1st DE shave tonight

**dude22blue** · 07-02-2011, 08:12 PM

My one and only piece of advise is DO NOT DRINK AND SHAVE!

With that said given my condition I found my Merkur HD with Merkur blade did an ok job. Since it was my 1st time I did not get the BBS shave but it wasn't a complete slaughter either. There were a few weepers but they quickly disappeared when I was washing the lather away. I tried putting my styptic pen around the area I remember seeing them and I think I hit the spot because it stung like a mofo. Of course the next and jawline were issues neck more than jawline. My neckline goes west to east on the left side and east to west on my ride side and the middle goes north south so remembering to switch it up is a pain. I do have those nasty pimple things but I dunno if its dirt or razor burn or ingrown hair. I usually pop them but many of them are near the weepers. I hope with time to better the angle and keep going in line. I found myself sometimes jumping to point a to point f (I blame not having a good angle therefore no clean lines like mantic). Two questions for next time how do i clean the razor/blades after pass? With the fusion I usually tap it on the side of the sink, do i still do that? And I think I have one or to more shaves with this blade after that I only have Treet in the red box, are they aggressive?

I'm go drink some more to ease my nerves.

**jss4fish** · 07-02-2011, 10:18 PM

Welcome! Don't tap the merkur. When using DE I usually leave some water in the sink and just swish it in the water. These razors don't get clogged like carts do. You can also just run some water over the razor.

**Eric V** · 07-02-2011, 10:25 PM

Originally Posted by jss4fish

Welcome! Don't tap the merkur. When using DE I usually leave some water in the sink and just swish it in the water. These razors don't get clogged like carts do. You can also just run some water over the razor.

+1

Do you have a blade sampler? I think your first piece of advice is good. Take it easy, and save the drinks for after shaving.

**dude22blue** · 07-02-2011, 11:30 PM

sadly the only blades I have came with the razor (1 merkur) and a 10 pack of treets black beauties, which I've heard very mixed reviews but more towards the negative end. Now I have to worry and order a sample pack and hope it gets in before the merkur blade craps out.

**StillShaving** · 07-03-2011, 12:01 AM

I don't think you want to tap your DE razor on the side of the sink. A swish in a sink of water, or quick rinse under the faucet works best. At the end of your shave taking the blade out, or loosing up the head for rinsing under a stream of water is beneficial. To insure that any remaining bits of soap don't stick to the blade.

**dude22blue** · 07-03-2011, 12:09 AM

Originally Posted by StillShaving

I don't think you want to tap your DE razor on the side of the sink. A swish in a sink of water, or quick rinse under the faucet works best. At the end of your shave taking the blade out, or loosing up the head for rinsing under a stream of water is beneficial. To insure that any remaining bits of soap don't stick to the blade.

I actually did that, although I didn't know if I should have at the time. I just did it because I hated looking at the razor and seeing the cream and hairs just clumped there. I'm a bit of neat freak sometimes.

**BrianK** · 07-03-2011, 07:03 AM

No need for worry or concern about blades coming in. It's your money, just pay for faster delivery.

**Jiddy** · 07-03-2011, 07:09 AM

Originally Posted by StillShaving

At the end of your shave taking the blade out, or loosing up the head for rinsing under a stream of water is beneficial. To insure that any remaining bits of soap don't stick to the blade.

On that note, I've heard people say to take the blade out between shaves to prevent moisture remaining inside, corrosion, etc. That sounds like much better idea, as I felt removing the blade gave it more chance to get damaged, etc. I do find it dries pretty quickly anyway.

**njpaddy** · 07-03-2011, 07:20 AM

Pick up a bottle of cheap witch hazel to splash on afterwards and see if that helps with the "pimply things".

**Thav** · 07-03-2011, 07:36 AM

I, too, have noticed that even on my first DE shave around 10 days ago, I got some bleeding but it stopped much sooner than any bleeding I got from my cartridge shaves.

**Greyfox** · 07-03-2011, 08:30 AM

Congrats on your first. Just focus on perfecting your technique for now. There is a learning curve. It will come.

**dude22blue** · 07-03-2011, 07:14 PM

is this a good pack of mild starter blades (with the exception of the feathers) http://www.westcoastshaving.com/DE-B...dard_p_17.html

**StillShaving** · 07-08-2011, 10:58 PM

I typically recommend getting the largest, most extensive sampler pack you can afford and are comfortable with. The Everything pack is so big it will take a while to get through and your skills will change along the way, that is the main downside of diving in to such a larger sampler pack when starting out, with an eagerness to finish and decide which one is really best.

The sampler pack you chose above is good, but I might recommend the "Choice" over the "Standard" in that it only differs in one blade, the Merkur, but it is a lot cheaper. Merkur blades are one of the more expensive blades, yet doesn't get a correspondingly high praise. Some people like the Merkur a lot, but most consider it mid-range at best. Personally I found the Merkur blade to be fine, but when compared to cheaper alternatives that shaved a little better it wasn't something I went back and purchased. But razor blades are definitely a case of YMMV. What works for others, may not be for you.

**StillShaving** · 07-08-2011, 11:08 PM

Originally Posted by Jiddy

On that note, I've heard people say to take the blade out between shaves to prevent moisture remaining inside, corrosion, etc. That sounds like much better idea, as I felt removing the blade gave it more chance to get damaged, etc. I do find it dries pretty quickly anyway.

I found that if you make a "normal" lather or lather a little on the wet side like you would want to do for straight razor shaving, then loosing the head of the razor a half or 3/4 turn and rinsing under a stream of water is fine. All the soap and stubble will come out and the blade will dry well enough that its life won't be cut too short. But if you have a sticky lather...especially something like Cremo cream, then you need to take the blade out in order to rinse all the soap off.

**VGA Ubersoldat** · 07-09-2011, 01:09 AM

I just either have hot water in a bowl to rinse the blade after a pass or use running water from the tap.

**dude22blue** · 07-12-2011, 06:50 PM

ok guys so I'm about 5 shaves in and I don't think I like merkur blades. I'm not sure if its just luck or what but I've used them 3 times and 3 times I have weepers and noticeable patches. I've used a derby 2x and only had a weeper once and a pretty close BBS shave. I thought maybe the first couple of time the merkur was bad because it was the sample blade from the razor box but brand new one tonight and it was the same issue. I think I'll try it one more time before I move to the derby somemore and than personas.

**pauls51** · 07-12-2011, 07:31 PM

I'd be inclined to move onto a different blade.. Merkur are probably one of the worst blades I have encountered, not to mention the obscene price disparity between them and the other blades!

**dude22blue** · 07-13-2011, 05:15 PM

Thats what I've been hearing, I guess its time for me to fly away from mantic's guidance and start just trying things out. I have to admit some of his videos are outdated now. I no longer feel merkur is the stick that everyone measures and makes comparisons.