Lovin' it!

**gearhead** · 03-25-2010, 01:52 PM

I'm new to DE shaving. I'm in my early 40's, and have for over a decade exclusively used an electric shaver. Recently, I was on a weekend vacation and forgot my electric. I bought a Mach 3 and a can of foam, and knocked off 2 days of growth. I forgot how close a blade could shave, and it felt good. My wife liked it. But, the blades were already pulling a little on the 2nd shave, and after shave #3 I knew there wasn't going to be a shave #4. When I got home I went to get more blades. I realized that at around $2.50 a cartridge, I would be burning up $15-$20 a month if these stupid things can't last a week.
Today, I received my Merkur 34C, a Vulfix badger brush, some Crystals, some Feather Platinums, some Russian 7 O'clocks, a DR Harris soap bowl, and Cremo. The first shave was with a Crystal and the Cremo (which I used because it seemed easier to use more consistently than the soap). No nicks, cuts or scrapes. The Crystal just melted through another 2-day growth so comfortably and with such control, it made me wonder why anybody would shave any other way. A 2-pass shave, both WTG because I wasn't going for ultimate closeness, gave a shave that amazed my wife. I can't wait to try the soap on the weekend when I have time to fool with the technique of getting a good lather. Until then, a few more times with the Cremo will help me get the hang of it.
And, this site was a big help. I read the reviews on razors, the chart listing aggressiveness of some razors, the reviews on blades, and some of the other reviews/threads.
Now, even with shipping, a $25 order of blades will get me a year's supply, unless I like the Feathers so much that they become my go-to blade.

**Defend Tacoma** · 03-25-2010, 01:55 PM

Glad to hear you are off to a great start! Like you and so many others, I was drawn to DE shaving to save some loot. Now, like so many others, my acquisition disorder costs me more than cartridges would have lol

**Dennard** · 03-25-2010, 03:06 PM

Congrats on the great start, gearhead.

**Coleman** · 03-25-2010, 03:27 PM

Another convert!

Welcome!

**rm71** · 03-25-2010, 04:22 PM

Welcome!

**NickCutlip** · 03-25-2010, 04:30 PM

Welcome to B&B !!

**mrbear** · 03-25-2010, 06:18 PM

Welcome to the forum!

Glad to have you with us!

**rummwa** · 03-25-2010, 06:22 PM

I thought I would start DE shaving to save money those cartridge blades are a fortune. Then something happened I became hooked and I am buying and buying I want it all.

**saltypete** · 03-25-2010, 06:51 PM

Welcome to B&B! Sounds like you are off to a great start. Congrats!

Pete

**gearhead** · 03-25-2010, 09:20 PM

A few questions...

1] I just talked to a friend and told him about my DE acquisition after getting 3 tolerable shaves from a Mach 3. He uses a Fusion and says he gets 1.5 to 2 weeks from a cartridge. The Fusion is 4 blades and costs even more than the M3, but once the first-contact blade is dull, it seems to me the whole shave will suck so it really doesn't matter how many blades you're dragging around your face after the first one. The M3's I used didn't strike me as all that sharp to begin with. Can anybody else get that mileage from any cartridge? Maybe he has some masochistic tendencies.

2] Since the DE blade has two separate sides, one side can go dull before the other. How do you keep track of the mileage you put on each side so you know which side is the one with some life left on it (without starting a shave on a dull side and using pain as an indicator)?

3] Some posts make Feathers sound a bit scary. I want to try them, but I don't want to cut any 'pretty' off my face since I have very little to spare. Any advice about angle, speed, face prep?

Thanks! There are more people, more activity, and more help on this site than I expected.

**JPM** · 03-25-2010, 09:27 PM

Welcome to B&B!

**mretzloff** · 03-25-2010, 09:33 PM

Congratulations on finding stuff that works. Welcome!

**RCC** · 03-25-2010, 09:48 PM

Originally Posted by gearhead

A few questions...

1] I just talked to a friend and told him about my DE acquisition after getting 3 tolerable shaves from a Mach 3. He uses a Fusion and says he gets 1.5 to 2 weeks from a cartridge. The Fusion is 4 blades and costs even more than the M3, but once the first-contact blade is dull, it seems to me the whole shave will suck so it really doesn't matter how many blades you're dragging after the first one. The M3's I used didn't strike me as all that sharp to begin with. Can anybody else get that mileage from any cartridge? Maybe he has some masochistic tendencies.

Knowing what you do now, why do you care?

2] Since the DE blade has two separate sides, one side can go dull before the other. How do you keep track of the mileage you put on each side so you know which side is the one with some life left on it (without starting a shave on a dull side and using pain as an indicator)?

never heard of being concerned about this. I haven't heard of there being any significant noticeable difference. I turn my razor over as I shave.

3] Some posts make Feathers sound a bit scary. I want to try them, but I don't want to cut any 'pretty' off my face since I have very little to spare. Any advice about angle, speed, face prep?

Feathers are sharp. they reward good technique. I go slowly and use no pressure on the blade.

Thanks! There are more people, more activity, and more help on this site than I expected.

welcome to B&B

**Barbash** · 03-26-2010, 02:38 AM

Welcome to B&B!

**thunderball** · 03-26-2010, 02:41 AM

Welcome aboard sir.

As for Feathers being scary...they aren't really. Just use a very light touch and see how they work for you. As far as keeping track of how many times you've used each side of a blade, I'm guessing most here don't really worry too much about it. The law of averages sort of balances it all out in the end. What I usually do is one stroke with one side, flip the razor around for another stroke, rinse, repeat. That way I'm pretty sure that I'm using each edge equally.

**Nicktheswede** · 03-26-2010, 05:09 AM

Originally Posted by gearhead

A few questions...

1] I just talked to a friend and told him about my DE acquisition after getting 3 tolerable shaves from a Mach 3. He uses a Fusion and says he gets 1.5 to 2 weeks from a cartridge. The Fusion is 4 blades and costs even more than the M3, but once the first-contact blade is dull, it seems to me the whole shave will suck so it really doesn't matter how many blades you're dragging around your face after the first one. The M3's I used didn't strike me as all that sharp to begin with. Can anybody else get that mileage from any cartridge? Maybe he has some masochistic tendencies.

Most people that say they get that long out of a razor cartridge honestly have no clue what they are talking about. They just think they can get that long out a cartridge. I've heard saying some people get a month out of one which is complete crap unless they don't shave regularly i.e. everyday or every other day. They don't know the difference between a sharp blade and a dull blade. Some people are lucky enough to have tough skin so they can't tell by impending problems such as razor burn, ingrowns etc from using a dull blade

2] Since the DE blade has two separate sides, one side can go dull before the other. How do you keep track of the mileage you put on each side so you know which side is the one with some life left on it (without starting a shave on a dull side and using pain as an indicator)?

If you keep flipping or turning the razor over on each pass that you do it shouldn't matter and the different sides should dull at the same time.

3] Some posts make Feathers sound a bit scary. I want to try them, but I don't want to cut any 'pretty' off my face since I have very little to spare. Any advice about angle, speed, face prep?

They are very sharp but don't be scared. I was weary to try a feather with only one month in on wetshaving but finally I gathered the courage to pop one in and boy was it amazing! You just need to be more careful as feathers don't have as much forgiveness like other blades. Just make sure to keep the right angle which is between 30-45 degrees depending on the razor, take short medium paced strokes, and face prep you'll have to figure out what works for you. Some people use pre shave oil some don't, some take a shower before shaving, some use a hot towel, its all up to you. Personally I take a shower before shaving and then ensure to make a proper good lather and then wet my face with warm water and then really ensure on the first pass to really work in the lather into my face. I used to use pre shave but I found with a proper lather it's not necessary.

Thanks! There are more people, more activity, and more help on this site than I expected.

Oh and welcome to B&B!

**ziplepingouin** · 03-26-2010, 05:29 AM

Welcome!

Originally Posted by Defend Tacoma

Glad to hear you are off to a great start! Like you and so many others, I was drawn to DE shaving to save some loot. Now, like so many others, my acquisition disorder costs me more than cartridges would have lol

Same here! So no new order for at least...a few months (No need to be accurate here

)