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- #41
Shaving guidance
- Thread starter Miyagisan
- Start date
Welcome aboard!!
You have tons of great advice above. I suggest you focus on a few points:
1. Good prep
2. Lather
3. Optimal razor angle
4. NO pressure
Stick with this and you will get the results you want!
You have tons of great advice above. I suggest you focus on a few points:
1. Good prep
2. Lather
3. Optimal razor angle
4. NO pressure
Stick with this and you will get the results you want!
100% agree, i gave up on BBS pretty quickly into my DE shaving journey and i haven't looked back since
2 passes WTG on my neck as its a bit of a problem area and 1 WTG & 1 XTG on the rest of my face
I think the advice on many of the posts above reflects the same as i would suggest, stick to WTG until you get a comfortable shave with little irritation, then start experimenting with XTG and ATG
Best of luck
Okay...that explains a lot. I was assuming that you knew your pass order and maybe just had a mistake on the grain direction.
ATG is a no-no for the first pass. Yes, there may be a few guys here who get away with it, but they are certified weirdos. For most people it is a disaster.
The other guys have explained how to map the grain to make sure you know what WTG is. So now we have several things.
- Ensure proper preparation. A hot shower before the shave
- Get some sharper blades from a quality manufacturer. I suggest trying Astra SP, Gillette Silver Blue, Gillette Permasharp and Feather. You may cut yourself as you are not used to sharp blades. But you already cut yourself so you don't have much to lose!
- Map that grain!
- Stick to WTG passes only for a while, which may mean going N to S on your neck. But don't take my word for that - map YOUR grain and don't rely on what someone else tells you. You need to get really good reduction from the WTG passes before you think about doing any additional passes in other directions. Many people don't go ATG on the neck at all but can still get acceptable shaves.
But I do think you should stop shaving for a couple of weeks at least. Use a trimmer to keep things under control and give your skin a good chance to heal.
Speaking only for myself, he’s 100% correct
- Thread starter
- #46
So today I ordered a pack of Bic razor blades, I’m curious to see if there’s going to be a reaction. On that note which blade plate should I use it on the Rockwell 6C? I was thinking 3 or 4.
I remember getting a pack of Rockwell blades, so in my disposal I have ( Treet Carbon Steel, Gillette sharp edge, Gillette blacks, Rockwell blades and Bic)
How are the Rockwell blades compared to the other blades I currently have?
I remember getting a pack of Rockwell blades, so in my disposal I have ( Treet Carbon Steel, Gillette sharp edge, Gillette blacks, Rockwell blades and Bic)
How are the Rockwell blades compared to the other blades I currently have?
If it were me, I’d go as mild a plate as possible until the skin heals, so a plate 1 or 2. You can try plate 3 if you think you can handle it, but don’t forget, go with the grain only until your face heals. After your face heals, if you try doing multiple pass shaves again remember, first pass always with the grain. And use a light touch. Too much pressure and the blade, any blade, can be abrasive to the skin. When you start to feel, or hear the blade cutting the hairs, that’s enough. No need to apply any pressure beyond that.
The easiest way to go is WTG. Why fight? Go with the flow. I find no need for complete extra passes, as in two or three.
I use gel, so there is a residual left after I rinse. So with the water added, I can do a ACG pass in either direction or so.
If I want, I can do an ATG pass up my neck. I am only doing these extra pases to get the very few remaining hairs that remain after the initial pass.
As such, it doesn't present any kind of challenge and only picks up those few remaining rogue hairs. These extra pick-up passes do nothing to increase the overall shaving irritation.
This right here.
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- #50
Will do, I’ll let my face heal and in the meantime I’ll go with a mild plate and a sharper blade like Bic or Feathers
Please let us know how it goes.
You were the man I had in mind when I wrote it!
Honestly, I don't know how you do it...other than perhaps being a daily shaver who gets very close shaves, you don't need to do any reduction beforehand. I can see that working. If I were to shave right now with circa 20hrs growth after a BBS, I might get away with going ATG straight away - but as it is I will just wait another 24hrs to shave!
Either way - I think as a general rule, it's not something a new person should do. Especially if they are struggling.
I can confirm that statement.
I had been tearing up my face for about 45 years and then bought a DE safety razor and joined Badger & Blade and finally learned how to shave. Then I went through the whole thing again, about 4 years ago, learning to use a straight razor. I now enjoy irritation free shaves using both types of razors.
First, learn to shave with the grain of your beard with a mild to moderate razor and blade using as little pressure as possible.
Let your beard grow for a few days and then gently pet the different areas of your beard (like a cat or dog) in all directions till you figure out what direction the hairs are growing in. Try closing your eyes while you do this. Try looking in a mirror. My beard is similar to the map that @NorthernSoul posted. Without telling them what you think, ask a friend or partner to do the same.
Pay attention to the feedback and any resistance while shaving. You should feel little to no resistance when shaving with the grain. I need to use a downward and outward stroke to shave the top of my neck and an upward stroke for the bottom of my neck. When I deviate from this, I will experience irritation.
Pressure is your enemy. My mantra is little to no pressure, where no pressure means just the weight of the razor.
Pay attention to the length and frequency of your strokes on any given area. Find a length and frequency that feels optimal for you.
I have a tendency to over shave certain areas of my face and need to remind myself to stop and come back to the area on my second pass.
Then, play with different razors, blades and shaving across the grain and against the grain.
In my opinion, a comfortable, not-super-close one-pass shave is better than a bloody multi-pass mess. My recommendation, therefore, is to first focus on one pass with the grain and view everything beyond this as gravy. I will repeat the things that have led me to irritation:
First, learn to shave with the grain of your beard with a mild to moderate razor and blade using as little pressure as possible.
Let your beard grow for a few days and then gently pet the different areas of your beard (like a cat or dog) in all directions till you figure out what direction the hairs are growing in. Try closing your eyes while you do this. Try looking in a mirror. My beard is similar to the map that @NorthernSoul posted. Without telling them what you think, ask a friend or partner to do the same.
Pay attention to the feedback and any resistance while shaving. You should feel little to no resistance when shaving with the grain. I need to use a downward and outward stroke to shave the top of my neck and an upward stroke for the bottom of my neck. When I deviate from this, I will experience irritation.
Pressure is your enemy. My mantra is little to no pressure, where no pressure means just the weight of the razor.
Pay attention to the length and frequency of your strokes on any given area. Find a length and frequency that feels optimal for you.
I have a tendency to over shave certain areas of my face and need to remind myself to stop and come back to the area on my second pass.
Then, play with different razors, blades and shaving across the grain and against the grain.
In my opinion, a comfortable, not-super-close one-pass shave is better than a bloody multi-pass mess. My recommendation, therefore, is to first focus on one pass with the grain and view everything beyond this as gravy. I will repeat the things that have led me to irritation:
- Using too much pressure.
- Not shaving with the grain of my beard, especially on my neck.
- Over shaving areas of my face.
You’ve got reputable tools and product, it’s your prep and technique that need work.
1) let your skin heal before shaving again
2) solve one problem at a time beginning with proper prep work. Set your DE’s aside (…I know, I know…) and get some cheap single blade disposable Bic razors. Accept you won’t get a super close shave, but at the same time they are easy enough to allow you to focus on nailing down a proper prep routine.
3) the k.i.s.s. principle is the key to proper prep. First you want to wash your face to get rid of the
natural oil coating the whiskers. Then you want to apply your lather and let it sit on your skin one or two minutes for it to soften the whiskers, then proceed with the shave.
4)once you have found a prep technique that agrees with your skin, then return to the DE.
5) take your time and don’t get discouraged. After a while everything will click into place.
.
1) let your skin heal before shaving again
2) solve one problem at a time beginning with proper prep work. Set your DE’s aside (…I know, I know…) and get some cheap single blade disposable Bic razors. Accept you won’t get a super close shave, but at the same time they are easy enough to allow you to focus on nailing down a proper prep routine.
3) the k.i.s.s. principle is the key to proper prep. First you want to wash your face to get rid of the
natural oil coating the whiskers. Then you want to apply your lather and let it sit on your skin one or two minutes for it to soften the whiskers, then proceed with the shave.
-bowl lathering is a lot easier on the skin, use your brush to paint the lather on and use fingertips to massage in, then wait your few minutes while your whiskers soften.
-it doesn’t seem to be your case, but a lot of especially new guys use wayyyy too many products then complain of skin irritation
-now is the time to try different soaps and creams to see which agree with your skin and which don’t.
4)once you have found a prep technique that agrees with your skin, then return to the DE.
-an irritation free shave should be your first goal, not a BBS
-map your beard growth and avoid going ATG for good while until you get the hang of proper angle and pressure. (FYI rubbing a cotton ball on your face will easily tell you which way your whiskers grow)
-know that there are sharp blades, mild blades, and a lot in between. Do yourself a favor and try some of each. Sharp blades glide through whiskers almost effortlessly but might be tougher on skin; mild blades give a tugging sensation that some find uncomfortable yet often end up being easier on skin.
-I have a large patch of whiskers that grow almost parallel to the skin, mild blades are the easiest way for me to shave ATG and get a BBS. Took over ten years to “discover” this for myself.
5) take your time and don’t get discouraged. After a while everything will click into place.
.
Those are chinese blades and not great. You already have good equipment: Rockwell 6C and Gillette Blacks, stick with it. The blacks are sharp enough and much smoother than other blades.
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- #57
Well on the package it says it’s made in Sweden
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- #58
No it doesn't. It does not say the blades are made in Sweden.
I have read most of the posts and concluded, your problem does not come from the use of a particular product.
The picture you posted shows the results you get after shaving for more than four years. Take a break for some time and reflect on that.
Good luck to you.
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- #60
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