Good shaver gone bad?

I'm new to the forums here, but not new to DE shaving. I'm not an expert but I've been shaving for over a year, and figured I'd really got my technique down pat, but it seems I've either unlearned or something in the universe has gone horribly wrong here.


Ok here's the scenario:
About 5 months ago I switched to Feather Hi blades in my Merkur Futur, and at first there was def a learning curve to the blades, but eventually I felt I mastered it, and was getting baby face smooth shaves much better then with my Merkur Platinum blades I orginally started with.


Ok the problem:

This past week or so, I can't seem to get a decent shave I keep nicking myself, giving myself razor burn. I have quite a few creams and i've tried them all thinking it was one or the other. I even tried this morning a new method of opening up my Futur to around 3 or 4 setting, rather then my normal 1.5 to see if that helped.

*It may help to add that I have a wicked combo of sensitive skin, and a very very coarse beard, like I can give a feather a run for its money making it catch on hairs with a brand new blade.*


Ok here's my other issue, this past week I jumped off my sudo method shaving technique of mixing Marsielle soap with my creams, to see if I could shave with just the creams.


So any theories would be welcomed here.


HAVE I UNLEARNED MY TECHNIQUE?? Or Have I simply broken a good routine that worked for me?

I'm wondering will I be hooked on mixing Marsielle soap with my creams for good??

I ask cause the soap is getting pricey, I don't want to keep having to buy Marsielle soap, plus I'm looking to switch to straight razoring, now I'm feeling less confident like going back to the drawing board.


cheers
D

 

I've read a few guys can't use feather blades for an extened period of time as it "thins" their skin, making them get frequent weepers. I've only be doing the DE shave thing for 3-1/2 months and can't say I've experienced anything quite like what you're saying. If you're getting true nicks, then I'm guessing technique.

I may be misinterpurting here, but it sounds like you've never gone through a blade sampler pack. If that's the case, I highly recommend it. I have a hard time shaving with Murkur or Feather blades (Feathers are at least capable, just very unforgiving). Based on your beard and face descriptions, you may try one of the almost feather sharp but much smoother blades such as Astra Superior Platinum, yellow Gillette 7 O'Clock, or Dorco 301. Again, if I'm misinturperting just ignore me.

 

thanks guys

Queen, Merci, ya I figured it might be something like that so Im going to go back to a very timid approach. Problem is I have very big heavy hands, so with my meat hooks a little pressure goes a long way. Plus my beard is like sandpaper even in the am.

ChemrErik, I'm listening it's good advice, no I've tried any of those other blades but I'm going to. I want to try some of TSD's creams and soaps too, mix it up.

I shaved this morning with my Vulfix Sicilian Lime ( they got me Im Sicilian & French) it wasn't as bad as yesterday. I got maybe 3 or for small bleeders. Yea the stypic is my new friend lately lol. I used an open 4 on my Merkur Futur and went very slow. Problem I'm finding is the feather will not take the hair off in one pass, I can feel it catching and snagging on my beard and it was a brand new blade. ugh... I guess its time for a sampler pack

cheers
D

 

I shaved with nothing but feathers for a year. Took a few months to get past the weepers but it tought me technique. Tripple milled soaps will give you a nice thick protecting lather, try MWF. If your varying from your method shaving techinque, than start from the top. Figure out your grain, use no pressure, and practice. try closing the future a little, i thought most people use it at a 1.5 of so with a feather.

 

JayKay yes 1.5 is my normal shave setting for feathers, but one day i got a bad shave with feathers after not using the method shaving technique, and I read that if you have a coarse beard to try a light touch with a 3 or 4 setting, anyways, thats didn't work. I'm back to using my 1.5 setting. I will say using the 3 or 4 setting taught me to be very light with my touch indeed! lol

Mitchell's I hear thats a great soap, along with Golden Dachs too. I haven't had much experience with soaps. I've only used Classic shavings soap, and Caswell Massey soaps, sadly. I'm more of a cream guy, but Id love to try those and Mama bears sometime soon.

cheers
D

 

I don't know your exact technique, but it would seem to me that using a very slow stroke isn't the best approach. If you go to too slow I would imagine there would be a certain amount of catching and snagging. And trying to take the hair off in one pass might present another set of problems.

 

I suggest you try my routine, see if it helps you.

I use Gillette 7 O'clock SharpEdge blades, very sharp and very smooth and much cheeper than Feathers. When I lather my soap or cream I first lather in a bowl, you can skip this and lather on your face, I perfer a bowl. When I lather I really work it into my beard, then I let the cream sit on my face for 30 secs or so and soak my razor head in hot hot water, then shave. I get the closest, most comfortable shaves I have ever gotten. BBS all the way around with very little to no irritation. Heck, since your beard is so course I suggest you give it the hot towel treatment to soften it up a bit.

In my experience I have found that the proper blade makes all the difference. I feel the blade is more important than the cream/soap or the razor.

 

That was the case with me. I started with Feather's and stayed with them for over a year; mainly because I could buy them locally and partially because they were supposed to be the best. Well, eventually I was walking around with a sore face all the time no matter how little pressure (no pressure) I used. I was ready to give up using a double edge and go back to a cartridge razor when on a whim I tried Derby's... man, what a differance a blade can make. I've been a happy shaver since giving up on trying to make the wrong blade work for me.