Although I think the videos by Mantic are very well done, and his techniques are superb for some, they are not generalizable for all shavers. My skin is so sensitive, that I practically bleed just thinking of shaving. Combined with the fact that by beard is so tough, shaving has always been a huge challenge to balance a close shave without creating a blood bank on my face. However, I've developed a slightly different technique that Mantic doesn't really emphasize. If you watch his videos, he importantly stresses no pressure, which is indeed the cornerstone of a good DE shave. Also, shaving only one small section at a time is crucial as well. However, he moves that blade across his face very quickly, even on the initial reduction passes. Moving the blade quickly might seem to make sense to get a 'quick and clean cut' and slice down the whiskers. I guess one could say this is analogous to pulling off a band-aid from your skin very quickly versus slowly. However, I have found that the speed of the blade, despite no pressure is exponentially harsher on the skin, and does not result in better cutting. For my sensitive skin, I apply no pressure, work in small patches, but move the blade very, very slowly. Let the blade cut what it can on each pass. Moving the blade very slowly actually creates less skipping I find, and does not pull or tug on whiskers, which is a key reason weepers occur. Moving the blade what might appear to be as slow motion is much more skin friendly, and does result in a very close and comfortable shave. Try this slow motion technique if your skin is very sensitive, you're prone to bleeding, and/or if you have a very tough beard. This works so well for me that the buffing technique is completely unnecessary. Buffing for me just produces irritation and weepers, with no beneficial effect on closeness. The rule of the day for me is slow and slower to get a skin friendly shave that in the end is BBS. Good luck. Please share your thoughts and experience with this technique.
I don't shave as fast as Mantic but I don't move the razor as slowly as you seem to be doing and I get good results. However, I have what I can only describe as an "average" beard and my skin isn't as sensitive as yours. Obviously, you have worked out a technique that works for you and, it is hoped, will help a lot of other men with a skin and beard type like yours. It's that type of advice and help that makes TSD so worthwhile. Thanks and a big :happy096.
Yes I think that your technique could work quiet well with people with sensitive skin.Thanks for sharing it with us!
Tried it. Going slow takes more practice than I thought. Had an excellent shave, though, with a new 7 O'clock green blade, my Merkur classic and some Arko Moist shave cream. Best shave I've had in awhile, actually.
Glad to hear it worked well for you. Yes, like any technique change, it might take some practice. Actually, it's more like more rigorous discipline since the natural inclination is to move the blade faster than slower. Another benefit to the slower technique for me is that I have much more control over what the blade is doing. When you're moving too fast, it's too late to adjust, the damage is done in a flash. Thanks for your post. Mark.
LOL...totally forgot all about this during the morning shave. I'll try and remember tomorrow or sunday
I find different blades shave best at different speeds. Milder blades, like the Crystal and Durasharp shave best when I shave a little faster. Sharper blades like the Astra Superior I used last night shave best at a slow speed. I just need to be careful when switching and not get a nick on my chin from going fast with a sharper blade like last night.
Thanks for a great tip! I've been trying this the last few days, and it has made a HUGE difference--esp. on the tricky neck region. I always thought it was a little odd that mantic warned against "hacking" (with images of lumberjacks with axes), and then he would go so fast. It always looked a bit like hacking to me.
I will consider this when time comes. As a newbie with four DE shaves in my book I take it very careful and slow but has been thinking in terms of "when I'm more customed to this I will be able to do this faster". Maybe slow is good, because time in itself is not an issue for me. On the contrary, good things in life should be given the time required.
I've been doing this for the last couple weeks now. I really like it! I find goinf slow, I automatically tend to used less pressure. Nice close shave, definatly less irritation. Next time I break out the Feather AC, I'll have to apply this technique. Thanks!
Mantic shaves at least twice as fast as I do. If I flung my razor around like he does I would flay my face!
I'm surprised by how slowly everyone reports he's shaving. Whether I use a DE, Disposable or Cart., I shave equally quickly. I take more time with my shavette, but I scarcely use it for anything save for cleaning up my eyebrows - at which it excels Do you guys shave more slowly when using a DE than you would using a cart? My skin, I think, is unusually rough and can take more than other people's; my problem is my beard is coarse and when I go ATG - and trust me, I've tried it sloooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooowly, the results are invariably the same: blood and ingrowns. I really wish I could go ATG without ingrowns! I've been trying for yrs. and within hours I look like I've a skin disease My mustache, jaw and head are the only places I can get away with it...
I'll try this next time Ishave (on sunday) Just out of curiosity, how many passes you do Mtp? Actually how many passes you all do? As many as it takes or a fixed number? Anyways I'll do it a bit slower next time. Tanx for the tip
I always do three passes. 1 wtg, 1 xtg, and 1 atg. Each pass is more difficult than the last, so I try to go slower and slower, remember less and less pressure, and focus more and more on blade angle.
Haven't tried going slower yet. I have tried short chops and variations in the videos but will definitely give this a shot. Thanks.
