When should I start experimenting?

[Explore]

I have only been using a DE razor for a little over a week.. I am very glad that I have made the switch.. :). I am using a Lord Premium Safety Razor Model LP1822L aka L6 with Derby blades.. I should have bought a sampler pack of blades but I purchased 100 Derby blades. (I will be buying a sampler pack of blades. I hope that I will prefer the Derby blades!) I am using a Tweezerman Badger Brush with Proraso Shaving Soap..

In addition, I ended up buying a Edwin Jagger Chrome Double Edge Safety Razor (De89lbl) due to an unusually compelling price.. I have been very happy with my Lord razor but could not resist a deal.

I have tried to keep all the variables the same as I am learning the basic techniques.. At what point should I start experimenting with different blades and my second razor?. Do different razors change your blade preference? I am also interested in any advice or suggestions as I am just beginning this journey.

Lord Premium Razor L6
Edwin Jagger Razor De89lbl

Derby blades (100)
Shark blades (10)

Tweezerman Brush
Proraso Shaving Soap

[Gissy]

I would say the smart thing to do is to keep persistant for a month or two as long as what your using works for you. I had to try out some blades before I found one I could use succesfully and started going through to many razors as well. So I didn't do the smart thing....

[Dusty1]

It depends how good of a shave you are getting. If it is going very well for you, feel free to try a different razor sooner. I would probably just stick with trying different blades for a month or so, then switch up the razor. Ultimately it's up to you. I wish I would have tried a different razor sooner than I did, I did not like the shave my DE89 was giving me at all.

[the_edski]

agreed, it is all up to you...but if you need a guideline, give it a month and then branch out, but only change one variable at a time and that will allow you to know what works and what doesn't. Enjoy your shaves!

[turtle]

Welcome to B&B...

I will echo everyone else. Stick with one razor, blade, soap/cream, brush until you can get a perfect shave time after time.

THEN....

Change one thing ONLY at a time.

This is the only way to test something new. If you start switching up everything at once you have no idea if any of it is an improvement over your baseline shave as everything is new so everything will be different.

[brybry642]

Welcome to B&B...

I will echo everyone else. Stick with one razor, blade, soap/cream, brush until you can get a perfect shave time after time.

THEN....

Change one thing ONLY at a time.

This is the only way to test something new. If you start switching up everything at once you have no idea if any of it is an improvement over your baseline shave as everything is new so everything will be different.

What if one of the "razor, blade, soap/cream, brush" elements is preventing you from achieving a perfect shave?

I'm in week 3 of wet shaving and am running through a blade rotation to find what gives me the best shave. To each his own...

[MeanGene]

Agreed with what has been said. The first item I started to change was my blade and I worked like heck to make a strong lather. Like you, I began with Proraso, and kept practicing until I could create a crazy lather like you'll see in the pictures throughout B&B. With the blade changes, I went with a few different sampler packs, which much was overlapped, and worked from there. Next was razors, and finally creams/soaps. YMMV of course.

[Pkrankow]

If things are going poorly change the blade. A rough shave is not good. I would recommend Personna red if Derby are rough to you. If things are good, then stay with it a few more blades then start trying one thing different at a time.

Phil

[Go West Young Man]

What if one of the "razor, blade, soap/cream, brush" elements is preventing you from achieving a perfect shave?

3 weeks in, those factors might be 10% of the reason you're not achieving a perfect shave - your still developing technique will be the other 90%.