So I cut myself really bad with the GEM 1912

[Jobol]

I thought that after 3 months of daily DE shaving I would be ready for an SE. Ouch!

My face is smooth and not bad at all. But the neck...I never seen so many bleed spots ever! And just by looking at the floor, my neck hurts like crazy because of the skin to skin friction. It is like I have a 3rd degree burn or something. And I got a terrible shave with lots of stubble left.

I didn't use any pressure at all, but for some reason, on my neck, I couldn't get the right angle because of the large head.

Do you guys actually shave your necks with the GEMs? How do you do it?

Any advice would be appreciated.

P.S. I am using a GEM blade.


.

 

[Hoos]

After three years of DE shaving, I used an Ever-Ready for the first time this week (British equivalent of the Gem 1912) with a Gem Blue Star blade. For two days.

Angle, very short strokes, and going slowly helped a lot. It really is a different way of shaving, at least compared to Gillette DE razors.

Day two went much better (less irritation), but still not a great shave compared to the Gillette. I even broke out the Mitchell's Wool Fat for day 2, and it helped some but was still iffy.

In addition to angle, etc., I think the quality of the blade makes a difference. The drugstore Gem blades are generally considered mid-range in terms of shave quality. I just bought a bunch of teflon-coated blades from Ted Pella and am hoping those will help somewhat.

I'm also cosidering using a shaving gel (mainly for protection/slickness) until I get more comfortable with the single-edge blades.

 

[rummwa]

When I first used my GEM 1912 my face was the same way. The angle you have to hold the razor is different. If you get this angle off it will be harsh on your face. This might be your answer it worked for me and now I get great shaves from mine. It is one razor that you have to think about what you are doing all the time like a straight.

 

[spinyeel]

Thicker,stiffer blade = mandatory skin stretching as in a straight shave.

 

[drburt]

Sorry about your shave. My shaves with my 1912 have been good. The angle is much different then the angle with a DE. Start out flat to face and increase angle slightly. The blade will sing when going through whiskers. The only problem I had was along the jawline. Pulling the skin up solved that one.

Burt

 

[cooncatbob]

Sorry I don't see what the problem is, my friend Ambrose sent me some Gem blades so I could try out one of the Ever-Ready razors I got in a lot.
I was expecting a difficult time but the face shave went so well that I also shaved my head with the SE, again no problems even against the grain on the back of the head.
Maybe you guys aren't doing proper beard reduction, I always do 1st pass WTG before I try against or across the grain.

 

[Jobol]

I was expecting a difficult time but the face shave went so well

My face shave went relatively well too, it is the neck shave that killed me.

Is it possible that we have defective units? although I cannot see how since they seem pretty solid with little point of failure.

 

[Jobol]

i just finished a gem shave it was great), ok heres what to do, you may want to call dracula and see if he has any spare pints of blood he can spare, if not call 1 800 red cross, see if they may have extra because your goin to bleed.,lol:..if so put on shave cream and use lite baby strokes slant the razor and stretch the skin, once your muscles and memory kick in with in few weeks you be shaving with your eyes closed

Thank you for your reply alex. I think the part I did not do at all and that hurt me was the skin stretching part. I never had to do that with DE. I will try that next week, after my neck has healed some.

 

[D.Irving79]

you shouldnt be doing any skin stretching to get a good shave with a gem. zero-negative pressure and a good blade angle is all you need. start going just WTG on the neck for a while until you get the hang of it, then start going multi pass there.

 

[Jobol]

you shouldnt be doing any skin stretching to get a good shave with a gem. zero-negative pressure and a good blade angle is all you need. start going just WTG on the neck for a while until you get the hang of it, then start going multi pass there.

I burned myself with only 1 pass and WTG

 

[garyg]

Just my humble 2 cents - when I first tried the GEM I had a similar experience, a FSS (Fairly S..... Shave) though no burn. It took a solid week of using it to get comfortable, there really is a difference from a DE. For me, the improvement came by concentrating on the angle and making sure I took very short strokes, not the long sweepers that seem to work with the DE.

Once you get it, they give very nice shaves, very close without trauma. Used the Micromatic Open Comb today actually

 

[MrGuy]

I thought that after 3 months of daily DE shaving I would be ready for an SE. Ouch!

My face is smooth and not bad at all. But the neck...I never seen so many bleed spots ever! And just by looking at the floor, my neck hurts like crazy because of the skin to skin friction. It is like I have a 3rd degree burn or something. And I got a terrible shave with lots of stubble left.

I didn't use any pressure at all, but for some reason, on my neck, I couldn't get the right angle because of the large head.

Do you guys actually shave your necks with the GEMs? How do you do it?

Any advice would be appreciated.

P.S. I am using a GEM blade.


.

Keeping the right angle on the neck isn't all that tough, but it's going to look all wrong. My guess it that the angle on the neck area looked fine in the mirror, but was actually too steep. After you heal a bit give it another shot, but on the neck really pay attention to the auditory feedback, and the feel on the neck, not so much what you see. For me, keeping the angle on the neck looks to be too shallow, but is just right.

 

[aimsport]

double check if blade edge is under the tabs? possibly shifted? My GEM Jr. is a consistently sweet BBS shaver. I went slow at first, have speeded up a bit but never fast with a GEM.

 

[Slivovitz]

Yes, I do shave my neck with my Gems, and under my nose, and all the difficult spots. And I did have trouble at first, but no longer.

The only thing I have to add is that, because of the different shaving angle, I had to stop and think a lot more at first. It was easy to see how the head of the razor should go on the sides of my face, but when I got underneath my chin and on my neck, I actually had to pause and think it through.

Of course, that was just me, but it's hard not to suspect problems with the angle.

 

[D.Irving79]

I burned myself with only 1 pass and WTG

wow weezers

 

[Bit2]

Yes, I do shave my neck with my Gems, and under my nose, and all the difficult spots. And I did have trouble at first, but no longer.

The only thing I have to add is that, because of the different shaving angle, I had to stop and think a lot more at first. It was easy to see how the head of the razor should go on the sides of my face, but when I got underneath my chin and on my neck, I actually had to pause and think it through.

Of course, that was just me, but it's hard not to suspect problems with the angle.

+1

Just my humble 2 cents - when I first tried the GEM I had a similar experience, a FSS (Fairly S..... Shave) though no burn. It took a solid week of using it to get comfortable, there really is a difference from a DE. For me, the improvement came by concentrating on the angle and making sure I took very short strokes, not the long sweepers that seem to work with the DE.

Once you get it, they give very nice shaves, very close without trauma. Used the Micromatic Open Comb today actually

+1

Use shorts strokes and you should be able to hear he blade cutting the whiskers.
The angle does make a difference.
Take your time and the GEM will let you shave close, not quite as close as a straight but closer than the DE.
I am NOT trashing DE shaving, I enjoy that as well.
Something special about using that utility style blade!
Awesome,
John

 

[spinyeel]

i think that the skin stretching is unique to each person, some members do it others dont, i guess its trial and error, for me i have to stretch the neck skin or....ouch

I always stretch my skin when using a S/E razor. My first few S/E shaves,without stretching,resulted in a lot of lost skin and very poor results. YMMV.

 

[mmack66]

In addition to angle, etc., I think the quality of the blade makes a difference. The drugstore Gem blades are generally considered mid-range in terms of shave quality. I just bought a bunch of teflon-coated blades from Ted Pella and am hoping those will help somewhat.

The "GEM by Personna" stainless steel blades available at various stores are good blades.

 

[Jobol]

Guys, I am panicking a bit.

My neck has not healed yet and I see a lot of red bumps and pimples that I never had before.

Is there something I can do to accelerate the healing?

 

[simon1]

If it's still burning you might try some aloe vera. I have two plants I bought at Wally World a couple of years ago and keep around for burns and irritations...or pick up a bottle of Jason brand (or whatever) aloe vera gel.

You may also try some polysporin or something. If it doesn't heal it might be time to get some medical advise.

I'm sure you're not still shaving the neck with the SE. What are you shaving with now?