grrr.... touch ups

Discussion in 'Safety Razors' started by Tomas Garcia, Jan 16, 2012.

  1. Tomas Garcia

    Tomas Garcia Member

    I've been awake for a while and since sleeping wasnt really comming quickly I decided to take an abnormal amount of time on my shave. I'm still using the merkur blades I got with my razor, did some hand strops and did my shave.

    I thought I would try out mantic's routine in the 10 minute shave video, which worked very well, 3 passes done rather quickly. the problem is I didnt feel the BBS I was hoping for, there were alot of rough patches all over my face..

    I spent almost double the amount of time on touch ups alone! great news is I haven't gotten the razor burn, but I was hoping that my shave wouldnt take SO long!

    is this a blade problem? a technique problem? I kept the razor at a good angle the whole time and didn't apply pressure. I am just frustrated it took so long.
     
  2. CyanideMetal

    CyanideMetal Wild and crazy guy

    Have you mapped your beard growth to be sure you're getting the most out of your passes?
     
    alpla444 likes this.
  3. alpla444

    alpla444 That's sweet!

    Try some other blades, merkur are not bad but not the most popular, also I personally dont worrie about the time my shave takes, the more relaxed I am the the better the shave for me, I do get BBS but not always DFS is the norm and Im good with that, As Randy said get the most out of your passes, you will know this if the same spots are missed on most of your shaves so far are the same place.
     
  4. Tomas Garcia

    Tomas Garcia Member

    that was another goal for today. I was depressed by all the seeming trouble spots, I think I'll try again in a couple days with a brand new blade.
     
  5. coche1

    coche1 Actively Wishing Member

    I am also a newbie at this whole DE thing, and this morning I switched to a new shave cream (C.O. Bigelow from Bath & Body Works) and got the closest shave I've gotten yet with NO irritation. Shave cream definitely makes a BIG difference I'm learning. I'm not BBS but I'd say this is my first shave that I'd call a DFS although I do have a couple of trouble spots that I haven't quite figured out around my jaw line. I do my own modified version of the 'standard' approach from Mantic's videos as well in that I do a WTG, XG, ATG and then I add a 4th pass that is ATG again and that seems to get me quite nice and smooth. I'm still on the first blade that I tried out of my combo pack and I'm thinking that once I hone in on my preferred blade I might be able to cut out that 4th pass and get similar results.
     
  6. battle.munky

    battle.munky Has the menthol.munky on his back!

    If you are new, I'd say technique. That is the only thing that you can't rush in the traditional wet shave game.

    Give it some time and keep your chin up. Don't change too much too often so you can form a baseline and then when you know it ain't your technique, start tweeking things.

    And keep asking questions and reporting your issues.
     
  7. Williams Warrior

    Williams Warrior Well-Known Member

    The harder you chase BBS the more it will elude you. As Bob said keep it slow and work on your technique. I was at this game for almost 4 months before the lather making became consistant and comfortable shaves were the norm.
     
  8. swarden43

    swarden43 "It's your shave. Enjoy it your way."©

    Yup. I've heard more than one person remark they've gotten their best shaves when they weren't even trying for BBS.
     
  9. Tomas Garcia

    Tomas Garcia Member

    I have resolved to just a 3 pass with minor touch up on the neck only. Theres a part on my neck that if I shave ATG even with a brand new razor it's pain and blood and bad news. XTG works ok if I go XTG one way then the other.
     
  10. CyanideMetal

    CyanideMetal Wild and crazy guy

    Me too. For me, it's low on my neck line where those straggler and rogue whiskers grow sparse and kinda by themselves. I really hate those whiskers.
     
  11. huck1680

    huck1680 Great Northern CanUkrainian

    Ok, for me Merkur blades just blow...really crappy shaves. Also I take approx. 15 minutes to shave. That's just me. I like the "me" time. I prep, wash, lather, shave and repeat. Love it. Can't get me out of there. It just starts my day out on a positive note that all the aholes out in the rest of the world can't deflate.
     
    battle.munky, tomnat and CyanideMetal like this.
  12. CyanideMetal

    CyanideMetal Wild and crazy guy

    I like you, Huck.
     
  13. Shayne Redfearn

    Shayne Redfearn Active Member

    you will get the hang of it :) keep at it!
     
  14. scott wein

    scott wein Well-Known Member

    We all have our trouble spots. Shaving is like real estate, technique, technique, technique. And location, location, location-know your trouble spots. Try to use the same products and if u do change, change one element at a time. The BBS will follow if u chase technique. You are both doing great.
     

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