New DE Shaver from the Midwest

Hello everybody,

Just getting started down my DE shaving path. Just completed my second shave with my Merkur HD. I have to say, this one went better than the first, no blood, and the alum block didn't burn nearly as much this time around.
I only did two passes, as I'm trying to take it easy on my face while I get the technique down. It's an acceptable shave, can't see the whiskers but I can feel some stubble still if I rub ATG.
I just recently found The Shave Den via my Tapatalk application on my phone. So I appreciate the mods here keeping up with the times and supporting that. Sure makes browsing the forum a lot easier when I'm away from home.
Anyway I look forward to learning from everybody here and hopefully contributing some information of my own.
Here are before and after pictures of my shaving transformation.

 

Welcome to The Shave Den, a great community of guys and gals that enjoy wet shaving, I hope you enjoy your stay!

Be sure to sign up for the January Newbie Give-Away for a chance to win some great shave gear!

You'll find the Welcome to The Shave Den Master Sticky, put together by our very own Queen of Blades, will help you find your way around the forums.

Nice kit, and more importantly nice attitude! You've realized that the shaves will get better as your technique improves.

 

Glad to have you here at 'da Den!

Something tells me that your Den may keep transforming just like many of ours!

 

Welcome to The Shave Den family!

Be sure to stop by The Shave Den "Master Sticky" thread to familiarize yourself with the different areas of The Shave Den!

 

Nope, haven't found that yet... I know there's a link in this thread somewhere...

Appreciate the warm welcome everybody. So far I'm liking what I'm seeing here, very friendly and helpful place.

 

Hello and welcome to The Shave Den! It looks like you are off to a great start. Keep us posted.

 

welcome to the shave den

 

That second picture looks a lot nicer than the first.

 

Welcome

 

Hi! Welcome to the Den.
Great looking set-up.

 

to the Shave Den.

 

Welcome to the Den! Enjoy your stay here and Happy Shaving!

 

Welcome to the Den.

We know you'll fit right in.

So grab yourself a comfy chair,

and give our threads a spin!

Burma Shave

 

Sounds like you are off to a great start! Not trying for perfection from the start but sensibly working on technique! To avoid stubble rubbing ATG you will need to shave ATG which I'd suggest you holding off doing at this stage unless you NEED a really close shave.

Welcome to the Den too!!

Glad you found us, your transformation of your shaving is very impressive

 

Welcome to TSD!

 

Yep, that was the plan. Currently I'm using a Merkur HD as you can see in the picture and the Merkur blade that came with it. Not sure what I think of the blade as it's the only one I've tried. I have packs of Derby, Shark, and Feather standing by. Not sure which one I'm going to go to next.

Thank you, I have REALLY been enjoying the change, no more horrible razor burn that the Fusion gave me. I had come to accept that as a fact of shaving. Oh how wrong I was.

 

Welcome to The Shave Den!

 

The Merkur blades get a lot of bad press with probably most deserved IHMO. I love Sharks as a cheapie and the Derby cope some undeserved abuse too, again IMHO. I'd suggest either the Derby or Shark next keeping the Feather till a little later.

Funny isn't it how despite all the advertising about how they will change your life they are such rubbish and the opposite is true!

 

Thoughts right now are the Shark next week. Want to try 3-4 shaves with Merkur. I'm only shaving every two or three days right now. I hear good things about Shark so I'm looking forward to feeling the differences. Derby will be after that, and then maybe a month or two from now the Feathers.

I'm trying to get a coworker to switch. He gets awful razor burn. Goes through one Mach3 cartridge every day as his beard is very coarse. I can't even imagine how much he spends on those every month.