Really coarse stubble/Sensitive skin. Still have issues.

I would second the suggestions of the Merkur 37c after using my newly acquired one last night. I have often has a bit of irritation on my neck where I tidy up around a bit of beard but last night was bang on. No weepers, nicks, irritation or anything of the like, even coupled with a sharp blade (Feather Hi-Stainless). Gave me a close one with far less effort than I've required previously. I'll be using it another couple of times in the coming days and can give my newbie feedback on it if you like?

As for the dry face aspect, do you mean after shaving a pass the skin beneath is dry? That wouldn't be too much of an issue. If it's the lather that ends up dry it sounds like you're taking your time for each pass which, although isn't an issue, can cause a dry(er) lather. In that case, soap is cheap and there's no harm relathering each side of your face as you get to it. Atop that, it's always preferable to make sure your face itself is properly hydrated - hence why people usually take showers or use warm, damp towels as well as rinsing pre-shave.

If you're finding that the soap itself is not giving slickness, even when trying well-touted ones, that goes back to the 'not enough water' argument. What soaps/creams are you using, out of interest? You can partially remedy a 'bad' lather by using a pre-shave as well. That will help give a bit of non-lathery slickness, should you need it!
 
pjgh said:
Force yourself to perfect a single pass.

Like you, I'm not one who enjoys a multi-pass shave. I've learned to hone that single pass and part of my technique is the sliding stroke. Draw the blade diagonally. It give a slant stroke and is very effective.

Shave daily.

The first few times, you'll miss bits but you will pick up a full shave from that one pass very quickly. Missed a bit? Catch it the next day.

Prepare ...

Consider a pre-shave cream, something with camphor in? I like Proraso when I'm feeling a bit sore. This time of year really irks me as the hot weather just turns my skin to mush. Good shave, after some prep with Proraso on a wet face, cools the shave itself, wash off, splash of cold water ... still cool. Witch Hazel. Let it dry, then some aftershave. Personally, I prefer a higher alcohol splash - often marked as Eau De Cologne. For me, a drier face (drier, as in less moisturised) is a less irritable face.

Reconsider your pre and post-shave products.

Good luck!
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Thanks for the reply. I have tried shaving daily in the past but normally my face is sore the next day so I leave it. What I might try doing is just a 1 pass shave every day for a week and then perhaps do a 2 pass shave every day and see how it goes. If all well then try the 3 pass shave every day then.

I read somewhere that the noxcema stuff is a good preshave which is why I bought it. Smells horrible though lol and obviously isn't working.

Matt
 
Bogeyman said:
Why do you rinse tour face between passes? Just relather. If your face is too dry then you are either using an unsuitable soap/cream or you are not adding enough water when making lather. Consider using a soap that has tallow & perhaps even lanolin as well.
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I thought rinsing was best as lather tends to dry a bit whilst sat there when I'm doing a pass so I thought a bit off water on the face would wet the lather a bit and also clearing the old residue off my face.
 
Benz3ne said:
I would second the suggestions of the Merkur 37c after using my newly acquired one last night. I have often has a bit of irritation on my neck where I tidy up around a bit of beard but last night was bang on. No weepers, nicks, irritation or anything of the like, even coupled with a sharp blade (Feather Hi-Stainless). Gave me a close one with far less effort than I've required previously. I'll be using it another couple of times in the coming days and can give my newbie feedback on it if you like?

As for the dry face aspect, do you mean after shaving a pass the skin beneath is dry? That wouldn't be too much of an issue. If it's the lather that ends up dry it sounds like you're taking your time for each pass which, although isn't an issue, can cause a dry(er) lather. In that case, soap is cheap and there's no harm relathering each side of your face as you get to it. Atop that, it's always preferable to make sure your face itself is properly hydrated - hence why people usually take showers or use warm, damp towels as well as rinsing pre-shave.

If you're finding that the soap itself is not giving slickness, even when trying well-touted ones, that goes back to the 'not enough water' argument. What soaps/creams are you using, out of interest? You can partially remedy a 'bad' lather by using a pre-shave as well. That will help give a bit of non-lathery slickness, should you need it!
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Thanks for he reply. Yeah if you don't mind could you let me know how it goes for you with the 37c. I am going to get one I think and try it out if it works ok for you as heard a few times now that it's good for people like me.

The soaps I have at the moment are Nivea sensitive, boots sensitive, cella almond. Also have Mitchell's Woolfat soap which I just cannot get to lather nice.
 
mattprince said:
Any advice really appreciated at what blade/razor you think would help.
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Many users say the R41 works better at a steep angle (blade to skin angle) which is a more scraping action. Perhaps you should try a razor with a shallow angle (nearer the cap) and thus less scraping action. The R41 should work at a shallow angle but you must keep the pressure light. The blades you are using are generally considered good performance. You should work on finding the comfortable shaving angle.
The other very important factor is preparation and good lather. Getting a consistently good lather which gives the cushion and slickness is vital for a good shave. The lather should have a sheen to it; if it looks dull it is too dry.
Keep working on the lather and razor angle.
There are thoughts on using a more rigid blade situation for tough stubble so a razor that clamps the blade more rigidly may prove more useful to you. Here are some suggestions;
Any Gillette TTO, including adjustable.
Any SE razor, all SE blades are thicker than DE blades.
Old Type
Fatip Piccolo
Feather ASD2 <--- Postwar Tech mild...
Wolfman
 
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Hi Matt

Two of the razors you have used, Merkur Futur and the R41 are considered aggressive razors. You might want to consider a less aggressive razor such as the Edwin Jagger DE89 as well as a slant head razor.
The Futur was my first DE razor, and like you, I cut myself to ribbons with it due to inexperience, (too much pressure/ wrong angle etc)
I struggled with it for years until I joined this forum and was directed to the DE89.
It transformed my shaves completely. It's regarded as a mild shaver, but it gets the job done. It's easy to find the right angle straight off the bat,
Regarding your soaps, I've got Mitchell's Wool Fat, and find it likes to be bloomed for a few minutes to help make it easier to work with. It's a good soap with plenty of glide and protection.
What brushes are you using? I ask this because some brushes like more hydration than others, and some are better suited to creams rather than soaps in my experience.
 
Paul L said:
Hi Matt

Two of the razors you have used, Merkur Futur and the R41 are considered aggressive razors. You might want to consider a less aggressive razor such as the Edwin Jagger DE89 as well as a slant head razor.
The Futur was my first DE razor, and like you, I cut myself to ribbons with it due to inexperience, (too much pressure/ wrong angle etc)
I struggled with it for years until I joined this forum and was directed to the DE89.
It transformed my shaves completely. It's regarded as a mild shaver, but it gets the job done. It's easy to find the right angle straight off the bat,
Regarding your soaps, I've got Mitchell's Wool Fat, and find it likes to be bloomed for a few minutes to help make it easier to work with. It's a good soap with plenty of glide and protection.
What brushes are you using? I ask this because some brushes like more hydration than others, and some are better suited to creams rather than soaps in my experience.
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Hi,

I do bloom the MWF and use the bloomed water to pre shave sometimes. I am using a Loccitane Plisson brush , really soft so can't see it being the brush that is at fault. I think I may try and do a really wet lather later and then try and master it so it has the shine on it as I don't think my lather does.

Matt
 
I would definitely recommend a slant. I have major issues with my neck area too and found the 37C is very good at reducing irritation especially with an Astra SP or Permasharp blade :)
 
I sympathise, my skin is very sensitive and my hair coarse. It may seem like a hopeless exercise, map the growth on the troublesome areas & persevere to get the 1st pass as close to WTG as you can.
It made a big difference for me, consequently, 1st pass was a bit of a chore.
Not the easy north-south business you see with most YouTube shaves, however, it soon becomes second nature and the reward is a close shave with no neck irritation.

Hope it comes good for you soon.
 
The key to a good shave is the lather, and if yours is drying on your face it's not right.

With MWF if you go at it too wet it'll explode into froth and after a while you'll get something that looks like lather but doesn't work well. What I do is leave the soap dry, no pre-soaking / blooming / rain dance, just as it came. Now, use a damp rather than wet brush and load for a good minute. If it starts frothing up you have too much water, if it seems too dry just dip the tips of the brush and add a little bit. Once the brush is loaded, dip just the tips into the water and lather on your face. When you think the lather's good enough, dip again and lather some more - repeat until the lather is glossy. It's worth practising to see how much water you can add, but the key to MWF is that it looks ready before it is.

I've tried using the so-called Marco Method with MWF and it just makes soup, load and hydrate is what you want.
 
chris.hale said:
I must admit that I tend to think a more aggressive razor is sometimes used to compensate for deficiency in technique, Men shaved with Techs for forty years I don't belive they can't handle modern stubble.
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Yes, must be the preservatives in the food making the beard harder or a side effect of EDS meds. ;) In all likelihood it has more to do with the fact that damn near everyone who uses a DE/SE razor today was weaned on disposable multi-blade razors that do "scythe" down more "foliage" in a single pass, albeit with pitfalls.
 
Well, had a big clear out of all my old crap, and a few cartridge razors that I had when it went really bad so am committed now to get this right. Ordered some stuff today.. Edwin Jagger DE89 Kelvin, Edwin Jagger Lime & Pomegranate cream. Also have the blades on their way too so they will all be here Friday at latest. I am going to have a shave on Friday and will report how it went. Might even do a video if I can rig it up clear enough so you can spot if I'm doing something wrong. Will do the following on Friday..

  1. Pre soak my Loccitane Plisson brush
  2. Shower and really rinse the stubble under the shower
  3. As I get out of the shower, immediately dry my face and then apply the Wilkos Fruit body butter as recommended earlier in the thread as a pre shave
  4. Dry myself all over and then start making the lather. Pea size blob of cream and will just shake the excess water off the brush and make the lather
  5. Using the Edwin Jagger DE89 and a brand new Astra SP blade, Pass 1 - WTG - no pressure at all and make a conscious effort to shave the balloon as they say
  6. Pass 2 - XTG - no pressure at all and make a conscious effort to shave the balloon as they say
  7. NO 3RD ATG PASS
  8. Rinse with warm water and then rinse with cold water to close the pores.
  9. Re apply some Wilkos Fruit body butter
If all goes well, I will do that daily and gradually get to the 3rd ATG pass , so would probably gradually go to it by doing WTG, XTG>, XTG< and then WTG, XTG, ATG

What do you think?

Anything I've missed?

Matt
 
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