What did we learn from our last shaves?

I was reminded that my first instincts are usually right.

 

Change that to "My Fatboy goes to eleven" and we might be talking Custom Title worthy. Although, since most of the CTs seem to be roast-worthy, not sure that one would make the cut.

 

Those razors are basically clones of Flare Tip Gillette razors. The razor is a Weishi 9306. Weishi gets rebranded as MTO, Van Der Hagen, etc. IMHO, the issue you are facing is one of technique. The MTO is fairly lightweight, and quite mild to boot. Your experience in cart shaving (carts teach pressure) is likely causing you to bear down without even realizing it. Remember, you are "unlearning" too! With proper blade angle and and technique, a great shave is certainly possible on an MTO. Try to focus on angle and pressure, try to cut the hair rather than scrape the face.

After you have been DE shaving for a few months, you may have a very different opinion of the razor. The MTO was my first DE razor. I had a similar experience. I then switched to a Utopia 3pc (EJ89 type razor) and found that the heavier razor was easier to control while learning. Then after a couple months on the Utopia, I was able to use the MTO with no issues whatsoever. I bet that would hold true for many people. Some razors are trickier than others, and IMHO the MTO is so mild that it is almost difficult as a first razor.

Yup.

 

Can I shave with both hands?

Challenge Accepted!!

I learned that even though I'm right handed, it's not that hard to shave the left side of my face with my left hand. I think the angles just work better, and I really enjoyed giving it a shot.

Give it a try gents...

 

Thanks for the tips, but this isn't my first safety razor. I've been using an EJ DE89 for about six months now, and I feel like I have the technique down fairly well. I get BBS shaves the majority of the time, and haven't had issues with razor burn or any of that (excluding the occasional nick or weeper) since about half way through my second month after swapping from cart razors.

I don't know if QA is just not that good where ever they make these razors or I just got a bad one, but it was a pretty bad shave. It's so light I was having to fight the impulse to use hand pressure, which was never an issue with my EJ (that thing feels like holding a cast iron skillet compared to the MTO). It didn't hold the blade as snug as I would think it should, either. It wasn't flopping around or anything, but definitely enough movement to be visible. I trimmed what scruff I had down with a good trimmer first to try to reduce the work for the poor little razor (something I've only bothered to do a few times with the EJ, and didn't cause issues), and still wound up with big patches of stubble and a burning face.

 

Could be QA on that particular razor. It may also be that it is just too light and mild to be immediately useful to you, given the technique you've acquired on a heavy 3pc razor.

 

I learned that I apparently got too cocky due to my previous shaves with the DE. My sensitive neck area is paying the price today.

Also learned that I don't know if I really like the Pacific pre-shave oil, we'll see how that plays out after the next whisker removal.

 

I learned that my neck grain is that of a topographic map going every which way.

 

I learned that I could like a badger brush, and to take more time building lather on my face.

 

I confirmed that I just don't prefer the lather from veggie soaps. Gotta be tallow, baby!

 

Reinforced that your favorite blade may not work in your new razor.

 

I learned that I may have ruined safety razors for myself. I am so used to straight razor shaving (from the 30 Day Challenge) and the extreme closeness it affords that nothing compares.

Except for a Gillette Adjustable on 9 with a super sharp blade.

Perhaps.



Also...

There's nothing like a hot shower and a close shave to raise the spirits.

 

Gentlemen, from my last shave...

My day just wouldn't feel complete anymore without a shave. Prior to summer 2014 I had worn some form of beard for 8 years.

 

That I cannot use alum, at least not on my neck.

 

I learned that Feathers really don't go past three shaves.
I also learned that I can shave to relax, that I don't have to be relaxed to shave. Everything else I enjoy, I have to be chilled out before I can do it, especially fishing.
I can also get a great shave when I'm not at home.

 

I learned shaving with soap vs. shaving with cream is a lot better by takes some more time and prep. Also I learned that the merka blades are good for maybe 4 or 5 shaves

 

Gentlemen, from my last shave...

Some shaves cannot be judged until 8-12 hours after the fact.

 

I think I agree with what someone else has said here before... If I wash and moisturize my face before bed, my shave the next day seems smoother and more comfortable.

 

I found out today that a SE razor and blade gets very quiet once all the whiskers are gone..... DUH

 

I read somewhere that you can melt them together again to form a new alum block. It's somewhere around here on TSD but where.....



I learnt that

• I needed to use even less pressure than I did. It helped when I concentrated on trying to just shave the lather in stead of the hairs
• with an even lighter touch I can dial the Gillette Slim up to 9 fo rthe whole shave and still have a great shave!
• if I shave every other day in stead of daily I get closer shaves