Good riddance to DE shaving!

Yep, I can remember when I first drove with ABS, always thought my braking without ABS to be better. But I never mastered DE shaving. Probably if I had started with DE I would have been okay with it. First car was a MK1 Escort.
 
More than using ... actively enjoying!

Shaving is just scraping a sharp edge against the skin to cut through the protruding hairs. It doesn't get any more pure than straight edge, nor more complex than the latest technology cartridge. The joy of this hobby for some is the razors, others the blade; others the soap and others the brushes; some enjoy the aftershaves, the scents.

I am thoroughly enjoying my soaps and brushes, quite free from any additional confusion with razor and blade combo.

It is fun that this thread (originally) was from a chap dissatisfied with the results from a different shaving tool and decided to go back to what he was comfortable with. I was a member of this forum back then and we certainly were no more unfriendly to cartridges as we are today; we most certainly do encourage the attainment of really good technique, which in many respects comes from using less complicated or engineered tools.

It is true that there is a considerable amount of science and technology that goes into cartridges and millions in R&D. Does it produce a better shave? Well, does all that technology in a modern car make you a better driver? Flip that around, though and you can say that it makes for less complication, less can go wrong and the technology can fill in for lack of prowess.

When I joined this forum, I was a cartridge shaver and getting some horrible shaves, so much so I practically gave up on shaving. Knowing something must be considerably wrong, I started to look into it ... and found this forum. Here I am perhaps a decade on using the very cartridge today that drove me bloody-faced and irritable to this forum in the first place.

What's changed?

Simply, me. I learned better technique by stripping back the complexity and removing the technology. I became the proverbial better driver by stepping into a stripped-out car with no power steering, no ABS and no seatbelts. That said, if it's not broken then don't fix it, and I wonder if the chap who started this thread was looking for "better" and found he's stepped out of his 2010s BMW and into a 1970s Ford. He was happy to go back to cartridges and it was a bit odd to storm off as he did.

... which I think is the point you're making @NatJag in that whatever we choose to shave with, there's a wealth of fun to be had in all the guff that surrounds it and the razor is just one part. Look also to members who take a bit of time away from shaving who can still be found posting regularly here.

Indeed! There's a LOT more to shaving than just the razor.
Absolutely spot on. Same journey here. Over a decade ago, and with much less information than there is today, I googled "how to get rid of ingrown hair and razor burns", and boom: DE and Wet shaving. The start was painful with cuts and even more irritation, until I got the hang of it. I never looked back until 2 weeks ago. I picked up my old Mach 3 and presto, what a great shave. I went even further. I bought myself a frightening Sainsbury's Men Advance 6 blades cart just for fun. Again, a smooth shave and BBS achieved with no nicks or cuts. Yes, we did change over time. Our skin has changed (?), our technique and knowledge have changed, our preparation has changed, the products that we use have changed (and increased). At the moment, I am enjoying so much my cart razors that I'm not looking back at my DEs. Perhaps I just need to change for a while, or perhaps this is it...who knows? We are all here because we enjoy shaving, learning and discussing about shaving. So, no matter how you do it, just enjoy it.
 
I think it does your skin good to have a rest from shaving, or a change of shaving, from time to time.

Cartridge or electric works for me for a week or so, then i start to get skin rash under the neckline. Similarly, if i DE shave everyday it can feel it a little in my skin after a week or so.

Its all good if i shave every other day or have a couple of lazy growth days once a week.

I am definitely noticing a change in my skin as i have gotten to my late 50's in age.
 
I think it does your skin good to have a rest from shaving, or a change of shaving, from time to time.

Cartridge or electric works for me for a week or so, then i start to get skin rash under the neckline. Similarly, if i DE shave everyday it can feel it a little in my skin after a week or so.

Its all good if i shave every other day or have a couple of lazy growth days once a week.

I am definitely noticing a change in my skin as i have gotten to my late 50's in age.
Agreed. I've been using the Leaf for head shaving with great results, but changing to a slant or other DE razor every so often gives even better results. I suppose the cutting patterns give different re-growth. I also find that 2 or 3 days between shaves is optimum for me - a recent attempt after 9 days was my worst shave ever
 
Agreed. I've been using the Leaf for head shaving with great results, but changing to a slant or other DE razor every so often gives even better results. I suppose the cutting patterns give different re-growth. I also find that 2 or 3 days between shaves is optimum for me - a recent attempt after 9 days was my worst shave ever
I agree; I used to shave at around 5:15am every day with the Gillette Sensor with one pass only and always got good results; now I shave every 3 to 4 days I need two passes (and unfortunately the Sensor is not easily available); when it goes past 9 days, I believe that this is probably a little too much for a cartridge and possibly a DE or single open blade (commonly known as the cut throat) is the ideal razor. I've seen many guys come in at the barbers with several week's growth and this proves no problem to the professionals using a single open blade.
 
I agree; I used to shave at around 5:15am every day with the Gillette Sensor with one pass only and always got good results; now I shave every 3 to 4 days I need two passes (and unfortunately the Sensor is not easily available); when it goes past 9 days, I believe that this is probably a little too much for a cartridge and possibly a DE or single open blade (commonly known as the cut throat) is the ideal razor. I've seen many guys come in at the barbers with several week's growth and this proves no problem to the professionals using a single open blade.
I currently have an issue with folliculitis. My doctor reading from a book advised shaving every ten days with a single blade. He commented that he wondered where one get a single blade from. Thus, I have been shaving with a Gem Featherlight for the past two months. It mows down a ten day growth with ease. It's not great around the mouth, so I tidy up with a Blue3.

I could use a Schick injector or my Supply 2.0, but they require more passes.
 
I currently have an issue with folliculitis. My doctor reading from a book advised shaving every ten days with a single blade. He commented that he wondered where one get a single blade from. Thus, I have been shaving with a Gem Featherlight for the past two months. It mows down a ten day growth with ease. It's not great around the mouth, so I tidy up with a Blue3.

I could use a Schick injector or my Supply 2.0, but they require more passes.

I have found the best thing for me is to shave daily. Three passes which are generally with the grain. So downward on the face, upward on the neck. Gives me a lot fewer bumps etc. However with daily shaving the hair is stiffer and harder on the cutting edge, so I now get two good shaves out of a GSB rather than three. Given that I paid about 7p each for them, im not much bothered either way.

When I want BBS, I go for One pass down, one pass left to right, One pass right to left, one pass up (reversed for neck) - but I've learned to keep this rare - if I do it daily I'll have bumps and irritation within a week or so
 
I have found the best thing for me is to shave daily. Three passes which are generally with the grain. So downward on the face, upward on the neck. Gives me a lot fewer bumps etc. However with daily shaving the hair is stiffer and harder on the cutting edge, so I now get two good shaves out of a GSB rather than three. Given that I paid about 7p each for them, im not much bothered either way.

When I want BBS, I go for One pass down, one pass left to right, One pass right to left, one pass up (reversed for neck) - but I've learned to keep this rare - if I do it daily I'll have bumps and irritation within a week or so
I have a fungal infection due to low immunity, it's not related to shaving. My head, neck, mouth, chest, buttocks, armpits, thighs and the little guy are all effected.

The fungal creams and hydrocortisone are kind of working, depending on area. I am trying hypochlorous acid next
 
I have a fungal infection due to low immunity, it's not related to shaving. My head, neck, mouth, chest, buttocks, armpits, thighs and the little guy are all effected.

The fungal creams and hydrocortisone are kind of working, depending on area. I am trying hypochlorous acid next

Fluconazole tablets work initially to knock it down to start with, but they're expensive and can cause a whopper of a headache, I wouldn't be using them ongoing.

However - for suppression, I can strongly recommend Allicinmax garlic extract. Available on boots, good value on their 3-for-2 promotion, and will definitely keep things under control.

Not medical advice, but if it were me, I'd go to the pharmacy and tell them I need a thrush kit for my wife. Knock back a ketoconazole tablet, and take three Aliicinmax per day with food for the first month, dropping down to one daily once its all tickety boo.
 
Fluconazole tablets work initially to knock it down to start with, but they're expensive and can cause a whopper of a headache, I wouldn't be using them ongoing.

However - for suppression, I can strongly recommend Allicinmax garlic extract. Available on boots, good value on their 3-for-2 promotion, and will definitely keep things under control.

Not medical advice, but if it were me, I'd go to the pharmacy and tell them I need a thrush kit for my wife. Knock back a ketoconazole tablet, and take three Aliicinmax per day with food for the first month, dropping down to one daily once its all tickety boo.
I have been prescribed tablets and Nizoral shampoos previously. The low immunity is a side effect of a more serious illness.
 
I have been prescribed tablets and Nizoral shampoos previously. The low immunity is a side effect of a more serious illness.

I'm really sorry to hear that man. On the plus side Nizoral has the side effect of preventing hair loss! I've been using it for 25 years for dandruff and I have more hair at 36 than most men in their late 20s. It suppresses DHT (testosterone) on the scalp locally. Great stuff.

I've had great success with Allicinmax over the years for various bits and pieces. For keeping thrush under control during antibiotic treatment, and for some pretty annoying prostate problems in my mid 20s.

Whatever you wind up doing, I hope you get the best results you can from it and that things go well for you.
 
I came from a Gillette Fusion Power... I loved the power aspect of the shave... the sound.. and it reduced the surface friction, I think. That being said, our youngest son gave me a RazoRock Lupo Aluminum DE. He also included some Astra blades. I still have my old Vulfix Super Badger brush from 30 years ago or more. I ordered some soap and had a shave.... it wasn't all that great. Not bad, but the razor was so light.

While I was waiting for the soaps to arrive, I did some research and ordered a Claymore Evolution from Executive Shaving in Scotland along with some other stuff. The first shave with the Claymore Evo was a revelation for me. I loved the feel of the razor... the feel of the blade.. everything about it. I'm still a newbie but I'm not tempted to return to the Fusion Power. It's still hard for me to believe how much closer the shave is with a single edge razor. And I enjoy the accompanying rituals of wet shaving.
 
I came from a Gillette Fusion Power... I loved the power aspect of the shave... the sound.. and it reduced the surface friction, I think. That being said, our youngest son gave me a RazoRock Lupo Aluminum DE. He also included some Astra blades. I still have my old Vulfix Super Badger brush from 30 years ago or more. I ordered some soap and had a shave.... it wasn't all that great. Not bad, but the razor was so light.

While I was waiting for the soaps to arrive, I did some research and ordered a Claymore Evolution from Executive Shaving in Scotland along with some other stuff. The first shave with the Claymore Evo was a revelation for me. I loved the feel of the razor... the feel of the blade.. everything about it. I'm still a newbie but I'm not tempted to return to the Fusion Power. It's still hard for me to believe how much closer the shave is with a single edge razor. And I enjoy the accompanying rituals of wet shaving.

I'm thoroughly enjoying using my soaps and brushes while shaving with a Gillette Fusion. I go through phases. As we've said above, there's more to the shave than the razor and blade, and this forum embraces all.

You could try the Lupo again with other blades. I abhor Astra. Try a pack of PermaSharp Super - same factory makes them, but they're a LOT sharper, so that light weight works in its favour as the lightest of touches will give a seriously smooth finish. What about giving your Vulfix brush a perfect partner and buy in a vintage Gillette Tech?
 
I'm thoroughly enjoying using my soaps and brushes while shaving with a Gillette Fusion. I go through phases. As we've said above, there's more to the shave than the razor and blade, and this forum embraces all.

You could try the Lupo again with other blades. I abhor Astra. Try a pack of PermaSharp Super - same factory makes them, but they're a LOT sharper, so that light weight works in its favour as the lightest of touches will give a seriously smooth finish. What about giving your Vulfix brush a perfect partner and buy in a vintage Gillette Tech?
I gave my Vulfix to the son who gave me the Lupo. lol But I am going to try the Lupo with the stainless steel handle. I did buy some Personna Blues and will try them as well.
 
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