Yet another noob... but with a question.

**uberculture** · 02-17-2009, 07:03 PM

I've been lurking for about a month, so what the heck...

To start, about a year and a half ago, before my wedding, I got a traditional shave at a barbershop. Talk about a gateway drug....

Fast forward to three months ago. My wife, of all people, was looking at safety razors online, and thought I might like one. I'd been pretty happy with my cartridges (as long as I used quality shave cream), but I'm notoriously cheap and always in need of a new time-consuming hobby, so I ordered a Parker 22R. I'm pretty happy, all in all, after two months of teaching myself what's up. So far, I've just used the 7am blades that came with the razor (yech) and the Wally World Personnas (surprisingly pleasant)... the sampler pack from West Coast Shaving came today, and I loaded up a Greek Bic for tomorrow.

Really, the Sensor Excel cartridges I had been using weren't bad... but a DE shave is just more geeky. Which is good for me. But I have noticed that even though my shaves are much smoother at first, I do notice more prominent stubble at the end of the day than I'm used to. I have a few hypotheses on this...

1) A proper shave promotes faster beard growth. (not likely)
2) Proper shave products promote faster beard growth (possible, but I've been using my Body Shop shave cream for years, and not noticed this.)
3) Since I've been feeling my face more critically, I'm just noticing the stubble more than I used to (getting closer to possible there).
4) The DE shave cuts stubble more cleanly, leading to more tactile stubble. The cartridges, with their pulling and ripping, left split stubble, that didn't really poke at much at my fingers as the clean shaven stubble does. (this is my most likely theory).

Any thoughts? Has anyone else noticed more prominent stubble than they used to notice with a cartridge at the end of the day?

(for the record, parker 22r, Body Shop Maca shave cream, Wal Mart boar brush, Everyman Jack face lotion, and lately, Wal Mart Personna blades)

**pal** · 02-17-2009, 07:15 PM

I would agree with observations #3 and #4. I started with a Parker 22r and I love that little razor but those 7am blades are junk. When you get a decent blade you will not believe what the difference it makes. Just a word of caution, Parkers are notorious for the blades not centering. Look at each side of the razor with the blade incerted and the silo doors shut. Look to see if the blade is sticking out further on one side. I cut myself several times before I discovered this. Good Luck!

**crankymoose** · 02-18-2009, 06:22 AM

Originally Posted by pal

I would agree with observations #3 and #4. I started with a Parker 22r and I love that little razor but those 7am blades are junk. When you get a decent blade you will not believe what the difference it makes. Just a word of caution, Parkers are notorious for the blades not centering. Look at each side of the razor with the blade incerted and the silo doors shut. Look to see if the blade is sticking out further on one side. I cut myself several times before I discovered this. Good Luck!

+1 and Welcome to B&B enjoy

**FLTiger** · 02-18-2009, 06:29 AM

Gateway drug, indeed--welcome to B&B!

**mk-ultra** · 02-18-2009, 06:39 AM

Originally Posted by uberculture

I've been lurking for about a month, so what the heck...

To start, about a year and a half ago, before my wedding, I got a traditional shave at a barbershop. Talk about a gateway drug....

Fast forward to three months ago. My wife, of all people, was looking at safety razors online, and thought I might like one. I'd been pretty happy with my cartridges (as long as I used quality shave cream), but I'm notoriously cheap and always in need of a new time-consuming hobby, so I ordered a Parker 22R. I'm pretty happy, all in all, after two months of teaching myself what's up. So far, I've just used the 7am blades that came with the razor (yech) and the Wally World Personnas (surprisingly pleasant)... the sampler pack from West Coast Shaving came today, and I loaded up a Greek Bic for tomorrow.

Really, the Sensor Excel cartridges I had been using weren't bad... but a DE shave is just more geeky. Which is good for me. But I have noticed that even though my shaves are much smoother at first, I do notice more prominent stubble at the end of the day than I'm used to. I have a few hypotheses on this...

1) A proper shave promotes faster beard growth. (not likely)
2) Proper shave products promote faster beard growth (possible, but I've been using my Body Shop shave cream for years, and not noticed this.)
3) Since I've been feeling my face more critically, I'm just noticing the stubble more than I used to (getting closer to possible there).
4) The DE shave cuts stubble more cleanly, leading to more tactile stubble. The cartridges, with their pulling and ripping, left split stubble, that didn't really poke at much at my fingers as the clean shaven stubble does. (this is my most likely theory).

Any thoughts? Has anyone else noticed more prominent stubble than they used to notice with a cartridge at the end of the day?

(for the record, parker 22r, Body Shop Maca shave cream, Wal Mart boar brush, Everyman Jack face lotion, and lately, Wal Mart Personna blades)

I have another theory. You enjoyed the shave so much that you subconsciously force your beard to grow so that you can shave again the next day! That's what happens to me.

**SmoovD** · 02-18-2009, 07:24 AM

Or it could be that DEs shave the hair on the surface of your skin. It doesn't attempt to scrape the skin for what is below the surface. Most of us notice a reduction of ingrown hairs due to this fact. Also, this allows for a more distinct shadow at the end of the day.

Welcome aboard.

**thirdeye** · 02-18-2009, 07:37 AM

Welcome to B&B, I see the fellows have it covered so simply enjoy!!!

**rsvossen** · 02-18-2009, 08:24 AM

I have also noticed a more prominent stubble. I think observation #4 is most likely. Observation #3 wouldn't apply for me as I always used to check (throughout the day) whether my face was still smooth, even when I still used Fushion cartridges.
Whatever the reason may be, a warm welcome to B&B!

**DBLE ARROW BLADE** · 02-18-2009, 08:45 AM

Originally Posted by mk-ultra

I have another theory. You enjoyed the shave so much that you subconsciously force your beard to grow so that you can shave again the next day! That's what happens to me.

+1

welcome to B&B