Hello all! I recently shaved off my 10 year goatee. I wasn't getting the close shaves I wanted with my new Schick Quattro, so I tried the Gillette Fusion Pro-Glide, it works great but the cartridges are just too expensive for our budget. So I recently tried wetshaving and I LOVE the brush and shaving-soap lather routine, LOVE IT. But the safety razor cut my lip and chin something bad. Even with watching all the safety razor shaving tutorials on You-Tube, I realized it was going to take time and patience to learn to shave the old fashioned way. I don't have that kind of patience. I don't want to walk into work everyday with my face cut-up, so I decided to return to my old-standby, the Gillette Sensor Excel, and I'm getting the close, comfortable shaves I desired. All in all, I got a fabulously smooth, nearly irritation free shave with a razor that I'd forgotten all about. This experience got me interested in the ritual of shaving, and the soap-lather with brush provides the closest shaves I've ever had. As long as I'm shaving with short strokes, taking my time, and shaving with two passes over the face. My skin is sensitive so I can't go against the grain of my beard without the dreaded razor-burn. With my Sensor I can go across the grain comfortably. Now I want to use the razor my dad uses, the Gillette Trac-II, and add that to my shaving arsenal. I keep reading how good this '70s and '80s style Gillette is, and the blades are much cheaper than my Sensor blades. I've never used a Trac-II, but that's all my dad used since my mom bought it for him as a Christmas gift in 1978. He never complains about razor burn, and usually gets a fairly close shave, in spite of the Gillette Foamy he uses. I can only imagine the shave would be many times better with a quality cream or soap and a good brush. The Trac-II also brings back nostalgia about my childhood, it's a powerful feeling. I can't wait to try it.
Sincere thanks all for the welcome. I'm hoping to improve my technique and knowledge, and perhaps even use my DE again, at least for my cheeks when I regrow my Goatee time to time.
Hi Leo and welcome to The Shave Den! I used a Trac II on and off for over 30 years. When using foam or goo in a can, I got plenty of nicks and the occasional cut. After switching to Kiss My Face cream, the shaves were much improved. With Long's drugstore blades, the shaves were absolutely baby bottom smooth, and without any nicks, cuts or irritation. The point isn't to use any particular razor, cream, soap, etc., but to get a shave that really pleases you. Best of luck on your wetshaving adventures!
Hi Leo, I started with disposables, then moved to the Sensor and then a Mach 3 and then to some kind of four blade thing. I think my dissatisfaction with shaving got worse with the addition of each blade, so you may have something with the Trac II. I still nick myself regularly while shaving, mostly because I am too adventurous for my own good, but anyhow, I just throw some styptic on and keep going. I like the DE shave for its closeness, its lack of razor burn, its relative comfort and, to be honest, a bit for the novelty of it all. I certainly don't begrudge anyone who wants to shave with cartridges.
Welcome to the Shave Den!..and remember with a safety razor of any kind, lock your wrist and always shave with the arm not with the wrist..
Hi Leo, and welcome to TSD! Happy Shavings! Also remember: no pressure (in both ways! ) Just take your time 'n' you'll be allright.
Welcome to the Den. We know you'll fit right in. So grab yourself a comfy chair, and give our threads a spin! Burma Shave
to TSD Leo...I hope you enjoy it here. I used a Trac2 for over 30 unhappy years. The only time I got a comfortabe, close, mostly irritation free shave was if I waited at least 3 days inbetween shaves... DE and SE shaving has been the best and most enjoyable shaving I've ever had... That said right at the end of my Trac2 days I was experimenting with the Trac2 carts and I tried a "Bump Fighter" handle, you can find them a WalMart among other places. They come with a single edge cart, but Trac2 carts fit well also and the extra weight and handle girth did give me an improved shaved, just not near as good for me as the DE's and SE's .... Just F.Y.I. in case you might want to give the "Bump Fighter" a try.....
Hello New Guy from Arizona! This reminds me of a question I've pondered but never asked. Being from Arizona (where the air is kinda dry, right?), I've wondered if ambient conditions like humidity can affect a shave and the necessary preps needed to prepare the beard. I'm from the southeast, humid as can be. Oh, well. That aside, I've found that my best beard preparation comes from creams, I mostly use the eShave products. Another thing that can have an effect is pressure. For those who are transitioning, I've found that the old way of applying pressure to the face doesn't translate well. I'd suggest starting the shave with only the weight of the razor against the skin (holding it from the tip of the handle) and increasing pressure only enough to give results. Also, the angle of attack is important for not only straight razor shaving but for double edged and cartridges, as well. Not sure if any of this is at all helpful, but keep at it, you will find the sweet spot! Good to have you on board with us.
I'm sincerely grateful for the wonderful welcome here! I can't wait to learn more about shaving, by the way, here is my DE, I can't seem to find any info on it. I shaved with it three times now, with less cuts the third try, I'll use it again when I regrow my goatee soon. My guess its a semi-aggressive DE:
Wow, this morning I got out the DE again, carefully prepped, lathered, took my time, and had me my first non-cut no irritation shave! It a close comfortable shave and feels great. Thanks for the advice gentleman! I'm going to be patient from now on, I can really do this if I practice.
The big keys are patience and no pressure cartridge shaving thought me a ton of bad shaving techniques and habits. I'm still trying to break them all it seems
This morning I was able to get a DFS! I have to work on slowing down and relaxing though, I had two weepers from rushing, still, this was probably the closest shave I remember.
