Enjoy my Merkur Progress so I decided to try a Futur

I really enjoy shaving with my Merkur Progress so I purchased a Merkur Futur. I used a setting of 1.5 to and started my first shave. I found the Futur aggressive. Now, I do understand that YMMV as far as favoring or not favoring an aggressive razor but for me, I prefer a less aggressive razor. My Progress allows me to shave every day without irritation but the Merkur Futur irritated me in one shave. I'll leave my face rest a day before my next shave.
A'm I alone in my belief that the Futur is an aggressive razor? Do aggressive razors irritate you?

 

I keep mine at just a tad under 3.
Yes, the Futur can get aggressive in a hurry. Try 1, or just under, if it will get any lower.

 

Is aggressive razors a polite name for a razor that can cause irritations?

 

Not necessarily.
The operative word in your question is "can". Any razor can cause irritation (press too hard or go over the same spot repeatedly without re-lathering, and even a mild razor, such as the Tech, can cause irritation), some, the aggressive ones, are more prone to irritation than others.

That doesn't mean an aggressive razor WILL cause irritation. Learn proper touch and technique and you greatly reduce, perhaps even eliminate, the chance of irritation.

Straight razors are as aggressive as you're going find. Many of us use str8s with no problem. Again, technique.

 

not entirely, if someone uses say.......( whatever mild razor). they repeated try to obtain a very close shave with it, without learning the proper angle to achieve such. they tend to go over and over til they are irritated. point is some can get irritation from a mild razor. hence aggressive does not equate to irritation.
some resort to aggressive razors to get less irritation. the thinking being less passes, less irritation.
I'm not saying I'm in either camp, just what I've understood from others.
I think irritation normally comes from improper technique or chemical reaction.

 

I get great shaves from my Progress so my technique is fine for that razor. Perhaps different razors have a learning curve or require modification of one's "technique".

 

Definitely! Just start with a low setting and work with it. I find I get BBS more often with this razor than most of my others.

 

I sold my Futur after a few shaves. Way too much irritation for me. I still have my Progress.

 

Just curious, what settings did you work with?

 

I'm able to use the Progress wide open but wasn't able to get a comfortable shave with the Futur at the lowest settings.

 

I'm starting to feel less paranoid. With the Progress I can get as close a shave as I wish without the worry of irritation. For me, the Futur, on a low setting, doesn't compare to the Progress. I'm disapointed because I love the style and sound.
As an afterthought, perhaps it's the weight. Perhaps the weight causes (for me) additional pressure on the head.

 

And if is the weight, that can be compensated for with an adjustment in technique.

 

Do you use a different technique for all your different razors?

 

I think you could say that aggressive razors are more likely to cause problems. Much like having more than one child has a greater risk of driving you nuts.

 

I guess you could say that. Each razor is slightly different, thus requiring a slight adjustment in technique. I've been at this for quite a few years so I really don't think much about it. I know what a proper angle sounds like and feels like, and my technique adjustment is automatic.

 

+1. Repetition breeds familiarity.

 

no need to feel paranoid. different razors have different feels. when changing between you must adjust to get the same results. sometimes a different grip, sometime just an angle change.
I switch daily, I normally get a feel for the blade, then listen(feel) my way through. once you get used to shaving with the blade, the adjustment of which handle becomes second nature.

 

Now I know why my grandfather and father only used one double edge razor!

 

and there is not a thing wrong with that. I happen to like the variety. I've said many times, if I had gotten a PROGRESS first,I may not have had the rest.

 

I like aggressive razors, and I still like my Progress better than my Futur so far. I'm getting ready to pull the Cutie back out for another try for a couple of weeks. If it doesn't perform any better than the last time, it will probably be on BST before the end of the year.