New to wetshaving and have a ques

[JetsMets#1fan]

Hello everyone, noob here and I have a couple of questions...

I switched my regular aftershave to clubman Pinaud and when I put it on it burns/stings real bad, albeit, only for a few seconds... Is that normal?

Is it ok to shave against the grain with a safety razor? Ive only done it a few times (weddings, balls, etc.) and the following days after my face becomes extremely irritated... That was using a MC razor.

Also, I keep hearing -reading- how you have to try different razors to find the one that suits you, well, Im using a Derby blade and I love how it feels... Should I try something else? Or don't fix what's broken?

 

[wurls]

Getting a temporary burn from Pinaud aftershave is perfectly normal. It just means you shaved right! If you are bleeding, then you shaved too close and used too much pressure.
It is safe to shave against the grain with a DE (I do it every time I shave), but I leave that step until the end. As you know, you shave with 3 passes...the first pass is with the grain (WTG), then across the grain (XTG), and last is against the grain (ATG). By leaving it until the end, your whiskers have had the most time to soften up and will be best prepared for the against the grain pass.

If your face is becoming irritated from against the grain shaves, then I would still go against the grain, but use less pressure. Remember, it's beard reduction...not beard removal.

Hope this helps!

 

[JetsMets#1fan]

Thanks for the quick answer, I literally just started wetshaving today, so when I said I had bad irritation when going ATG I meant it when I used cart razors... Thanks for clearing up the 3 passes shave as well, I did do the 3 passes but all WTG, lol. I've been reading a lot nd concentrated on technique, i.e. took the time to follow the grain in different areas of my face and didn't put pressure on the razor.

 

[BallisticBurrito]

Some people don't go ATG and just do another across the grain but in the opposite direction. Try that out if ATG gives you too much irritation.

It's not really a case of trying different razors to find what suits you...but trying different blades. Derby doesn't get a lot of love around here.
My Edwin Jagger came with 5 Derby's and there's still a few left..didn't care for them personally.

 

[JetsMets#1fan]

I meant blade, lol... Noob here,

So, I should try different ones even if I liked how the derby felt? Im talking about I didn't even feel like I shaved -til I splashed the aftershave, lol- that's how good it felt...

 

[mistercitizen]

I would say that if Derby's are working for you then continue to use them. Especially right now starting out. If you can use the same setup (razor, blade, cream, brush) when you are starting out then you will find that you are eliminating variables and be more able to pinpoint problems that you may be having otherwise. Sometimes the hardest part as a beginner to wetshaving is resisting the urge to try so many different things.... and you end up taking longer to learn the basics. I think you will find that in time you will try different blades and probably find a few that you may like even better than a Derby.... but, as you said, if it isn't broke.... don't fix it.

Remember.... focus on blade angle and no pressure. Good luck and welcome!!

Ben

 

[BallisticBurrito]

I meant blade, lol... Noob here,

So, I should try different ones even if I liked how the derby felt? Im talking about I didn't even feel like I shaved -til I splashed the aftershave, lol- that's how good it felt...

It never hurts to try something else out to see if it's better for you. Derby was the first blade I tried and it felt ok because that's all I knew about DE shaving. Then I popped in one of the Crystal Platinum Chromes I got from WCS in bulk...and..well...I haven't touched a Derby since.

 

[tinashubby]

As a fellow newbie, I would recommend that you do not change to a different brand of blade for a while. You don't want to introduce too many variables while you are still figuring things out. That said, I only used two Derby's for about 3 shaves each before I tried some Astra SP's

 

[JetsMets#1fan]

Right on... Thanks for the tips everybody... I'm sticking to Derby for a good while.

 

[FL shaver]

Ditch the Derbys and dont look back!

 

[BallisticBurrito]

Here's my experience with a Derby blade:
First shave : Pretty rough, lots of irritation, not smooth at all.
Second shave : Much better.
Third shave : Dull, lots of irritation.

 

[dcobranchi]

Getting a temporary burn from Pinaud aftershave is perfectly normal. It just means you shaved right!

I respectfully disagree. Early on, I got lots of burn from a whole bunch of different aftershaves (Brut was the worst). Now, a year later, alcohol burns are rare, even as my shaves have gotten much closer.

 

[Sledgehammer39]

Welcome Aboard!