Please help - 6 months in and still having problems - weepers and nicks

[Attila]

Best of luck and don't give up. It will get better. Some fantastic advice that is a great reminder for many of us.

[plug_it_in]

Well tried all the advice and I cannot thank you all enough an Alpha shave last night ! So no pre-shave. Used Gillette 7'Oclock (used 3 times before) DE89 . Decided to try my MWF as I looked at a Mantic59 video on how to create a lather and because of the additional face massage with brush and lather (and I just received my new Simpson Duke) thought this was a positive step. I know I don't react to lanolin . Did 2 passes WTG short strokes (so much better) . Was very very careful with pressure . No nicks or weepers and no irritation .

One very happy bunny. Going to stand still now and perfect this technique with this razor then the Fatboy .

[Early Morning]

In one of his videos, Mantic59 points out that it’s important to maintain the appropriate angle until you can consistently get a decent shave without cutting yourself, keeping the wrist very steady most of the time. This is very good advice if you’re coming off one of those cartridge system thingies with the pivoting heads because there’s a tendency to flick them at the end of each stroke.

Most guys can probably get away with skipping the ATG pass every other day and on weekends. Aim for an okay or respectable shave before you work your way up to creating the illusion that your shave is truly BBS. Focus on technique before you work your way up to playing with very steep or shallow blade angles or timing your shaves, etc.

[BlackBard]

Well tried all the advice and I cannot thank you all enough an Alpha shave last night ! So no pre-shave. Used Gillette 7'Oclock (used 3 times before) DE89 . Decided to try my MWF as I looked at a Mantic59 video on how to create a lather and because of the additional face massage with brush and lather (and I just received my new Simpson Duke) thought this was a positive step. I know I don't react to lanolin . Did 2 passes WTG short strokes (so much better) . Was very very careful with pressure . No nicks or weepers and no irritation .

One very happy bunny. Going to stand still now and perfect this technique with this razor then the Fatboy .

I am glad for you that you were able to glean the advice you needed from all the good comments you received. As you no doubt noticed, many of the posts referred to pressure and angle as major problems. I think this is exactly correct.

I have noticed an odd phenomenon when I try to shave a little less close than usual - say on a day off from work. I do this by employing a lighter touch (less pressure), thinking that the result will be less close. The strange thing is that I generally end up with a closer shave than usual, not the opposite.

Conclusion: Less pressure actually yields a closer shave with less chance of irritation. I know this is counter intuitive, but it works for me.

Your decision to stick with one razor and blade until you perfect (improve) your technique is one of the best you could make. Introducing too many variables only serves to hinder your progress because doing so will make it more difficult to know what caused something to go wrong (or right).

Keep us posted.

[California Cajun]

Hi I hope someone can help me. I have read all the help as thoroughly as I can. I have two DE Razors Edwin Jagger DE89 (First purchase) and Gillette Fatboy .

I have tried all manor of preps but seem to be getting worse at this shaving not better. Especially with nicking myself . Haven't had an alpha shave for ages . I even wound the Fatboy back to number one then number 2 .... still got issues. I know Im not heavy handed and it seems the problem mostly happens on my second pass ATG .

So normal Prep is : Wash face , Soak flannel in hot water , apply to face for 2-3mins (or shower) . Put on either Taylor Shaving oil or Edwin Jagger Pre Shave . Next Taylor & Bond Sandlewood cream soap (tried Proraso , MWF, Bluebeard, samples of others) which I seem to get the best lather with, either on face or in a bowl . Then off we go ....... Blades tried , Derby , Feather, Astra, Merkur , Persona , Iridium and Wilkinson

Next mop up the blood .......

What am I doing wrong. I used the Gillette most of the time as I could wind it down , and now have gone back to the DE89 , kinda back to first principals .

Any suggestions ?

The first thought on the top of my head is that you're trying too hard to get the perfect shave, and in so doing you don't quit pressing down on the razor UNTIL you get a nick or cut.

The razors you're using are not overly aggressive, the soaps are of high quality, and you've tried pretty much the full range of blades. Frankly, you sound like you know what you're doing. If you didn't, we'd be talking about scars rather than nicks and cuts.

I've shaved since I was a teenager and I'm in my mid-50s. I get nicks and cuts all the time and they don't bother me. A barber told me once that I have sensitive skin. My dad's skin was even more sensitive. Once when I was a kid, Dad's electric razor quit working and he had to use my wetshaving equipment. My mom told me he cussed and cut himself right and left. Maybe your skin is sensitive.

It doesn't bother me when I cut myself. The aftershave has it all healed by the time I have to shave again. If I were to suggest something, it would be to just relax and shave. In time, a lot of this cutting and nicking will probably subside on its own.

[bbarton713]

Have you tried any other style of razor other than DE? My best shaves happened when I switched to injector and straight razors. My Schick type E and Hydromagic razors give me very close shaves with no irritation. I found that shaving every other day works best for me and since I work from home that is possible. However, I have shaved every day with these razors and it has been fine.

Good lather, a light touch, and sharp blades made all the difference for me.

[GladiusGSF]

I had all of the above starting out...then on a whim I got a merkur 1904 open comb...problems solved! No more nicks, weepers or burn. Some folks beards lay down a certain way that really only responds to an OC. If you have an opportunity to try one, go for it. Also, it seems razors have a particular blade that works in them and no razor seems to want to share the same blade likes as another. My EJ likes Derby. My Gillette likes Bluebirds. My Merkur OC likes Astras. I just bought an adjustable so i have to figure our what it likes and go buy that blade as well....lol....Once you get your technique down with whatever razor/blade combo that REALLY works for you, one day a week venture on to something new and increase that until you are comfortable with that. That way you are not piled down under a mountain of suck all week. I have become spoiled in the fact that I look forward to shaving, as weird as that sounds, and hate when I can't because my face is burger....good luck bud!

[Sledgehammer39]

Avoid the ATG for now.

[Mad Dog]

Well tried all the advice and I cannot thank you all enough an Alpha shave last night ! So no pre-shave. Used Gillette 7'Oclock (used 3 times before) DE89 . Decided to try my MWF as I looked at a Mantic59 video on how to create a lather and because of the additional face massage with brush and lather (and I just received my new Simpson Duke) thought this was a positive step. I know I don't react to lanolin . Did 2 passes WTG short strokes (so much better) . Was very very careful with pressure . No nicks or weepers and no irritation .

One very happy bunny. Going to stand still now and perfect this technique with this razor then the Fatboy .

Fantastic! You've found a routine that works for YOU. Great work!