What razor is this?

[alex41]

Went to an antique shop in search of a DE razor and I came across one:

254600 (don't mind the witch hazel, cortizone, and gillette blades).

It is a Gillette razor but that is all I know. Got it for around $23.

[amishmotorboat]

That is a long combed, bar handled NEW.

[alex41]

Would that be a good beginner razor? Or should I hold out until I get another?

[drocu]

Would that be a good beginner razor? Or should I hold out until I get another?

I say go for it. Why wait?

Just be careful with the angle because open comb razors, such as yours, tend to be more aggressive. Personally, I found the "New" razors fairly forgiving and relatively mild. The long comb refers to the length of the teeth; there is a short comb version.

Here's a link to the wiki with your razor:
http://wiki.badgerandblade.com/Gillette_NEW_Bar_Handle

[alex41]

How do you feel about Gillette Platinum blades that are in the picture? I have serious razor burn/ingrowns/pfb that I had pictures of in another thread - http://badgerandblade.com/vb/showthread.php/298984-Razor-Burn-Issues - should I grow my beard out a bit in order to relieve some of that or will actually shaving with this razor help that?

EDIT: Thanks for the help, by the way.

[drocu]

How do you feel about Gillette Platinum blades that are in the picture? I have serious razor burn/ingrowns/pfb that I had pictures of in another thread - http://badgerandblade.com/vb/showthread.php/298984-Razor-Burn-Issues - should I grow my beard out a bit in order to relieve some of that or will actually shaving with this razor help that?

EDIT: Thanks for the help, by the way.

Personally, I've never used those blades so I can't give you any guidance about them. If my skin is irritated, I generally find it better to lay off shaving for a bit. Usually when I have 1-2 days of growth, I find shaving easier personally.

If you have interviews coming up, I wouldn't try something new like DE shaving. It's unlikely but you could get worse razor burn that'll stick around through your interviews. I would stick with something that works for you even if it's an electric razor or Mach 3. Wait until after your interviews before you try something new.

[alex41]

Thanks for the advice, I'll probably do that. My beard is real thick and curly and grows in all directions, so sometimes even if I don't shave my beard for a few days the redness or irritation stays. Anything I should do in the meantime to help my face?

[CGW409]

Went to an antique shop in search of a DE razor and I came across one:

254600 (don't mind the witch hazel, cortizone, and gillette blades).

It is a Gillette razor but that is all I know. Got it for around $23.

23 seems a bit steep but then I've been having some great luck lately and might have just gotten some really good deals but in seems in good shape despite major to total plate loss but that wouldn't bother me as I actually went looking for one in that condition.
Give it a good clean and polish and it'll look really bad a$$ steam punk like this....
254641
If you've got your DE basics down pat it should be a great razor if not just take it slow and easy.

[alex41]

I'm gonna test this blade out after my interview on Monday. Then if I mess it up I have another week til my next interview haha.

[nick/cut]

Good luck with the razor and the blade, personally I find that the platinums are sharp and 'unforgiving'. As for the razor burn, I looked at your last post and I'm not entirely convinced that's the culprit. When I started wet shaving i found certain creams would make my face red and itchy just above the upper lip and a bit on the cheeks. I switched creams and brushes and found out my face hates lanolin. Keep in mind I have very bad eczema, I have had the problem since I was like 9; I'm now almost 30, and for some reason it just brings the worst out in my skin. Like I said consult a dermatologist to find out the real problem.

[alex41]

The derms have said that I have PFB, and even if I don't shave my face gets irritation. The only way I've gotten rid of it (temporarily) was to grow my beard out for a few weeks or so. So, at this point I'm not even sure that a DE will help, it's almost like my last resort to trying to get an irritation free face.

[BBrad]

Alex . . . I read through your other thread as well . . . I too am fair-skinned with a very sensitive neck. I wore a beard for almost 30 years and still agonized over the minimal shaving required to trim the edges! Twelve years ago I ditched the beard for a younger "look" and immediately ran into irritation and bumps on my neck. It was not until I learned how to properly prep and shave (for the first time in my life) and ditched a bunch of bad habits that I was able to establish an irritation-free neck zone!

My free advice (worth every penny of the price) and based on my experiences is as follows:

1. Ditch the shower shaving. Shave at the sink, where you can focus on your face and master the shaving art. Shower shaving is a rushed, mechanical process. A proper shave takes time and concentration.

2. Prep is everything. Ditch the canned goo. Build a thick, wet, and warm lather in a bowl with a brush before applying it to your face. Be gentle (especially in sensitive areas) with your brush - or even apply by hand on your neck if the brush is contributing to irritation. Don't try to get your lather too hot - it accomplishes nothing more than warm lather and can cause your skin to react to the heat.

3. Master the art of "no pressure" shaving. Lighten your touch until you barely feel the razor against your skin, and then lighten it some more. Modern cartridge razors use spring-loaded blades that (theoretically) don't care how much pressure you use, so most men have never fully developed the ultra-gentle touch that leads to the best shaves.

4. Shave before you shower. I know most guys feel that the time in the shower before the shave "hydrates" the beard and "softens" it making for an easier shave . . . but the hot water can cause skin swelling in sensitive areas. As the blonde son of a red-haired mother, my beard is not thick and wiry and is not in need of softening prior to the shave.

5. Ditch the multi-blade razors in favor of DE. Try a vintage Gillette Super Speed as it is a gentle and easy to master razor. Pick one brand of blades and stick with that combination for at least a month before trying other blades or razors. While the Gillette NEW razor that you are looking at is gentle (as far as open-comb razors go) you will probably be better off with a solid bar design to start.

6. Shave sensitive areas with the grain (WTG) only one pass per shave for now. As your razor-fu improves and your skin heals, you may be able to add a second WTG pass or even XTG . . . but you will probably never be able to go ATG in those areas. Never try to shave with only one pass in healthy areas - reduce the beard in stages rather than try to remove it all in one pass.

7. Pamper your face with a lotion or balm after the shave, but stay away from classic after-shave that contains alcohol until after your skin is well-healed.

Best of luck to you in your quest for irritation-free shaves!

[alex41]

Thanks for the tips Brad - but do you think I should take a (short) shower before shaving since my beard is thick? I will look out to see if I can find any of the Gillette Super Speeds as well.

Just an aside about the Gillette New - I let it soak in hot water, dish soap, and isopropyl alcohol, then scrubbed it, then let it soak in isopropyl overnight. Is this a good regimen to sterilize the razor?

[seizure]

I personally love those Gillette Platinum blades. I find them to be wonderfully smooth in my Edwin Jagger DE89 (and my 37c slant as well, but not quite as great).

They're somewhat hard to come by at decent prices.

[showard]

The razor in your pic is my favorite by a big margin. As far as prepping and blade choice, I wet my face and lather some soap (just bar soap) on it first thing. Then it's the last thing I rinse off when finishing my shower. Leave my face wet while drying off. Then shave. I use Astra SPs or Gillette 7 O'clock - I like all varieties of these- and Arko. It feels like there's not even a blade loaded in the razor at that point. When you get that feeling, you'll know it!

[alex41]

Sounds good guys, can't wait to try it out!

Anyone have any comments on my sterilization technique I said 2 posts above?

[Saltchuck]

If the New feels a bit harsh to you, don't give up on it. Find a milder razor like a Gillette Tech or Superspeed to develop your technique, then come back to the New. I thought my New was too aggressive at first, but now it's my favorite razor. :thumbup:

[BBrad]

Thanks for the tips Brad - but do you think I should take a (short) shower before shaving since my beard is thick? I will look out to see if I can find any of the Gillette Super Speeds as well.

Just an aside about the Gillette New - I let it soak in hot water, dish soap, and isopropyl alcohol, then scrubbed it, then let it soak in isopropyl overnight. Is this a good regimen to sterilize the razor?

Since you are now showering first, then shaving, and experiencing problems . . . try the exact opposite and work from there. Shave first, warmish water at best, and see what happens. Note if you have any irritation before you expose your neck to the hot water of the shower.

Alcohol is corrosive to many things, metals being some of them. To kill germs, a dip in alcohol followed by a quick air dry is what kills the cooties. Soaking in alcohol only gets them drunk, and eats away at the plating.

Really and truly, just dish soap, hot water, and elbow grease is all that is needed to clean a razor. Sterilization is not needed, and a good sanitary cleaning is all we need. The razor cannot cut you . . . only the blade does that, and I certainly don't recommend using an old, dirty blade to shave with! Often times, in a quest to eliminate all germs and cooties, we damage razors beyond belief by boiling in water, soaking in corrosive solvents like alcohol or bleach. Most newly-found razors have not been in contact with blood-borne pathogens for months or years . . . long enough to kill just about anything. A good cleaning to remove the crud is sufficient.

I ain't died yet . . . but I did stay at a Holliday Inn Express last night!! :lol:

As for the thickness of your beard . . . my hair (and beard) is "thick" due to the shear number of hairs per square inch. Each hair is fine and whispy . . . my genetics do not produce large diameter (thick) pieces of curly wire like some less-fair skinned bretheren! The difficulty comes with the coarseness of each hair, not the number of hairs per acre of face.

[BBrad]

If the New feels a bit harsh to you, don't give up on it. Find a milder razor like a Gillette Tech or Superspeed to develop your technique, then come back to the New. I thought my New was too aggressive at first, but now it's my favorite razor. :thumbup:

Exactly!! Get the technique perfected with the Tech or SS, then advance to open comb razors. Good advice!!

[alex41]

Thanks again Brad, I'll definitely take your advice. If I don't have access to a Tech or SS, will I be okay with the one I have though? I should just be more careful, no?

[BBrad]

Oh, yes . . . a NEW is tame enough, just not as forgiving as a Tech or SS would be!

Mind your angle and pressure, and the NEW will be your trusted friend in no time!

[alex41]

I also rewatched one of Mantic's videos - he says in the beginning to not worry so much about grain, but to just get a good lather and just do a N-S pass. Should I try this or should I go E-W on my neck when I usually do?

[nick/cut]

The derms have said that I have PFB, and even if I don't shave my face gets irritation. The only way I've gotten rid of it (temporarily) was to grow my beard out for a few weeks or so. So, at this point I'm not even sure that a DE will help, it's almost like my last resort to trying to get an irritation free face.

A DE is not your last resort.. Permanent hair removal will definitely get rid of the PFB :)

[alex41]

A DE is not your last resort.. Permanent hair removal will definitely get rid of the PFB :)

Unfortunately, red heads don't respond well to laser hair treatments - it works best in dark-haired individuals.