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Shave without nicks?

I have been happy with the razors from Harry's shave club

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I use Harry's too and have been distinctly unimpressed. I was about to cancel my subscription, but my father showed up for Thanksgiving and I loaded up a new cartridge and had him give it a try. When he emerged from the bathroom, he said he had to experiment a little, and what he found was that less was better in terms of lubricant (ended up using homemade soap rather than shave gel), and more water was the key. I tried this, and found it much better. Just goes to show that there are a lot of variables, and the techniques and materials that work with one tool may not work well with another. I suppose the same goes for faces - what works on your face might not work on the OPs, etc.
 
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I use Harry's too and have been distinctly unimpressed. I was about to cancel my subscription, but my father showed up for Thanksgiving and I loaded up a new cartridge and had him give it a try. When he emerged from the bathroom, he said he had to experiment a little, and what he found was that less was better in terms of lubricant (ended up using homemade soap rather than shave gel), and more water was the key. I tried this, and found it much better. Just goes to show that there are a lot of variables, and the techniques and materials that work with one tool may not work well with another. I suppose the same goes for faces - what works on your face might not work on the OPs, etc.
I have a pretty light beard, I shave every three days or less.
 
I have a pretty light beard, I shave every three days or less.


Yeah, I mentioned to my father that nobody in his family ever was seen with a full beard, and he got all cranky and said that HE had a full beard for years and OF COURSE he could grow a full beard! Geez, I didn't mean to insult his manhood. I thought I was just stating a neutral fact. So he found a photo on his phone (of a photo taken 40+ years ago) and said 'HERE! FULL BEARD!' I snorted. Sorta a scraggly collection of hairs, some of which were an inch long, but I guess they were growing about where a beard would have.....
 
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I'm safe for almost another month, as I don't plan on shaving again until Ian Kilmister's birthday, at which time I'll shave out just the middle:

lemmy-beard-styles.jpg
The Lemmy beard was the first style of facial hair that I kept. I was 16 at the time. Definitely something you don't see every day.
 
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I too shave in the shower but do it in this order:
Wash hair
Apply conditioner
Shave with the grain
Rinse off conditioner
Wash body and rinse
Apply shaving lotion and shave against the grain
Apply "St Ives Face Scrub" <---I find it works better than any after shave
Also obviously I use a mirror but I use a Merkur 34C safety razor
Feather Blades
AND....I use a new blade every single time.

BTW this method allows me to go 3 days in between shaves.

This helps a lot. The hot water and steam will help soften your skin, and I've had good luck in the past by washing my hair, applying shaving cream and shaving (with a Mach 5) in the shower with a mirror. After shaving and the shower I wiped my face down with a washcloth soaked in cold water (the cold water helps tighten your skin back up and close the pores). Using a non-alcohol based shave balm after really helps keep the skin hydrated and healthy. Nicks only happen when you're in a hurry and don't have sufficient shaving cream/oil coverage.

Now that I'm bald I follow the same procedure but have grown my beard out and keep my dome cleared with the same procedure above and a HeadBlade. :thumbsup:
 
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Had my first shave this morning with a DE shaver, I wish I hadn't waited so long.

The feeling is so different, no pressure is needed at all, just the weight of the head against the skin.

I got a bit cocky and did a two pass shave, with and against the grain, and it slightly irritated the skin on my neck. Next time I'll try down strokes and then across the grain like I usually do, and avoid pressing down at all, which I did out of habit at times. I can see the learning curve will be very quick and I'll be getting super close shaves with no irritation soon.

I had this fear of getting nicks that I think prevented me from trying a safety razor earlier, there was just something scary about those blades that I had in the back of my mind since a kid, but it was completely unfounded,
 
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Had my first shave this morning with a DE shaver, I wish I hadn't waited so long.

The feeling is so different, no pressure is needed at all, just the weight of the head against the skin.

I got a bit cocky and did a two pass shave, with and against the grain, and it slightly irritated the skin on my neck. Next time I'll try down strokes and then across the grain like I usually do, and avoid pressing down at all, which I did out of habit at times. I can see the learning curve will be very quick and I'll be getting super close shaves with no irritation soon.

I had this fear of getting nicks that I think prevented me from trying a safety razor earlier, there was just something scary about those blades that I had in the back of my mind since a kid, but it was completely unfounded,
What kind of DE did you go with? What kind of blades? What are you shaving lotion?

BTW to everyone on here who uses DE or wants to go DE you will find a lot of people saying the Futor is the best and I couldn't disagree more. That was my first safety razor for years and one day I had enough and tossed it in the garbage: $80 plus safety razor. Why? Because the thing is adjustable and being adjustable it has it's corks, and those corks lead to a ton of cuts. So my suggestion to everyone, stick to a safety razor that holds blades in a fixed position: no adjustments.

Just my 2-cents.
 
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What kind of DE did you go with? What kind of blades? What are you shaving lotion?

BTW to everyone on here who uses DE or wants to go DE you will find a lot of people saying the Futor is the best and I couldn't disagree more. That was my first safety razor for years and one day I had enough and tossed it in the garbage: $80 plus safety razor. Why? Because the thing is adjustable and being adjustable it has it's corks, and those corks lead to a ton of cuts. So my suggestion to everyone, stick to a safety razor that holds blades in a fixed position: no adjustments.

Just my 2-cents.

I really liked the idea of a good razor that is also difficult to get in trouble with, and I had a gift certificate that I was doing nothing with, so I went all out and ordered the Feather SS razor and 100 Feather blades.

It was also tax free and the exchange rate from the Swiss Franc to the British Pound is excellent so it took a lot of the sting out of it.

I'm glad I did because it's a thing of beauty and looks and feels amazing. I'm sure I could have perfectly happy with a razor at a third the price but I've never gone wrong before by buying top quality at the outset.

I was going to try a Merkur but I flipped when I saw the Feather razor. I'm a sucker for good craftsmanship when it's something I use everyday.

I have no use for adjustable razors either, I like the simplicity of this one and I figure I'll get best results by using the same thing all the time.

I use Tabac soap and Proraso cream, though when I'm out of the Tabac I'll try the Proraso soap or another brand for a change.

Tabac is available everywhere and the lather is great and easy to build. I'm open to suggestions if you want to recommend a good puck soap, traditional scents like Sandalwood, etc.
 
I really liked the idea of a good razor that is also difficult to get in trouble with, and I had an Amazon gift certificate, so I went all out and ordered the Feather razor and a 100 Feather blades.

I'm glad I did because it's a thing of beauty and looks and feels amazing. I'm sure I could have perfectly happy with a razor at a third the price but I've never gone wrong before by buying top quality at the outset.

I was going to try a Merkur but I flipped when I saw the Feather razor.

I have no use for adjustable razors either, I like the simplicity of this one and I figure I'll get best results by using the same thing all the time.

I use Tabac soap and Proraso cream, though when I'm out of the Tabac I'll try the Proraso soap or another brand for a change.

Tabac is available everywhere and the lather is great and easy to build. I'm open to suggestions if you want to recommend a good puck soap, traditional scents like Sandalwood, etc.
The Feathers are great, I too use the blades (yellow package) but don't have the safety razor. I am using the Merkur 34C but if yours is similar to that then you are golden.

As far as cream avoid that stuff in a can crap. You can go old school with soap and brush or go with my method that is simple and effective and that is use the natural Kiss my Face shaving stuff. Choice is yours.

Glad you are enjoying it.
 
The Feathers are great, I too use the blades (yellow package) but don't have the safety razor. I am using the Merkur 34C but if yours is similar to that then you are golden.

As far as cream avoid that stuff in a can crap. You can go old school with soap and brush or go with my method that is simple and effective and that is use the natural Kiss my Face shaving stuff. Choice is yours.

Glad you are enjoying it.

I've been using soap and a badger brush since 35 years now, I despise those aerosol cans and the junk in them. I use cream in a tube when traveling, and my brush fits in a little case.

I actually threw out my first badger brush when it lost most of the the hairs after 20 years of abuse. It was a Simpson brush rebranded as Geo. F. Trumper, the London barber shop where I bought it on a whim early '80s.

I had no idea they reknot old brushes or I woul have sent it to them an got a Manchurian badger knot, they look amazing and are supposed the be the business.

I'm extremely happy with my newer Simpson Best Badger Classic, it's a very small brush with a very full loft, perfect for face lathering.
 
I've been using soap and a badger brush since 35 years now, I despise those aerosol cans and the junk in them. I use cream in a tube when traveling, and my brush fits in a little case.

I actually threw out my first badger brush when it lost most of the the hairs after 20 years of abuse. It was a Simpson brush rebranded as Geo. F. Trumper, the London barber shop where I bought it on a whim early '80s.

I had no idea they reknot old brushes or I woul have sent it to them an got a Manchurian badger knot, they look amazing and are supposed the be the business.

I'm extremely happy with my newer Simpson Best Badger Classic, it's a very small brush with a very full loft, perfect for face lathering.
Wait wait wait...you been using a Badger brush all this time and just now started using DE? Interesting.
 
Wait wait wait...you been using a Badger brush all this time and just now started using DE? Interesting.

Yes, and the shave you get with a Sensor Excel and soap and brush is actually pretty amazing.

When I started using a brush DEs were still completely out of style, even the few barbers who still did wet shaves used cartridge or straight razors. The idea of using a DE just wasn't a thing yet, really, and they were still seen as outmoded or dangerous.

My father used a Gilette DE, I never looked forward to using one and was happy with the cartridges, which I get a good 20 shaves from, believe it or not. Most people I knew used canned cream with DEs at least since the '60s, I wonder how many would have had less nicks and better shaves before that 'innovation'.
 
@One Drop
Yeah the use of a razor will vary person to person. When I was a cartridge person for many years I would push the razor/cartridge for 2 weeks but honestly by the 3rd day I so wanted a new cartridge but due to cost I pushed it off to 2 weeks.

I also did electric razors on and off for many years but never could accept the stubble after; just drove me nuts.

My barbers never used a cartridge for me, probably technically they are supposed to use a new blade for each shave (granted not back in the 50's). I have one that uses an electric razor which I think is cheesy even if it's a Wahl. The one I use now uses straight and man I love it!

I switched to DE out of desperation and disgust with what I was paying for in cartridges. I have no doubt how well the Sensor Excel and all the others shave, but the cost and how long they actually lasted really bothered me. I even went as far as getting those disposable razors in bulk at Costco and BJ's but they really really sucked! So somehow I discovered Badger and Blade and their forum, and then not long after I took a trip to Amish country in PA, and saw signs all over for this knife store and being a knife fanatic I had to go. Well getting there I found they had a shaving section and well that is where it all started for me.

About 4 safety razors later I am now down to 1 which ironically is the starter one (Merkur 34C) that most suggest with Feather Blades which many recommend not starting with being how sharp they are. But in the end couldn't be happier and with me using a fresh blade on each shave I am still saving money in comparison to the alternatives: cartridge and electric...well maybe not electric but it is a better shave.

Just be wary of that forum, it can result in you doing purchases you really don't need it...kind of like owning more than one bass but not nearly as expensive.
 
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BTW to everyone on here who uses DE or wants to go DE you will find a lot of people saying the Futor is the best and I couldn't disagree more. That was my first safety razor for years and one day I had enough and tossed it in the garbage: $80 plus safety razor. Why? Because the thing is adjustable and being adjustable it has it's corks, and those corks lead to a ton of cuts. So my suggestion to everyone, stick to a safety razor that holds blades in a fixed position: no adjustments.

The Futor is a very aggressive razor even when dialed down. Not all adjustables are like that. Slims and Fatboys start off fairly mild as does the Progress/Mergress.

I've got a lot of razors and usually rotate around. The past month of so I've been back to my Mergress XL.

Oddly enough, my face does not like the 34C at all.
 
The Futor is a very aggressive razor even when dialed down...

That plus it's clunky. Meaning first the common issue is if you don't have the base the correct way you will notice a gap on one-side and the solution is to rotate the bass which you do by taking it apart. The other issue is even if that is correct I can't tell you (and I know I am not alone on this) for whatever reason the blade is constantly crooked and I have to fiddle with it to get it straight and when it's crooked it's slice and dice and even when straight it can be slice and dice.

What I love about the Merkur 34C is it's straight and even every single time. This is exactly what I need and want from a safety razor considering I change the blade on each and every single shave. Plus not that aggressive which allows the aggressiveness of the Feather blade to do it's job perfectly.

Can you provide links to the Safety's you mentioned for I Google it and not sure if what I see is what you are talking about.
 
You really like those adjustable. I am a simple guy, put the thing in and tighten; no adjusting. Which is kind of ironic considering the bass and amp I have more options and adjustments I can make to sound it's ridiculous.
 
Second shave today, I avoided the habit I had developed with cartridges in going over the same spot multiple times, and with two passes got a closer shave then I used to get with the Sensor, with no irritation. I also got used to using zero pressure.

I imagine a third pass would give an incredible shave, I'm going to use two passes for a while to let my face get used to it and then see what a third pass feels like for the occasional times I want my face to feel like a baby's arse, which seems to be the accepted standard for a perfect shave.
 
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