Hello all. After 30 years of electric shaving, I decided to journey into the world of safety razors. Picked up the Van Der Hagen for my first, just to enter in the world of DE shaving. I got the kit, premium luxury soap, boar brush, and mug. I also stopped by Sally's and picked up some Personna and Derby Blades.
Now here is my deal. It seems to work ok for growth that is VERY short, like less than say 2 days. But anything over that, it either glides on the bar, or it tugs to the point where I cannot even finish or even begin a small stroke. My lather is good, even mix in a bit of Cremo Cream to add extra slickness. Lathering in a bowl. Hot shower first, hot water on the face right before I begin. I don't get it.
It tends to do very well on the cheeks, although that is the easiest portion to shave. But I am really struggling getting close on the jawline / ridge, top of the neck, and chin. I have very coarse/stiff stubble. I am sure it comes down to finding the angle, and more practice, but I almost feel like this particular razor is just not aggressive enough. I feel like I need to break rule number one, "do not apply pressure and let the weight of the razor do the work," just to get it to even shave. Like I said, seems there are two speeds in the more rigid areas of my face. Tugging, or gliding / nothing.
Any and all advice is more than greatly appreciated as I do not want to go back to the dreaded messy electric shaver. I am really enjoying the experience so far, but need to work out the kinks.
Oh and by the way, I have watched countless vids on YouTube, and read many forums. I have seen a couple guys mow down some long hair with a safety razor no problem, hell geofatman even did his chin damn near bone dry! I must be missing something!
Now here is my deal. It seems to work ok for growth that is VERY short, like less than say 2 days. But anything over that, it either glides on the bar, or it tugs to the point where I cannot even finish or even begin a small stroke. My lather is good, even mix in a bit of Cremo Cream to add extra slickness. Lathering in a bowl. Hot shower first, hot water on the face right before I begin. I don't get it.
It tends to do very well on the cheeks, although that is the easiest portion to shave. But I am really struggling getting close on the jawline / ridge, top of the neck, and chin. I have very coarse/stiff stubble. I am sure it comes down to finding the angle, and more practice, but I almost feel like this particular razor is just not aggressive enough. I feel like I need to break rule number one, "do not apply pressure and let the weight of the razor do the work," just to get it to even shave. Like I said, seems there are two speeds in the more rigid areas of my face. Tugging, or gliding / nothing.
Any and all advice is more than greatly appreciated as I do not want to go back to the dreaded messy electric shaver. I am really enjoying the experience so far, but need to work out the kinks.
Oh and by the way, I have watched countless vids on YouTube, and read many forums. I have seen a couple guys mow down some long hair with a safety razor no problem, hell geofatman even did his chin damn near bone dry! I must be missing something!