Last week I notices an "odd" happening. At least it seems odd to me. First off, I do not have the well of experience and knowledge that some others have to draw from. Second, I am slow to make make the well to deep to fast. a.k.a. Cheap and don't want to waste money on things I will not enjoy, even if it is only $2 on a pack of blades. Part of this is because I live in the sticks and the only means I have for trying new blades/soaps/anything is to order it online and wait. But as I shaved with a particular blade, I noticed that the first shave leaves me with a little bit of burn, but as the shaves continue, the blade becomes more giving. At first I thought it might be due to poor technique (which it may be), but each time I changed the blade, the first shave with the new blade leaves me with more burn than an older blade. Is this common? Do I mark it as needing to improve my technique? Bit of both? Just curious about your thoughts? If you have had such an experience, what blades gave you this result. I have 3 'different' razors and I have similar results with all three, just in case it matters.
Second shave better than the first?
- Thread starter nlpotts
- Start date
It's a pretty common tale, my friend. A fair number of blades seem to do better after the break-in shave. I suspect the coating gets smoothed out a little after a good "face-stropping."
I have been noticing that for awhile, especially with Feathers.
Try and strop your new blade before you use it, and see if that helps. Run it backwards on your palm or arm. ( DO NOT CUT YOURSELF!!!!!!! ) Maybe you can "break" it in before it hits your face
- Thread starter
- #6
I don't doubt the validity of your suggestion, but I can only imagine what my wife might say if she walks in and I am moving a razor blade in a 'stropping' motion any where near my arm. She already thinks I'm nuts for using a DE instead of a cart.
Tell her you are trying to appease some whack job on the forum. Better yet, try and convert her to DE shaving, then she can strop them for you. JK
i read from another post that lightly running the razor blades edge down a cork (wine cork lets say) the razor will shave better. sounds like it would do the same as stropping on your arm. maybe safer to, who knows.
- Thread starter
- #9
And I might be able to get a cork flooring 'sample' that might just do the job. Definitely trying that one.
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- #11
And I may be in the same boat, it may not be enough improvement to continue doing it. The shaves are not so bad as to say 'I'm never doing that again.' They are just more irritating than they should be.
I found that to be true of the Derby pack I tried.
The Israeli Personna doesn't have the break in period though.
The Israeli Personna doesn't have the break in period though.
This is definitely true with the Wilkinson blades, they are almost unbearable as they scrape at the skin for the first shave but then they are good for the 2nd, 3rd and maybe 4th if you're lucky. I will try corking one and stropping another to see if it makes any difference.
Perma-Sharps are known to be best the second time around, and I'll vouch for that.
I find the same thing to be true. Personna Reds are good from the get-go. Astra SPs and Feathers are better after a shave.
