Simple as that: What double edge razor did you use when you were first learning to wet shave?
As someone who just got decided to start wet shaving (at age 57), I'm curious to hear what razor you learned with and, looking back on the experience now, if you feel like it was a fantastic razor to use as you learned to wet shave.
I currently have two razors: a Rockwell 6C and a 1967 Gillette Super Speed TTO. Obviously one is adjustable and one is not. When I was trying to decide on what double edge razor to purchase to learn how to wet shave with, some recommended an adjustable razor (Parker Variant, Gillette Slim, Merkur Progress, Rockwell 6, etc), while others recommended a nonadjustable razor (Merkur 34c, Edwin Jagger DE89, Muhle R89, Henson A13med, Gillette Super Speed, etc.).
After shaving a couple times using my two razors, I can see the advantages and disadvantages of each of the types.
Adjustable (R6C):
Advantages: it's adjustable, duh! You can put it on the lowest plate and not have to worry about nicks; if one plate doesn't work you can switch to another plate that will work better; you can adjust the plate based on how many days growth you have on your beard; you can change plates using one plate for the first pass and a different one for the second/third pass; you can change plates based on the blade you're using
Disadvantages: since I can change plates, I think I'm becoming a "lazy learner" at times - with plates 1 and 2 there is basically no chance of a nick so even though I know I should go slow and learn proper technique, I find myself going faster than I should at times (and obviously the lack of hair removing shows my laziness); I tried plate 3 and while it took off more hair (on 3 days growth), I kept wondering if I should move down to plate 2 to reduce the risk of a nick or maybe even move up to plate 4 to allow the razor to cut more "aggressively"; it's almost like I've got too many choices with the adjustable razor; the solution would obviously be to put one of the more "aggressive" plates (4/5/6) in and not change it.
Nonadjustable (SSTTO):
Advantages: it takes the hair off much better than plates 1/2/3 on the R6C; it forces me to go slow and have the proper technique (if I don't the blood is an indication that I didn't); weirdly, being forced to stick with one gap size seems to make shaving a bit more enjoyable (not sure how to explain that one)
Disadvantages: obviously the inability to adjust the razor based on beard growth, whether it's the 1st/2nd/3rd pass, what blade you have in the razor, etc.; more bleeding (for right now)
I know I sort of went off on a tangent with the adjustable/nonadjustable commentary (sorry about that), I really just thought it would be interesting to hear the path you took when you were learning how to wet shave and which specific double edge razor you used.
Thanks in advance for any replies!
TripleB
As someone who just got decided to start wet shaving (at age 57), I'm curious to hear what razor you learned with and, looking back on the experience now, if you feel like it was a fantastic razor to use as you learned to wet shave.
I currently have two razors: a Rockwell 6C and a 1967 Gillette Super Speed TTO. Obviously one is adjustable and one is not. When I was trying to decide on what double edge razor to purchase to learn how to wet shave with, some recommended an adjustable razor (Parker Variant, Gillette Slim, Merkur Progress, Rockwell 6, etc), while others recommended a nonadjustable razor (Merkur 34c, Edwin Jagger DE89, Muhle R89, Henson A13med, Gillette Super Speed, etc.).
After shaving a couple times using my two razors, I can see the advantages and disadvantages of each of the types.
Adjustable (R6C):
Advantages: it's adjustable, duh! You can put it on the lowest plate and not have to worry about nicks; if one plate doesn't work you can switch to another plate that will work better; you can adjust the plate based on how many days growth you have on your beard; you can change plates using one plate for the first pass and a different one for the second/third pass; you can change plates based on the blade you're using
Disadvantages: since I can change plates, I think I'm becoming a "lazy learner" at times - with plates 1 and 2 there is basically no chance of a nick so even though I know I should go slow and learn proper technique, I find myself going faster than I should at times (and obviously the lack of hair removing shows my laziness); I tried plate 3 and while it took off more hair (on 3 days growth), I kept wondering if I should move down to plate 2 to reduce the risk of a nick or maybe even move up to plate 4 to allow the razor to cut more "aggressively"; it's almost like I've got too many choices with the adjustable razor; the solution would obviously be to put one of the more "aggressive" plates (4/5/6) in and not change it.
Nonadjustable (SSTTO):
Advantages: it takes the hair off much better than plates 1/2/3 on the R6C; it forces me to go slow and have the proper technique (if I don't the blood is an indication that I didn't); weirdly, being forced to stick with one gap size seems to make shaving a bit more enjoyable (not sure how to explain that one)
Disadvantages: obviously the inability to adjust the razor based on beard growth, whether it's the 1st/2nd/3rd pass, what blade you have in the razor, etc.; more bleeding (for right now)
I know I sort of went off on a tangent with the adjustable/nonadjustable commentary (sorry about that), I really just thought it would be interesting to hear the path you took when you were learning how to wet shave and which specific double edge razor you used.
Thanks in advance for any replies!
TripleB
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