Newbie technique and blade question

[gtuck]

Started DE wet shaving with a sampler pack last summer and quickly settled on the Red pack Personnas--which I guess are not really Personnas from reading other posts. But, in any case, they seemed to work well enough. I rarely nicked myself. Recently I got a small pack of Personna Labs and Med Prep blades to try. I'm into my first Lab blade and have sliced myself two or three times already. They seem to result in a very close shave but I don't know if I'm nicking myself because they are that much sharper, I've gotten lazy and in a hurry, or they are just unsuited for my skin. I face lather with cream and use a EJ DE89L.
Do WTG and XTG and seldom ATG.

My "common sense" tells me that the blades are sharper and unless I slow down, I'll slice off the top of every imperfection on my face. Appreciate thoughts from those with more "sense" and experience.

Thanks!

[DOLLARBILL]

Just like BBQ slow and low !
Enjoy Your Shave !

[guitardustin]

I find that I really only nick myself when I go too fast or get complacent, regardless of blade. Even what some consider here to be a dull blade is...well...still a paper thin razor blade that can cut you if too careless.

[Clutch Cargo]

gtuck, your EJ DE89 is a quality razor, and all of the DE blades you've tried have a great reputation. Many find the Personna Labs and Med Prep blades to be more aggressive than the Red Personnas. Nonetheless, I agree with the others to slow down. Also, try to be conscious of both your blade angle and in using little to no added pressure. The head on the Edwin Jagger razor has enough weight to it to give you a great shave with a sharp blade, but you can certainly get nicks and/or irritation if you factor in adding additional pressure. Good luck!

[ackvil]

Two points: watch your blade angle and NO pressure on the blade.

[Dennard]

Welcome!

[Lobwedge]

Two points: watch your blade angle and NO pressure on the blade.
I always find that if I nick myself it is usually due to blade angle and pressure. I recommend to also be patient with your shave.

[Tillerman7]

Just takes some concentration and practice. Enjoy!

[gtuck]

Gentlemen, appreciate the advice. Really slowed down--like the first time I started using a DE again--and with no pressure. Worked like a charm. Very smooth shave and nary a nick. Thank you. Hope everyone is enjoying a wonderful holiday!

[Sledgehammer39]

Welcome Aboard!

[ChiefBroom]

I'm a newbie too, so this isn't an expert reply. After 20-30 DE shaves, using a Trig that came packaged with a Merkur Futur for the first two or three, Derbys after that for a few more, and Feathers ever since, my experience so far has been that I cut myself less and otherwise harvest less skin using fresh Feathers than anything else, presumably because they require a very light hand and I am completely focused when I use them. The only bad shave I've had with a Feather was when I pushed one to four shaves (probably in combination with lazy lather prep). My conclusion is that when a blade, any blade, makes me apply pressure, I end up bleeding. I should add that experts can undoubtedly get more than four great shaves out of a Feather. I'm pretty sure my non-expert prep and shaving technique wears blades out prematurely.

[gtuck]

Well, giving on the very sharp blades--Meds, Labs and Feathers. My beard isn't heavy or tough enough to gain much from them other than nicks when I get the tiniest bit careless. So back to Red Pack Personnas. They seem to work well enough and are more forgiving to my careless ways.

[Sully2]

Well, giving on the very sharp blades--Meds, Labs and Feathers. My beard isn't heavy or tough enough to gain much from them other than nicks when I get the tiniest bit careless. So back to Red Pack Personnas. They seem to work well enough and are more forgiving to my careless ways.


Newbie shaver here partner and I think your making a mistake giving then up. If "technique" is the problem you arent going to learn anything by going back to a lesser blade. Learn to shave using the sharpest thing $$ can buy and start S..L..O..W and work your speed up. When you get the angle correct you'll find all you need do is lightly drag that razor across your face and off the whiskers come.

Im as green as peas myself partner and just started with a DE razor the middle of december and Im LOVING this warm creamy lather and super close shaveing

[NickCutlip]

Welcome to B&B !!

[ChiefBroom]

Well, giving on the very sharp blades--Meds, Labs and Feathers. My beard isn't heavy or tough enough to gain much from them other than nicks when I get the tiniest bit careless. So back to Red Pack Personnas. They seem to work well enough and are more forgiving to my careless ways.

Can't say that doesn't make good sense. I like sharp ones in part because they're a challenge, not only with respect to shaving technique but also prep. My experience is consistent with yours: when I get lazy, even for a transient moment, there's a pretty good chance I will let blood, either from a nick or, more often, weeping. Same goes for prep. When I finally started to get the hang of making good lather, my touch naturally lightened even more, and I've found that the closest, cleanest (i.e., no blood), and most enjoyable shaves happen to coincide with best lather production. (It may be sheer coincidence, but I seemed to achieve a minor breakthrough during the first shave I used Tabac soap, which was just 3 days ago.)

But I am SLOW. It tends to fall apart -- and, possibly worse, kill the Zen quality of the experience -- when I try to improve on time. I hope eventually to be able to get through a shave faster, but I suspect making that a goal would be a mistake.

Anyway, we don't all have the same circumstances or priorities in relation to shaving. I have sparse beard on my cheeks; dense, thick, and wiry whiskers on my chin; and crazy grain patterns -- oh yeah, plus a fairly jagged, old scar that runs from the left side of my bottom lip to the tip of my chin. So my face is a challenge in itself. I actually believe very sharp blades work in my favor with it, as long as I maintain focus and a light touch. I should go back and try a Derby now, but I haven't been able to make myself do it.

Good luck.

[gtuck]

... When I finally started to get the hang of making good lather, my touch naturally lightened even more, and I've found that the closest, cleanest (i.e., no blood), and most enjoyable shaves happen to coincide with best lather production.


Yup, I've found that too. I've bought a couple great brushes and have good cream, but it still comes down to the fool on the end of the brush. Just can't rush working up a good lather. I try to be very light with the razor but with the very sharp blades there seems to be very little room for error. And error is something I'm especially good at!

[ChiefBroom]

Yup, I've found that too. I've bought a couple great brushes and have good cream, but it still comes down to the fool on the end of the brush. Just can't rush working up a good lather. I try to be very light with the razor but with the very sharp blades there seems to be very little room for error. And error is something I'm especially good at!

The part I don't have dialed in yet is how much water to add. I'm probably playing around with too many variables in terms of soaps and creams. It's just too much fun to keep trying out new stuff.