So as my thread from yesterday stated, I received my R41(2013) yesterday and had my first shave with it this morning. First impression, it does feel aggressive even coming from using the fatip grande. You feel that blade (I decided on a supermax today) right on your skin. Using the no pressure technique, I feel the handle on the Muhle is too light. I like the length, but the I just felt like with using no pressure, there were spots on my face where the razor was not contacting the skin. It could very well have been that first intimidation factor from all I have read about the R41s, so I will keep trying and working on technique, but I feel a new handle is in the future. What handles would you all suggest? Overall, the first shave was just okay, 2 WTG and 1 XTG. Presentable I suppose for a day with no court appearances and nothing really going on, but has to get much much better (and by better I mean closer) before it can be an everyday driver for me. As I sit typing this now, a little over 2 hours since shaving, I have a very light irritation. Really feels more like tightness from being dry as opposed to razor burn.
One knock on the Mühles is some find the handles a bit on the light side. There was a Utopia razor a TSD member linked to on Amazon—whose handle was large and heavy (MY preference) that fits the R41 head. There is a $25 stainless Apollo handle on Amzon that supposedly fits he Mühles.
I've seen one called a ufo that looks nice. ( it was in the sotd, yesterday paired with an ikon 101 head) the ikon handle is heavy Matador has a nice feel. mmine's an elegante, but they have a bigger one ( bull something)
I guess this is one of those YMMV razors. It seems that many find this razor hard to tame. I hope you can get a right combination so that it will work for you. Although it seems like a lot of trouble to tame a razor when there are so many more that work so much better.
What razors would you suggest that are easier to tame? I am all for trying them out. I shave out of necessity. I can get a great BBS shave from Fusion proglide flexballs, but only get 1 week max out of the razors. That's $175 per year if you include a new handle on a yearly basis and buying them in bulk at sams club (comes out to 3.15 per cartridge). In all honesty, with how quick and dark my growth is, I could shave twice a day (and do if I have an evening event) so any suggestions are appreciated. Thus far the best shaves I gotten are from the Fatip grande. Used Tech, Merkur 34c, 39C and Fatip grande. I have a Superspeed I havent used yet but am told that is mild. Someone suggested a "New"?
Because I am not positive at this time that it is the best shave I can get. Good is good but better is better.
If I were you I would settle down the RAD and use the Fatip for a while. Try different blades with it. You can even try CWS - Cold water shaving.
I have thought about cold water shaving. Thinking that heat expands where as cold will contract. I was wondering if I kept my face cold and wet if it would provide a closer shave, as it would cause my skin to contract and tighten. Just thoughts I have while shaving listening to Otis Redding in the background. As for the RAD, I have it under control, though I am going to search for a new handle for the R41. The beauty of DE razors as opposed to cartridge is I can always sell or trade them if I absolutely do not like them.
wow Mark, give the guy a break. he wants to explore what's out there. if I had a steady diet of fatip, I'd want to shop around also. fatip is close, but I find it to feel harsh to me. r41 is better to me, slick handle and all. New standard Gillette gave me a good long lasting shave. as does the single ring. now I'm using the progress. on 4 it's giving me very nice long lasting shaves.
What blades have you tried? Sometimes a milder razor with a more "aggressive" blade will be just the ticket. I can get a super close shave with a Tech or Super Speed fitted with a Feather, Voskhod or GSB. I have to watch these same blades more closely in an aggressive razor like an OC, and sometimes don't get as good a shave. I believe this is due to going too light on the pressure to avoid irritation/weepers. You have a fairly good spectrum of razors there. If you haven't already, I would recommend you now start trying a bunch of different blades. You will eventually find one (or more than one) winner. My experience has been that no other equipment changes will make as big a difference to your shave as finding the right blade...
Although I don't have any experience with one, you might try the Futur. You can max out the aggressiveness of your first pass, then dial it down for your 2nd and 3rd pass, possibly reducing any irritation. It's also one big hunk of steel. The only thing that turns me off to trying a Futur is how big and fat the head is. I prefer WTG passes for my moustache area, which is super sensitive for me. So having to switch to ATG for the moustache area would probably cause me irritation. Another option is to try different aftershave balms with the R41. I recently discovered how soothing aloe gel can feel after razor burn. I used a Banana Boat aloe gel that you use for sunburns.
I agree with Mark completely. There's nothing wrong with trying an R41, but if you've not exhausted all of your options with the Fatip, I'd hold off on switching razors for a while. I'd try some different blades. It may sound strange, but my experience has been that my whiskers grow back in at different rates depending on the blade I'm using. Loading a Derby in my Fatip at 05:00 gets me very clean and smooth, but for some reason I'm fairly rough again by the time I get home from work. The opposite is true if I use a Gillette 7OC green. Rapira, Gillette Silver Blues, and Elios blades are similar to the green. In fact, I skipped shaving this morning because my Monday morning shave was with a 7OC green.
