First real DE shave--Success

[Mulligan]

I'm pretty new to Badger and Blade, though I have been lurking for a while now. I had my first real DE traditional wetshave today and--wow!--what an experience. I had been using some canned junk with my DE for a few weeks while assembling my initial shave den--liquidating most of my Christmas bank, mind you--but this morning everything was finally ready, cream, brush, and all. Here's what I used:

TOBS Mr. Taylor cream
Shavemac 21mm finest badger
Gilette Super Speed (black handle) with Feather blade
Nivea for Men after shave balm

I was so pleased with the scent of the Mr. Taylor cream that I'm chomping at the bit to get some after shave and cologne.

Overall, it was a fantastic shave, but with one minor problem. I had difficulty getting all the hair on my neck area under the chin and wound up overshaving to the point of some scraping. Any ideas on better ways to go about shaving that particular area?

Thanks a lot for all the helpful things on this forum.

[cheerwind]

Hello!

I find that with the harder to get areas the temptation is to go after those missed hairs without applying the proper lubrication, and this significantly contributes to the scraping. Don't be afraid to rinse and re-lather a lot while you're getting technique down.

Another thing for those difficult areas is to keep experimenting with different approaches while getting comfortable with the limits and potentials of your razor. With the sensitive neck and chin, my greatest hindrance was fear of nicks and cuts, but after a few shaves I found the confidence to make more aggressive attacks without those worries. I still have a way to go, but it's coming together nicely.

[Mulligan]

You're right about the temptation to not applying the proper lubrication to those tough spots. With a Gillette Fusion it wasn't that much of a problem, but such is not the case with the DE.. I'll definitely keep that in mind next time. Thanks a lot!

[jadam318]

First, Welcome to B&B! That looks like an outstanding starter set up you have there. I think TOBS cream is some of the best cream on the market.

As far as over shaving those difficult areas, you already got some good advice there. I have the same problem. Not only is my neck more difficult to shave simply due to funny angles and what-not, that is also where I have the thickest beard. I find that if I simply practice using no pressure, relathering between passes, and move slow I can end up with a good shave. It ends up being an exercise in discipline for me, but I need that, too. :lol:

[mkevenson]

Congratulations on your 1st DE shave. Sounds like you did very well. I also have the black tip SS and it is not the most aggresive blade holder. That being said my only suggestion for the neck area would be to really map the hair growth pattern and in the final pass or passes go atg. Not on the 1st or 2nd pass but after the bulk of the hair has been removed. A "clean up" pass as it were.

[Mulligan]

Congratulations on your 1st DE shave. Sounds like you did very well. I also have the black tip SS and it is not the most aggresive blade holder. That being said my only suggestion for the neck area would be to really map the hair growth pattern and in the final pass or passes go atg. Not on the 1st or 2nd pass but after the bulk of the hair has been removed. A "clean up" pass as it were.

Would another razor be better in this case? Not that i really need another one, but... any suggestions?

Also, how does one go about mapping the beard?

[JPM]

Congrats on the first shave!

[mkevenson]

Would another razor be better in this case? Not that i really need another one, but... any suggestions?

Also, how does one go about mapping the beard?

1st, I think that any razor with a good sharp blade will give a good shave. The difference in "aggresiveness" is usually determined by the amount of blade that is exposed from the head. see wiki :http://wiki.badgerandblade.com/index.php/Double-Edged_Safety_Razors_Ranked_by_Aggressiveness

A more aggressive razor may cut more hair with fewer passes hence maybe less irritation, HOWEVER, a more aggresive razor may also shed more blood with improper technique.

As far as mapping the hair, I would suggest not shaving a day or two if possible. Next take one section of your face at a time and gently rub your fingers over the hair in multiple directions. The direction that feels the most resistance is opposite the way the hair grows. So if on your right cheek when rubing lightly towards your jaw line you feel the most resistance then your beard in that area is growing from the jaw to the top of your head. So just go all over the face and map (draw a picture if you like) of the hair growth direction for each section. When I first started I would forget how the hair went so I placed my map on the wall next to my mirror. All this mapping with tell you which direction to move the blade as you shave. A common progression is for ther 1st pass to go wtg (with the grain), 2nd pass, xtg
(across the grain) 3rd pass atg (against the grain). There are many opinions about this progression but the point being remove the hair in the easiest direction 1st and only remove a little at a time. The object is not to get a BBS with one pass , but to gradually reduce the beard with subsequent passes till done. Usually this method will give good results with less irritation provided your technique is good. Technique discussed elsewhear.

Keep asking these questions and keep practicing, you will achieve shaving Nirvana.:thumbup:

Happy Shaving.
Mark

[winkydink]

Congrats on the first shave! For the first month or so, resist the urge to remove every last whisker. Do your normal number of passes and work on your technique. I found that once I did this, I could more closely concentrate on blade angle and listening for that sound of beard removal that tells me I've got the blade & lack of pressure just right.

Try to resist the urge to change razors/blades until you've refined your technique. You're already trying to master something new. Don't make it harder by changing variables you can hold constant.

Welcome to Badger & Blade!

[Go West Young Man]

Learn to accept a less than perfect shave at this point - trying to get every last hair will only cause much pain. It'll get better as your technique improves.

[saltypete]

Welcome! Sounds like you have excellent shaving gear. All you really need to do is practice. I too had trouble with the hairs under my chin and on my neck. Even now, if I am not careful I end up with irritation. As I said before , it all comes down to practice and experience.

Pete

[Crawford Montizano]

First shave down. Thousands to go... Congrats!

[Mulligan]

Thanks for the warm welcome, everyone, and all the great suggestions! I'll be working hard to improve my technique over the next few months and hopefully come out the other end, as mkevenson so aptly put it, in Shave Nirvana!

[skklog]

Welcome to :badger: & http://www.linking-directory.com/avatars/user_uploaded/razorblade_30.jpg