you moisturize with oil? Isn't it water that provides moisture? More traditional style barber shaving prep uses warm water with a bit of soap or cream. The water needs a few minutes to soak into the hair to soften it.

You need oil and lots of water in hot climes so you should have quality soap with oil built in or just rub olive oil or castor oil in your beard leave an hour or all night preferably with a big towel around your pillows - come morning - soft as anything and a doddle to tame.
You want oils that traps the moisture - hygroscopic like the two above - sorts your skin out too.

 

[roaduck]

In my 30s I shaved every day, one pass ATG, and changed the blade once a week. I used Wilkinsons then because that’s the only blade I could get locally in the UK.
Now I’m in my 70s I shave every other day, and do a two pass ATG cold water shave with touch ups, and change blades after three shaves. I use mostly feather blades now and find them very sharp and efficient.
Dry skin was a problem for me, but switching to cold water shaving every other day, and using Rose Water seem to have settled that.

Rose hydrosols contain essential oil so that works - I'm a herbalist of nearly forty years so I have seen skin conditions galore including being with MSF treating war wounds and 3rd degree burns etc.

 

[abies]

Maybe the one area I could improve on is PRE SHAVE Shower. But that is not happening. Might Try WET WARM Wash cloth for 30 second all parts of Beard to try and soften Beard a tad more. Know from Wood Carving Harder Wood requires more sharpening time on tools, Soft Wood is easier to work with.

I notice a difference if I wet my face thoroughly before lathering. After a shower is best but I usually don't want to shave then, or by the time I do it doesn't matter too much. I am more likely to use a wet washcloth that way.

 

[roaduck]

I notice a difference if I wet my face thoroughly before lathering. After a shower is best but I usually don't want to shave then, or by the time I do it doesn't matter too much. I am more likely to use a wet washcloth that way.

If you moisturise before shaving with a good oil it makes the skin softer and more elastic and resilient and less chance of nicks and irritation especially with anti-inflammatory oils like Rose and Castor Oil.

 

[sternej]

The 7 O'Clock Super Platinum black India blade isn't especially durable or sharp. It has a nice fine grind, but the edge isn't super tough. I am sure I could put dents and chips in the edge before the end of the third shave, too, if I wanted to. Your beard, your technique, and your blade are all important factors.

I don't get good shaves with the Gillette 7 O'Clock black either.

 

[DesertIguana]

Well after todays shave I disposed of the Gillette 7-O-Clock Black, only got four shaves out of the Blade, it was what I consider a Premium Blade. Producing Two Great Results, then become dull, and doing nothing producing a marginal shave.

 

[Ankerwycke]

In my 30s I shaved every day, one pass ATG, and changed the blade once a week. I used Wilkinsons then because that’s the only blade I could get locally in the UK.
Now I’m in my 70s I shave every other day, and do a two pass ATG cold water shave with touch ups, and change blades after three shaves. I use mostly feather blades now and find them very sharp and efficient.
Dry skin was a problem for me, but switching to cold water shaving every other day, and using Rose Water seem to have settled that.

I should have added that I always wash or shower with a glycerine soap before shaving. I can’t get a comfortable shave if I don’t.

 

[Westbrook]

I should have added that I always wash or shower with a glycerine soap before shaving. I can’t get a comfortable shave if I don’t.

Same here, I need a shower or a good scrubby wash with a cloth & soap to get a good shave.

 

[Blood donor]

There’s a fair degree of common wisdom here that blades get sharper on second use - many of the blade test spreadsheets even have a column to show how much perceived sharper. So even if you’re a one and done guy, do trial a second or even third shave!

 

[Eric_75]

I don't get good shaves with the Gillette 7 O'Clock black either.

I have plenty but I rarely use them anymore.

 

[musicman1951]

Science tells us that every beard is a blade killer - those darn microtears. I haven't used a Black in over a decade, but for sure I find a great variety in blade longevity. I also find that getting a face full of old, gray hair helps not one bit.

Feather gives me 2 great shaves, PolSilver/Wizamet are good for 4-5. Back in the day Med Preps had the best longevity, but I don't know if the newly named version last as long.

Some people like to use them until they experience a bad shave - tugging, etc., and that's a fine method if it makes you happy. For me, my technique slips a bit as the blade dulls and I subconsciously add a little pressure, which makes my results less than ideal. I keep track of how many good shaves I get from a blade and then switch after that number. I don't want any bad shaves, tugging, etc. I freely admit I'm very spoiled - but who better?

 

[emwolf]

I generally only use a DE blade for 3-4 shaves tops. I know there's the Excalibur Club with hundreds of shaves per blade. Not for me.

 

[DesertIguana]

Changed to Nee Blade today, results.

New Nlade solved problem.

 

[sm29]

I shave daily (3 passes). At home, I use a Ti Blackbird. On out of town trips, I use a SS Blackbird. I also shave once a week at a friend’s house and rotate through a variety of razors.

Typically, I discard a blade after 4 passes (some might go longer but when the blade is done mid shave, I regretted pushing for an extra shave. The only exception for me is Feather. The Feathers were never good for me after 3 shaves with a noticeable decline in the 3rd shave. Strangely with my 1957 C1 Tech, a Feather blade produces 4 good shaves.

My thought is to find what works and keep using those blades until they are discontinued. Nacets and Perma-Sharps from PPI are high on my list. In the back of my mind the Verona Va blades formerly known as Personna are my backup plan.

 

[Phoenixkh]

There’s a fair degree of common wisdom here that blades get sharper on second use - many of the blade test spreadsheets even have a column to show how much perceived sharper. So even if you’re a one and done guy, do trial a second or even third shave!

As has been noted so many times: YMMV... I did extensive testing with blade longevity... I never made it through an entire 3rd shave with any DE razor blade.... I could tell the difference between the first and second shave... I joined the One and Done Crowd... As Mark / @BigAlVista has in his Signature.... "Life is too short for a dull blade."...

 

[Eric_75]

I joined the One and Done Crowd... As Mark / @BigAlVista has in his Signature.... "Life is too short for a dull blade."...

 

[skibik]

My whiskers seem to be hard on some blades. Pre shave ritual of some sort helps, if not shaving after a shower then I suggest applying a wet warm to hot cloth to the face and hold it until it cools, maybe 30 seconds, I repeat this once or twice more. Usually 98% of my shaves is after a shower. If between showers I wash my face of course and then do the hold warm cloth on face twice ritual.

Soaps can make a difference, I see you use Cremo. If you like brushless creams try Cella Rapid shave cream. I bought it by mistake as the place I bought it had the wrong picture but with the right name, I just didn't read the details thinking it was a lathering cream. I can say it is quite slick and better than some of the soaps I have.

Blades can make a difference also. I see you last reply you tried a new blade and it helped. I have tried a lot of different blades when I started 9 years ago and found 3 good blades, make that two now. Wilkinson Sword Classis my favorite now I can get it to last close to 6 shaves, I could get more but why push it. Feather is nice but only get 2, maybe 3, shaves and it pulls. My favorite used to be Gillette Permasharp Stainless(from India), the ones I have with the date of packaging on the box from '15/'16 were great and would get around 6 shaves give or take. I restocked a couple years ago that have a packaging date of '21 and those are not good. I have had shaves where I have had to change them out on the first stroke. If I can manage getting through the first stroke I will finish the shave and toss it. I think I have gotten 2 shaves out of a couple of them but have since stopped that and it is one and done just to use them up. If you have only tried a couple blades you might want to try ordering a ordering a sample pack from somewhere online.

 

[msam]

I have relatively coarse facial hair. Every DE blade I used would dull after 2 shaves. I switched over to Feather blades, which last about 3-4 shaves. Recently switched to AC style blades and have had much better luck with those.

 

[DesertIguana]

This Blade pictured below, is kicking butt on Same Blade in Black that is more expensive.

 

[skibik]

There is one blade that is hard for my whisker to kill is when I use my Dad's Schick J1 Injector razor, or even my Parker Adjustable Injector, with Schick Injector blades. I think I can go a good 10 shaves or more with those. Not sure if the more rigid blade helps but when I go 4-5 days without shaving I grab that razor, I can use a DE at that point but it makes shaving uncomfortable using it with any blade.