Who switches razors during a shave?

[SiBurning]

I've been experimenting with using more than one razor and/or blade for a shave. The combination I'm currently happy with is an injector for a first pass, followed by a Merkur slant with feather blade for touch up. The injector easily cuts through the growth and gives a SAS in one pass, but the blade itself is too heavy for finer touch up. If I were shooting for BBS, which I don't on a daily basis, there might be a third razor in the... uhm... rotation? Have to hone up the straights and play some more.

I've also played around with switching blades. The feather is great for light touch up, but I found that I get less irritation using something less sharp for the first pass. That's what led me to the injector/slant combo. Other places where I've switched off is using the Merkur HD everywhere, but switching to a gillette adjustable on a low setting to go ATG above the lip. The Merkur's a bit too aggressive to go ATG there early on, but I can go ATG on the second pass with the gillette.

Any other experiences with switching off between passes or different areas of the face?

 

[gsurko]

I've done it on different areas of my face at touch up time.

 

[chuckr9]

I am still trying different blades and razors to find out what I like. I use a more aggressive razor (e.g., Futur or BUll mastiff) for 1st pass. Then use a Gillette Tech for 2nd pass and any finishing. Not sure shave is any better, but it's fun.

 

[mdevine]

I also have done it at touch up. I like a DE as my primary shaver but nothing gets me closer than my Gem. I have used it to touch up but this happens if I notice a spot while applying ASB. Haven't tried it on a routine basis.

 

[Niles]

I haven't tried that yet; not necessarily opposed to the idea, though.

 

[kingfisher]

I've done it multiple times. HoratioCaine has also posted on this board that his day-to-day shave is a WTG pass with a Sensor Excel following by XTG with a DE. I've tried that, too, and it works pretty well.

I agree that an injector or a cartridge blade is better than DE for really mowing down the hairs on the first pass. I've been using Trac II for the second pass, as well, but for about a week I used a Krona with a Feather blade and it worked just as well if not better, and I could use a very light touch. I may go back to that set-up again for a while and see how it works out.

 

[guitarslinger]

I've done this extensively with varying degrees of success.

It's a great technique to try out LOTS of blades quickly.

These days, I just stick to the Merk Barberpole..

 

[aimsport]

After a GEM 1912 shave, one pass with a DE89L or Merkur Barberpole with Iridium or Feather picks up the tiny few (very few) hairs that seem to escape the 1912... I'm talking 10 to 20 by the sound... but escapees nonetheless.

 

[ouch]

I've been doing that for years.

 

[DFrancis]

I feel that I am far too lazy to do that. That and I'm happy with just the Superspeed.

 

[mdevine]

I feel that I am far too lazy to do that. That and I'm happy with just the Superspeed.

Out of all my razors, the Superspeed shaves the closest. I don't find it misses enough to ever need to go back to touch it up.

 

[Stubblefield]

I used to do it a bit. Now, not so much.

 

[DE Shaver]

I've never done that. Interesting enough idea.

 

[pauls51]

I have only done it on a few occassions where I wasn't happy with the results..

 

[Darth Indiana]

well, i sometimes adjust the setting for certain areas. kinda the same idea, i guess.

 

[dpmtherrien]

If I have a 2 or 3 day growth of beard, I'll use my open comb for the first WTG pass, then I'll finish up on my second ATG pass with my regular safety bar. This works great for me, and I've been doing this for some time.

 

[Space]

yep, I'm liking an aristocrat on the first pass and then a merkur 23c after. also just an aristocrat on my neck seems good.

 

[BladeRunner001]

I thought I was the only "closet" switcher....Phewwww, I am glad I am not alone

Anyways, during my tenure in the world of DE shaving, that's what I used to do and it worked like a charm. I had a regular DE (Deluxe Vintage SR) and a slant (Merkur "Hefty classic"...if memory serves me correctly). Sometimes, I used the regular WTG, and XTG followed by the slant ATG...BBS all the way . Other days (especially when sporting a >2 days growth), I would use the slant first, followed by the regular DE...Also BBS.

These days, I even found myself doing this with str8s...but only if I feel like the blade is not sharp enough or starts pulling.

 

[SiBurning]

The first time I did this was with straights, trying to find a use for my wedges. In the end, the full hollows wedged them out.

 

[rm71]

No, never.