Razor troubles

[Gunney]

Gents (and bearded ladies...),
I come to you under great distress. Okay too dramatic... Anyway I was hoping to pick your brains on the matter of getting a poor shave.

I have an DE89L Edwin Jagger. It worked well for a time, but now it seems like my shave quality is decreasing, and getting ever more painful (bleeding is now common.) I have tried a multitude of blades: initially Feathers worked well, so I used those, but then those started giving me trouble; I then went to Gillette Blue, but then those also went south (and became hard to get last time I ordered); I finally went to Gillette somethings (white and blue). They all worked for a time but then started going south. With the most recent, I am switching them out every other to every third shave. And it is annoying my face to shave more than once a week, maybe twice.

It is the neck that is posing the most issue. Always I bleed in a section of my neck. I do have a pretty thick beard, so do I need an open comb?

I enjoy the double edged razor, but it sucks when your face is raw to the point that your helmet-strap irritates your neck...

 

[Eeyore]

Are you pressing too hard unconsciously? If not, did you drop the razor, by any chance?

 

[Reevers]

Maybe have a look beyond your razor and blade selection? Have you changed any pre shave prep? Has your lather technique changed?

 

[Giant Kiwi]

The DE89 is a three piece right?Forgive me but is it put together properly? Sometimes it comes up that somebody is having an awful time and the middle section just below the top cap of the razor is put in upside down.Sounds crazy but it happens.It could be any multitude of things including the quality of lather, pressure or just plain angleIf it keeps getting bad you could always try a straightI hope you find your solution gunney

 

[Gunney]

My lather has never really been lol. I originally used soap, but it was too much of a pain to find decent stuff so I have just used canned stuff. It is put together properly, but its possible that it could be offset by something.. I will soak it to see if for whatever reason something is clogged.

As for being dropped, I am sure at one point or another it has... a certain family member of mine likes to touch my stuff.... grr....

I am not sure about pressing hard; I don't think so, but its possible...

 

[Go West Young Man]

Yup, time to refocus on fundamentals:

Good product.
Good prep.
Good technique.

Also, look at your diet and lifestyle, they affect your skin health to a surprising degree. If I go overboard on the coffee and not drink enough water, and don't get enough sleep (guess who has a 1-year old, LOL), I start getting cuts and irritation.

 

[Eeyore]

My lather has never really been lol. I originally used soap, but it was too much of a pain to find decent stuff so I have just used canned stuff. It is put together properly, but its possible that it could be offset by something.. I will soak it to see if for whatever reason something is clogged.

That is the first thing I would change! Nothing better than slick lather to provide an easy glide for your razor blade.

If the razor has been dropped, inspect if the blade is still seated correctly. But reading that you use canned foam, that would be the first thing to work on, I think.

 

[Emanon]

How about your skin. This is just a shot in the dark here but you never know right? Has anything changed? Have you lost weight recently and have some loose skin on your neck? Are you getting older and thus getting loose skin?

 

[Go West Young Man]

How about your skin. This is just a shot in the dark here but you never know right? Has anything changed? Have you lost weight recently and have some loose skin on your neck? Are you getting older and thus getting loose skin?

He's still in high school, I hope not!

 

[chrisf8657]

Likely too much pressure, and possibly shaving more often than what your skin can handle.

The canned stuff and DE shaving for some reason don't do well together. Try a soap & brush.
Plus, give your face some time to rest and heal & don't shave, or shave with an electric.

My .02

 

[Emanon]

He's still in high school, I hope not!

Oops!

Well in that case I have the answer. He's rushing!!!


Kidding

 

[Wingnut]

I'm just here to add my voice to those suggesting that the use of canned foam may be the culprit. Get yourself a good brush and cream or soap and learn to make a good, hydrating lather, and see if that improves things. I'm betting it will.

 

[The Dean]

All of the options have been, more or less, covered i think. Concentrate on using minimal pressure and start with only one pass, with the grain.

My advice with regard to product is to start with something hypoallergenic with no scent whatsoever, no lanolin, no menthol, etc. Get rid of anything that you might be reacting to. You can always start experimenting with other products if you can find the cause of what might be annoying your face. IMO, of course.

 

[Gunney]

I use that canned gel type... slicker than snot...

And with the amount of loose skin that I have Emanon, I look like Skinny-Fat Bastard lol.... *joking*

I am not reacting to it per se, its just raw from being cut to ribbons...

I may break back out my soap... I do have to get some better smelling stuff though lol...

I don't particularly rush, since I shave in the afternoon (I soak my face first!) so I am generally not rushed. Granted that I have had cases where a call comes in (usually a false-alarm or a brush fire lol...) and I end up either rushing or running out the door with half a beard lol...

 

[Merk]

You use stuff like this?



How does your pre shave prep typically go? Can you run us through your routine?

 

[Eeyore]

Why would you use canned foam or gel anyway? I only see disadvantages.

 

[BlackBear]

The canned goo may appear slicker, but all the 'slickness' in the world won't help if your whiskers are not hydrated enough. Lather does provide a slick surface for the razor to glide over as well as a cushion, but also it needs to be able to help the whisker retain the moisture from your prep. Slapping canned goo on won't really do that. Think of your whiskers like dried spaghetti......they will be much easier to cut once they are well hydrated and prepped with warm water, rather than trying to cut them while they are hard, brittle and 'uncooked' Working a good soap into the well hydrated whiskers with a brush will make a huge difference I'm sure.

 

[Eeyore]

The canned goo may appear slicker, but all the 'slickness' in the world won't help if your whiskers are not hydrated enough. Lather does provide a slick surface for the razor to glide over as well as a cushion, but also it needs to be able to help the whisker retain the moisture from your prep. Slapping canned goo on won't really do that. Think of your whiskers like dried spaghetti......they will be much easier to cut once they are well hydrated and prepped with warm water, rather than trying to cut them while they are hard, brittle and 'uncooked' Working a good soap into the well hydrated whiskers with a brush will make a huge difference I'm sure.

That is an excellent explanation!

 

[ThomasB98908]

Oops!

Well in that case I have the answer. He's rushing!!!


Kidding

Actually, you may be right. The expression "familiarity breeds contempt" could possibly apply here. I've found myself rushing when I use the same razor for a long time. It becomes sort of an "old habit" that you feel familiar with and tend to rush yourself through the routine. I'd suggest trying (getting) another razor or two and rotate them. This will keep things new and exciting and force you to concentrate on your form.

 

[Ducati Scotty]

Definitely take a good look at the razor head, both disassembled and together with a razor in in. Look for things obviously bent or out of alignment. With the blade in it should project past the edge the same amount all along the cap, the same on both sides, and the gap to the bar should be the same along the length on both sides.

I find I can get a few good shaves with Feathers and then after a few days the irritation starts to build. Astra SP and Personna Reds are also very sharp but don't give me irritation.

If you want to try soap and a brush maybe go with a cream. Creams are easier to get a good lather with. If you don't want to switch to soap then at least try another brand of goo, preferable one that's unscented or hypollergenic. It may just be the particular brand that is causing trouble.

Is your skin getting dry this time of year? Maybe you just need a good moisturizing aftershave.

Last, no pressure. Also, you may want to go with just one or two passes WTG for a while until your skin heals. And take a few days off from shaving completely to heal and start with good, healthy skin.

Good luck!

Scott