Most important....

Ok, so I have only had 4 wetshaves with my Merkur HD. However, the last was the absolute best! The first 3 were not bad mind you....a few weepers, and BBS on one. However, I always had a tiny bit of razor burn. I came back to the trusty B&B and read up more....heck I thought I had read everything....no pressure, face prep, good lather, WTG, XTG, only ATG with caution. I did all that!

What I think I have found key for me however, is in the way I hold the razor. I was holding it more as I did with a cartridge razor, albeit with what I thought was little pressure. I was wrong. Last night, I used a fingertip grip on the end of the razor and voila!. Very nice shave and no burn! I really think the fingertip hold on the HD is key for any newbie.

My setup:

Merkur HD(Merkur blades)
C&E Badger
AOS Sandalwood Cream
Nivea AS and AOS Sandalwood AS
Sampler blade pack on the way

Severum

Welcome, Severum!

Congrats on the great shave!

Not much can be added to that post! Keep it up, and enjoy yourself here on B&B!

Tchau,
chop-chop

Welcome Severum!

Severum said:

I think I have found key for me however, is in the way I hold the razor. I was holding it more as I did with a cartridge razor, albeit with what I thought was little pressure. I was wrong. Last night, I used a fingertip grip on the end of the razor and voila!. Very nice shave and no burn! I really think the fingertip hold on the HD is key for any newbie.

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Welcome, and thanks for reminding me at least of the grip on the razor issue. I have to confess that I forget this point more often than I care to admit.

Holding the razor by the very tip of the handle is a great way to get a feel for light pressure, just as holding it by the head gives a feel for blade angle. For me, both of those grips have instructional value but (for me) are impractical for a full shave. The tip of the handle grip cramps my hand (especially with a heavier razor like the Futur or Vision) and the head grip limits flexibility in turning razor as the face curves. So I mostly grip the razor at the point of balance. But I do return to the other grips from time to time as a check...

Severum,

You had an experience similar to mine. Once I figured out how to hold the razor, a Merkur HD, the shaves, and the condiditon of my face, improved dramatically. Amazing how such a little thing can make such big changes.

For me it has always been about the grip and the angle. Keep those two correct and it's BBS all the way.

I am lucky in that I can shave with either hand. If one starts to cramp up or feel fatiqued, I just switch hands.

I really have a big strong hands, but I don't know how but I need to put some pressure on the razor to really makes it work (with almost any blades)

I think you should pay close attention to the angle (25-35 degrees) and the pressure - sometimes you are just doing to little because you are afraid of it - DON'T be afraid of a razor, it won't bite you!

Also, the growth of the hair is important - start WTG and only then ATG or what ever

Also, with DE I feel like having a really good lather can really do miracles, so use a good brush and a good cream or soap

Welcome to B&B!

Severum,
Great tip, welcome to our B&B, glad to have you with us.

ead said:

I really have a big strong hands, but I don't know how but I need to put some pressure on the razor to really makes it work (with almost any blades)

I think you should pay close attention to the angle (25-35 degrees) and the pressure - sometimes you are just doing to little because you are afraid of it - DON'T be afraid of a razor, it won't bite you!

Also, the growth of the hair is important - start WTG and only then ATG or what ever

Also, with DE I feel like having a really good lather can really do miracles, so use a good brush and a good cream or soap

Click to expand...

Um...actually it will if you aren't careful. Light-to-zero pressure really is the key to a razor-burn free face.

Thanks for the warm welcome gang. My wife thinks I am crazy when I tell her I am "Cravin a Shave". Seriously though....this is a sick disorder. I now walk around all day dreamin of the next shave.

I take it I am not alone with the gang here.

Severum

I will be the first one to tell you that you are not alone in craving for a shaving. Nor if you develop RAD, SBAD, SSAD, SCAD or any other AD. You will be in good company here. Good job on the transition to a great DE shave. Welcome to B&B.

Spattz

Thanks for the advice.I too am new to this and Have an HD
I found today as well that the lighter the hold the better the shave, compared to my old shick 4 blade where I had to be more like Arnie Shwarzenneger in the pressure I had to put on the damm thing! A case of (in a terminator voice!) I won't be back!
PS you are not alone with the thought of looking forward to a shave, on another thread I just metioned how it actully improved my mood for the day ahead, really like a meditation!

Severum said:

Thanks for the warm welcome gang. My wife thinks I am crazy when I tell her I am "Cravin a Shave". Seriously though....this is a sick disorder. I now walk around all day dreamin of the next shave.

I take it I am not alone with the gang here.

Severum

Click to expand...

So true! It's nice to have a daily chore become something to look forward to.