YAWN (Yet Another Wetshaving Newbie)

**michaelw** · 05-09-2009, 04:50 PM

I have been wet shaving with a disposable for about a year now and felt like I'm missing something.

At the suggestion of several others (including some guy I never met and have no reason to trust) from "the art of shaving" I tried a fusion razor for the first time and my face completely broke out and my wife asked me never to shave with it again.

I ordered a safety razor from Amazon (a Parker 22R) and it will arrive on Monday. Any tips on getting started with a DE razor? The guys at work think I'm nuts and the running joke is that I'm going to come in Tuesday without a face.

Thanks :-)

-m

**rm71** · 05-09-2009, 04:54 PM

Welcome to B&B.

Tips I can give, is make sure you prep well.
Try different blades and stick with one that suits you.
Apply very little pressure and get you blade angle right.

There a alot of stickys on the forum for newbies. Read them they are an invaluable source of information. Hope this helps.

**no_pants_cat** · 05-09-2009, 04:57 PM

Dedicate more time to your shave - give yourself an extra 30 minutes.

Watch the mantic videos.

Use little/no pressure and be very careful of the blade angle.

Whambam, you'll be shaving like a pro in no time.

**TheGrooveking** · 05-09-2009, 05:06 PM

Originally Posted by no_pants_cat

Dedicate more time to your shave - give yourself an extra 30 minutes.

Watch the mantic videos.

Use little/no pressure and be very careful of the blade angle.

Whambam, you'll be shaving like a pro in no time.

He is referencing the Mantic59 videos on YouTube. There great, a lot of information plus it's presented well and with some humor.

**michaelw** · 05-09-2009, 05:14 PM

Thanks for the (quick) advice. I didn't mention that I have a few scars on my chin from getting stitches as a child and the work of a not great walk-in-clinic doctor.

Is there anything extra I should be doing to not cut up that "jagged" area?

-m

**no_pants_cat** · 05-09-2009, 05:18 PM

I would just be extra careful until you figure out how to shave that area. It might give you zero problems or it might be something you have to learn to adjust for.

Something to remember - there's no shame in using your disposable for clean-up/touch-up while you're still learning. Don't use it as a "crutch", but IMO there's no point in having a shave that you spend your whole day unhappy with...

**bokaba** · 05-09-2009, 07:01 PM

Welcome tot he forum!

**BarryR** · 05-09-2009, 07:08 PM

Welcome!
What were you setting the Futur on? Did you dial it down? I'd start with a very low setting and go up when you're getting little to no irritation.

Also, which blade were you using?

**Alaskan Eagle** · 05-09-2009, 07:23 PM

Welcome to B&B! Read the stickies at the beginning of this forum. I read Leisure Guy's Guide to Gourmet Shaving. Great book. I got it for my father when I introduced him to wet shaving. Most important thing is pressure, keep very light pressure or you'll cut the crap out of your self.

Happy shaving.

**thirdeye** · 05-09-2009, 07:43 PM

Welcome to B&B...Enjoy!!!

**Mainecanefan** · 05-09-2009, 07:49 PM

Welcome aboard. Plenty of great information and advice abounds here for you to get great shaves.

**strat1117** · 05-09-2009, 08:20 PM

Welcome to B&B. The best advice I can give (other than to go look at all the tutorials and stickys) is to go slow, don't try to force anything and just let the shaves happen.

You will get the feel of it sooner than you think, but it is a world apart from those disposables, so don't expect too much too soon -- that is a slippery slope which leads only to frustration.

Enjoy!!