First DE

[juvefc]

So i just picked up my first DE...mostly for head shaving but i do plan to use it for my face as well. I was going to pick up a Gillette Slim but then decided to just buy new as my first. I got the Edwin Jagger DE89BA11, Blade Sample Packs consisting of Merkur, Feather and Dorco ST-301 and a Proraso Aloe and Green-Tea Shaving Soap. Plan to pick up my brush locally, an Omega. Kind of nervous to head shave with it so i plan to take it real slow.

[dpmtherrien]

Congrats on getting started. You'll find lots of tips here at B&B to get you going.

Also any help or advice is available for the asking, so welcome, and get involved.

[Dalejr]

Nice choice on the razor...

[plpenn]

Welcome! Take your time and poke around here for a while and you will be fine.

[bakerbarber]

You are going to love it!

Maybe try it on your face first? I use a DE to shave my head, but it was easier to get the technique right when I could see what I was doing.

Don't be in a hurry.

Your Mantra for the next 4 weeks will be;

NO PRESSURE

NO PRESSURE

NO PRESSURE

Let the blade do the work, beard reduction is key, and use more product.

[Sledgehammer39]

Congrats, and Welcome Aboard!!

[benito]

Good luck. This site is seriously a gold mine of great info. I'm starting back up with DE and there isn't much you won't be able to find by searching here.

[juvefc]

Thanks guys. Excited to get it delivered. I'm starting low and depending how i like it i'll get into the better makes/brands when it comes to brushes/creams/soaps etc etc

[juvefc]

You are going to love it!

Maybe try it on your face first? I use a DE to shave my head, but it was easier to get the technique right when I could see what I was doing.

Don't be in a hurry.

Your Mantra for the next 4 weeks will be;

NO PRESSURE

NO PRESSURE

NO PRESSURE

Let the blade do the work, beard reduction is key, and use more product.

Been doing a lot of reading and watching lately. The thing for me right now is #1) the money spent on good cartridge razors #2) The closeness of the shave. I have to sometimes go over the same spots so many times that it just becomes irritated. Is it my technique? Is it the cartridge type razor? Is it my lathering practices? All of the above? This is why i wanted to give something else a try. Also, i do plan to test it out on my face first. My most sensitive spots on the head are the sides of it. I'm actually not balding but just like shaving my head. The thing is, the top of my head always grows in lighter than the sides at first which makes me look bald lol. I get a real close shave on the top ALL THE TIME but with the sides i really need to go ATG to get a real good close shave which of course does get irritated at time. Hopefully using a DE will help me out with this.

[SharpEdge]

Hi! Good luck with the head shaving, I do it regularly as well. Some tips that I'm sure will help you out:

1) No pressure...of course.
2) Divide your head into sections eg. right front quarter, left rear quarter, etc. and shave it in sections, at least for the first pass. That way you will insure that there are no unshaven areas or swathes (headshavers will know the feeling all too well). Wet and lather each area before you shave it, don't go for one big lather, at least for starters. The sections you aren't shaving will dry out.
3) ATG - it's not gonna happen. With good technique and a good blade (I use Feathers), you won't need to.
4) As when shaving your face, stretch the skin a bit, and move it around to get the maximum amount of blade exposure. When doing the lower back of the head, look downwards, as this will tighten up the skin and expose more hair.
5) If you have thick hair, more passes > more pressure! I sometimes do 4 varying passes on certain areas to avoid irritation as opposed to 1XWTG and 1XTG. Especially true for the crown area.
6) Wet your head constantly, and use moist lather. If in doubt, moisten again! The noggin gets nicked easily.

Good luck!

[jsj_297]

Nice set up!

[bakerbarber]

Hi! Good luck with the head shaving, I do it regularly as well. Some tips that I'm sure will help you out:

1) No pressure...of course.
2) Divide your head into sections eg. right front quarter, left rear quarter, etc. and shave it in sections, at least for the first pass. That way you will insure that there are no unshaven areas or swathes (headshavers will know the feeling all too well). Wet and lather each area before you shave it, don't go for one big lather, at least for starters. The sections you aren't shaving will dry out.
3) ATG - it's not gonna happen. With good technique and a good blade (I use Feathers), you won't need to.
4) As when shaving your face, stretch the skin a bit, and move it around to get the maximum amount of blade exposure. When doing the lower back of the head, look downwards, as this will tighten up the skin and expose more hair.
5) If you have thick hair, more passes > more pressure! I sometimes do 4 varying passes on certain areas to avoid irritation as opposed to 1XWTG and 1XTG. Especially true for the crown area.
6) Wet your head constantly, and use moist lather. If in doubt, moisten again! The noggin gets nicked easily.
Good luck!

AHhh such wisdom.

More pressure is never greater than more passes. Such is the Tao of DE shaving.
Head shaving with DE will not initially be as clean and close as a cartridge. Neither will DE face shaving. With practice and experience- say 4 to 6 weeks give or take- you can achieve supieor results and at much less cost per shave than cartridge. PERIOD. Emphasize CAN. If you practice and do not get sucked into the hobby or collector side of DE shaving. One solid razor and one supply of blades along with decent software, eg. soap and aftershave, plus a humble brush, eg. tweezerman or van derhagen boar, you will have all the tools at your disposal. How you use them is the key.






Been doing a lot of reading and watching lately. The thing for me right now
is #1) the money spent on good cartridge razors #2) The closeness of the shave.
I have to sometimes go over the same spots so many times that it just becomes
irritated. Is it my technique? Is it the cartridge type razor? Is it my
lathering practices? All of the above? This is why i wanted to give something
else a try. Also, i do plan to test it out on my face first. My most sensitive
spots on the head are the sides of it. I'm actually not balding but just like
shaving my head. The thing is, the top of my head always grows in lighter than
the sides at first which makes me look bald lol. I get a real close shave on the
top ALL THE TIME but with the sides i really need to go ATG to get a real good
close shave which of course does get irritated at time. Hopefully using a DE
will help me out with this.


If you "lather well" your razor will "shave well."

I think I read that in someone's link to a 100 year old article. It was written on a straight razor I believe.
The point is that all the fancy gear in the world can't make up for technique. Like riding a bicycle, you can read about how to do it in depth and ad nauseum. Until you try it, you will not actually know how to do it.

Everyone has different interpretations and opinions. Also everyone has different types of skin and hair. To truly discover what works best for you asking for help is the first step.

Now you need to get one DE razor. Just one.
Buy blade sample packs.
Stick with one kind of soap that you don't hate. Get a brush and concentrate on doing everything the same way every time.
Above all, do not get discouraged if your results are not perfect the first few times. Sometimes we have to take a step back to take several steps forward. It is worth it.
Your approach should center on undoing the muscle memory your arm and hand have from using cartridges. The way you shave, the way you hold the razor, the amount of pressure, the preparation, etc..

I'm not saying forget what you know about shaving and start at square one. It's really simple in that part of the learning curve is forgetting the old process you're used to. You won't need 45 minutes to shave, or special secrets to achieve smooth results.
It is going to be a path of personal discovery. The journey is part of the reward. As you discover what works best for you and what blades and techniques you prefer your results will improve and so will your enjoyment of the self sufficiency achieved.

Think of it, with cartridges you are a slave to one shaving system. When you've become comfortable with your DE razor, you can buy countless different handles and styles to try out. A myriad of shapes and designs with different profiles and characteristics. All of which take the same blades and require no other upkeep and replacement parts than a new blade now and then and a rinse in water and dry place to live.

Hang in there and know that there is light at the end of the tunnel. Knowing yourself is one of the best rewards of sticking with it and learning what works best for you.

[Greyfox]

Enjoy it.

[mftoms59]

... and depending how i like it i'll get into the better makes/brands when it comes to brushes/creams/soaps etc etc

Oh, We Know... We Know :sneaky2: :drool: :w00t:...:lol: :lol: :lol: