Getting tired of bleeding

**Justinsane** · 09-08-2009, 11:37 PM

I'm about 5 shaves in and I'm still bleeding. I'm using a 38C, Merkur blades, Proraso shaving soap, shaving after a shower...I only bleed under my chin, I'm taking short strokes, paying close attention to technique. Are Merkur blades really that bad that they would/could be the issue?

**mdunn** · 09-09-2009, 12:12 AM

they really are - though remember, youre new.. they kinda multiply any mistakes in technique

**jpkunst** · 09-09-2009, 12:29 AM

Originally Posted by Justinsane

Are Merkur blades really that bad that they would/could be the issue?

I don't think so.

5 shaves is not that many. It took me about a month of shaving before I was really comfortable with the DE razor. Be patient.

**Cookie_Junkie** · 09-09-2009, 01:02 AM

Hello Justin,

I, too, wouldn't blame the blades so far. Of course they are not the very best you can find on earth, especially at this price, but I started with the exact same setup:
a Merkur 38C and the pack of Merkur blades you get as a "gift"

...

Focus on technique and remember: NO PRESSURE! The 38C is a heavy little bast*** and will do the work for you.
Blade angle is important too, of course you could get some more forgiving blades (Derbys, Red Personnas...), but you can perfectly learn the hard way...
Keep it wet, don't skip the prep; that should not make it so hard!

Short strokes, NO PRESSURE, and a mere 2 passes in the beginning should do ya. Do not scrape skin with blade at a perpendicular angle.
And remember, it is all about beard REDUCTION. Check out Mantic59 on Youtube.

Keep up and good luck.
C_J

**Leon** · 09-09-2009, 01:53 AM

I'm not DE user, I use straight razors, but the "Do's" and "Don't's" are the same - no pressure, short strokes, no scraping, good prep, good lather, ...

Wet-shaving is an equation with many variables.

**SilkySmooth** · 09-09-2009, 01:56 AM

I find that if and when I nick myself, it's usually from blade placement and not the stroke. You may want to try taking slightly longer strokes with minimal/no pressure. You can also try slowing down when you place your blade onto your skin.

**Drubbing** · 09-09-2009, 02:22 AM

I started with a Merkur blade (only 2 weeks in...) because I got one with the HD. I found it Ok, as I didn't have anything other than a cart to compare it to. But having tried Derby's and Feathers, I would go back.

As everyone says, pressure is everything. Even when you don't think you're exerting any, if you hacking yourself up, you are.

Holding the razor lightly and applying too much pressure to the face are possible too easily confused with each other.

It's all too easy to apply lots of pressure with a cart and get away with it, as I did for decades, as the blades pivot and 'give'. DE's don't.

So you really need to be aware of how much you're enforcing the blade against your skin. IME, it really doesn't take much to develop irritation and slice and dice yourself.

**Abdiel** · 09-09-2009, 02:37 AM

I recommend a blade sampler pack. Just as razors are different, so to are blades. Merkur blades are only a step or two up from the recycled beer cans found at the local drug store.

That said the chin area can be tricky, I would say it's second only to the neck. Focus on no pressure, proper angle, and make sure your short strokes are gentle and flowing. Short slow strokes are the key especially at first. Also make sure you are going WTG first. The chin is one of those places hair direction can suddenly change from the rest of your face. What may be WTG right next to your chin could be XTG or even ATG on your chin. And either without first going WTG could cause a bloody experience.

**Blue-EyedSon** · 09-09-2009, 02:54 AM

It really is hard to say. I started with Merkur blades in a Futur. As I have a beard, I was starting of just shaving my neck. Initially, there was a lot of blood loss. Over time, my technique improved and it got better, but never really went away completely. Then I picked up a '56SS and continued using Merkurs. That was even better by far and I could get through most shaves without blood loss, with only occasional weepers/nicks. I recently picked up a blade sampler pack and have been working through that. I've found some other blades that do treat me much better than the Merkur's I started with. All that to say...It could be the Merkur blades, but I would guess that it is a technique issue as you are just starting out.

**Luc** · 09-09-2009, 02:57 AM

Merkur aren't so bad but they aren't the best. They will get the job done. Eventually, you will get better. I would recommend, as already mentionned, a razor blade sample pack.

Take your time, no pressure, short strokes. That's the key!

**alex2363** · 09-09-2009, 03:41 AM

Originally Posted by Justinsane

I'm about 5 shaves in and I'm still bleeding. I'm using a 38C, Merkur blades, Proraso shaving soap, shaving after a shower...I only bleed under my chin, I'm taking short strokes, paying close attention to technique. Are Merkur blades really that bad that they would/could be the issue?

hang in there, i too lost pints of blood at first. i had american red cross on speed dial with my back up blood transfusions..lol. its just a labor of love, you will get better everyday. god bless

**michiganlover** · 09-09-2009, 03:41 AM

Originally Posted by mdunn

they really are - though remember, youre new.. they kinda multiply any mistakes in technique

+1

I have tried Merkur blades, and found them to be absolute garbage. They pulled, and skipped on shave one the way other blades do at the end of their life. Totally worthless!!

Immediately change to a higher quality blade: Derby's are usually a good starter blade for newbies, or you can buy a blade sampler pack.

**gerwen** · 09-09-2009, 04:52 AM

I started out with a Derby blade (few weeks ago), and have only seen a spot of blood twice.

It's probably harder to learn with poor tools, so grab a sampler pack, load a derby and try again.

**Boba Fett** · 09-09-2009, 04:53 AM

I must also stress patience, practice, technique development, and blade sampling. Five shaves in is but a few grains in the sand box of a lifetime of shaves. Keep at it, and don't feel left out--the chin is tough for many of us here. The neck and upper lip tends to give people trouble as well, but with time and practice, all these things improve. Watch some videos from Mantic, work on prep and what have you, and in time, things will get much better. Heck, I've been at it for almost 5 months, and I still get overconfident from time to time and nick myself, or end up with irritation. The whole process of shaving requires that you adjust to new things, and learn from mistakes. Some examples:

1) A few weeks in, I learned my true growth direction. Things were good
2) A few months ago, I began experiments with cold water shaves. Mixed results, but good information to have.
3) About a week ago, I discovered a spot on my neck that had a different growth direction. It also housed my last ingrown, which is now gone.
4) Last night, I realized I was using a very bad blade angle with my Gillette Slim. I had never gotten much irritation from it, even using Feathers, but knowing I was doing something wrong will undoubtedly improve my shaves here on out.

Keep working at it, keep learning, and always strive to improve your shaves, no matter how good they get. Good luck!

**Gruder** · 09-09-2009, 05:11 AM

Could be the blades. Could be poor lather. Could be too much pressure. You should try a blade sampler no matter what, though! Good luck, and keep us posted.

**MoJoe** · 09-09-2009, 06:07 AM

I started with the Merkur HD and Merkur blades. I found that the Merkur's were a good blade for me to start with. They weren't uber sharp and I could tolerate the mild pulling that would happen after 2 uses because it gave me some feedback on my technique.

Going with a sharper blade right now may make for more blood because the blades are less forgiving. Stay patient and keep at it. Prep well, get a good lather, apply little pressure and take you time. That latter was an issue for me. I was better my first two shaves than I was the next few because in the first 2 there was no blood and it gave me a false sense of security. So take it slow and stay focused. Best of luck!

**njtnjt** · 09-09-2009, 08:32 AM

Howdy-

I must chime in here too. I started with an HD and the Merkur blades. I endured two weeks of bleeding and red rash.

After week one I ordered a sample pack of blades. But it took another week to get to me - hence the two weeks of suffereing.

I tried a different brand of blade and it was a whole new ball game. Much better. Those Merkurs were not giving me a chance to improve. I might be an extreme case as I am sure my tough beard and sensitive skin puts me to one side of the bell curve.

What worked for me was to try a new blade even as I was working on my technique. It did throw another variable into the equation but I'm so glad I didn't wait for my "technique to improve"!

The Merkurs were garbage, for me, just horrible. If I had waited for technique to improve I'd still be waiting for a shave that did not KILL me.

Go ahead and see if a switch to one of the more popular blades gives you immediately better results. It did for me. If it doesn't within a few shave then maybe watching some of mantic's videos and a re-reading of what proper technique is may be in order.

And yes, I still have a long way to go on my technique,.. a long way. But I'm not hacking my face up every day no matter what I do which is how it was with those devil blades.

gone down south · 09-09-2009, 10:18 AM

Originally Posted by njtnjt

I might be an extreme case as I am sure my tough beard and sensitive skin puts me to one side of the bell curve.

LOL, tough beard and sensitive skin makes you exactly the same as 98% of B+Bers

**adonnellyr** · 09-09-2009, 10:34 AM

As many have already said, I think it might be too early to blame the blades at this point. That said, I know I was getting irritation free BBS within a few shaves, so if you're one of the lucky ones progressing that quickly, a blade change CAN be the difference between irritation free and a few nicks.

I was a Merkur hater for quite some time, but recently I tried them out again, this time hand stropping the blade on each side two times and got an excellent shave--one of the best I've had in a long time actually. I'm wondering if perhaps Merkurs just aren't that smooth right away and a quick strop remedies it...