Somewhere between 14 and 21 consecutive shaves with the same shave gear and you will know. You will know by then if its something you are capable of mastering.
Shaving method
- Thread starter larryjohnson
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A cartridge razor is a safety razor so I find this question a little confusing. I have not found a cartridge razor with a single pass as effective as a DE razor using multiple passes. The first shave with a new cartridge is not too bad and DFS standard but not a BBS shave.
Generally a three pass DE razor shave gives you a BBS shave but some need more passes in difficult areas whilst others get away with less passes.
If you wish for 100% facial hair removal, i.e. roots and all, waxing or laser treatment are your choices.
I'm one of those continually learning guys as well. I did have some luck in the beginning since I started with a "mild but efficient" Executive Shaving Company AC Single Edge razor, i.e., the Claymore Evolution. It wasn't very complicated to learn. On my very first shave, I got a better shave than I did with my Gillette Fusion Power or any of the other Gillette cartridge razors I'd been using since I was 19 or so. That surprised me, truth be told. I believed the myth: Gillette: The Best a Man Can Get.
And it only got better as I learned the razor and my face. I got better at the pre-shave prep work as well. There was a lot to learn but it sure has been fun. I shaved with my Claymore Evo exclusively for just over 5 months.
I just started learning how to use a DE razor. There are similarities of course, so I'm not starting out at zero. That said, it sure feels like zero. <eg> evil grin
That was my experience as well with a Merkur 23C and the old Derby Extra blades. Things just got better from there.
I never really cared for the multi blade cartridges. They’d get fairly dull on me by the 3rd use and there’s nothing more uncomfortable than shaving with a dull multi blade cartridge. So I typically used the blue single blade disposables before using a DE razor. Forty eight hours with no shaving = clogged blades. The cartridges are also extremely overpriced when I can get 100 quality DE blades for $10. With a multi blade cartridge, I still had to do multiple passes also and lots of buffing and J-Hook strokes. I still do some of that with a DE razor but not as much. There’s also no clogging if I skip a day of shaving.
Once I was given a DE razor and a pack of blades as a gift from my dad a good while ago, I never looked back. I liked the idea of having a razor that would last forever, and the replacement blades are cheap when bought in bulk. I took to using a DE razor quickly, the only difference for me was adjusting the angle and using a lighter touch. I find that even a mild/medium DE razor such as a Gillette Super Speed with a quality blade gets me closer than a multi blade and once you’re used to it, far more comfortable.
The only drawback for me to shaving with a DE razor is local stores offer very little to nothing in the way of brush on shaving creams, soap pucks, blades, brushes, and the like. I find it very irritating. Especially since they all tend to have never-ending supplies of over-priced goop for people to comb into their beards, but can’t even carry a decent brush on cream. Some places used to carry C.O. Bigelow by Proraso which I think works quite well. For a while I thought they stopped making it but nope, stores just stopped carrying it..likely because it is a good value.
Once I was given a DE razor and a pack of blades as a gift from my dad a good while ago, I never looked back. I liked the idea of having a razor that would last forever, and the replacement blades are cheap when bought in bulk. I took to using a DE razor quickly, the only difference for me was adjusting the angle and using a lighter touch. I find that even a mild/medium DE razor such as a Gillette Super Speed with a quality blade gets me closer than a multi blade and once you’re used to it, far more comfortable.
The only drawback for me to shaving with a DE razor is local stores offer very little to nothing in the way of brush on shaving creams, soap pucks, blades, brushes, and the like. I find it very irritating. Especially since they all tend to have never-ending supplies of over-priced goop for people to comb into their beards, but can’t even carry a decent brush on cream. Some places used to carry C.O. Bigelow by Proraso which I think works quite well. For a while I thought they stopped making it but nope, stores just stopped carrying it..likely because it is a good value.
That is typical of most brick and mortar stores although some large cities do have a specialist shaving store like Taylors of Old Bond Street or Pasteurs Pharmacy to name two. The only option is to shop online.
No reason not to stick with carts if you are happy with the results.
For me carts produce SSS with more ingrown hairs and are not any fun. But that’s me!
In contrast I enjoy my DE shaves and have far superior results; DFS+ every day! But there is a learning curve for any skill, including ‘traditional’ wet shaving.
In the end it is your choice.
For me carts produce SSS with more ingrown hairs and are not any fun. But that’s me!
In contrast I enjoy my DE shaves and have far superior results; DFS+ every day! But there is a learning curve for any skill, including ‘traditional’ wet shaving.
In the end it is your choice.
That’s good to know some places have traditional shaving gear, next time I am in a larger city I’ll have to look around. It’s really the only drawback I can think of as far as traditional shaving goes is the lack of local supplies so I was surprised at the OP in this thread..for most people once they give it a little time they can get a better shave with a traditional setup than with the overpriced cartridges and non-brush on creams and there’s no going back. Also for someone like me who is cheap and and doesn’t always try out new soaps, razors, brushes, aftershaves and all, traditional shaving really does save money in the long run. Of course some people feel they spend too much on various traditional shaving products but it’s a hobby in their case, and there is many more hobbies out there far more costly.
Agree with this 100%. My goal in shaving is not to look like I have no facial hair. My goal is to look like someone who grows facial hair, but takes the time to shave every day.
Note: Not knocking beards at all. My brother has a full beard and it works for him (and many others.)
I can get pain-free BBS only with top of the line Fusion carts from P&G and only if going also ATG. Most of cheap carts are not capable to provide anything close to pain-free, nick-free BBS.
I don't know why people imply carts are an flawless shaving systems. They are considered good because most people don't aim to BBS with them. Only do 1 quick pass and they're done. But aim for BBS and suddenly you get irritation, nicks etc..
I don't know why people imply carts are an flawless shaving systems. They are considered good because most people don't aim to BBS with them. Only do 1 quick pass and they're done. But aim for BBS and suddenly you get irritation, nicks etc..
The others in the thread they have answered adequately.
From me I can tell the perspective of someone who has just more than one year in DE shaving. It took me about 1 year to get to a shave that was as close as the cartridge, if not closer. And the shave is much better, it is irritation free and I really feel my skin very nice and neat afterwards. I also a more environmental friendly shave and cheaper as well (I am not really into buying multiple razors or expensive soaps).
What I found most difficult in my effort to learn is the pressure. Ideally, if you prepare your skin nicely and you have the correct combination of razor + blade you need no pressure. You just clean the lather off the skin with the razor and it cuts in the process. It sounds weird, but I found in the process that this is what I had to do. I use a merkur slant most of the times (my alternative is a Timor open comb). With the slant if my stubble is up to 2 days I use tiger blades. Astra green I find that they make the merkur slant too aggressive and I get a less comfortable shave. On my Timor on the other hand I use astra green or permasharp and the tiger does not really work well. With the correct combination and 3 passes I get as a close shave as I would ever get with the cartridges.
From me I can tell the perspective of someone who has just more than one year in DE shaving. It took me about 1 year to get to a shave that was as close as the cartridge, if not closer. And the shave is much better, it is irritation free and I really feel my skin very nice and neat afterwards. I also a more environmental friendly shave and cheaper as well (I am not really into buying multiple razors or expensive soaps).
What I found most difficult in my effort to learn is the pressure. Ideally, if you prepare your skin nicely and you have the correct combination of razor + blade you need no pressure. You just clean the lather off the skin with the razor and it cuts in the process. It sounds weird, but I found in the process that this is what I had to do. I use a merkur slant most of the times (my alternative is a Timor open comb). With the slant if my stubble is up to 2 days I use tiger blades. Astra green I find that they make the merkur slant too aggressive and I get a less comfortable shave. On my Timor on the other hand I use astra green or permasharp and the tiger does not really work well. With the correct combination and 3 passes I get as a close shave as I would ever get with the cartridges.
Trial and error. There's no guarantee in this activity.
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