Thinking about switching from a cartridge to a DE

Forgot about Garry's.

 

This. You get an excellent, mild, vintage Gillette, 2 random packs of blades, a decent boar brush, a stick of Arko (or a sample of Cella), and 2 aftershave samples. If you don't like the razor he sends you or just want to try something different, he also includes a certificate that you can send back with that razor and he'll send you a different model.

 

My other question is,

Can I shave in the shower with a DE like I currently do with carts, or does it require me to look in the mirror?

 

Yes but usually the model number references some aspect of the razor, such as weight, handle length etc.

 

Yes and probably.
I am a reformed shower shaver. I had a mirror in there. I was adamantly against shaving out of my basin. I've since come to my senses. There are however a bunch of choices in shower mirrors out there. One caveat: if you're looking for speed, you're in for a miserable first few weeks/months.

 

In water-starved California, shaving in the shower is not recommended.
I've shaved sans mirror both with DE razors and with a straight razor. You wind up doing it all by 'feel'—which takes practice.
For beginners to either of those two types of razors, I'd recommend using a mirror—either over your sink or in the shower. Early on, it is all about developing the right technique and accomplishing this without visual assistance compounds the difficulty.

This is good information!

 

Hi,
I just got back into DE shaving after 25 years on the Trac II bandwagon!

Started out by buying a Murkur 38C HD razor as I heard so much good about them!

Also bought a 125 pak of Crystals as they to are well liked and affordable.

Glad really I went with the modern well made popular razor to start as now I have a baseline to trying the vintage razors I am picking up!

All this to say, when I was using a cart blade I did NOT like to shave and would go days without shaving if possible!

That has completly gone 180 as shaving is now fun again as I go along learning a new art!!! Good luck!

 

I used to be a shower shaver as well. Now I have changed my mindset, and I find that the time in front of the mirror is like a mini spa session. You do deserve to pamper yourself! That 10 to 20 minutes is easily carved out, and it allows you to slow down life for that short time.

 

So what is it about these blades that are different that requires experimentation?

I don't get it because you don't choose between different blades with cartridge shaving or Straight Razor shaving, other than maybe the blade width. Is it the sharpness that varies? If so I thought you would always want as sharp as possible to avoid pulling any hairs or anything of that nature.

 

Yes, but in the shower you get a better and closer shave because the steam lubricates and softens the hairs

 

And do the hairs really stiffen up that much from the time it takes to dry off from the shower then re-wet your face to lather up?
I prefer the sink - I can see what I'm doing and I'm not wasting a ton of water.

But that's me.

 

There is difference in sharpness when it comes to DE blades. Plus you will find that some of the blades do not agree with your skin type. When you do find the right blade you will know and you will love it. One place to go is tryablade.com. You can pick out several different kinds. Good luck!

 

+1

 

I shower, using conditioner on my face, rinse, dry off, and then shave. I also use a pre-shave.... good old Noxzema. The face is well lubricated and ready to shave. I actually find that my face is more ready to shave, probably because it has become a conscious thing, rather than the wack the whiskers chore it was in my cart days.

 

I'd recommend the Edwin Jagger DE89 or any of the others in that series. (All the same razor, different handles.) These razors often come with Derby blades, which IMO are really awful. The Astra SP is a very popular blade and works well with this razor. I've been using my EJ daily for about three years and see no reason to change. I like the fact that it is not adjustable. I think this is very important for someone starting out. There are already a lot of variables to contend with and you don't need to add that one.

 

My experience too, this is my only DE razor, I've just started a little over a month ago..
I also like Voskhod and Gillette Silver Blue blades.

 

I highly recommend that you not shave in the shower at first. Perfect your technique in the mirror. I think you'll come to enjoy this time so much, that you'll forget about wanting to shave in the shower.

 

Hi,
You are shaving in the shower so you can just get it over with!
When you go to a DE and want to try diffent technics and different blades/razors.this will change!
You will actually enjoy shaving again!!! (Don't ask me how I know this!)

 

Certainly you can as I do so daily. It may require a mirror but a small hand mirror can be easily hung upside down in the shower with a no drill hook. Some people take an hour just to shave I am able to wash face lather and Do a two pass shave with touch up in a few minutes. But then my prep is nonexistent (showering) and I splash on some aftershave after I towel off. Get in, out and get to work. There is no time for pampering.

 

Ahhhhhh... there you have it - no time for pampering. Sad.
My morning shower and shave is my ME time, the time I take in order to PAMPER myself.