First save with DE complete disaster

pjgh said:
Presumably a hangover from your disposable shaving practices @ThomasP but it would be great to bring in some quality shaving soaps and a brush. It's a real pleasure building up a lather but it is yet another thing to learn and get right ... and a whole new rabbit-hole of this, that or the other with seemingly everyone giving unique opinions.

Consistency is good while you're learning your technique with the razor.

Out of interest, what do you use?
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Yes, sorry, I meant shaving soap (in Greek, we use the word "foam" for all shaving products like creams and soaps). Right now, I’m using Cella. Do you have any recommendations for a better shaving soap than Cella?

Certainly, my technique can improve further.
 
ThomasP said:
Yes, of course, I know! For every skin type, each blade works differently. I remember my grandfather used the BIC blade for years and got perfect results, while my father would cut himself a lot with that specific blade. Now, I'm thinking of trying the Feather and the BIC.
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Good call! See how you go ...

You need a light touch. The Feather is certainly very sharp but now very long-lasting (maybe 2 shaves?) while the BiC will last longer and is empirically as sharp as the Feather. Light touch with the BiC as well!

... and BiC are made in Greece.
 
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You're better off starting your blade sharpness rate at mid-level, and slowly every three months to increase each blade rate higher while your shaving technique improves. Until your stubble gets thicker, and your skin gets stronger, then you can take on the sharpest blade rate on the market.

Then after a few more years of wet shaving, UNTIL, your technique really improves. Then you can take on the more aggressive razors on the market, like the Muhle R41.

Feather Hi-Stainless <---- Very very sharp
Kai Stainless
Gillette Nacet
Vintage Gillette Aussie 'Gold' Super Stainless (spoiler)
Vintage NOS Schick Plus Platinum
Vintage NOS Gillette Bleue Extra
Gillette Stainless red & white (old) & Gillette Minora Stainless (new) both are the same blade
Gillette 365 Stainless
Polsilver Super Iridium (old) & Wizamet Super Iridium (new) both are the same blade
BIC Chrome Platinum
Gillette 7 O'Clock Black Super Platinum
Gillette 7 O'Clock SharpEdge (yellow)
Gillette Platinum & King C Gillette
Wizamet Polsilver Brown Stainless
Gillette Rubie
Gillette Silver Blue
Kai Stainless
Astra Superior Stainless
Vintage NOS England Wilkinson Sword
Treet Platinum (orange & white)
Personna Lab Blue <------ Middle of the road everyday shave
Astra Superior Platinum <------ Middle of the road everyday shave
Vintage US Gillette Super Stainless (spoiler)
Shark Super Stainless
Gillette 7 O'Clock Super Stainless (green)
Perma-Sharp
German Wilkinson Sword
Tiger Platinum (grey)
ASCO Super Stainless (orange)
Cloud Super Stainless
Parker Premium Platinum
Rapira Platinum Lux
Rapira Super Stainless
Rapira Swedish Super Steel
Ladas Super Stainless
Rockwell Swedish Stainless
Gillette Sputnik
Voskhod <---- This is the low level, not the lowest crap blade


From a very mild shave:-

Vintage Gillette Tech & Feather AS-D2 & Rockwell R1 Base Plate
Rockwell R2 Base Plate
Fatip Testina Gentile Closed Comb
Edwin Jagger DE89 & Muhle R89 & Rockwell R3 Base Plate
Game Changer .68P
Merkur 34C (short handle) & 38C (long handle)
Rockwell R4 Base Plate
RazoRock MJ-90A
Merkur Slant 37C (short handle) & 39C (long handle)
Karve 'B' Base Plate
Game Changer .84P
Karve 'C' Base Plate
Edwin Jagger 3one6 <------------------------------ Sorry Edwin Jagger you've lost against the Muhle Rocca
Muhle Rocca v4.0 R94, R95 & R96 <---------------- Very very SMOOTH!!! as YMMV!!
Rockwell R5 Base Plate
Karve 'D' Base Plate
Rockwell R6 Base Plate
Fatip Grande Open Comb & Fatip Piccolo Open Comb, Sch ne Italian Open Comb
Karve 'E' Base Plate
Muhle R41
Karve 'F' Base Plate
Karve 'G' Base Plate
iKon Tech (this razor is a REAL BEAST!)

To very aggressive shave:-
 
ThomasP said:
Yes, sorry, I meant shaving soap (in Greek, we use the word "foam" for all shaving products like creams and soaps). Right now, I’m using Cella. Do you have any recommendations for a better shaving soap than Cella?

Certainly, my technique can improve further.
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Oh, yes ... you did say Cella ealier on and I wondered if the almond essence might be contributing to irritation. It seems that it doesn't, so carry on with it. Cella is a "classic" shaving soap and probably the best known of the Italian soft soaps.

If you like Cella, carry on ... maybe try one of the other Italian soaps like Tcheon Fung Sing. Similar to Cella, but different.

Better? I can suggest different ...

There are hard soaps, particularly from British names like Floris, Truefitt & Hill, DR Harris & Taylor of Old Bond Street, for example. DO NOT buy a hard soap from Trumpers - they are no good for shaving! Trumpers creams are very good, but their soaps are rubbish! Hard soaps need a longer soap loading time and can take a longer time to build up a lather. My preference is for hard soaps.

There is also world of soft soaps, often containing all sorts of oils and butters and come in ever-more complex and bewildering scents. Look for a scent profile that you like the sound of and maybe try one of those? I'm sure others here can make some recommendations.

Oh, if you wanted something made in Greece: https://www.faena.gr/
 
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Shaving with a DE has a learning curve, you will get there. Every one of us here were where you are now once. I remember my first DE shave. I used a cheap DE Razor from Amazon, an Astra Green Blade, cheap wilkinson boar brush and a Palmolive stick soap. After using Gillette Blue Razors and canned Goo I literally had no idea what I was doing and like yourself, it wasn't nice. I also remember the odd weeper and a very sore face.
It does get better, just take your time, use a light touch and don't go over any face part without soap on. Think of the soap like engine oil for a Car engine, it lubricates and makes metal glide on metal. You need that same lube from the soap to make sure the blade doesn't grab and cut the skin or in your case rub it sore.
You aren't doing anything wrong, we've all been beginners and you'll be as good as some of our esteemed members soon, I promise. Just don't make shaving complicated, it isn't.
 
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