It seems like doing some reading first, and then a post here is the right and proper thing to do, so here I am. Shaving poses certain problems for me. Namely, I'm an albino, which means fine hair that grows densely, is basically transparent until I have a pretty substantial bit of growth, and oh yeah, I have lousy, uncorrectable visionnot that it matters a whole lot with hairs that are almost invisible!
Because of the denseness of growth, using any electric razor felt like shaving with a belt sander, only it didn't actually remove much of the hair! The Fusion monstrosity removed the hair, but only after WTG+ATG passes, and left my face in pain. Oh, and more ingrown hairs than keeping a short beard.
So finally someone brings up the notion of a DE safety razor as a cost savings, and I decided to investigate. I wound up with a Weishi straight bar model and a blade sampler from RetroRazor. I'm using the Dorcos to start, but have Personna and Derby to try when I'm ready. I'm using the Col. Conk soap and Tweezerman badger brush suggested as a bundle with the razor, and I think I'm getting a good lather, but possibly not using my brush to its fullest benefit yet. I shave after a shower and am applying Nivea Sensitive ASB afterward.
The major problem I am having is that I don't feel I have quite enough razor control, particularly at the corners of my mouth (one particular spot I've managed to nick myself twice, actually) and just under the nose, a spot I seem to scrape my face raw trying to reach. I'm pretty sure that I wind up using more pressure than I should as a result, which leads to...
My secondary problem. Razor burn. I can manage one pass WTG and not have TOO much pain for too long after I shave, but much more than a second very careful partial pass to clean up the obvious lousiness of my first and I'm going to be feeling it the next day despite a good slathering of the Nivea ASB (which is annoying in itself since I don't particularly enjoy its scent to any great degree, it's just the first thing I found that was actually soothing..)
I really think the second problem is actually just a symptom of the first (and probably a clue that I should investigate other AS options...) Despite these issues, I'm encouraged overall. So far this is WAY better and WAY less painful than using that Fusion piece of crap. And really, I have managed to nick myself only four times in two weeks (twice in the same spot, though), so it's unlikely I'm going to inadvertently disfigure myself for life. A good beginning!
But I'd sure appreciate any advice someone who knows what they're doing can offer.
Because of the denseness of growth, using any electric razor felt like shaving with a belt sander, only it didn't actually remove much of the hair! The Fusion monstrosity removed the hair, but only after WTG+ATG passes, and left my face in pain. Oh, and more ingrown hairs than keeping a short beard.
So finally someone brings up the notion of a DE safety razor as a cost savings, and I decided to investigate. I wound up with a Weishi straight bar model and a blade sampler from RetroRazor. I'm using the Dorcos to start, but have Personna and Derby to try when I'm ready. I'm using the Col. Conk soap and Tweezerman badger brush suggested as a bundle with the razor, and I think I'm getting a good lather, but possibly not using my brush to its fullest benefit yet. I shave after a shower and am applying Nivea Sensitive ASB afterward.
The major problem I am having is that I don't feel I have quite enough razor control, particularly at the corners of my mouth (one particular spot I've managed to nick myself twice, actually) and just under the nose, a spot I seem to scrape my face raw trying to reach. I'm pretty sure that I wind up using more pressure than I should as a result, which leads to...
My secondary problem. Razor burn. I can manage one pass WTG and not have TOO much pain for too long after I shave, but much more than a second very careful partial pass to clean up the obvious lousiness of my first and I'm going to be feeling it the next day despite a good slathering of the Nivea ASB (which is annoying in itself since I don't particularly enjoy its scent to any great degree, it's just the first thing I found that was actually soothing..)
I really think the second problem is actually just a symptom of the first (and probably a clue that I should investigate other AS options...) Despite these issues, I'm encouraged overall. So far this is WAY better and WAY less painful than using that Fusion piece of crap. And really, I have managed to nick myself only four times in two weeks (twice in the same spot, though), so it's unlikely I'm going to inadvertently disfigure myself for life. A good beginning!
But I'd sure appreciate any advice someone who knows what they're doing can offer.
