hi,i'm new to the forum(21 years old) and enjoy every thread i read here. i just got into DE wetshaving and i'm at my 3rd shave with the DE razor but not so satisfied with my nicks or cuts but it's all good i'm patient because: i'm using a wilkinson plastic DE (the kind with the metal in the handle) and i wanna order next week the mühle r89 razor. i read much of this forum and on b&b for a good razor to start with and i cant compare it to this one i have so it should be more than good for me...i was also thinking about getting an adjustable but i think that the simpler the better + that the merkur adjustables have some imperfections i dont wanna get into excluding the vision, i don't like that one. so pelase give me your 2 cents on the razor,what do you think.and vintage razors are out because i dont have them on my ebay or amazon ( austria ),maybe i stumble on them on a flea market who knows i'll keep my eyes open. and another question i have as i am using a Body Shop Maca Tree shave cream and notice thati get alot ir irritation durring and after the shave should i switch to a Proraso soap maybe or should i use some kind of oil before the cream or something please recommend me something or that Proraso pre shave cream...what is that exactly?how do u use it ? thanks alot for your patience to read this happy shaving, iulian
First off, Welcome! If you are interested in a vintage razor, you may want to keep an eye on the Classifieds section, there are a lot of great folks around here and often enough they sell razors for very reasonable prices. There are some European members and retailers around that might be easier for you to do business with. A few links that are a great help getting started: Mantic's shaving video thread: http://www.theshaveden.com/forum/showthread.php?t=161 Leisureguy's Common problems thread: http://www.theshaveden.com/forum/showthread.php?t=72&highlight=common+problems Uncle Albert's Advice: http://www.theshaveden.com/forum/showthread.php?t=14044 Again, Welcome and Good luck!
Hi Iulian, the Mühle R89 is a very nice razor. So don't worry. What about your blades? Which one are you using? With the cream: It's possible that you have some allergics with it. As you are from Austria I would recommend you to get Palmolive classic SC and compare the results you get with the results from the Maca Root.
thanks for the links i already read them and there all awsome and i'm gonna keep my eyes out in the classifieds section also,thanks thanks for the quick reply and i don't know about the allergy but imma try the other cream also it may be the pressure i put too much... i'm using the wilkinson blades i got with the razor... don't know how they compare to others coz the i only used cartridge till now... thanks for the advice. how do u all feel about the soap (Proraso for example) in comparison to a shave cream ( the body shop maca root SC for example ) how do they compare in your opinion? cheers
In general there's little difference in the performance between soaps and creams. You can get great shaves using either. Creams tend to get used up quicker as you use more product per shave than with a soap, but you have to put slightly more work into lathering a soap. The difference is insignificant really. Now, individual products in those categories (soaps/creams) of course perform differently. The Body Shop Maca root cream is supposed to be good, though not as good as the old formula (which I love). However, Proraso is a good soap for certain. At this stage, the real problem is likely to be your technique rather than the product. It takes a little experience to build up a proper lather that is both cushioning and slick. Bad lather can lead to cuts. Also, razor technique (blade angle/pressure) could be to blame for the results of your shave. My advice is to change nothing for a while (except the blade, perhaps) and work on your lathering and shaving technique. All the best.
I don't know the Maca Root SC. So I can't compare it. So, where are you from exactly? Perhaps we can arrange a meeting at Klaus's home (moviemaniac) and we can show you something and also supply you with some other blades.
Welcome to The Shave Den. You've gotten lots of good advice here already but know that help is always available. Keep us posted on your progress.
thanks for the advice and u probably are right the problem i think is my technique i'll work on that for now and will also order the mühle r89 razor and then hopefully i'll minimize the riscs of bad shaves coz my current wilkinson is very plasticky and i don't trust plastic will maintain it's form after many shaves...dunno looks wierd to me... but i will definetly experiment with different soaps or creams and with different razors and keep you posted also guys where can i get an alum block for cheap at a webshop in europe prefferably austria but others will do... thanks hi herzi,i'm from salzburg austria, so i don't know if we can meet that easily but if u know an good online shop tell me also... i read here somewhere that some kind of oil can be used before applying the cream on your face,does that make a good enough difference (if the brush does not remove it lathering up? ) cheers.
We all feel like rookies sometimes. Even after you get some solid experience under your belt, some common problems still arise routinely. For me, most of my bad shaves correlate with the quality of: the blade, the lather, or controlled strokes. The key is to stay on top of all 3, all the time. Only when all 3 are in a quality groove do I attempt ATG passes. Regarding vintage DE razors. Three years ago I bought a box of 6 various vintage razors on e-bay for $6. I was hoping for just one decent razor in the lot, and they all ended up being excellent. Watch estate sales too. "If you take care of the little things, the big things take care of themselves." Joe Paterno
