CANNOT figure out Safety Razors- HELP!!!

Ok guys... serious help needed here

Always been a big shave guy all my life with the Mach 3's and Fusion 5's. Got some great shaves with them but always got the irritation from time to time. I am 29 years old and only really noticed safety razors about a year ago after doing research on the internet. I read articles, watched videos, and couldn't believe how great people would rave about them. I personally have one of the most rough beards you will ever see, and the 3-5 blade razors were always the best bet for me. I always wondered what in the world I would do without them. ANYTIME I ever used the awful disposable one or two blade razors it would cut me up and leave me irritated.

So I wondered how ONE blade, with no cushion, no aloe, no nothing, could ACTUALLY work on my skin. But there I was watching youtube videos of everyone doing it very easily. I studied the methods, and while I knew it would maybe take time to learn, I was ready to give this a try. I finally purchased a beautiful Edwin Jagger DE chrome safety razor along with a pack of derby and feather blades. I was super excited to wake up on this morning about 8 months ago and finally give it a try myself.

After the first Derby razor blade with the grain pass at the 30 degree angle and yes - NO pressure, I was extremely disappointed after noticing that this thing barely took ANYTHING off. I found myself even doing one more with the grain pass and even trying to tilt the razor to 40 degrees so the blade would catch the hairs more. I rinsed off my face and stared at straight up scruff. I wondered how my XTG and ATG pass would really get the job done. Well... it didn't. And not only did the second and third passes not even make this shave come CLOSE to a baby smooth one, they ended up nicking me a little bit too!

I was not only upset, I was disgusted. I left to go to work that morning and felt like crap. My face with scruff patches all over, and irritated a bit on top of that. I waited a solid 5 days I think it was to try ONE more time after my face was ready and tried a Feather blade instead. SAME story. No improvement at all just like I figured. I instantly gave up and went back to Mach 3's for months and months, dying to know just how people make these 'Safety Razors' work wonders. Maybe they were just overrated I thought. I mean expensive or not, there's a reason why the multi blade cartridge razors dominate today's shaving world.

Still, just a month ago I began going back to the videos. Back to more articles. Back to trying to somehow figure out what if anything I did wrong. Just this morning it finally happened. Another chance. Perhaps the last chance. I was still excited just like I was the first time even after my bad experience all those months ago. I watched all these youtube tutorials and it got me motivated. I applied the blade at 30 degrees going with the grain, XTG and yes, even ATG, and STILL, the absolute worst shave I ever got in my life.

I have now officially given up on safety razors. It's very upsetting to me bc I had so much hope for these great shaves that people claim they get with them. I had so much hope for saving so much money by using them. I have absolutely no clue how someone gets a baby smooth shave with safety razors. Going with the grain is one thing, but against the grain with rough hair like mine, forget about it.

So what do you guys think here? Please understand that I am not a moron who just tried this randomly. I studied up on it and added no pressure , etc. Is it possible that safety razors just aren't for me? Then why is it that I see so many others going on and on about their success???

Thanks,
Mike

 

That's what I was thinking, if the base plate of the razor is inverted. The blade lays atop the piece on the lower right. hope this helps.

 

Blade is absolutely put on the right way

 

Tell us more about your pre-shave prep. Having the right or wrong preparation can make or break a shave. Do you shower before or after you shave?

Also, you seem to have had bad results with Derby and Feather blades. Those blades don't work for everyone. Get yourself a blade sampler with as many brands of blades possible. Try a whole package of blades until you use it up and move onto another one.

Do you use a brush and soap or cream, or do you use that garbage that comes out of an aerosol can? That could make a big difference in your shaves with a DE as well.

Another thing to think about is beard reduction. You can't expect to take off all your stubble in one pass. I never accomplish that and I've been at it for over 2 years.

 

That really sounds frustrating, and I'm sorry that's been your experience. In my life, however, I've found that it often takes more than three tries to master a new skill.

But also-- how are you prepping your face before shaving? And what kind of cream or soap are you using for lather?

And it's worth triple checking that the baseplate is right side up. The ridges should be on the top side.

 

I transitioned from the multi blades about 6 years ago. I was a tad discouraged at first. The hardest thing for me was keeping my wrist locked and doing shorter strokes. ( With the multi blade design, it made it (too) easy to go from my sideburn to my jaw with one swoop) Once, I got that down, I didn't want to go back. Might want to check out some clips on straight razor shaving just to see how they 'stretch the skin'

 

I shower first, then use my Williams MUG Shaving Soap that gets applied with my badger hair brush

 

The comfort of the shave is only bad when I go against the grain... and it is absolutely impossible for me to get a baby smooth shave without going against.

This is why the fusion 5s were so good for my beard, bc they allowed you to go against the grain more safely

 

I'm going to ponder my response while I take the kids for their flu shots; I've NEVER heard of a Feather blade being conquered by a beard. I think it definitely is more technique, and you may be overthinking angles - those are just basic ideas for guidelines. I cannot use any razor at 30 degrees really, after a few times it became instinctive on where the blade was going to sit; but it still took some practice to get it dialed in.

 

I appreciate all the advice so far, but to be brutally honest, I don't think much is going to help. After what I've experienced while using a safety razor, there is just about no way I can see myself ever getting the baby smooth shaves that I can get with cartridge. You can't tell me that its all about the blade and that maybe the "right" one will make everything perfect. From what I've heard, "Feather" is top of the line anyway. MAYBE and I do mean MAYBE it has something to do with the prep, i'll give you that. My Williams MUG shave soap is nice but its not super thick.

Still, at the end of the day, to get a baby smooth and I mean BABY smooth shave, it means putting some pressure on the skin when going against the grain. You can usually pull that off with a mach 3 or fusion 5. I feel like trying that with one of these one blade , little protection, no aloe safety razors is basically a death wish. But then again this is my problem. Some people in these videos claim to get BSS shaves with them, and i'm just lost. Unless they all don't have hair that is very corse.

Let's not forget my beard is a 10 out of 10 when it comes to roughness

 

if all else fails....invest in a merkur futur....dial that S$%* up to number 6 and go nuts! I'm new to this site as well but I thought I read somewhere that people tend to lend things out to try / trade etc. I'd go that route before getting another razor as the one you have will last a lifetime or more I'm sure.

 

In my years of shaving with a safety razor i can count on both hands and feet the number of BBS shaves i have given myself....I never ever go ATG, XTG just three passes WTG gives me a shave I can live with for 24 hours. I can say my beard is an 8 out of 10 in the roughness category. I would never go back to a cartridge and canned goo. Just my 2 cents.

 

Let the BBS come to you, don't chase it.

 

I really can't suggest anything other than what everyone else has been saying but I would like to request one thing from you. PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE don't do what your saying you want to try. I can guarantee you, if you put a Feather blade in that razor, apply pressure like a multiblade razor and go against the grain, you will most likely have to go to the hospital. I know it's your face and you're very frustrated with the whole thing but I'd rather you just throw the razor and blades in the trash and go back to your old way of shaving before you injured yourself.