First DE shave question. Help

[Bay Rum]

I did my first DE shave in over 40 years. I was tentative at first then I got bold. I did nick my chin but it was totally my fault. I used a Merkur HD and I found it too heavy for my likeing. Any Suggestions? Also my cheeks are smooth as a baby's butt but I got a razor rash on my neck. What do you think I did wrong. I found it harder to shave my neck and I suspect it was a blade angle problem. Looking for some suggestions. I ended up using the Merkur blades because my sampler did not arive.

[Pumpkin]

The biggest problems I had, with my neck, were before I'd properly mapped my grain. You might find you're going XTG or even ATG in some spots, when you think you're going WTG. Also, as you've seen, keeping the angle is a LOT easier on the cheeks.

[cvac]

+1 on what Pumpkin said.

If you wish to try a milder razor, go for a vintage Gillette Superspeed or Tech.

[americanarmsdealer]

+1 on the Superspeed.

I've found, through experimentation (what little I've had the opportunity to do, considering only 8 DE shaves so far) that if I hold the razor at the very tip of the handle, it enables me to use absolutely no pressure, and as long as I concentrate on this, the blade angle tends to kind of happen on its own. This helped tremendously in decreasing, and even eliminating irritation on my neck.

[Shillelagh3]

Also try to keep your wrist locked and shave with your hand, wrist, and forearm as a single unit on each stroke. I learned this from watching the mantic59 videos on YouTube, and it's working for me. My neck is a death trap, too.

[Bay Rum]

Also try to keep your wrist locked and shave with your hand, wrist, and forearm as a single unit on each stroke. I learned this from watching the mantic59 videos on YouTube, and it's working for me. My neck is a death trap, too.

I give them a look. I guess got a vintage 1940's Super speed on ebay.

[rummwa]

The area under my neck at first gave me trouble, but now I have it under control with my Merkur. I have started just started daily razor rotation and have found the Ever Ready and Gem must be held at a much lower angle than my other razors. Hope you have a pleasant future in DE shaving.

PINAUD!

[Timo C]

+1 on Pumpkins comment. The grain can definitely be different all over. For me, my left side grows mostly down, but starting right about me adams apple and to the right, the hairs grow straight off to the side!

[saltypete]

The big problems for new DE shavers are generally blade angle, pressure and as has been said above inadvertantly shaving ATG.
Work out which direction your beard grows, especially around your chin and then stick to WTG passes until you are confident with your technique.
The other thing to remember is NO PRESSURE. If you have shaved with cartridge razors before switching to DE, then you may believe you are not applying pressure when you actually are. You literally want the weight of the razor head to be the only thing pushing into your face. Your fingers merely support and guide the razor.
It takes practice but with time you will master it.

Pete

[njpaddy]

I did my first DE shave in over 40 years. I found it harder to shave my neck and I suspect it was a blade angle problem.

I've also been shaving over 40 years, but only using a DE the past 4 months. I'd say it took a couple of weeks before I got the neck figured out. I think it was blade angle or lather. I ignore direction on the neck and go N-S (short strokes), then S-N (short strokes) then finish with N-S longer strokes. Try not to do too many passes or you're going to get irritation.

I give them a look. I guess got a vintage 1940's Super speed on ebay.

My favorite of all my razors. With a Red Personna blade it gives a nice, mild, irritation-free shave. With a sharper blade, BBS.

[Bay Rum]

better shave today but still some irratation. I find the Merkur HD handle too long to maneauver on my neck and the razor is too heavy for my likeing. I plan to try the Gillette Speed shaver when it comes in.

[PaulL]

I scored a Flare tipped SuperSpeed, it has become my favorite razor.
My neck is very picky, I only do two passes on my neck.

[SRock]

Mapping your beard and remembering that reduction (not removal) is the key to each pass will help you master the rough areas such as your neck/chin.

[Bay Rum]

I used the Gillette Super Speed today, got a great shave with no issues over the Merkur HD

[wvu_law_dawg]

Mapping your beard and remembering that reduction (not removal) is the key to each pass will help you master the rough areas such as your neck/chin.

This has been the hardest thing for me to learn while going through the process of switching from cartridges to DE shaving.

When I shaved with a cartridge it was all done in one pass. I've had to retrain my expectations for what result one pass should offer.

I've found, so far, that DE shaving is a war of attrition and not a race to a BBS.

[DeanoG]

+2 on Pumpkin's comment.

I was having the same problem and realized 2 things:

#1 - the angle of the blade to my skin was all wrong. I checked the forums here and got some advice (30 degrees if I remember correctly) on the angle and it almost eliminated the nicks I was getting everywhere. Before fixing the angle I felt I needed a boxing cutman in the bathroom with me.

#2 - I was putting way too much pressure (although I didn't think about it) on the razor while shaving. I use (gasp) those expensive cartridge beasts before switching and they are essentially made to allow the pressure of a metal stamping machine without too many problems (or too good of a shave either). Concentrating on letting the blade do the work seemed to help get rid of the irritation I was getting at the base of my neck.

Hope this helps and good luck!