First Shave with a Merkur Slant

[dlozano]

I decided to give my new Merkur Slant bar a run. I had been using the Merkur HD for about a month now and liked it very much. Before the HD I had been using a Futur for about a year and a half.

I had about 2 days worth of growth so I felt that it would be a good time to give the slant a try since my skin would be fresh and I could easily guage how well my shave went.

I am a stickler for getting the most out of my blades to maximize my wet shaving discount advantage. I usually get 4 shaves out of a Feather, so I took my feather out of my HD which already had 3 uses and loaded it in the Slant which starting out with a new blade would probably be ideal for a first run in a Slant but what the hell.

I have read up some on the Slant via this forum and the things that stuck out on me was
1. no pressure 2. angle discipline 3. only shave lathered areas.

I made sure I had good prep. I took a hot shower, then loaded up my 30mm ShaveMac Silvertip "superlather" style by pre-scrubbing the bristles with Col Conk's lime, then swirling it in a bowl with an inch long squeeze of proraso, making sure to build up a good hydrated lather, adding water a little at a time to achieve the effect.

The shave:

2 days worth of stubble probably could of used a new blade for I felt a little tugging on my first pass, but I first put the slant to my face and then found the correct angle which is "as described" a little more parrallel to the floor. This is easy to acccomplish because the head is angled sharply instead of rounded like the HD, so the angle almost naturally is found.

Then I made my passes WTG using only the pressure of the razor. I then did another pass XTG, then 3 more ATG. Making sure to lather well between each pass.

Result a great shave! Much closer then my HD and no irritation.

POints of interest:

The only area that I was a little apprehensive about was going ATG on the upper lip area. I took my time, found the angle and used no pressure which served me well and the result was spectacular.

You can feel the difference on how this razor accomplishes it's mission. You can feel it slicing instead of hacking like all other razors and this makes you more aware of what you are doing, respecting the process.

Summary: I consider myself a somewhat experienced wet shaver so I have established good tecnique and know the contour of my beard. I'm glad I took heed of other's advice and recommend that you take your time finding the angle, use little pressure and shave only lathered areas. I have a thick beard and demand a very close shave so for most people a 4 pass shave would be too much with this razor leading to razor burn, but I didn't seem to have a problem with it. Overall I got a BBS shave, I'm sure once I get down the muscle memory for this razor I should accomplish this on a consistent basis.

This razor will not retire my HD or Futur because to me they all do extremely well, but the Slant is a welcome addition to my rotation which demands the highest respect. You can get away with sloppy tecnique with the HD, but the Slant requires a disciplined consistent tecnique.

If you are a new guy to this old school style of shaving stick with the HD for a good 6 months and then give it a whirl.

Update: (10 minutes later) I put some cologne on and it stung all over so I probably could have used only 1 pass ATG so lesson learned!!!

[sklegg]

Thanks for the Slant story. I have one on the way and I'm excited to give it a try. I'm beginning to learn that more passes = more irritation for me. Hopefully the slant can slice my whiskers in one pass.

[dlozano]

I have a very thick dark beard and I don't like the 5 o'clock shadow look when going to work so I require more passes, but if you can get a happy result with 1 pass then that is awesome and you should have no problem with this razor!!! I imagine also once I get more experience with this razor I will maximize it's potential which in turn will result in fewer passes required. Just a hopeful guess on my part. Best of luck to you and enjoy!

[sklegg]

I, too, get a shadow even if my face is BBS. If the slant solves that then I'm totally converted! Now to decide which blade I should start with...

[Haiku]

I, too, get a shadow even if my face is BBS. If the slant solves that then I'm totally converted! Now to decide which blade I should start with...

Try an Israeli blue or red. It seems no one really goes wrong with either, but the blue is pretty much a guaranteed standard against which to measure others.

[dmnall]

If you are a new guy to this old school style of shaving stick with the HD for a good 6 months and then give it a whirl.

Update: (10 minutes later) I put some cologne on and it stung all over so I probably could have used only 1 pass ATG so lesson learned!!!

Well I would totally agree with you someone stepped into DE shave from an electric razor, but for someone who came from a cartridge razor and canned goop, could possibly use a slant in a few weeks or so *just depends on the individual*, I went from cartridge since 93 for 15+ years, to a DE *super speed*, then a week or two later a Slim Adjustable and stayed on that until I got to number 8 and wanted to get something more aggressive. Then I bought a slant 37c from a member here on New Years day and did my second shave... My first shave I did cut myself, but this second shave no cuts, weepers or anything and I was bbs after 2 full passes, 1 touch up pass on my cheeks and 2 touch up passes on my neck! Not bad considering I was doing 3 - 4 passes with my slim set on 8 and 5 - 6 passes with SS! I cannot say anything bad about the slant so far!

[dlozano]

Sklegg - Whatever blade you are currently using right now, use it in the slant. I don't know if a feather in a HD will work as well as a feather in a slant. It did for me, so I guess it's a case of YMMV.

[Gogo]

After a long hiatus I pulled out my slant today. Wow! What a razor! I too was extra careful and had the closest shave I've had in a long time. In the past the slant has caused me some irritation on my neck, but today I did pretty well. I went WTG, WTG on upper lip and chin, XTG, ATG and then about 20 seconds of touch ups. What a shave! Not a razor to be fear, but certainly respected. I can't wait to use it tomorrow!

[DunEdinRanger]

I, too, get a shadow even if my face is BBS. If the slant solves that then I'm totally converted! Now to decide which blade I should start with...

The slant solves that. I no longer get that and have a dark beard, should I choose to grow one.

FEATHER. and do it while listening to some Bach, so you can go for Baroque.

[DunEdinRanger]

It is good to find more people loving the Slant.

I only wish I had know about the Slant sooner.

[SMF22]

I'm getting a slant in about two weeks. I can't wait to see how it preforms.

[theologist]

IMHO, the Slant is...

the best!

[Chacki]

I got a Long Handled Slant fo Christmas this year.

Holy hell what a beast.

The things as big as a tank (but still nicely maneuverable) and just feels .. like a razor should.
Got to admit im a couple of weeks in with shaving with it and it still scares the hell out of me - but what a shave!

[Trius]

So is the 39C basically a 38C with the slant head, and the 37C the HD with the slant head?

I'm contemplating a slant, but torn between the two. I generally have no problem with my 38C. I.e., I don't mind the weight/heft, but don't need the handle length. I'm fine with a Krona, in fact it seems to have great balance if not the weight. Haven't quite gotten used to the 40s SS yet, but haven't used it as much yet, either.

If I were to get a slant, the 38C would go.

[Mainecanefan]

So is the 39C basically a 38C with the slant head, and the 37C the HD with the slant head?

I'm contemplating a slant, but torn between the two. I generally have no problem with my 38C. I.e., I don't mind the weight/heft, but don't need the handle length. I'm fine with a Krona, in fact it seems to have great balance if not the weight. Haven't quite gotten used to the 40s SS yet, but haven't used it as much yet, either.

If I were to get a slant, the 38C would go.

You might as well just get both and end the madness. I was finally able to add a 39C to my collection 2 months ago and really really like it. However, I am travelling in Florida right now, so I brought my 37C with me. Got a great shave and I think using a 39C for about 6 weeks helped to improve some of my technique with my 37C.

Regardless of what you buy, it is wondrous to see the minions of Slant users growing by the week. Excellent! (rubs hands together devilishly)

[cooltide]

So is the 39C basically a 38C with the slant head
yes, weight, handle, size all the same but the slant is a bit more agressive
for a closer shave & helps the 5 o clock blues

[Haiku]

and do it while listening to some Bach, so you can go for Baroque.

Great line, classic in fact.

[Trius]

You might as well just get both and end the madness. <snip> (rubs hands together devilishly)

Mrs. Trius, meet Mainecanefan. It's all his fault.