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I agree, and my DE experiment proved to be anything but. Horses for courses I guess.
The thing is, you don't need to go in for all the enthusiast procedural bullshit.
Some of the youtube videos on DE shaving would have you believe its essential to have more products and steps than a lord of the rings makeup artist.
The only thing I've changed is the razor.
The only thing I’ve changed is the razor.
Thinking about it, a shave has four variables:
- Razor
- Razor technique
- Shaving 'product/s'
- Pre-shave prep
Hardly anyone will change one without any affecting any of the others , so it's tricky to say what exactly has changed your old rubbish shave to a new great shave. In my case I've changed the products and prep, kept the same Mach3 razor but learned/included some DE technique in it's use (like don't press, don't shave where there's no soap etc) to end up with a great shave.
//Thread divert about head shaving for @convert// - I've got one of those Skullshavers - even after a number zero on the clippers, it takes an age and it's never as good as a blade. Might work if you're using it daily, but for a weekly back-to-bald shave, I'd just use a razor. I don't even think it needs to be a good one either. I've just used a Bic twin blade for doing my head and that's been fine... DE for my chin, but a cheapo for my head when I'm feeling baldy.
Forgive my ignorance - what is 'pre-shave prep'? Does this mean a douse in warm water and apply a bit of foam/cream over the target area or am I missing something with crystals etc off my shaving routine?
//Thread divert about head shaving for @convert// – I’ve got one of those Skullshavers – even after a number zero on the clippers, it takes an age and it’s never as good as a blade. Might work if you’re using it daily, but for a weekly back-to-bald shave, I’d just use a razor. I don’t even think it needs to be a good one either. I’ve just used a Bic twin blade for doing my head and that’s been fine… DE for my chin, but a cheapo for my head when I’m feeling baldy.
Thanks Chipps - always good to get advice on grooming a shiny noggin from an renowned expert!
Forgive my ignorance – what is ‘pre-shave prep’? Does this mean a douse in warm water and apply a bit of foam/cream over the target area
Can be anything on the scale of "quick wash with Imperial leather and shave in the soap suds" to "exfoliating sea-salt scrub, unicorn milk soap wash, pre-prep shaving ointment, shave soap applied with hummingbird feather shaving brush". I'd say you're further towards the former 🙂
I was given a Wilkinson Sword premium de razor kit for Christmas, and whilst totally uninterested in the subject I used it as I'm a tight arse and I have never looked back. I have tried a numerous different blades because there are so many, I have found the odd one a little more scratchy than some others but in general I can't tell to much difference. I used to get a little shaving rash with multi blade razors but not with the de and I actually quite enjoy shaving now.
I was given a Wilkinson Sword premium de razor kit for Christmas
I'm assuming that's a proper metal razor? A word of caution to readers, WS make a bargain basement plastic DE razor and it is utter shite. It put me off DE shaving for years, getting a proper one was a revelation.
Single biggest difference for me was probably switching from squirty foam / gel to soap and brush. Takes a bit longer but it is so much better. WS do an el cheapo brush here also, and in this case it's absolutely fine.
Single biggest difference for me was probably switching from squirty foam / gel to soap and brush. Takes a bit longer but it is so much better.
I did this prior to DE days as a scrawny 19yr old after a can of Gillette's finest exploded in my rucksack on some expedition (a 19yr old feeling the need shave on an expedition - that's wrong in other ways - I'll have a word with my former self later). A brush and block of soap takes up way less space and is not quite so explody.
Single biggest difference for me was probably switching from squirty foam / gel to soap and brush. Takes a bit longer but it is so much better.
Yeah, I think this is why my latest shave (the Mach 3 one that killed off my DE aspirations) was so good.
if you stick at it 2-4 weeks and try 2 or 3 blades you'll notice how much little things matter and can then start to hone in on the good for you over the next 2-4 weeks. if you can't be bothered to invest a bt of time then yes, most of us get a decent shave with a mach 3. some of us are like scud and can't, most of us though. if we invest the time, wll get a better shave with DE.
My shaves now compared to the mach 3: cost about 1p not 15p, take about the same time, are closer so I shave less often, and my skin generally feels great rather than having varying amounts of razor burn from scraping away with the mach 3. Yes it took a while to get here. I enjoyed the journey, thought of it as a hobby to learn. I completely get that many people just want a straightforward shave though. fine if you do.
BTW, which blades did you try and how did they feel? sharp vs tuggy, smooth vs scratchy? everyone differs but I might be able to suggest another to try that you might prefer.
Oh and I'll second cougar on WS cheap brush=fine. WS cheap soap...no. just not worth trying. go arko or palmolive for cheap and good. or derby maybe...not tried that yet. I'm crrently using razorrock soap, wow it lathers fast, quite like that, the smel and feel, cushion and lube are pretty fair too.
Noxzema shaving foam is good stuff. I usually get the red can or the white can. I find this causes less irritation than soaps or creams, though I still use those too. Proraso pre shave is also good for avoiding razor burn. I use a DE Muhle R41.
if you stick at it 2-4 weeks and try 2 or 3 blades you’ll notice how much little things matter and can then start to hone in on the good for you over the next 2-4 weeks.
Honestly, I can't be bothered. I feel like I've let you down 😉
I've got the Proraso brush, pre-shave and soap now though, and they make the Mach 3 shave great. And with extending the life of each blade with the Razorpit, fag-packet maths gets me to 6p a shave, which I can live with
Don't be daft, do what works for you, life is too short! The only reason us converts preach is because it's a great way to shave for us and we wish someone had preached to us 30 years ago. The key part of that sentence is, 'for us'. Not everyone is the same.
Apres douche, shaving brush under the hot tap, finger in the top to make an indentation. Squirt in 4 matchheads of Proraso and that's more than enough. A tube of Proraso lasts me 6 months shaving daily (WS Quattro precision). I can't think of another product that is so good and such good value. I live in a hard water area, in places like Manchester or London it works even better.