Going back to a DE or SE razor.

**Gray Wolf** · 12-09-2009, 07:51 PM

It may be that I'm tired of the plastic disposable world we seem to be living in these days, or maybe I'm just tired of paying $3.49 for a cartridge for my Gillette Fusion. And not getting nearly the number of shaves from it that I feel I should get.

Anyway, I have recently acquired a Gem Micromatic and some NOS Gem single edge blades, and have a Gillette superspeed with a trial pack of blades on the way.

I used to use a Gillette adjustable a long time ago, then got caught up in the Trac 2, Mach3, Fusion rut.

Any advice for me? Anything I should watch out for?
I want to mention that I sure am glad to have found this forum!

**rth97601** · 12-09-2009, 07:59 PM

I'm too young to know firsthand, but my understanding, from talking to my father, is that the average DE shaves in the pre-cartridge days weren't all that great. It seems that the quality of blades and soaps/creams (or at least the accessibility of quality blades and soaps/creams) has gone up since the market has gone niche.

Thus, I'd say be gentle and all (no pressure), but be prepared for a pleasant surprise ...

-Ryan

**dpmtherrien** · 12-10-2009, 08:04 AM

I'd go with the DE razor myself, and you should take a look at Mantic's video's on shaving. You'll get lots of good advice watching them.

Just be sure to go slow and easy, use no pressure other than the weight of the razor, and be sure to find just what works best for yourself. You'll probably want to try lots of DE blades, so get the largest sampler pack you can, and find the ones that work the best for you.

**JPM** · 12-10-2009, 08:51 AM

Originally Posted by dpmtherrien

I'd go with the DE razor myself, and you should take a look at Mantic's video's on shaving. You'll get lots of good advice watching them.

Just be sure to go slow and easy, use no pressure other than the weight of the razor, and be sure to find just what works best for yourself. You'll probably want to try lots of DE blades, so get the largest sampler pack you can, and find the ones that work the best for you.

+1. Welcome to B&B!

**Billy Pilgrim** · 12-10-2009, 08:55 AM

+1 on the Mantic videos. They're super helpful.

And, most importantly, welcome to B & B!

**michiganlover** · 12-10-2009, 09:43 AM

The Gem Micromatic is a great razor, but fairly aggressive, so the rule of no pressure is extra important. Being very aggressive, the Micromatic will bite you if you don't use it with care, and if you try to shave very quickly.

Most of us who love the Gems recommend starting off with a more mild Gem like the 1912, or G-Bar instead.

Also, the NOS blades are probably not the best thing to use. Instead, head down to your local Wal-Greens, and buy some of the Gem SE blades sold in the shaving section. These will provide a much better shave with the Micromatic.

Should you not have a Wal-Greens nearby, you can also buy them here:

Buy Gem blades @ ShoeboxShaveShop

**DJSneak** · 12-10-2009, 10:41 AM

Welcome! You've got some good (re)starters on the way.

**Luc** · 12-10-2009, 11:48 AM

Originally Posted by dpmtherrien

I'd go with the DE razor myself, and you should take a look at Mantic's video's on shaving. You'll get lots of good advice watching them.

Just be sure to go slow and easy, use no pressure other than the weight of the razor, and be sure to find just what works best for yourself. You'll probably want to try lots of DE blades, so get the largest sampler pack you can, and find the ones that work the best for you.

Originally Posted by JPM

+1. Welcome to B&B!

+2 Welcome to B&B!

**DSB** · 12-12-2009, 02:09 PM

Welcome to B&B!

**SRock** · 12-12-2009, 07:52 PM

Welcome!

**lvsc10** · 12-13-2009, 07:54 AM

Welcome to B & B. I'm a D/E man myself. You can't go wrong with a Super Speed. Great razor that will provide you with outstanding shaves. I personally have several and just love to use them. Good luck and keep us posted on your progress.

**Gray Wolf** · 12-18-2009, 12:42 AM

Originally Posted by michiganlover

The Gem Micromatic is a great razor, but fairly aggressive, so the rule of no pressure is extra important. Being very aggressive, the Micromatic will bite you if you don't use it with care, and if you try to shave very quickly.

Most of us who love the Gems recommend starting off with a more mild Gem like the 1912, or G-Bar instead.

Also, the NOS blades are probably not the best thing to use. Instead, head down to your local Wal-Greens, and buy some of the Gem SE blades sold in the shaving section. These will provide a much better shave with the Micromatic.

Should you not have a Wal-Greens nearby, you can also buy them here:

Buy Gem blades @ ShoeboxShaveShop

I took a look at those blades, they look exactly like the ones I bought!
I used it yesterday, taking the advice I've been given here, shave was not BBS, but wife says "good", and I didn't bleed, so I guess I did ok.
Going to try the DE Gillette in the AM.

bluefoxicy · 12-18-2009, 07:55 AM

Originally Posted by michiganlover

The Gem Micromatic is a great razor, but fairly aggressive, so the rule of no pressure is extra important. Being very aggressive, the Micromatic will bite you if you don't use it with care, and if you try to shave very quickly.

Does it help if you make your own shave cream, too?

Hmm I haven't seen a Gem before, I'll have to look for those... ugh I have so many razors now.

Also that site also sells "Oral Pleasantries" ......

**Gray Wolf** · 12-18-2009, 11:54 AM

I never thought that a Gillette Super Speed could be a magical time machine,
but it is. I tried a Gem Featherweight a few days ago, and got a pretty good shave, but I had to take it real slow and pay a lot of attention to the blade angle.
Today I used a 1957 vintage SS and it was like turning the clock back 35 years!
While my brain may have forgotten, my body remembered how to use this razor!
The shave was not quite BBS, but really good and I'm confident that it will get better.
The blade I used was a Kai, I also have some Chroma, 7'oclock yellow, and Bic blades to try.

What other blades do you guys recommend I try?
Does anybody want to buy a Gem Featherweight and/or a Gem Micromatic?!

And once again, thanks to the members of B&B for teaching the right way to do it!

**klm099** · 12-18-2009, 12:40 PM

Start with a DE, as your technique improves you'll probably want to experiment with any number of razors and blades. I like the closeness of s SE, but I tend to nick myself a lot; I also like the sound of that thick SE blade tearing through the whiskers. I keep a SE in the bathroom for the times I shave the back of my neck; I guess that area is flat enough so the inflexible blade doesn't bite me as often, good luck