Open comb blues

[drs]

I have a number of safety bar DE razors, that I shave with regularly with rarely if ever a weeper or cut.
Alas, when I added an open comb long tooth Gillette new to my rotation I began to bleed every time I use it. I thought practice would improve the situation, but I am still drawing blood on each shave.
Is there some technique unique to open combs that I need to master?

 

[valmara1971]

Not sure actually, I had a few dings this morning with my old but put it down to pushing a blade too far. I have had less dings with my open combs than all of my safety barred fellas put together. Sorry I can't be of more help.

 

[Oldguy]

You may have developed some bad habits with your other DE's that are now showing up with the New. Maybe you should start from scratch with it. Use very light pressure, very short strokes and adjust your angle starting flat against the cheek. The technique is slightly different.

Len

 

[mark_mw]

....but it was with a REAL razor. Gillette ran away from open combs with weenie simulators like the TECH

 

[Dustinl]

You may have developed some bad habits with your other DE's that are now showing up with the New. Maybe you should start from scratch with it. Use very light pressure, very short strokes and adjust your angle starting flat against the cheek. The technique is slightly different.

Len

+1

I think your angle may be slightly different.


DL

 

[americanarmsdealer]

Maybe your New doesn't like your usual blades? Just saying...or you may need to rebuild your technique for the New.

 

[SpartanFan]

I would agree to start back with a really low angle of attack and concentrate on no pressure. Open combs tend to be more aggressive, meaning the blade gap is larger, so the can dig in if pressure and angle become too much. They can produce a great shave with no irritation but there is no magic to it, just practice and technique.

 

[Luc]

Different razor, different beast.

It's like changing car, you use it the same way but it doesn't react the same way. Try some different blades, if you see teeth marks in the lather, the angle is off.

 

[Pilky]

Maybe your New doesn't like your usual blades?

I second this. Try a different blade and see what happens.

As others have mentioned, check your angle as well.

 

[PanchoVilla]

You may have developed some bad habits with your other DE's that are now showing up with the New. Maybe you should start from scratch with it. Use very light pressure, very short strokes and adjust your angle starting flat against the cheek. The technique is slightly different.

Len

This. My favorite DE's are now the open comb. It is a little different than bars (and I don't mean places to drink ).

 

[kg4ghn]

Hmmm, I only DE shave occasionally(I usually shave with a straight) and I only shaved with a DE for like a week before going to a straight so my DE technique isn't awesome. I get very good shaves from my New Deluxe however. It is my favorite DE(I have the New Deluxe, a few Techs, and a black handle SS). I shaved with it last night actually, and it was a closer shave than I get with my straight. Although I did do 4 passes with the New and I only do two with a straght. Same amount of irritation with both types of razors, not very much.

 

[pauls51]

Each and every razor shaves differently.. Chances are you'll need slightly alter the way you have previously shaved. Well at least that is what happened to me when I tried my first OC .

 

[sandmountainslim]

I went directly from a 40's Super Speed to an Old Type with no problems at all.
Maybe I am just lucky.
Wp

 

[Gillette4259]

My Sheraton had to take on a different blade due to that. I couldn't use the feather but it likes the iridium.

 

[Mitts]

I get the weepers with a "new improved", but do fine with the "new". My #15 Aristocrat works great also. I have tried a "new deluxe" with good results also. As others have suggested, I would try some different blades in the New and practice some technique variation. I have not been able to dial in the "new improved yet, but will try to find the sweet combination with time.
Cheers,
Russ

 

[Mitts]

My Sheraton had to take on a different blade due to that. I couldn't use the feather but it likes the iridium.

My Sheriton is pretty aggressive too. I need to try some different blades to tone it down a couple of notches.
Russ

 

[MoabBoy]

I went to an Muhle R41 and it cut me at first. I found the solution was to lessen the angle. As Luc said, you see teeth marks in your lather, you've gone too far. For me I get excellent results when it feels like the top of the razor is gliding against your skin and not the blade edge. I don't think I could go back to closed comb razors now.

 

[PhatMan]

drs,

+1 on what others have said about checking the angle.

My English Gillette 88 open comb (long comb) is my best shaving DE.

When I first got it I payed a lot of attention to getting the angles and feel of the razor spot on. For me, it seemed that there wasn't a large change of angle required to go from not shaving, to removing skin !

Good luck

Have fun !

Best regards

Russ

 

[gearchow]

must be angle, I notice I usually get weepers when I'm shaving on my neck. The angle changes constantly along that line. I also notice that I really need to slow down and concentrate more when using an open comb.

There has been a progression in Gillette technology from careful take your time (but still faster and easier then a straight!) shaving to shave while you drive to work. Open combs are at the other end.

-jim