First and Second shaves

[rider4life]

Hey all,

So I've been lurking on here for a while now, since I got my first hot towel shave at Truffit and Hill in Toronto. I knew after that experience I had to switch over to wet shaving. Initially I wanted to go the straight razor route, but I don't have enough time to learn all the pieces of that just yet. I just bought my first DE and three nights ago had my first shave. I used the Merkur sample blade that came with the razor (34C) and was greatly impressed by how it felt. Granted it wasn't as nice as the shave I got at T&H but I haven't been doing this for years!

Anyways, first shave was awesome, Proraso soap lathered fantastic (thanks to tips on here!!!!) and I felt like the blade glided beautifully over my skin. Even my wife was impressed.

Fast forward to last night, my second shave. I didn't change much, just used a little less soap to make my lather (I had a whole cup left over Monday, didn't want so much waste). I ensured the lather looked and felt the same as Monday night so I'm not sure what happened aside from thinking the blade was already dull...I felt like I was pulling my face off with 1/2 the passes. I'm hoping it was just the blade and I've switched over to a Precision for tonight's shave so we'll see what happens then.

Anyways, sorry for the long post, the point of which was to ask if there is something I can do to ensure this doesn't happen again? Was I wrong to create less lather (I didn't USE less, just had less left over when I was done)? Nothing else changed, so I have to assume it was either the blade being dull already and/or not working with my skin, or creating less lather somehow translated into a less crisp and clean shave...

Thanks in advance and thanks for all the tips!!

Cheers,

M.

[ackvil]

Welcome to B&B.

Without seeing your lather, I really can't say what was wrong. There are many variables as to why a second shave is not as good as the first. It could be your technique, your lather, your prep, or the blade.

If you haven't already done so, take a look at this post.

Also, take a look at the wiki on prep and on lathers. That info may help you.

[CharlieFoxtrot]

When I get a bad shave, I always suspect my lather first. I agree with ackvil's post. It is hard for us to determine what went wrong without pictures. If I'm a 1/2 pass into a shave and I'm not comfortable, I'll rinse and start over. I'd rather spend a few extra minutes shaving rather than a days worth of razor burn and discomfort.

[Dennard]

Welcome! The Merkur HD is a fantstic razor, but Merkur blades don't have a good reputation here. I would suggest purchasing a DE sample pack so you can try a few different blades and see what works best for you.

[NickCutlip]

Welcome to B&B !!

[mistervee123]

Welcome into the light of B&B membership, oh former lurker! Glad to have you.

[dpmtherrien]

Welcome to the group.

[sparco]

Welcome to the community. Have fun!

[Sledgehammer39]

Welcome Aboard!

[Agravic]

Welcome to B+B! Don't be discouraged by the occasional suboptimal shave...patience, persistence, and practice using the proper preparation and technique will inevitably lead to success! +1 on trying different blades.

[The Count of Merkur Cristo]

Ah-ha! So that's where you've been hiding all this time have you now (and close to 2yrs at that), but that's OK because you're are now at last with us (Yeah Baby!!!).

Anyway, welcome aboard the B & B (besides being enrolled in the fictional, sacred and utopian Order of Shavedom). Please feel free to come up to the sun deck & 'sit-a-spell' and thank you for dis-engaging you're 'lurking device' (another member comes out from the mist).



Sounds like you've been well on your way to shaving nirvana and yes (awesome you're using a 34C. I too have a Merkur; the 23C & 38C),...this Forum has the knowledge, ideas, and all around 'know-how' to assist in your Wet-Shaving experience. In a nut-shell...your 'gonna' love it here.

You know in my opinon, it's wise and sage advice to get a Razor Blade Sampler (http://badgerandblade.com/vb/showthr...pack?highlight), so that you'll see what blade would be a good fit (mild, moderate & aggressive, ect...), for your face and razor.

Also, the Thread entitled Wet Shaving Instructions & Tutorials (http://badgerandblade.com/vb/showthr...THIS-THREAD%21), should be of great interest to you and is very informative to include shaving videos by member Mantic @ http://www.youtube.com/user/mantic59. Don't be discouraged and don't forget the 3 P's of shaving...practice, patience and
procedure (technique).

Although, you may not be additted yet...(I think I'm holding up fairly well...with a few exceptions), we all suffer (gladly and are doomed perhaps), from this shaving complusion (and other Acquisition Disorders), because at times..."Resistance is futile".

"Lead us not into temptation. Just tell us where it is; we'll find it". Sam Levenson

Please don't forget once you get time....to tell us a little about yourself in the Hall of Fame sub-forum.

"Don't worry about the [cuts, weepers and] nicks and pick up your life...forget all the bad things, the pain and the strife". Author Unknown

[rider4life]

Thanks all for the advice. I have gone through all the first-time/newbie posts over the last two years multiple times. I feel like I quote parts of some of them in my sleep...

Anyways, after posting this last week I've shaved twice more with my DE, and once with my Fusion Power; had a wedding to attend and I head shave, wife didn't want me to have a bandage wrapped head if I made a mistake...I thought someone had put that dull Merkur blade on my brand new Fusion cartridge. Massive tugging and pulling, razor burn practically instantly and just a really bad shave. Typical of what I experienced if I tried shaving my face more than once every two weeks (yes, I had to let it grow that much before it was not painful to shave).

I bought a blade sample pack when I bought my razor, switched out the Merkur blade and put in a Precision. First shave with the Precision was MUCH nicer than that second shave with the Merkur. I was starting to feel confident that it was the blade.

I shaved last night again for the second time with the same Precision blade. Holy smooth batman! None of the tug and pull I experienced with the Merkur blade on my second shave (or what I got with my Fusion cartridge). After my face shave went so smoothly I couldn't stop myself from trying out a head shave. I've been shaving my head almost as long as my face so I have a technique for shaving the blind spot that I tried with the DE. Worked beautifully. Wife and I agree my head hasn't felt this smooth since I went to Trufitt and Hill and had the hot towel shave on my head. Unlike the straight razor shave they did, the DE didn't nick me at all, passed over the couple of small bumps I have with no issue. I'm VERY impressed by the Precision blade so far, looking forward to my next shave tomorrow night! I'm about 98% of the way to not using my Fusion ever again.

Thanks again for the advice and I'm looking forward to many years more of this!

Cheers,

M.