I can't get a close shave...please help.

I recently got into DE shaving. I love everything about it, except one thing. Every time I shave, I just can't get a close shave. The best I got is this:

I am using Edwin Jagger DE89bl with Taylors of Old Bond shaving cream (150gr) and a Wilkinson Sword shaving brush. The blades I use are Derby, but I also have samples of Dorco, Astra (Stainless and Platinum) and Shark (Stainless and Chrome), which I haven't tried yet. I have no idea what I am doing wrong. Is it the blades, the razor or the angle I am using? I hope that you can help me. I really want to get a good close shave. I don't want to switch back to cartridges, because they were expensive, but it seems I got a better and closer shave when I used the Gillette Fusion than with the Jagger now. Thank you.

 

2 things come to mind:

- The angle
- Number passes - and direction. Go with the grain first, then Cross the grain - and finally you can try against the grain, but I normally only do that for touch-ups

Preparation may also have an impact. I normally use a hot towel a couple of minutes and then splash my face with hot water before applying the lather.

BTW: I found the Derbys a bit dull - give the Astra Platinum a go and see if things improve.

 

Technique is important, but so are the blades. There is no objective"best blade". You need to get a sampler pack & try a bunch of different brands.

 

How many passes are you making?

 

Well your using, at least in my experience a really good razor in the EJ89...I started using an EJ89bl and also got less than acceptable shave with it at first, because the handle was way to smooth for me...Once I got a better knurled handle everything changed for me...Theres is a guy on ebay that sells SS handles cheap or you can get a cheaper 3 piece razor(Sabi T2 or Cadet) from shaveabuck just for the handle......
How long have you been DE shaving, believe it or not, that does makes a difference.. Also you may want to get as large a blade sample pack as you can afford....The more different blades you can try the better..Stick with it, it usually does get better with time...
Time ,Technique,Practice and Patience will get you the best shaves of your life...

 

I have only shaved 3 times with a DE razor. I make only one pass. I think two passes is time consuming. So I have to do several passes using a DE razor? That means using twice more shaving cream. Which is another con for DE shaving. When I used cartridges, I did only one pass and got a good shave. I am now seriously thinking of going back to modern shaving. I will test the Astra blades tomorrow, though.

 

Technique, and not just in making passes with the razor. Prepping the face and whipping up a great lather takes technique, as well.
I've found I can get near BBS, sometimes even BBS, with any razor/blade combo in my den.
How? I've learned what works and what doesn't. I've perfected my technique - it takes time.
You said you've just gotten into this "recently." Apply the advice given above, then see how the shaves are going come August.

 

If you're in this for fast shaves, then yes, you may want to go back to carts. I've only heard of one or two people claim to achieve a darn fine shave with only one pass. Most folks make two passes. Many, like myself, make three.

As for "time consuming" and "using twice more shaving cream", it's all how you look at it. My shave is my ME time. I relax and enjoy the process. It takes me about half an hour, start to finish. I hate to rush, so I don't.

 

What about money-wise? I moved to the UK two days ago, and here the only way to get DE materials (razors/blades) is through Amazon. In shops they only sell modern cartridge razors. I think DE will be cheaper, because I will only have to change razors and blades every couple of months/years, so... The only downside is that the cream I use now (Taylors of Old Bond) is 15 pounds from Amazon and if I make two passes a day with it, it will be probably over in less than a month. 15 pounds monthly only for shaving cream seems a bit pricey for me (I am still looking for a job now). Is it fine if I use canned foam with the DE razor, as I used with cartridges?

 

The UK has some amazing soaps - for the most part, soaps will last longer than creams, especially the triple milled soaps like MWF, Taylors of Old Bond Street, Crabtree & Evelyn, Trumpers, etc. A puck of soap should last you 2-3 months, at least.
If you want to use the canned foam, use the canned foam. It's your shave. Enjoy it your way.

 

Take a look at Connaught ---> *click*

 

Do most of the people who shave with DE razors make multiple passes? An why does the second pass give a closer shave? Isn't the first pass supposed to give the same shave that the second pass gives? I did a second pass couple of minutes ago and it is much better now.

 

I answered that here.

Using a DE is about beard reduction one pass at a time, not entire beard removal in one single pass. No, the first pass will not give the same shave that the second pass gives since you are, or should be, going at a different angle to the grain than what you did on the first pass. As you yourself discovered, making that second pass makes things much better.

Your first pass should be WTG - with the grain, or with the direction the hairs grow.
Your second pass should be XTG - across the grain, or at a direction 90 degrees to the direction the hairs grow.
Your final pass (should you choose) would be ATG - against the grain, or in the opposite direction the hairs grow. Not everyone can make this final ATG pass without irritation, so they settle for a darn fine shave at just two passes.

 

You should read couple of tutorials about traditional shaving as I think you are approaching it the wrong way.

If you plan to continue using foam from can and want to take it all of in one pass in a minute, then shaving with DE isn't for you. Maybe one pass shave with some aggressive razor as R41, but maybe.

Also, UK are full of fine creams and soaps, at least you could find there in supermarkets a nivea creams and palmolive creams and soap.

Have you used cream with brush?

 

Absolutely!

 

Will using a canned cream/gel with a brush change things about shaving with a DE razor? Until now I have only applied them with fingers.

 

It will just change how you're applying the lather, which may or may not change how you feel about the experience.

 

Yes! It will be a more pleasant experience, and it will be far more effective - the lather will be able to lift your beard, and not serve as just a lubricant. Also, your tub of Taylor of Old Bond Street will last 2-3 months! But don't try using canned goo or gel with a brush, it won't do anything.

 

2-3 months? Even if I am using it every day for 2 passes?

 

With a brush, and using only the amount truly needed to a make a good lather, yes! It takes just a scant amount of cream to whip up a marvelous lather in a bowl or on your face with a brush. I suggest you go to the "newbies" section here at TSD and do some reading, and follow a few links to videos on YouTube. You will begin to see what DE shaving is all about. Most of us here enjoy shaving very much, and spend ridiculous amounts of money on supplies, but it is very possible to get quality shaves for a few cents per day.

TOBS is a moderate to high price cream. Check at Boots or any other local chemist. You should be able to pick up Palmolive stick (soap) for next to nothing. This is a great product. You can get a inexpensive but effective boar brush for a couple Euros.