Hi all.
Thought it was time to post. I have always razor shaved and evolved with the new toys over time. Started with a Gillette G II, then the Contour, to the Excel and for the last 3 years an M3 turbo. Always used a super badger brush and taylor's cream (thanks Dad) and for the last 10 years a post shave alum block. But......ever since I was a kid and got taken to the barber's by my father for haircuts I've been fascinated by the straight razor.
Well recently on holiday in the US from Sydney and wandered into the Art of Shaving for a look. Walked out with a shavette and 10 Merkur blades and some shave oil. Would really have liked a proper straight but I don't really want to bother with honing and stropping.
So off I went back to the hotel to have go. Watched a few vids on the tube and......after 20 minutes it looked like i'd shaved by putting my face into a food processor! Claret everywhere. Interestingly no pain but large nicks and three or four good cuts on the face. That's how I found B and B. Hit the Internet to find out where i'd gone wrong. Anyway just had my sixth shave and apart from a tiny weeper all good and virtually BBS - good enough for me and closer than the gillettes ever were.
So what have I learnt? Thought any new converts might be interested to know even if they've gone to DE rather than a straight blade.
1. Slowly wins the day. Cartridge razors are very forgiving and you can shave quickly without damaging the skin. Not so wet shaving.
2. Skin tension. Cartridge razors don't really need the skin to be held tight. I certainly never stretched my skin with a Gillette. That was the main cause of all the cuts on the first shave. The skin rucked with the movement of the blade and slice!!! It takes a little thought and concentration to remember to keep the skin tight but it is vital. At least for me.
3. Shave oil not for me. Interestingly it seemed to increase the surface tension between the blade and my skin and it jumped all over the place. Stopped the oil, no more skipping just gliding.
4. Blade has to be sharp. A new one every shave. Tried to use one twice and it tugged rather than cut. It might sound counter intuitive that the sharper the safer but it is true. I'm going to order a blade sampler pack to see if there's a better blade for me but the tension in the skin was undoubtedly my downfall at first.
Well I am happy with the shavette now and glad I persisted. No more ingrowns and a good clean shave. Takes a while as I'm still a newbie and going slowly so not sure if I can do it every day when I go back to work next week and may need to use the M3 once or twice. But I'm confident that over time I'll be able to do it every day and the M3 will be history.
Thanks to B and B for all the tips and tricks and advice which got me on the right path.
Cheers.
Thought it was time to post. I have always razor shaved and evolved with the new toys over time. Started with a Gillette G II, then the Contour, to the Excel and for the last 3 years an M3 turbo. Always used a super badger brush and taylor's cream (thanks Dad) and for the last 10 years a post shave alum block. But......ever since I was a kid and got taken to the barber's by my father for haircuts I've been fascinated by the straight razor.
Well recently on holiday in the US from Sydney and wandered into the Art of Shaving for a look. Walked out with a shavette and 10 Merkur blades and some shave oil. Would really have liked a proper straight but I don't really want to bother with honing and stropping.
So off I went back to the hotel to have go. Watched a few vids on the tube and......after 20 minutes it looked like i'd shaved by putting my face into a food processor! Claret everywhere. Interestingly no pain but large nicks and three or four good cuts on the face. That's how I found B and B. Hit the Internet to find out where i'd gone wrong. Anyway just had my sixth shave and apart from a tiny weeper all good and virtually BBS - good enough for me and closer than the gillettes ever were.
So what have I learnt? Thought any new converts might be interested to know even if they've gone to DE rather than a straight blade.
1. Slowly wins the day. Cartridge razors are very forgiving and you can shave quickly without damaging the skin. Not so wet shaving.
2. Skin tension. Cartridge razors don't really need the skin to be held tight. I certainly never stretched my skin with a Gillette. That was the main cause of all the cuts on the first shave. The skin rucked with the movement of the blade and slice!!! It takes a little thought and concentration to remember to keep the skin tight but it is vital. At least for me.
3. Shave oil not for me. Interestingly it seemed to increase the surface tension between the blade and my skin and it jumped all over the place. Stopped the oil, no more skipping just gliding.
4. Blade has to be sharp. A new one every shave. Tried to use one twice and it tugged rather than cut. It might sound counter intuitive that the sharper the safer but it is true. I'm going to order a blade sampler pack to see if there's a better blade for me but the tension in the skin was undoubtedly my downfall at first.
Well I am happy with the shavette now and glad I persisted. No more ingrowns and a good clean shave. Takes a while as I'm still a newbie and going slowly so not sure if I can do it every day when I go back to work next week and may need to use the M3 once or twice. But I'm confident that over time I'll be able to do it every day and the M3 will be history.
Thanks to B and B for all the tips and tricks and advice which got me on the right path.
Cheers.
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