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Razor Burn: A Flood of Fancy Shavers Leaves Some Men Feeling Nicked

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Re: Razor Burn: A Flood of Fancy Shavers Leaves Some Men Feeling Nicked

#71

Post by knieveltech »

malchickhome wrote: post #60
knieveltech wrote: post #55

A brief word of warning to those that have expressed interest in shaving with a straight: not only is it addictive, it can warp your outlook on life. I bailed on modern shaving equipment in favor of antique (100+ yrs old minimum) straight razors over a year ago and I haven't looked back since. Initial investment was roughly $200 for a good shave ready razor, soap, brush and a strop. My first multi-pass shave took me…

Hello. Fellow straight razor enthusiast here. Could you give any advice on how to get a razor back to working order? I have a straight razor that I love but I haven't used it in a while because (I assume) my honing technique is faulty. I have been using the ones that use a disposable razor but it isn't the same.

My advice would be to take a three tiered approach to your problem (dull razor). Head over to http://www.straightrazorplace.com/

Short term: get in touch with one of the honemasters (Lynn does incredible work) on the forums and make arrangements to send your razor in for a professional hone.

Mid-term: examine the quality of your strop and your stropping technique. Assuming you have a quality razor a good strop and solid technique should keep it shave-ready for months at a time. Poor stropping technique is the leading cause of premature dulling.

Long term: browse the forums and howto sections for detailed information on honing and restoration techniques, procure quality hones if you haven't already done so, and then pick up some $10 ebay specials to practice your technique on until you've got it dialed.

Re: Razor Burn: A Flood of Fancy Shavers Leaves Some Men Feeling Nicked

#73

Post by AGorilla »

mcantor wrote: post #50
bensummers wrote: post #45

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Have you considered growing a beard? (A quest to find the perfect beard trimmer is, of course, a very real risk if you follow this suggestion.)

Yes, and depending on the trim-length I look like either a terrorist or a history professor. Neither is preferable!

Are you kidding? History professors get massive amounts of tail.

Re: Razor Burn: A Flood of Fancy Shavers Leaves Some Men Feeling Nicked

#74

Post by pxlpshr »

gcv wrote: post #57
pxlpshr wrote: post #17

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I disagree about double-edge, razor burns, and quality of shave. This video covers a wet method shaving technique that you might consider. http://www.youtube.com/user/mantic59#p/u/35/_VxFXpdLvG0

Different things work for different people, I guess. I can't imagine what could possibly prepare my face for what the guy in the video did. If I went through it so rapidly, ignoring the grain, for 5+ passes, any razor would turn my face into a raw burger patty.

Shaving with a 5-blade Mach razor is like taking 5 passes with a single blade; the analogy is akin to driving an automatic vs. standard transmission. This is why 5-blade razors save time, and why a double-edge can give you a closer shave.

You don't burn your face as long as you re-lather with each pass, and I typically recommend pre-shave oil too. But, tThe Robert's wet method technique takes a bit of studying and practice.

Nevertheless I do agree with your first statement.. different strokes for different folks.

Re: Razor Burn: A Flood of Fancy Shavers Leaves Some Men Feeling Nicked

#75

Post by sliverstorm »

brk wrote: post #43
JunkDNA wrote: post #29

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Can you speak to the additional time commitment? I have been considering ditching the Fusion for a Merkur, but I'm worried about adding more time to my AM routine. Are we talking double the amount of time? Triple? The thought of getting up at 5:30 AM just to get a better shave has been the primary reason I haven't pulled the trigger.

Can you speak to the additional time commitment? Keep in mind I haven't done any stop-watch studies... Shaving with a normal razor takes me about 5-7 minutes (I still use a plastic 2-blade razor when I travel). The DE razor probably doubles that, maybe in the range of 10-12 minutes. At first it was much longer, like 15+ minutes until I got the feel of it. But after developing a technique, it goes pretty quick overall…

I can agree with both the potential savings, and the enjoyment. I've switched to a straight razor, and I'll never need to buy another blade probably for the rest of my life. Soap and possibly my waterstone are my only consumables.

As for time and enjoyment, it takes me probably 15+ minutes because I'm still getting the hang of it, maybe even 20 if I'm practicing a 3rd pass (for the perfect shave, you go with the grain, across the grain, against the grain, and your face will be smooth in all directions), but I feel good when I'm done.

Re: Razor Burn: A Flood of Fancy Shavers Leaves Some Men Feeling Nicked

#76

Post by sliverstorm »

weezer wrote: post #53
JunkDNA wrote: post #29

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Can you speak to the additional time commitment? I have been considering ditching the Fusion for a Merkur, but I'm worried about adding more time to my AM routine. Are we talking double the amount of time? Triple? The thought of getting up at 5:30 AM just to get a better shave has been the primary reason I haven't pulled the trigger.

Don't do it. I bought a Merkur two years ago and I just back the switch back to the Gillette. Here's the issue: errors with a single blade safety razor are much worse. I didn't cut myself 99% of the time, but when I did, the cuts were large divots out of my skin. It sucks. Go with the modern technology and leave the single blades to the obsessive.

Is that unique to de safeties? I am using a straight razor, and while I cut myself sometimes, it's always a slice, not a chunk.

Re: Razor Burn: A Flood of Fancy Shavers Leaves Some Men Feeling Nicked

#77

Post by sliverstorm »

umjames wrote: post #12
brk wrote: post #7

I bought a Merkur Futur a year ago and haven't looked back. The initial investment in going to an old-school shaving setup is about $100. Safety razor, some blades, badger-hair brush and saving soap. But the payoff is huge over time. A $5.00 bar of shaving soap can last 6 or 8 months with daily use. High-quality DE blades are $0.50-$0.80 ea, depending on quantity. As the article states, it takes a little more time an…

I agree. After reading this article a couple years ago, http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/6886845/ , I only use my electric shaver for its mustache trimmer. You shave every day? I thought I shaved a lot at once a week.

Considering electric shavers have poor mustache trimmers, maybe you should find a real mustache trimmer?

Good heavens, once a week? My stubble isn't as fast as some, but I'd look like a criminal. Do you have visible stubble by the time you shave, and just tolerate looking decidedly unshaven, or does it grow slowly?

Re: Razor Burn: A Flood of Fancy Shavers Leaves Some Men Feeling Nicked

#78

Post by forkandwait »

If you ask me, most of the sound and fury around shaving and shampoo stuff for men is just the cosmetic company's trying to open a new market for crap nobody needs. They have already saturated the woman's market for wrinkle cream that doesn't work and a million shampoo products that are basically the same.

Perhaps I am just a holdover from a curmudgeonly, pre-Metrosexual era...

Re: Razor Burn: A Flood of Fancy Shavers Leaves Some Men Feeling Nicked

#79

Post by luminarious »

At 24 years of age, I have had enough time to attempt shaving with different razors again and again. I have hated every minute of it. Wether I have too sensitive skin or I have not given myself enough time desensitize myself, but none of the different gels, creams or even shaving oil combined with various razors have convinced me.

Basically, I gave up about a year ago and use a trimmer to shorten the hair to sub-millimeter length. A permanent stubble, pretty much. My girlfriend doesn't find it a show-stopper, so all is well on that front.

I sometimes wonder in morbid curiosity wether I should try again in order to look more professional, but then shurg it off quickly. I have two more years of architecture school left, so there's no rush.

Re: Razor Burn: A Flood of Fancy Shavers Leaves Some Men Feeling Nicked

#80

Post by joelreymont »

bld wrote: post #47

I have a rough neck, and facial hair that grows fast. I eventually gave up nicking myself every morning trying to get a close shave and went electric. It would grow back by 3pm or so anyway. I got a Braun Activator, and haven't looked back. It still needs a cleaning fluid cartridge, but I love the convenience of running it dry over my face & throat, dropping it in the cradle, and letting it clean & sharpen the thing.…

Are you sure it sharpens?

I have a similar setup due to my somewhat african-american hair. Grows in all directions and grows in. Used to have a TON of problems with various non-electric razors.

Nowadays I do a pass with the trimmer part of the electrical razor and then with the razor itself. Works like a charm, no ingrown hairs. I don't go for a super-smooth shave, though.

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