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Switching from Injector to DE

M

mountaingift

Hi everyone,
I just signed up today, and am really excited being an active member after years of lurking in the shadows "listening".
As the title suggests, I am thinking of switching from an Injector to a DE razor.
I've been using an Injector for the past three years (1 year with the Parker adjustable, and 2 years with the Supply SE),
and enjoy both the process and the results (though I still nick myself constantly above the lip...)

My main reason to switch is to try different blades, and learn something new; and maybe get even better results.

My questions are:
1. is it worth the switch?
2. what razor would you suggest for the switch?
I saw the Henson AL13, and it looks like the most natural progression, but maybe it's just me being scared of learning to find the correct angle?
3. Are there any blades I should start with?
I have sensitive-ish skin and coarse-ish growth:
Relative to my growth, I would need to shave daily.
But my skin (or poor technique) can't handle it so I shave 3 times a week.

Thoughts and advice?
 
MrSpeedy

MrSpeedy

Welcome! I tried injectors a couple of times and could never get along with them, so I say definitely make the switch. DE razors can be mild or aggressive, so if you start with a mild razor - like a vintage SuperSpeed or Tech - you could get better results. Astra SP blades are commonly recommended as ones to start with.
 
gpjoe

gpjoe

1. Yes.
2. Personally, I prefer a more traditional razor design, but lots of guys like Henson. I sold mine.
3. Everyone here seems to have sensitive skin and a coarse beard...or so they say. 🙂 I find all of the popular blades shave very much the same. Buy a sample pack and decide which you like best. Astra, Gillette Silver Blue, Gillette Platinum, Bic, Wizamet, Nacet...any/all should work.

You can shave every day. When first starting, don't strive for a perfect shave at first. Try a single pass, using a light touch, With The Grain (WTG). You should be able to get a Socially Acceptable Shave (SAS) that looks clean and is suitable for work.

As you improve, add a second pass Across The Grain (XTG). You should now be approaching a Damn Fine Shave (DFS). Smoother than SAS but you might feel some stubble running your hand Against The Grain (ATG).

The ultimate shave, or Baby Butt Smooth (BBS) is the unicorn shave, achieved with a third ATG pass, and a bit of touch up. I've been doing this for over two years and never achieved TRUE BBS, which I define as feeling absolutely zero stubble in any direction anywhere on my face. For me to get there I would need to shave and touch up for far too long, and repeatedly dragging a blade across my face only leads to irritation.

The best I've gotten is what I refer to as DFS+...better than DFS, not quite BBS, but miles better than any cartridge razors or (shudder) electric. I'm getting the very best shaves...ever.

Good luck, and welcome to the show. 🙂👍
 
JCinPA

JCinPA

The Lather Maestro
Hi there! Definitely go with the Henson AL13++ would be my suggestion. In terms of aggression it is right in the sweet spot in the middle with the Edwin Jagger DE89, Muhle R89, and Merkur 34C, all frequently recommended here as first razors.

The Henson AL13++ is likely much safer then the others listed above, although they are great beginner razors. You’ll almost have to try to nick yourself with the Henson, it’s literally hard to do. If not the Henson, I recommend one of the three razors above.

While they are very superlative in their praise of $200+ niche razors, I would not spend the money on your first one. The Henson is reasonable, not that much more than the other three above, which are all available on Amazon.

And I strongly recommend you not get a blade sampler. Get a middle of the road blade, like the Astra or Gillette Silver Blue, and use it daily for a month or two. THEN get a blade sampler and experiment to your heart’s content. If you bounce around from blade to blade you won’t know if better results are due to the blade or your technique. After a month or two of DE shaving, you will, that is the time to start experimenting.

It’s quite possible you may want to experiment with razors, too, but stick with your first one for a daily shave for a couple months. Then experiment. The single worst piece of advice I see given to new DE shavers around here is to acquire a bunch of equipment and “Find out what you like!” You can’t find out what you like until you have at least intermediate, and consistent shaving skills, bouncing around will just slow your learning curve.

While some don’t care for the Henson, they are a small minority. You may be one of them, but I suggest your best best for a starter is the Henson, especially since you are completely used to shaving at a set angle from you SE experience. Lock your gear down for a while before any experimentation. Use your favorite lathers you use now.

Good luck!
 
BigJ

BigJ

I suggest you give DE a try! However, I cannot comment on Henson as I have never owned one. In terms of blades, I suggest you purchase a blade sampler pack (or two). There is no substitute for trying options yourself.
 
JCinPA

JCinPA

The Lather Maestro
To clarify, I’m not anti-blades samplers, I think they are great. I just strongly recommend you don’t play with different blades during the learning curve. If the sampler has a tuck of GSB or Astra, or similar blade largely regarded as comfortable, just use the entire tuck at first before starting to experiment.

Once you’ve used the same blade 5X you’ll likely have technique fairly dialed in and can experiment with abandon. I just strongly you not bounce from one blade to another from the sampler in the beginning. It’s counterproductive, IMO.
 
M

mikhou

JCinPA said:
Hi there! Definitely go with the Henson AL13++ would be my suggestion. In terms of aggression it is right in the sweet spot in the middle with the Edwin Jagger DE89, Muhle R89, and Merkur 34C, all frequently recommended here as first razors.

The Henson AL13++ is likely much safer then the others listed above, although they are great beginner razors. You’ll almost have to try to nick yourself with the Henson, it’s literally hard to do. If not the Henson, I recommend one of the three razors above.

While they are very superlative in their praise of $200+ niche razors, I would not spend the money on your first one. The Henson is reasonable, not that much more than the other three above, which are all available on Amazon.

And I strongly recommend you not get a blade sampler. Get a middle of the road blade, like the Astra or Gillette Silver Blue, and use it daily for a month or two. THEN get a blade sampler and experiment to your heart’s content. If you bounce around from blade to blade you won’t know if better results are due to the blade or your technique. After a month or two of DE shaving, you will, that is the time to start experimenting.

It’s quite possible you may want to experiment with razors, too, but stick with your first one for a daily shave for a couple months. Then experiment. The single worst piece of advice I see given to new DE shavers around here is to acquire a bunch of equipment and “Find out what you like!” You can’t find out what you like until you have at least intermediate, and consistent shaving skills, bouncing around will just slow your learning curve.

While some don’t care for the Henson, they are a small minority. You may be one of them, but I suggest your best best for a starter is the Henson, especially since you are completely used to shaving at a set angle from you SE experience. Lock your gear down for a while before any experimentation. Use your favorite lathers you use now.

Good luck!
Click to expand...
I, too, am a proponent of the Henson razor. It is certainly my easiest, most comfortable razor to us.

While I understand what @JCinPA is saying regarding the sampler, I'll respectfully disagree. I know that @JCinPA isn't saying to use one blade forever, but I say if you have a bad experience with a blade then don't torture yourself through 4 more. For example, I've not liked any Astra or GSB that I have tried and those are some of the most recommended on this forum. Those are probably wonderful blades - just not for me. And, yes, I've gone back and used them again years after getting into DE shaving. They're just not for me. Shaving with a DE just isn't that hard. Yes, there is definitely a learning curve, but you ought to be able to pretty quickly get a decent shave and finding the right blade for you is a big part of that, IMHO. Good luck as you get started and there's lots of really good advice on these forums.
 
S

SalS

Get a Henson and my favorite blades are Feather, BIC, Permasharp and the RKs. I had the first generation Supply and compared to my Henson it is a farm tool.
 
njpaddy

njpaddy

When I turned 16 in the mid-1960s, my mom and stepdad (who shaved with a DE) gave me an electric. I hated it. After going away to college a couple years later I bought a Schick injector. I used it with canned foam, and although liking it better than electric, I did get weepers and nicks. Alum, to stop any bleeding, was my friend. I used the injector until 1970s carts, again using canned foam. Carts were easier, but I never had a job where I needed to be clean shaven, so I was always able to go a couple days (or week) between shaves. When my stepdad died, my mom had tossed all his shaving gear before I got there. In clearing out his dresser, I found an unused 1941 Aristocrat stuffed in back of a dresser drawer. My mom (married to him over 40 years) never knew he had it. In 2009, I came across B&B, and after communicating with another member (asylum guido), I took his advice to start with a 52 SuperSpeed. I did eventually buy a later Aristocrat to try, but didn't like it. The 1941 remains unused, to be found in my dresser when I pass on. At least my son-in-law who wet-shaves knows about it and can deal with it.
 
Quaznoid

Quaznoid

You would be happier with an injector if you used the original injector, the SCHICK. Nothing, and I mean nothing shaves better than a Model E or G Schick. Pair these with a Chinese Schick blade (a “Chick”, in the yellow package) and get an effortless, no-technique-required BBS shave everytime. No DE shaves as close or as easily.
 
L

Lane101

mountaingift said:
Hi everyone,
I just signed up today, and am really excited being an active member after years of lurking in the shadows "listening".
As the title suggests, I am thinking of switching from an Injector to a DE razor.
I've been using an Injector for the past three years (1 year with the Parker adjustable, and 2 years with the Supply SE),
and enjoy both the process and the results (though I still nick myself constantly above the lip...)

My main reason to switch is to try different blades, and learn something new; and maybe get even better results.

My questions are:
1. is it worth the switch?
2. what razor would you suggest for the switch?
I saw the Henson AL13, and it looks like the most natural progression, but maybe it's just me being scared of learning to find the correct angle?
3. Are there any blades I should start with?
I have sensitive-ish skin and coarse-ish growth:
Relative to my growth, I would need to shave daily.
But my skin (or poor technique) can't handle it so I shave 3 times a week.

Thoughts and advice?
Click to expand...
Welcome to B&B!

No reason not to try DE as you don't need to spend a lot for a reasonable DE razor. I use a Weishi TTO 9306 long handle that runs under $15 and has a moderate level of aggressiveness and also have a mild 3 piece King C. Gillette that is under $30. Baili also has some reasonable moderately priced DE razors.

While DE blades are cheaper (many for 5 -10 cents each in 100 packs) your biggest risk is if you fall into the blade rabbit hole and over but inventory. That said there is a lot more variety that you can explore and have fun with. Have a look at the thread linked below with reported test results from a large number of blades. Frequent DE blade PIFs here that you could also take advantage of. @JCinPA 's recommendation to hone your technique initially around a single blade/razor combination is a good one. I use the Astra SPs he recommended and they work very well though you should check the latest reviews since production moved from Russia to Asia. Dorco ST300 or STP300 are also a good option.

www.badgerandblade.com

Blade Sharpness Research Project

Published blade sharpness measurements leave something to be desired. I couldn't find anything on a bunch of current blades, so I decided I want to be able to measure sharpness myself. An edge on up industrial tester with BESS certified test media takes more commitment than I have to this, so I...
www.badgerandblade.com www.badgerandblade.com
 
garyg

garyg

B&B membership has its percs
Looks like everything has been said already but I'll just add one thot - the injectors are closest to failproof and nick resistant in my experience .. I started with a DE, used an electric for a short while, took a yellow Schick to college before cartridges forever and a day until returning 15 years ago to the old style blades. Like Anchovie I move between formats (save the electric). I'd expect a DE will tend towards more knicks and cuts as opposed to less from the injector format. I'd also echo the sentiment that the old Schicks were the pinnacle of that blade style.
 
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