One bad shave, and here I am

**urs0polar** · 08-22-2011, 05:08 PM

Hello Everyone

This is my first post here, just bought a Merkur 34G DE after a bit of lurking this weekend after a bad straight razor experience.

So, my wife got me a gift last week for a haircut and straight razor shave at a place here in Manhattan. I was pretty stoked; nice gift! Probably a veiled suggestion as well, but I take it in stride.

So, I show up on Saturday, and the haircut went well and is great, but then came the shave.... The guy did the double lather thing, the hot towel thing, some other stuff involving some sort of liquid (my eyes were closed), and then got down to shaving... it felt a bit rough in spots, but I figured, hey, he's the expert. I felt him get my adams apple a bit, and I was like, well, took me 15 years to avoid that adam's apple, and here it is his first time with it. He then did something that stung (maybe alum?) and the aftershave thing and pronounced me finished.

So, after the shave, I was a bit nicked, and not at all comfortable. But I gave the tip as I pretend to be a gentleman and went on. Well, the razor burn got worse and worse over the next day, and my adam's apple has such a chunk out of it that I think the scab is gonna last at least a week. Not even by drawing my mach 3 *across* my lip horizontally have I done this much damage (though that was a life lesson, to be sure).

So, being as annoying as I am, I figured if this guy can do so *bad*, then I probably can't do much *worse*, so a short google away and I discovered this site. Fire lit.

I was thinking of jumping straight in to the straight razor, but I really never liked shaving much, and I have crazy sensitiive skin. I recently got some shave cream from Art of Shaving, and that really helped with the mach 3, but in general I would shave just enough to look professional, ie a few times a week as my whiskers don't grow all that fast (I'm 32, so who knows). Went to Art of Shaving store Sunday, picked up a silvertip brush and a bunch of their shave cream (yes, I realize I probably overspent like crazy and now have a champion brush that I'll be lucky not to ruin).

So, I was going to try the straight razor deal from whippeddog or similar, but then, those nice $180 TI and Dovo razors look so awesome, I know I would be buying the whipped dog and then the TI immediately after. Then, finding a sharpener guy to give the TI the once over in Manhattan, then the strop, then the realization that I don't have 45 minutes every morning for this craziness.

So, after a bit more lurking and thinking about a DE, I decided to check out Pasteur's Pharmacy on 34th st. Holy crap, that place is awesome. Seems like their stuff has a bit of markup (compared to online), but I said what the hell and walked out with a Merkur 34G ($61.99 -- yes, $$ but I'm feeling impatient and it's not that crazy overpriced... I think), an Taylor of old Bond St alum block ($16.99, is that expensive!?), and a pack of Merkur Super blades ($5), a pack of Derby Extra Blades($1.49), and a pack of Feather New Hi-Stainless blades ($5).

Either the sample blade was never there in the first place (very likely), or it fell out of the box and is somewhere under the computer desk. Well, the cat will find it if my foot doesn't.

So, about to go and shower before I get this lather and shave show on the road, but any suggestions for which of the blades to try first?

This looks like a cool forum, looking forward to joining the community.

**Eric V** · 08-22-2011, 05:27 PM

Yikes! You move fast! If you can slow down a bit and be sensitive to the blade on your skin, risk the Feathers. Good prep will get you a better shave. Let us know how it turns out!

BTW, Welcome to B and B. Glad you posted!

**Dennard** · 08-22-2011, 05:31 PM

Welcome!

**wbj509** · 08-22-2011, 05:37 PM

Welcome welcome Urs0polar! Look forward to hear about your first shave!

**tweetyfish11** · 08-22-2011, 06:39 PM

Congrats on your gear! Welcome to B&B.

**BladeDE40** · 08-22-2011, 06:50 PM

Welcome! As stated take your time and don't get frustrated...it will take a few weeks to get the hang of things.

**andrewinman** · 08-22-2011, 06:56 PM

Welcome! Unless you have a thick and wiry beard start out with the Derbys. The Merkurs are not that good. The Feathers are very sharp and irritate sensitive skin easily. Also those prices on the blades are good. Dunno bout the alum. Happy shaving and take your time!

**SharpEdge** · 08-22-2011, 06:57 PM

Welcome. You've got a good kit, so technique, technique, technique.

**Niubi** · 08-23-2011, 03:48 AM

Welcome to B&B!

The Merkur 34G is a good choice but I'd avoid using Feather as your starter blade.

**Artistik** · 08-23-2011, 04:02 AM

[QUOTE=Eric V;3391341]Yikes! You move fast! If you can slow down a bit and be sensitive to the blade on your skin, risk the Feathers. Good prep will get you a better shave. Let us know how it turns out!QUOTE]

+1 on the Feathers!

**Rockytop** · 08-23-2011, 04:12 AM

Welcome. Check to see if they have any Astra blades. To me this is a good beginner blade, and yet, one that you will always keep in your rotation.

**urs0polar** · 08-23-2011, 10:45 AM

Hey Everyone,

Wow, thanks for the responses! So, I put in a Feather as Eric V suggested, and went for it. I had a little bit of trouble getting a good lather, it kind of went everywhere, but I imagine that will get better and better. And that brush definitely smells like animal (confirmed enthusiastically by the cat).

So, I did a lather, 3 minutes of hot towel, the AOS shaving oil (smells like I should try dipping some bread in it), 2nd lather, then went for it. I was being super careful and aiming for "beard reduction", as you guys say on here, and I was careful of my neck, and overall only going with the grain. Wet the alum block afterwards, and rubbed it over my face. That got rid of any tiny nicks or whatever... that stuff is cool.

So, overall, my cheeks ended up quite smooth, the rest of it... well, it was the first shave and I didn't cut myself, so I consider it a success. I can see how it takes a while to be able to get closer and closer while minimizing accidents.

Thanks so much for all the advice!

Rocktop, I'll see if they have Astra blades when I go return the Merkur blades, though I think I'll stick with the feathers for a while to minimize variables.

How do you guys deal with all the little hairs that end up on the blade, up underneath the cap, on the bottom plate, etc? Do I clean that every time or just leave it?

**njpaddy** · 08-23-2011, 10:59 AM

The first few months are fun, trying out different products and finding what works best for you. I'm definitely in the minority, but I prefer Merkur blades in my 34G. A friend of mine has used only Feathers since he got his.

**jloneill17** · 08-23-2011, 11:08 AM

Welcome, hope it goes well for you. Let us know about your first shave.

**GOLDCREST** · 08-23-2011, 11:32 AM

Originally Posted by urs0polar

Hey Everyone,

Wow, thanks for the responses! So, I put in a Feather as Eric V suggested, and went for it. I had a little bit of trouble getting a good lather, it kind of went everywhere, but I imagine that will get better and better. And that brush definitely smells like animal (confirmed enthusiastically by the cat).

So, I did a lather, 3 minutes of hot towel, the AOS shaving oil (smells like I should try dipping some bread in it), 2nd lather, then went for it. I was being super careful and aiming for "beard reduction", as you guys say on here, and I was careful of my neck, and overall only going with the grain. Wet the alum block afterwards, and rubbed it over my face. That got rid of any tiny nicks or whatever... that stuff is cool.

So, overall, my cheeks ended up quite smooth, the rest of it... well, it was the first shave and I didn't cut myself, so I consider it a success. I can see how it takes a while to be able to get closer and closer while minimizing accidents.

Thanks so much for all the advice!

Rocktop, I'll see if they have Astra blades when I go return the Merkur blades, though I think I'll stick with the feathers for a while to minimize variables.

How do you guys deal with all the little hairs that end up on the blade, up underneath the cap, on the bottom plate, etc? Do I clean that every time or just leave it?

Good for you....I like the Feathers as well....I always dismantle the razor after every shave and give it a scrub with a soft brush under running water to get the gunge off....the blade I just rinse under the tap......I like a nice clean razor for each new shave..I consider the shaving experience a nice ritual now with DE...............as opposed to the chore it always used to be..

**ackvil** · 08-23-2011, 11:33 AM

Welcome to B&B.

**baba** · 08-23-2011, 12:05 PM

Congrats on your first DE shave. The great thing is, if you are getting even mediocre results now, and shave almost every day, in a few weeks you will be a pro. OK so maybe not a pro, but you will hone your technique that much more and see improvements almost everyday. Keep it up.

**KM-instructor** · 08-23-2011, 12:22 PM

Welcome to B&B.

**urs0polar** · 08-23-2011, 12:49 PM

Originally Posted by GOLDCREST

Good for you....I like the Feathers as well....I always dismantle the razor after every shave and give it a scrub with a soft brush under running water to get the gunge off....the blade I just rinse under the tap......I like a nice clean razor for each new shave..I consider the shaving experience a nice ritual now with DE...............as opposed to the chore it always used to be..

OK, I'll try that. I actually tried to get stuff off with an old toothbrush, then got some bristles caught on the razor and had to yank out the toothbrush, probably ruining the edge, oops... so, I think I'll just put in a new razor tomorrow. I think dissasembly and cleaning is a great idea -- I'll do that. Thanks Goldcrest.

**urs0polar** · 08-23-2011, 12:50 PM

Originally Posted by baba

Congrats on your first DE shave. The great thing is, if you are getting even mediocre results now, and shave almost every day, in a few weeks you will be a pro. OK so maybe not a pro, but you will hone your technique that much more and see improvements almost everyday. Keep it up.

Yeah it's not quite up to where I am with the Mach 3, but I can see how I can get way closer if I work on it. Thanks!