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!
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.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.
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!
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.Any advice really appreciated at what blade/razor you think would help.
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.
...Now, use a damp rather than wet brush and load for a good minute...
With a top shelf synthetic brush and after blooming the soap I only need to lather for a few seconds. Easily less than ten at most. Just my 2 cents.
Yes, you are correct. I think he is using too aggressive a razor as well.
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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