Just received my injector razor and should be getting the blades in a day or two. I noticed the razor is a lot lighter than my Gillette DE. What if any are the differences in using the injector?
You may need to apply some pressure due to the injector's lack of mass. Pay attention to the blade angle. I have to remind myself to go slow and not make multiple passes to the same area when I use my injector. BBS is possible but may require more passes, depending on which Gillette DE you have.
Although you may feel the need to add more pressure, DON'T! Same rules apply with the Injector as with the DE in terms of pressure. The less, the better. It is definitely a lighter razor than a DE, hence the increase in the number of passes required to achieve a good shave. And, as Kaveh said, razor head flat against your face.
Well I hate to make this even more confusing.... but I am going to throw in another set of opinions... As was just said DON'T apply pressure. I also don't get the head flat to face thing.... I never use mine that way. Yes, the angle is different, but you have to go by feel just like when using a DE. If you are too steep you are scraping off hairs instead of slicing and it the angle is too narrow you aren't cutting at all. I can get a great shave with an injector in the same number of passes as I can a DE. Now as a disclaimer - I have to use 3 to 4 passes with most DE/blade combos to get the level of shave that I want. If you are a one pass person, then maybe the injector won't give you the same result in one pass. However, 3 passes on an injector gets me the same as 3 passes with a SE, a DE, or a straight.
Hi there, I can give you my thoughts on injector shaving, having used many of those types in the past. Matter of fact, I'll still get my 'M' type out for a change of pace. I used various injectors as my 'go to' razors for a good six months before switching to a DE razor years ago. Keep in mind that this advice is what works for me, and results do vary among members. You're right about the injector's light weight, and you DO have to bear down a bit during the shave. There's no way that an injector can be used like a DE when it comes to pressure. The injector isn't heavy enough to cut effectively on it's own, and that goes for even the 'O' type, which is about the heaviest of em all. You need to help the blade along as it cuts, otherwise you'll get skips and chattering during the shave. That extra pressure is a part of the technique to be learned with an injector. The injector blades are stiffer than DE blades, and the shave will feel and sound different as a result. To me, it's almost like using a very sharp windshield wiper to mow down the whiskers. That's not a bad thing....just not what you're used to feeling. The stiff blade, coupled with some pressure, is gonna feel a bit odd. Oh.....what injector do you have? The older types are a good bit more aggressive than the later models, so keep that in mind. Matter of fact, I can't even use the short handle bakelite types, since they tear up my face a bit, Heh, of course there's other members who prefer those types over the milder ones. There's definitely a learning curve with injectors, and don't expect great results the first time or two. I can tell you I have excellent results using one, but it didn't happen overnight. As you might imagine, finding the right razor/blade combo is important and that can take a little trial and error till it's found. Yep, it's the same as using a DE when it comes to the right set up. Anyway, maybe this post will help in some way. Injectors are great when everything comes together, and can provide the user with a shave that rivals a DE. Martin
The injector was my first razor as a teenager around 1970. Of course I used it way wrong back then and ended up with blood and irritation just about all the time, eventually abandoning the thing altogether. I am happy to say that today I keep a few different injectors in my rotation and I really like them now that I have developed proper technique. They are not that hard to use. Very light pressure and a little experimenting on angle and you should be on your way to some fine shaves. I'd say the hardest thing about using the injector is going back to the DE.
I've found the injector quite easy to use, though I suspect that is mebbe because it is closer weight & head size wise to the cartridges I scraped with for 30 years. I use an adjustable set to 7 and get the easiest BBS with that & I have used SE's, alot of Gillettes etc. The Type M Injector just does a great job for me :signs107
