I've been using a straight razor to shave my head for a long time. I do a WTG pass with a straight, then a quick cleanup ATG pass with a Rockwell #2 plate. I'm still shaving my neck with a cart unfortunately because of swirly neck hairs.
Well every 6 months or so i get it into my head that i'm going to do a full shave with a DE and it has always gone terribly wrong. Like puddle of blood wrong.
About a week ago i got the bug again and ordered 2 slant razors. I told myself this time i was going pull it off and do a full DE shave. Don't ask me why i didn't try it with the Rockwell because i don't know.. Acquisition disorder most likely.
Well it went terribly wrong.
As i stood there in the shave den bleeding out I had a moment of enlightenment. I realized that just because i knew how to use a straight, didn't mean i knew how to use a DE. There were techniques involved that i knew nothing about because i had never done the research.
I took a few days to read up and watch some videos and gave it another go last night.
For the first time ever i gave myself a pretty decent shave with a DE. Just on the neck mind you (i have a beard). Ill be working on the head again after i heal up a little more from the first attempt.
My main issue was pressure. Waaaaay too much pressure. The #2 on the Rockwell feels like a cart so i didn't realize how light the touch with a more aggressive razor had to be. Also a user here mentioned 'riding the cap'. I realized coming down into the correct angle instead of up (if that makes sense) made a huge difference for me. That, combined with the lightest pressure i could manage did the trick.
My end goal is to get away from the cart completely. I really only use it to shave my neck as it was the only thing i could use to shave my crazy neck hairs without irritation. I only go through about 5 cartridges a year but it still bugs me.
Last nights shave gave me no irritation after 2 passes and one tiny weeper where the hair does a little hurricane.
TBH Its kind of fun to feel like i'm back at the beginning again. Learning to use the DE proper reminds when of when i started with the straight and the world of wet shaving was shiny and new.
Just wanted to share my tale. Also this will help spare my wife from hearing about the 'Greatest neck shave of all time' again.
If you've read this far, thanks!
Well every 6 months or so i get it into my head that i'm going to do a full shave with a DE and it has always gone terribly wrong. Like puddle of blood wrong.
About a week ago i got the bug again and ordered 2 slant razors. I told myself this time i was going pull it off and do a full DE shave. Don't ask me why i didn't try it with the Rockwell because i don't know.. Acquisition disorder most likely.
Well it went terribly wrong.
As i stood there in the shave den bleeding out I had a moment of enlightenment. I realized that just because i knew how to use a straight, didn't mean i knew how to use a DE. There were techniques involved that i knew nothing about because i had never done the research.
I took a few days to read up and watch some videos and gave it another go last night.
For the first time ever i gave myself a pretty decent shave with a DE. Just on the neck mind you (i have a beard). Ill be working on the head again after i heal up a little more from the first attempt.
My main issue was pressure. Waaaaay too much pressure. The #2 on the Rockwell feels like a cart so i didn't realize how light the touch with a more aggressive razor had to be. Also a user here mentioned 'riding the cap'. I realized coming down into the correct angle instead of up (if that makes sense) made a huge difference for me. That, combined with the lightest pressure i could manage did the trick.
My end goal is to get away from the cart completely. I really only use it to shave my neck as it was the only thing i could use to shave my crazy neck hairs without irritation. I only go through about 5 cartridges a year but it still bugs me.
Last nights shave gave me no irritation after 2 passes and one tiny weeper where the hair does a little hurricane.
TBH Its kind of fun to feel like i'm back at the beginning again. Learning to use the DE proper reminds when of when i started with the straight and the world of wet shaving was shiny and new.
Just wanted to share my tale. Also this will help spare my wife from hearing about the 'Greatest neck shave of all time' again.
If you've read this far, thanks!