One month of DE shaving...still doing something wrong.

I am really getting desperate. I have been shaving for one month by the traditional method ( Edwin Jagger DE bl89 (wish Astra Platinum blades), Edwin Jagger Badger brush and Taylors of Old Bond Street cream, which is a pretty decent shaving equipment in my opinion). However, today I shaved and got a blood bath on my face. A lot of skin irritation and bumps as well. I still don't know what I am doing wrong. I still got a clean shave, but it could have been a lot closer and without the skin irritation (which I achieve when I shave with cartridges). Ever since I started DE shaving, it has been this way. I don't understand how other people say they get the closest and most comfortable shave by DE shaving. All I get is irritation and not a close enough shave. And I don't have the time in the morning to fully commit to my shaving. Can you please recommend me a solution? I don't even know what I am doing wrong. Thank you and much appreciated.

 

I believe you answered your own question when you said you do not have the time to commit to your shave. Rushing the shave will only lead to the issues you are having. My advice, either set your alarm 15 minutes earlier or shave in the evening after everything settles down and you can take your time. If you want a good shave, you're going to have to make the commitment to it.

 

Going from shower to shave to dressed takes me right at one hour. My shave from lather to clean-up takes about 40 minutes of that hour. If I can't allot that time, I don't shave.

 

Time to try a different blade? I'm assuming that all the basics of prep, etc. are ironed out, since you've been working at this for a while now. Also assuming you did watch those videos online...

 

When I first started traditional wet shaving, I wasn't sure if I had the time to commit to it. Monday through Friday I get up at 6 : 00AM, and catch a bus into work at 6:49AM. That's a little under 40 minutes to shower, shave, get dressed and ready for work. I was lolly gaging a little this morning and had to rush a bit on the getting dressed and out the door bit. I wasn't too worried about missing the bus, because it gets me to work well over an hour early. Not everyone has the luxury or desire to get to work early, but I do and it gives me almost 2 hours after I wake up to get my day started.

If you can't find the time in the mornings, try shaving in the evening or even the afternoon if you can. If you just have too much going on and get a decent shave with a cart, there is nothing wrong with that. You can always come back to DE later.

 

Your gear seems fine. This seems like a technique issue. You're probably applying some pressure and causing the blade edge to dig into your face a bit. Developing the light touch required to get a comfortable shave can take some time. Also try a little less blade angle. In other words pull the handle a few degrees farther away from your face (closer to perpendicular).

If you can get a comfortable shave with a cart, you could use that while your face recovers and maybe give the DE another go. I always had a hard time getting a comfortable shave with a cart so DE works much better for me.

 

Holy smokes! I thought I was leisurely with my shave time most mornings (usually under 25 minutes)! I do agree that whatever time it takes, a great shave is worth it.

 

Haha! Yeah, I could cut it down if I wanted to but........well, I enjoy it and it's "me" time. Guys don't get enough "me" time so I soak up as much of it as I can. However, I only shave maybe twice a week so if it was daily I'd probably shorten the time a little.

 

Really new to this, but have made two discoveries already that may help you out...

1- I have two different razors and a blade sampler. There is a very big difference between blades, razors and blades/razors in combination. I got a bit of irritation with Astra SP's. Then I moved on to Gillette 7 o' clocks and Gillette silver blues. I currently love the Silver Blues, but they feel different in the two different razors.

2- I get a nice enough shave now that I can do it in the evening and get through my whole day looking good. I work in a corporate environment BTW. I actually need less time in the morning now, which is great as I have two kids that I have to get off to school. Try at least starting out at night as others have suggested. Alternately, use your cartridges during the week and work out DE shaving on weekends for now.

I can't help you on the razor end, but if you want to PM me your address I can send you one or two each of a few different blades to try free (if you are in the US). I have received enough help here that they would have put them in a PIF thread soon anyway...

Best of luck!

 

I can shave super quickly if I needed to and still do ok, but I've developed a kind of automatic technique over the years that enables me to do so..and probably you will too with practice, focus and taking your time at the beginning to get things down. As well as a light touch, with the DE, you should also be locking the wrist. And maybe in the evenings when there's more time, you can also practice lathering. Sometimes experimenting with the way the lather is put on the face and neck might be useful as well, ie painting vs circular motions with the brush. I'm sure with some focus at the start on the fundamentals you will be able to get passed these issues..

 

I'm going to offer a dissenting opinion here and suggest it's not about time. I am not a morning person. I shower, shave, dress, and organize my two oldest through breakfast, dressing, and finding shoes all within an hour. The shave and shower takes 20 minutes, tops. Lately I have been "cheating" by using Barbasol cream from a can, but that's more about consistency than time. Lathering with a brush/ cream takes the same time as using canned goo *if* you get the consistency right.

I get good shaves. Every now and then I nick myself but that's fairly rare.

It might be that you have a bad blade and razor combination for your face. You might try a blade sampler pack and test out a range of blades. It might be that like me, you're having trouble getting the right consistency with your cream and brush. I know this is heresy on this board, but you might try out canned goo. It also might be that you're stressed about the less than stellar shaves you've been having, which is in turn contributing to bad shaves in the present. Take the pressure off. Get some disposables and let your face heal while you shave with those.

Your morning shave shouldn't be a source of stress. It's a means to an end for me. For others it's a luxurious experience. Relax and take your time. You'll find a way to make it work.

 

One more vote for the evening shave. That's how I learned it, and that's what I still do now. There's no morning rush, you can be more mindful fo what you're doing, you can take all the time you want. You can work on your technique, which is really what's going on here as other people have mentioned.

Wet shaving is deliberate action, and it takes time to learn, and it takes focus to learn it. It sounds silly, but I don't think anyone could disagree. Also, you can cut yourself all you want at night, and in the morning there's really no sign of it usually.

One thing sticks in my craw though... Have you tried other creams, and have you tried the TOBS with your old cartridge razor? Asking, because it srikes me that you could have a skin allergy to something in that cream, and that's what's causing the problems.

 

I can agree 100% - IF one has their technique down, and in order to do that, you have to make the commitment to take your time and learn. Only then can the speed of your shave increase. Our friend here has only been at it for a month, yet refuses (as I see it, I could be wrong) to put in the time required to learn technique.

 

+1

My first shaves with a DE razor took 30 minutes for 3 very careful passes. That's about 6 years ago. Once I got my technique down a bit it took 20 minutes.
Now I can do 3 passes in 10 minutes. Blindfolded.
It IS about time. Time to learn, that is.

 

All good advice here. I won't pretend to have anything new to add, but I will say hang in there! I took me probably over 6 months for things to start lining up. Things from technique, to using a razor that is too mild, wrong blade, too much pressure, face needs to adjust... you name it. But in the end, worth it!

 

Venom, two things...#1..there is no way you can get the greatest shave in a rush Sure you can get more efficient at it but that does not mean you are rushing. I can get a one pass straight down shave in record time...however I allow extra time for as many passes as required to get the closest shave. Everyday I do this. My thought is I would rather do that for an extra 15 mins than waste that 15 mins on something meaningless.
#2..I would be willing to bet you are using too much pressure..and probably because you are trying to get it finished on time. In turn it makes the shave as a whole sloppy. You will get cut...razor burn to horrid levels. Slow down...use a very sharp blade..and pay attention to the way your hair grows. Particularly the neck hair as it grows in seventeen different directions. If you do this you will learn your face and that alone will get you a better more efficient shave. If you continue to rush, sell me your razor and get some plastic one and done throw aways.

 

Blades, Blades, Blades! Have you tried more than one type of blade?

 

I'd strongly suggest getting a blade sampler. Despite the wonderful reputation of the Astra on various fora, they don't perform particularly well for me. The right blade makes a huge difference in how your shave ends up.

 

I agree with this. Your gear is almost identical to mine. I shave daily in the morning with three passes. It takes me about 10 minutes. I am not rushing, but I am not being inefficient either. I make a long continuous stroke on each section of my face. You need to lose the mindset that you're going to get everything in one pass. That's something most of us have had to unlearn. Very gentle pressure is what's needed. Basically just the weight of the razor for those strokes where gravity is in your favor.

You also need to understand the blade angle and how it is measured, as it's easy to misinterpret this. You want about 30 degrees. When shaving the side of your face or example, the razor handle should be tilted down 30 degrees fom the horizontal, not 30 degrees from the vertical.

 

Time,Technique,Practice and Patience are keys to a good shave..

First off a month isn't a long time to develop "traditional" shaving techniques..Is your goal a super close or super fast shave? When I started I quickly gave up chasing a BBS or a "SUPER" fast shave...Instead I went for a "SUPER" comfortable, nick/cut and irritation free DFS..Closeness and speed will come over time, don't force them...While I.M.O. the equipment your using is good, it's not about how comparatively good your equipment is, it's about how your face reacts to the equipment your using...Some people will get a better shave using VDH soap, an unpopular blade like Derby or Dorco and a Yuma safety razor, than using TOBS, an expensive razor like Pils or Feather and a "VERY" popular blade...Unfortunately your just going to need to experiment to see what works "BEST" for you...

Do you have a blade sampler(you should get one) and/or a choice of several creams or soaps( you could be allergic)? I'd change each of those componets "one at a time",take more care on your preshave prep(shaving at night to ease any morning rush is a really good idea, if you can do it) and work on your preasure and angle....

Another thing you could try is keep using a good preshave routine and the soap and brush, but go back to your cart razor and see what happens...

Whatever you do "DON'T" get desperate, the idea here is to turn shaving into an enjoyable experience, instead of a painfilled hassle..There is no time limit on reaching any certain goal, so just take your time and try to enjoy the trip.....