Wow, what a sobering experience.
After more than 2 years of DE shaving, I was confident my technique and skill were up to the task of tackling the R41. I must take some time to reassess my skills. I have read thread after thread about people's shaving experience with this razor. I've taken in all the tips, read all the horror stories, soaked up all the positive and negative comments and felt I had enough information to proceed. The feel of the blade on my skin was very similar to the blade feel of my Otto Roth New LC. The feel of the blade against the skin on both razors is very prominent. However, unlike the New, the R41 did not glide easily over my skin. I debated and debated about which blade to use. Ultimately I went with the advice I read in a thread that said just start with your favorite blade. You know how it shaves and how it reacts. The less variables the better, so I loaded it with a brand new Voshkod. I also lathered up with Cella, thinking the tallow based soap would provide some extra slickness.
I have read many accounts which describe the feel as "tugging" across your face. That is a great way to describe it. It was almost as if the shave cream wasn't there and I was pulling the razor across dry skin...that kind of tugging. I started with approximately a 30 degree angle, which is what is generally recommended, including what Muhle says is the optimal angle in their literature. I went to my left cheek and decided to try a steeper angle as some have said work for them; closer to 45 degrees. Same effect, although slightly better, but certainly not smooth. Then I got to my chin. Even going with the grain it felt like my whiskers were being grabbed and my skin would be pulled up like a piece of sod being cut and rolled.
So, before I got to my neck I rinsed off the Cella and applied my Cremo Creme. This is the slickest stuff I have ever shaved with. It's slicker than goose snot. It did help the razor glide slightly better, but still not as smooth as I would like. After the first WTG pass I decided to try a different blade. I've never had a bad Voshkod yet, but anything is possible. I loaded an Astra which has been smooth in every razor I've tried. My next pass was XTG, which for me is S to N. Not much better. I stuck with the Cremo which helped, but it still wasn't comfortable and when I got to places where my whiskers are denser and thicker, under my jawline and my chin, I just almost couldn't get the razor to cut through the whiskers without feeling like my skin was being ripped off. I finished my second pass the best I could. I felt my face hoping to at least feel the almost complete lack of whiskers, despite the rough feel. It was not to be. It did not feel any different than my face after 2 passes with any other razor, except it hurt more.
I started a 3rd pass ATG ( I know, I know ) along my jawline, but my skin just couldn't take it. I had brought my Merkur 25c into the shower with me, just in case there were issues. Compared to the R41, it felt like there wasn't a blade in the Merkur. I did the best I could to clean up the stubble that was left, but there were a lot of places that were just too painful to shave over and get close.
So, I ended up with a not so close shave and a face that hurt like hell. I got out of the shower, dried off and disassembled both razors and patted all the parts dry and put them back together. I dried my brush as well. Then, it was time for the inevitable. I needed to apply my ASB, but I knew it was going to hurt; and it did. My Weleda is the best ASB I have ever tried. It is soothing and cooling, with just enough alcohol to be antiseptic. The burn faded in 4-5 seconds and I finally got the cooling sensation. I got up close and could see quite a bit of razor burn along my jawline and razor bumps around my mouth and on my cheeks. I NEVER get razor bumps and only occasionally get burn...usually with a new razor.
I walked out of the bedroom and into the kitchen where my wife was. She looked at me and said "holy cow, that looks like it hurts". So, that was my first experience with the milder, gentler 2013 R41. If this is tame, I'd hate to think what the 2011 version is like. I am not going to give up on this razor yet, but I certainly couldn't go to work with a shave like this. The burn would distract me all day. I'm going to try again next weekend with a different blade and different creme. I'll try a GSB or or and Israeli Crystal or maybe a Bic Chrome Platinum. I don't have any Derby's, which I hear for some reason work really well with this razor. I may have to order some.
I really want to like this razor, but if I can't get this figured out it will have to go. More to come, but not off to the best start.
After more than 2 years of DE shaving, I was confident my technique and skill were up to the task of tackling the R41. I must take some time to reassess my skills. I have read thread after thread about people's shaving experience with this razor. I've taken in all the tips, read all the horror stories, soaked up all the positive and negative comments and felt I had enough information to proceed. The feel of the blade on my skin was very similar to the blade feel of my Otto Roth New LC. The feel of the blade against the skin on both razors is very prominent. However, unlike the New, the R41 did not glide easily over my skin. I debated and debated about which blade to use. Ultimately I went with the advice I read in a thread that said just start with your favorite blade. You know how it shaves and how it reacts. The less variables the better, so I loaded it with a brand new Voshkod. I also lathered up with Cella, thinking the tallow based soap would provide some extra slickness.
I have read many accounts which describe the feel as "tugging" across your face. That is a great way to describe it. It was almost as if the shave cream wasn't there and I was pulling the razor across dry skin...that kind of tugging. I started with approximately a 30 degree angle, which is what is generally recommended, including what Muhle says is the optimal angle in their literature. I went to my left cheek and decided to try a steeper angle as some have said work for them; closer to 45 degrees. Same effect, although slightly better, but certainly not smooth. Then I got to my chin. Even going with the grain it felt like my whiskers were being grabbed and my skin would be pulled up like a piece of sod being cut and rolled.
So, before I got to my neck I rinsed off the Cella and applied my Cremo Creme. This is the slickest stuff I have ever shaved with. It's slicker than goose snot. It did help the razor glide slightly better, but still not as smooth as I would like. After the first WTG pass I decided to try a different blade. I've never had a bad Voshkod yet, but anything is possible. I loaded an Astra which has been smooth in every razor I've tried. My next pass was XTG, which for me is S to N. Not much better. I stuck with the Cremo which helped, but it still wasn't comfortable and when I got to places where my whiskers are denser and thicker, under my jawline and my chin, I just almost couldn't get the razor to cut through the whiskers without feeling like my skin was being ripped off. I finished my second pass the best I could. I felt my face hoping to at least feel the almost complete lack of whiskers, despite the rough feel. It was not to be. It did not feel any different than my face after 2 passes with any other razor, except it hurt more.
I started a 3rd pass ATG ( I know, I know ) along my jawline, but my skin just couldn't take it. I had brought my Merkur 25c into the shower with me, just in case there were issues. Compared to the R41, it felt like there wasn't a blade in the Merkur. I did the best I could to clean up the stubble that was left, but there were a lot of places that were just too painful to shave over and get close.
So, I ended up with a not so close shave and a face that hurt like hell. I got out of the shower, dried off and disassembled both razors and patted all the parts dry and put them back together. I dried my brush as well. Then, it was time for the inevitable. I needed to apply my ASB, but I knew it was going to hurt; and it did. My Weleda is the best ASB I have ever tried. It is soothing and cooling, with just enough alcohol to be antiseptic. The burn faded in 4-5 seconds and I finally got the cooling sensation. I got up close and could see quite a bit of razor burn along my jawline and razor bumps around my mouth and on my cheeks. I NEVER get razor bumps and only occasionally get burn...usually with a new razor.
I walked out of the bedroom and into the kitchen where my wife was. She looked at me and said "holy cow, that looks like it hurts". So, that was my first experience with the milder, gentler 2013 R41. If this is tame, I'd hate to think what the 2011 version is like. I am not going to give up on this razor yet, but I certainly couldn't go to work with a shave like this. The burn would distract me all day. I'm going to try again next weekend with a different blade and different creme. I'll try a GSB or or and Israeli Crystal or maybe a Bic Chrome Platinum. I don't have any Derby's, which I hear for some reason work really well with this razor. I may have to order some.
I really want to like this razor, but if I can't get this figured out it will have to go. More to come, but not off to the best start.
