newbies heed my warning

[pokey]

I started with a EJDE89 and for the first two months bingo. Lovely DFS shaves with very sporadic irritation based on me learning my technique.
Then I bought a Feather AS-D2, and with a feather blade set to. Lovely shaves and I was able to go ATG. But 2 days after my first shave I noticed some very troublesome acne developing.
I instantly stopped with AS-D2 and reverted to DE89 with Derby blades, shaving once every 3 days.
Two weeks later the nastly acne is dissipating, I have sold AS-D2, and I am sticking with DE89 and Derbys.
My word of warning.
Listen to the advice on here. If you are new and you have a set up that is working stick to it.
Dont get over confident.
Hone your technique and master the art.
Remember, this site is amazing, but most on here are experienced.
Dont try to run before you can walk.
I just wish I stuck with what was working brilliantly, rather than thinking I could make it better :-(

 

[Cobra0369]

Amen.

 

[Niles]

Wise words.

 

[chilliman64]

gday moooo, welcome to B&B and wetshaving! thanks for sharing your thoughts.

head over to the Hall Of Fame (if you have time) and tell us a bit about yourself.

 

[Mbuckwash]

Welcome aboard, mooo! Great words to tell all wet-shaving starters. I think over time you could probably head back to your Feather AS-D2, but since you sold it...you will enjoy the excellent problem of buying something new and exciting! Enjoy your wet shaving journey!

 

[pokey]

I sold as-d2 and am really glad
Didn't lose money, but will be solely sticking with my de89 and derbys for at least 12 months
So easy to get carried away with the euphoria of finding de shaving, bit it is an art......

 

[Shaving_CHENG]

Words to shave by, and welcome to the forum!

 

[Icarium]

I sold as-d2 and am really glad
Didn't lose money, but will be solely sticking with my de89 and derbys for at least 12 months
So easy to get carried away with the euphoria of finding de shaving, bit it is an art......

welcome aboard
you lucked out and found a good combo for your skin and whiskers right off the bat
killed the RAD in its earliest stages too
i am curious, did you try the AS-D2 with derby blades and the DE89 with feather blades loaded?
i keep buying/trying new razors, blades, brushes and creams/soaps but always fall back to my favs after a bad shave

 

[pokey]

Good question and yes I did.
AS-D2 with derbys no good at all. Felt instantly wrong
DE89 with feather not good for relative newbie. I felt no feedback. Derby blade just seems to talk to me and tell me when its wrong.
No doubt in a year or so when ive learnt my trade things will be different.

 

[gwgrooms]

I had a similar experience this morning. I have been shaving with my DE89 for about six weeks and decided to try my Gillette Slim "birthday razor" for the first time (set on 3).
I finally discovered that Captain's Choice Cat O' Nine Tails does indeed burn! I'm sure my technique is to blame so I am not disappointed with the slim, but it does serve to illustrate that you should take it slowly when you're a newbie.

Oh, yeah - welcome aboard!

 

[ksblazer]

I guess the saying "Sometimes the grass isn't always greener on the other side" apply's to DE shaving too.

Welcome to B&B

 

[BigJim]

Welcome to B&B!

 

[Invicta]

Welcome aboard. I think you have made the correct decision to stick with the one razor for a while. When you are ready, try a few other blades like Astra, Rapira, Gillette. I prefer the principle of using the mildest blade and razor combination in a 3 or 4 pass routine to achieve a close shave.

 

[Lexbomb]

I think the issue is that there are so many people here getting great results from so many different combinations it can make a newbie want to try so manu things at once. There is plenty of time to shave as the hair from your head works it's way down. Just be patient

 

[pokey]

Precisely Lexbomb
Its so easy to get carried away without learning the basics
IMO, the basic technique, which will be different for each person, is critical
I almost got scared off DE shaving because of what the feather razor/blade did to me
I cant blame the hardware, I was just not ready for it because my technique was not good enough
Many can say to sell AS-D2 was a bit of a knee jerk reaction and that i should have kept it until i was ready to use it
I disagree as it was too expensive to sit gathering dust, and to be honest, i just fell out of love with it
I will in the fullness of time try different razors, but i will do so once i am 100% that i know exactly what i'm doing

It took me minutes to learn i could DE shave and get amazing results
It will take me 12 months plus to learn HOW to do so

 

[martym]

I guess the saying "Sometimes the grass isn't always greener on the other side" apply's to DE shaving too.

Welcome to B&B

My daddy always said to me, "Son, the grass is always greener in the other fellers yard, but you still gotta cut it."

 

[Alpinebully]

It took me minutes to learn i could DE shave and get amazing results
It will take me 12 months plus to learn HOW to do so

Great observation, this is me 110% atm!

Travis.

 

[Ron Scott]

I must have missed the memo stating that the goal is to be able to get consistently perfect shaves with every razor-blade combination possible. If after mastering the art and getting great shaves regularly (2-3 weeks should really do it) you find a set-up that doesn't work for you, rather than chalk it up to newbie status ditch that set-up and continue your "expert shaves" with tools proven to work well.

Assume that your own individual face is the most important variable in the equation and that the tools are secondary, to be experimented with and discarded when they're not up to the job. When you find what works, stick with it instead of assuming there's some new nirvana because someone here with a different face than you said so.

 

[pokey]

Ron
No idea what point you are making?
I see you have 901 posts, are all of them as condescending?
I was trying to make a valid point for newbies to consider when setting out.
All you have done is taken my point and garnish it with an element of god knows what?

 

[CharlieFoxtrot]

I don't think Ron is being condescending. I think he is stating the obvious newb pitfall that most all of us have fallen into at one time or another. If a particular kit works great then stick with it. A lot of folks end up chasing the dream kit early on before they can articulate what that perfect kit would include. My advice will be forever unchanging in regards to the new guys: Get the minimums and learn to use it well and then try new products. Don't succomb to the ADs too early in the process. It will only drag the learning out.