Getting the Right Combination

[Earfluff]

How do I find the right Razor/Blade combination, what's the best way to go about it?

Move the same blade from razor to razor each day until it runs out

Put the same blade in all razors and test a different razor each day until they run out

Mix and match finding a blade I like and then testing it in other razors

I have 5(soon to be seven) razors and a dozen different blades.

What are the pro's and cons, what do you do?

[strop]

Welcome to B&B! I'll assume you're new to DE shaving, since the answer may change some depending on your experience.

If you are new to this, it will be very hard to tell much difference in the various combinations until your technique is sound. Then you'll be able to tell the sometimes subtle feedback that happens as you shave, and tells you if it's a good shave before you get done with that final rinse. If you nick yourself with a Feather the first time out, was it the blade, the razor, the angle, the pressure, the lather, the prep, or what?

I would pick one razor and one blade to use until you get the basics down. Know how to make great lather, map your beard so you know what is WTG,XTG, and ATG, concentrate on pressure and angle.. Then begin to experiment with different blades in that razor. Most of us here at one time or another have tried going back to a blade that we thought didn't work for us, and later got a good shave, in all likelihood because our technique was much improved.

This approach is boring. It's alot more fun to play around with different razors, blades, soaps, creams, etc. but it may take you longer to get to that BBS, no irritaion shave we all strive for.

Good luck.

[turtle]

Welcome to B&B

I found my one and only razor and it will take any blade I throw at it so can't help you out very much on your quest.

I would suggest that you use one razor and one brand of blade for at least 2 weeks straight before deciding if it works for you.

[dgerson]

I'll second the guys above me. Unless we're reading things wrong and you have a bit of experience. Pick one razor you seem to like a bit more then the others at the moment, maybe an adjustable if you want to have SOMETHING to change from shave to shave. Then try to minimize switching blades too much. Some are better after the first shave, some only last two-four shaves, it all depends. The most important thing is to try to slow down and take it easy (I know it's hard, there's just so much great stuff to try, right?). Enjoy and welcome to B&B!

[FtVinnie]

I have one additional comment. Take your razors with a blade installed. Look from the edge of the head and notice the amount of space beneath the blade. Select the razor with the medium blade height and do your blade experiments with that one. Then move to the less aggressive and more aggressive razors as you learn how the medium one works on you. I have several identical Gillettes and each is different in this respect. And stay in touch. All the best from the muddy and windy Oregon woods.

[markewallace]

My path towards that right combination has been an expensive but very fun one. I've bought seemingly everything under the sun (in just over a month, 25 razors, a bunch of soaps, creams, blades, and post-treatments) and have just played around (rather aimlessly) with different combinations until I find what works. Admittedly, I could be more scientific about it by logging my shaves and the combinations that I have used, but little by little I am figuring out what works for me. Once I get there (if ever), I'm really not sure what I'll do. I may sell off the left-overs, and I might not. I'm finding that I don't always insist on a great shave. Sometimes I just want the experience of picking up a razor that maybe hasn't gotten used for a little while. At this point, I consider wet shaving to be something that I will never stop doing. In that light, I find it impractical to believe that I will really ever come upon that one combination that I'll just stick with forever. To me, with wet shaving, variety is very much the spice of life.

Cheers,

Mark

[merkur59]

...(in just over a month, 25 razors, a bunch of soaps, creams, blades, and post-treatments)

Mark

25 razors in one month? :ouch1:

[cwhiteboy]

25 razors in one month? :ouch1:

Haha, I was thinking the same thing.

For me, i've picked one razor that I like a lot, and switch through blades, about 1 every 4 shaves. I keep a log of my shaves as well, and keep my blade samples organized; a stack of ones I tried and liked, a stack I hated, and a stack of ones that I have yet to try, in order of which I want to try first. I plan to revisit all the ones I tried and hated again, once i've gone through all of them, just to make sure. And even after that, i'm sure i'll keep them around to throw one in a razor from time to time to experiment. Have one with it, and try not to get too impatient. You could also shave twice a day, like I do :biggrin1: ( and i've got sensitive skin!!).. Best of luck!

[markewallace]

25 razors in one month? :ouch1:

hehe....yeah, well, my wife wants to kill me for it too. Every time that I foolishly tell her that I think I've finally bought the last of the razors that I really want, another one pops up here on or eBay that I just can't resist. Maybe she should just stop foolishly believing me. ;-)

- Mark

[takeshi]

How do I find the right Razor/Blade combination, what's the best way to go about it?

What are the pro's and cons, what do you do?
Subjective/YMMV as any question of "best" on any topic is.

As pointed out above, it's not just a matter of finding the equipment and supplies that are best suited to you but also a matter of improving your technique. You won't get the same results with the same equipment and supplies down the road as when you first started out. It's a tricky matter of balancing the improvement of your technique and assessing and reassessing the options as you progress. There's no one-size-fits-all approach, despite your assumption.

For some, it's easier to stick with a set until they're comfortable and have their technique down. For others, it's better to make changes every week or two. What have you tried so far? How are things working out for you? It's impossible to make recommendations on subjective matters when the person asking the question doesn't supply a lot of details on his/her self.


Even once you find the "right" combination it's not set in stone. Consider all the people here who aren't new and are still trying DE's, blades, brushes, soaps, creams, aftershaves etc that they haven't used before.

[Almightys]

Welcome to B&B! I'll assume you're new to DE shaving, since the answer may change some depending on your experience.

If you are new to this, it will be very hard to tell much difference in the various combinations until your technique is sound. Then you'll be able to tell the sometimes subtle feedback that happens as you shave, and tells you if it's a good shave before you get done with that final rinse. If you nick yourself with a Feather the first time out, was it the blade, the razor, the angle, the pressure, the lather, the prep, or what?

I would pick one razor and one blade to use until you get the basics down. Know how to make great lather, map your beard so you know what is WTG,XTG, and ATG, concentrate on pressure and angle.. Then begin to experiment with different blades in that razor. Most of us here at one time or another have tried going back to a blade that we thought didn't work for us, and later got a good shave, in all likelihood because our technique was much improved.

This approach is boring. It's alot more fun to play around with different razors, blades, soaps, creams, etc. but it may take you longer to get to that BBS, no irritaion shave we all strive for.

Good luck.

This!