Shaving with a killer blade

redfenix

So, I am a sufficiently hirsute guy, and have traditionally used a Mach 3 for quite a damn while. However, I'm getting tired of having to go over the same area, no matter how well lathered or warmed my face is.

Also, it's damn expensive.

So, straight razors. Does anyone use one? I would like to get one, (and a brush, and lather stuff, and a strop, etc.) but i'm not sure what's good, etc.

Any suggestions?

Fawkes

Are they really more effective? I rather assumed that the BIC style was an upgrade in technology, you must need a diamond whetstone to keep a barber blade sharp enough?

If they are though, count me in.

EDIT: Infoz!

Very carefully, like most others have said.
It's called a 'straight razor', not a blade.
It's basically the same as shaving with a normal razor but you have to be VERY CAREFUL with the strokes. Never use anything but the up or down stroke. If you do a side to side, you're libel to open up a serious and nasty wound.
I would suggest either doing it really slowly the first few times or practice first on a blown up balloon covered with shaving cream. If you pop the balloon, you've just cut yourself. Barbers use the balloon to practice on to learn how not to cut clients and if they pop it, they don't get licensed.




first of all, a new blade on your skin, will be the closest to surgery you could possible get. I would dull the blade a bit ,like shave a peach first,and after that it's all in the angle you slide that razor across your skin.you may be a bloody mess the first couple of times,but like any other process repition is good.Second of all DON'T DO IT or make sure you know where your jugular veins are.If idon't hear from you ,I'll know your angle was off good luck my friend. Don Hayner Barber/stylist



Carefully. Suggested by a professional barber, but if you must, its against the grain, opposite of the direction of the hair growth. That way it uplifts it while cuttin, getting a closer shave

...and http://www.hairremoval.in/

EggyToast

I use a mach 3 turbo and typically only have to go over an area once if I'm actually paying attention to what I'm doing. How are you shaving currently?

The key to only shaving an area once has to do with blade sharpness and cleanliness. If it's got shaving goop on it, it's not going to get a clean shave. Similarly, if you are "used to" shaving in shorter strokes, well, that's just habit at that point.

Also, shaving with or against the grain leads to different results -- with the grain can prevent the occasional ingrown, but, to me, isn't really shaving as your face isn't smooth afterwards. Against the grain is better if you want smooth.

Veevee

I moved from the mach 3 to the power excel (vibrating, 4 bladed razor) and it was a smoother, closer shave. Try getting the actual shaver and try it as its usually around $10, and it could save yourself from cutting yourself very bad with a straight razor.

The only downside is that the actual razors cost $20 for 4, but a pack usually lasts me at least a month. It also cuts through a 2 weeks worth of built up beard rather easily.

stigweard

Go with a DE razor. The blades are dirt cheap (2$ for 10), and the safety cage prevents you from using the wrong angle like you could a straight edge.

No matter what kind of plade you use, if you have coarse and multi patterned facial hairs, you are going to have ot lather and repeat at least once to get it smooth. The best method to avoid ingrown hairs and razor burn is first with the grain, then across the grain, and finally against the grain. There is a good wetshave tutorial on youtube here. This guy has a ton of videos on everything and anything regarding wetshaving and shaving in general.

Uncle Long

stigweard wrote:

Go with a DE razor. The blades are dirt cheap (2$ for 10), and the safety cage prevents you from using the wrong angle like you could a straight edge.

No matter what kind of plade you use, if you have coarse and multi patterned facial hairs, you are going to have ot lather and repeat at least once to get it smooth. The best method to avoid ingrown hairs and razor burn is first with the grain, then across the grain, and finally against the grain. There is a good wetshave tutorial on youtube here. This guy has a ton of videos on everything and anything regarding wetshaving and shaving in general.

I've been going the Double Edged route for about the last year or so, and I really like it.

If you don't want to give up your mach three just yet then perhaps you should invest in a brush and a cake of soap. Go over the wet shave tutorials and you'll probably be surprised how much of a difference a good brush and hot lather correctly applied can make.

If you go with a straight razor, however, be sure to go with steel, not stainless steel. Buy a strop with a canvas and leather. Buy paste to maintain the strop. By soap and brush. By a stone; you won't need this once you've been doing it for awhile, regular stropping is all it will take, but in the beginning chances are it will need to be sharpened. Also, it's a good tool to have around in case you drop your razor or something happens to the blade and you need an all new cutting edge.

You can sometimes find the straight razor set with all of this stuff included; I'd advise going for that if you can.

redfenix

Hmm. Maybe I'll start with the brush and soap first.

I got a semi-decent foam/gel warmer for christmas, and that seemed to not particularly affect the quality of the shave.

Another reason i'm interested in a straight razor is cost; after the initial investment, I won't have to keep throwing down money for more blades.

That seems to be a good thing.

Preacher

Just let your beard grow out! Chick dig mountain men don't confirm to the shaving ritual. FIGHT THE CLEAN SHAVEN POWER!

redfenix

Nah, I have a perpetual moustache and goatee, I look like poop without it.

Um, here's the "goatee connected to the sideburn" style, which i currently have eschewed. So, it's just the stache/goat.



Thurrs me. That's probably like, 2-3 days growth.

Preacher

Ahh that kitty is so cute.

redfenix

It was a good excuse to link that

Preacher

Well it's a cool picture, even more so if there wasn't mullet jr in the pic...

Mishra

I have a nice thick mediterranian beard. Back in the day I'd shave about once every 3 days to avoid bleeding all over and I'd never get a good shave. Of course once I joined the military it was every day, and boy was it messy. I've had good luck with a Mach 3 and Art of Shaving products. I use their oil, shaving soap and aftershave. they sell trial packs that some with a badger hair brush for $40(a really good deal thier brushes are usually like $200). I've recently tried stuff by Billy Jealousy as well and find that it's pretty darned good as well. The key is let the lather work its way into your beard and soften it (say for like a minute). Then shave. I usually do one pass with the grain then one against trying not to cover the same area multiple times. This minimizes the amount of skin I lose. Just rinse your razor between strokes. It'll take about a month for your skin to get used to it and for you to get really close shaves.

The difference between the good shaving creams and the stuff you buy at the local supermarket is how it treats your skin. Most aerosols dry your skin out and moisture is your friend. The whole point of the lather is to allow water to seep into the hairs and soften them. Just my suggestions, it may not work for you but I've gotten compliments from past girlfriends on how smooth a shave I can get.

MikeRyu

I just recently got myself a DE and now use a brush and shaving cream. I've actually found it quite a tricky adjustment but I'm sure it'll pay off. I do cut myself a lot more now but with pratise I should get better.

Edit: I watched that youtube video and then just had to go and shave, even though it's 1AM. Was worth it though.

Wezoin

I was thinking about this over the downtime, and thought maybe if you do the balloon thing you could try using a regular old knife (like, not a steak knife) and use the flat side to get used to the strokes involved in running a straight blade over the shape of your face.