My first DE Shave

**Smokinwill** · 03-09-2011, 11:20 PM

OK, so I completed my first DE shave a couple hours ago. Here's how it went. I started off by loading my new EJ89L with a Feather blade, then loaded my mug with hot tap water and put my brush in it. Next I filled up the hot pot and turned it on. I then hopped in the shower got cleaned up and scrubbed my face with Neutragena's razor defense facial scrub. I got out of the shower left my head wet(I shave my entire head and my face except my goatee). I used several drops of shave secret as my pre-shave and then lathered up my new Omega Hard Cream(soap).

Had a bit of a time getting the consistency right on it but I think that was due to trying to scoop the cream like mantic59 and this is a hard cream, almost a soap so will just drop a dollop in my mug next time. I finally got a decent consistency but it took so long that the lather was only luke warm when I put it on. After I got my entire head lathered up('cept my goatee of course) I went and had a seat and waited a few minutes as I've been doing the last couple years since I read an article in some magazine about letting the lather sit for 5 minutes to soften the beard.

Now time for the fun part. I re-lathered just to make sure it was still moist and then picked up the DE. I placed it next to my ear at about a 90 degree angle and then pivoted down until I felt the blade touch skin and started to make my short(not short enough) WTG N/S passes. this is when i truly understood beard reduction and not elimination as I heard and saw what came off but also saw how much was left(partly due to not shaving for 3-4 days).

So I completed my face with N/S passes and then did the neck the same way even though I know some of the stroke were XTG. As I was successful with my first pass and felt a bit emboldened by this I then made a couple of XTG strokes on the left and right side of my head. So far so good.

I re-lathered my face and the sides of my head and then proceeded to go XTG/ATG on my cheeks and then tried XTG on face. I got one nick near the beginning of this phase where there's a small mole near my ear. No biggie I believe my angle was a bit off and it stopped bleeding before I got to my jawline. I then proceeded to finish up my face and then taking my time I shaved my entire head with the DE.

I nicked the same mole again on the third pass which was a combination of WTG/XTG. I managed to not cut my head at all during the shave but did notice a couple of pinpoint spots where there was some irritation(possible non-bleeding nicks?). I finished off my neck with a S/N stroke that did cause some irritation but no more than what I normally get from my Mach3.

Of course I'm used to getting a BBS with my Mach even if there's some irritation so I completed a full second pass on my head with my Mach3 going ATG and buffing some area's as well. I did not use the Mach on my face however. I would say my face shave is passable, I wouldn't rate it as DFS, CCS or BBS but passable and that I feel is great for a first shave with a DE.

Once I was done shaving I rinsed off with some hot water and then switched to a cold water rinse and grabbed the alum block. I must say that thing is a lot smaller than I thought it would be. I wet it down with cold water and proceeded to rub it on my face, dip in water, rub more, repeat for head, several times and 2 seconds after I started I was like holy hell whats in this thing 190 proof? The alum block stung like crazy like I was putting an alcohol AS on after razor burning my entire face. After I finished that I went and sat down and let my head dry on its own for a few minutes and then went back into the bathroom and used my bald guyz AS balm. Seemed more liquidized than normal, which I think might be because it was right next to the hotpot for most of my shave.

All in all I did my best to take my time(entire head shave took approx 1 hr) and also did my best to not apply pressure. I could feel when I was starting to apply pressure and stopped short several times which is probably part of the reason for my razor burn and not having more than the one nick in the same spot twice and no weepers.

To sum up this long review of my first DE shave:
IT WAS FREAKING AWESOME

After tonight I'm definitely a full fledged convert to DE. I'll still keep my Mach 3 for now so I can continue to get BBS on my head but for my face nothing but a DE or a straight is going to touch it again unless I have no choice for some strange reason. Oh and most of my razor burn has calmed down to the point that its not noticeable now unless I run my hand across my face.

**fingerwenger** · 03-10-2011, 12:15 AM

Congrats! It truely only gets better, wait til you have about a months worth of shaves under your belt.

**grump** · 03-10-2011, 02:23 AM

Congratulations!

It sounds like a good prep and shave routine.

Have fun and enjoy your shaves.

**dalew** · 03-10-2011, 02:26 AM

Congratulations on a wonderful shave.

**Marcus_C** · 03-10-2011, 02:58 AM

Good stuff! Brave starting off with the feather as well!

**Greyfox** · 03-10-2011, 04:19 AM

**franstjohn** · 03-10-2011, 04:19 AM

Very nice post. Congrats!

**mretzloff** · 03-10-2011, 04:43 AM

Congratulations!

**ackvil** · 03-10-2011, 06:38 AM

Congrats.

Keep it up.

**Smokinwill** · 03-10-2011, 06:40 AM

Thanks everyone. Sorry for being long winded here but wanted to be somewhat detail oriented as I thought it might be helpful for someone who hasn't had their first shave yet and might still be on the fence about taking the plunge into DE's.

**Eric V** · 03-10-2011, 07:14 AM

IT WAS FREAKING AWESOME

Very Cool!

**MrHipHop** · 03-10-2011, 07:27 AM

Soon that cartridge will be collecting dust!
Great Post. Reminds me that I still need an alum block.

**Wetshavemike** · 03-10-2011, 08:39 AM

Don't worry about a long post. Details are everything, even more so if you are having problems. It sounds like you had a great time, which I think is the goal of most of us. Sounds like you are doing very well. Good kit and technique.