Am I missing somthing?

[Nizzyrate]

I have been shaving for about a month and a half with a merkur HD/DE razor and a badger brush and some nice crabtree shaving soap and I can get decent shaves but I can't get close without getting razor burned and even when I just try to reduce the beard it still will leave a little irritation. I've been really careful not to put any pressure on the blade as I shave. Also I've been careful about making sure my beard is plenty hydrated and wet before I apply any soap and during the shaving process. Although I don't keep a perfect angle as I shave, I think I do alright. I use some lotion afterward and that helps to reduce the irritation afterward but it seems like everyone else gets really great shaves with no razor burn and I wonder what I'm not doing right? Any advice out there for a guy whose still getting burned?

[Groundhog]

Is it possible the irritation you're getting is from the soap and mistaking the reaction of your skin as razor burn? You could maybe try a soap or cream that's a little better for sensitive skin. Some options to try would be Speick or Valobra soap in shaving stick form, Truefitt & Hill Ultimate Comfort (in soap or cream), Art of Shaving Unscented cream, or Tabula Rasa cream.

Also, what blades are you using? That could be the source of your problem also. That Merkur HD is a good razor, but they're only as good as the blade you put in 'em.

[Nizzyrate]

I use the merkur blades. I haven't tried any of the others. I've also tried Col Conks Lime shaving soap with slightly worse results. Those are the only 2 soaps that I've tried.

[Bristlingbeardofodin]

How many passes do you do? How many shaves do you do per blade? Do you shave WTG/XTG/ATG? Have your tried letting your face recover a bit before the next shave?

It could be a reaction to the soap or the lotion. I have used the Conk but not the other so I don't know if they are similar or not.

I get good shaves with a Merkur but many here do not like them. A Dorco is one of the most smooth and forgiving blades so it might be worth a try.

[Bradford]

Did you try any other blades? PM me your address and I will send you a couple of Derbys.

[Bradford]

Did you try any other blades? PM me your address and I will send you a couple of Derbys.

Sounds like you are using Merkur blades.

[AFG]

I'd bet you will see a big improvement if you start trying other blades.I had a fair amount of irritation, my shaves were not very close and I really had second thoughts about all of this until I started using some of the blades I had bought in a sample pack. Just about anything else worked better for me and hopefully you'd see similar results. I settled on the Derby for my everyday blade. I think you may be surprised to see the difference the right blade can make.

[Roman414]

Could be your skin is just more sensitive than most. The HD is more aggressive than some razors, you might require a gentle blade in it My HD causes irritation with a Derby, but gives me a great shave with a Merkur. Grab one of letterk's sampler packs, and as someone suggested, try a different soap or cream for awhile.

[Johnny D]

I am fairly new as well and also have the HD. I like the Dorco and Derby blades as well. A sampler pack is absolutely the way to go. The Merkur blades didn't seem to agree with me either but you'll find that everyone is different. I've also found that my face needs some serious prep work before I shave. I get a much smoother shave and less irritation the better my prep work is. A hot towel and Proraso pre/post before each pass. An alum block followed by a balm to finish. It's quite the production for me but my shaves are getting better and I enjoy it. :smile:

[Christoph]

Hard to say what the problem is exactly. I got terrible shaves before going back to a DE, brush, etc. I say 'going back to', but really I used a DE only for a little while when I first started shaving, and then soon, unfortunatly, I got into cartridge razors.

Anyway, it took me about 4 months before I got to the point where I was getting great shaves everytime. Its been about a couple of years now. I get great shaves almost always, and they are actually still improving!

It may take you a while longer to experiment, and to fine tune your routine. With will, practice, and work, I think just about anyone can end up getting great shaves.

Good luck.

[Mr. Gillette]

I use the merkur blades. I haven't tried any of the others. I've also tried Col Conks Lime shaving soap with slightly worse results. Those are the only 2 soaps that I've tried.

You'll love those Derbies...I am not a huge fan...NO...I will say it...I HATE Merkur blades. They are a disaster.

Wondering one thing-- we're assuming we have the angle right, the pressure right, your prep (in your mind-- I'm a big fan of Kyle's pre-shave prep, but okay...) is in line. Can't go too far off base with Col. Conk, etc...

...is it ever possible, (and pay attention next time you shave) that you make a stroke, and then overlap the area you just shaved in some form? I ask this, because for me, one of the biggest culprits in producing razor burn, even with a really good blade, is our natural tendency to "just touch up a little bit" some area that we've just scraped the lather off.

Even in how we overlap (side to side) our strokes, (for instance, N-S) if 1/4" to 1/2" inch of a sharp blade is hanging over into the area we've just knocked the lather off, well-- if we assume 4 strokes across the cheek, that would be something like 2" of dry shaving on each cheek, and even more along the neck. If you take short strokes and start the second stroke halfway up into that area AND make that small overlap, you probably double it.

If you shaved with no lather, a section of your face 2-4" wide, wouldn't you expect razor burn? I would. Keep in mind, as much as I don't enjoy Merkur blades, they are one thing-- they are an EXCELLENT squeegie. Very little lather can stay in the path of a single pass. (That's my objection to cartridge systems-- the first blade takes away the lather, and 1, 2, 3 4? more come along ripping into essentially dry skin.

Something to think about. Don't give up...just give up the Merkur blades, and fast!

[Nizzyrate]

Thanks for all the input everybody I will certainly try some new blades and experiment with all the advice.

[crankymoose]

Welcome to B&B :thumbup1:

Here is the link if you need it for where to purchase the blade sampler packs http://westcoastshaving.com/