What did we learn from our last shaves?

1. That I seem to like Proraso a little more each time I use it. Or maybe I am just a croap kinda guy.
2. That I prefer "Labs" over Feathers.

 

I learnt that I really like the Personna Injector razor but I think that I have also come to terms with that I probably won't ever get a really close, smooth shave with it.
It's just so, so mild and would require a lot of touch-ups. I like it for what it is though - a very sexy razor that will never cut me and will give a passable shave

 

I like Proraso cuz it's virtually idiot proof. Seems no matter what I do, the lather works.

 

I was also able to use some Speick splash. I finally used some alum which might have prevented any zits.

 

That I think I like the combination of a mild razor and an aggressive blade.

 

That even a simplistic product like a safety razor can instantly be deemed crappy if it has "as seen on TV" on the packaging. Didn't want to use it, knew it would be bad, felt obligated to try it since it was a gift, my initial instincts were right.

 

"...this razor goes to eleven."

 

Gentlemen, from my last shave...

I learned that a precise shave with an aggressive setting is quite comfortable.

 

MTO?

 

Took a Google search because I couldn't remember, but that's the one.

 

VDH soap works just fine for me.

 

I learned that even a "bad" MWF lather is pretty darned good. A little airy today but slicker than goose poo.
On another note, the CVS branded SE blades are my favorite so far. We'll see about longevity but incredibly smoooooth.

 

I was reminded that my first instincts are usually right.

 

Change that to "My Fatboy goes to eleven" and we might be talking Custom Title worthy. Although, since most of the CTs seem to be roast-worthy, not sure that one would make the cut.

 

Those razors are basically clones of Flare Tip Gillette razors. The razor is a Weishi 9306. Weishi gets rebranded as MTO, Van Der Hagen, etc. IMHO, the issue you are facing is one of technique. The MTO is fairly lightweight, and quite mild to boot. Your experience in cart shaving (carts teach pressure) is likely causing you to bear down without even realizing it. Remember, you are "unlearning" too! With proper blade angle and and technique, a great shave is certainly possible on an MTO. Try to focus on angle and pressure, try to cut the hair rather than scrape the face.

After you have been DE shaving for a few months, you may have a very different opinion of the razor. The MTO was my first DE razor. I had a similar experience. I then switched to a Utopia 3pc (EJ89 type razor) and found that the heavier razor was easier to control while learning. Then after a couple months on the Utopia, I was able to use the MTO with no issues whatsoever. I bet that would hold true for many people. Some razors are trickier than others, and IMHO the MTO is so mild that it is almost difficult as a first razor.

Yup.

 

Can I shave with both hands?

Challenge Accepted!!

I learned that even though I'm right handed, it's not that hard to shave the left side of my face with my left hand. I think the angles just work better, and I really enjoyed giving it a shot.

Give it a try gents...

 

Thanks for the tips, but this isn't my first safety razor. I've been using an EJ DE89 for about six months now, and I feel like I have the technique down fairly well. I get BBS shaves the majority of the time, and haven't had issues with razor burn or any of that (excluding the occasional nick or weeper) since about half way through my second month after swapping from cart razors.

I don't know if QA is just not that good where ever they make these razors or I just got a bad one, but it was a pretty bad shave. It's so light I was having to fight the impulse to use hand pressure, which was never an issue with my EJ (that thing feels like holding a cast iron skillet compared to the MTO). It didn't hold the blade as snug as I would think it should, either. It wasn't flopping around or anything, but definitely enough movement to be visible. I trimmed what scruff I had down with a good trimmer first to try to reduce the work for the poor little razor (something I've only bothered to do a few times with the EJ, and didn't cause issues), and still wound up with big patches of stubble and a burning face.

 

Could be QA on that particular razor. It may also be that it is just too light and mild to be immediately useful to you, given the technique you've acquired on a heavy 3pc razor.

 

I learned that I apparently got too cocky due to my previous shaves with the DE. My sensitive neck area is paying the price today.

Also learned that I don't know if I really like the Pacific pre-shave oil, we'll see how that plays out after the next whisker removal.

 

I learned that my neck grain is that of a topographic map going every which way.