Multi-blade razors
Discussion
Rapira, eh? Today my face feels raped.
Days 3 and 4 were an interesting contrast in learning where the limit is:
Day 3 (yesterday): I angled the razor much closer and did some multiple-against-the-grain passes, upping the ante with some controlled 4-wheel drifts and noting where I could push a bit more, getting probably the best shave I've ever had. All day my face felt daisy-fresh. No dry patches appearing during the day and no 5 o'clock shadow either. Superb.
Day 4 (today): After yesterday's success, it was with reckless abandon and over-confidence that I power-oversteered everywhere, running over the grasscrete exits and flat-spotting my tyres in every braking zone. What a silly, silly thing to do. Blood. Everywhere. I now look like I've gone 6 rounds with Freddie Krueger.
Be careful out there, folks.
Days 3 and 4 were an interesting contrast in learning where the limit is:
Day 3 (yesterday): I angled the razor much closer and did some multiple-against-the-grain passes, upping the ante with some controlled 4-wheel drifts and noting where I could push a bit more, getting probably the best shave I've ever had. All day my face felt daisy-fresh. No dry patches appearing during the day and no 5 o'clock shadow either. Superb.
Day 4 (today): After yesterday's success, it was with reckless abandon and over-confidence that I power-oversteered everywhere, running over the grasscrete exits and flat-spotting my tyres in every braking zone. What a silly, silly thing to do. Blood. Everywhere. I now look like I've gone 6 rounds with Freddie Krueger.
Be careful out there, folks.
Right today I have finally had enough of my Mach 3 Turbo. So after hearing that DE shaving is better from a few friends and remembering how much praise it gets here I'm thinking it's time to switch. Is a decent size Boots likely to have a reasonable selection? I did notice someone bought some from Boots, was it just a couple of sets they had?
The other thing is products don't seem to say what person it suits, so I have sensitive skin with relatively tough facial hair, does that mean I need platinum or stainless blades? Are there much difference between the soap stick/bars?
Sorry for all the questions, I didn't realize there is so much to this haha. TIA.
The other thing is products don't seem to say what person it suits, so I have sensitive skin with relatively tough facial hair, does that mean I need platinum or stainless blades? Are there much difference between the soap stick/bars?
Sorry for all the questions, I didn't realize there is so much to this haha. TIA.
Boots unlikely to stock anything other than a WS or Lord razor, the WS one looks cheap and nasty but it's much better than it looks. Comes bundled with 5 WS Stainless blades (a good benchmark but better can be found on the high street) and costs £5.99 I think. Lord razor is best avoided for although it looks better it's far from great.
You would do better in an independent chemists or buying online in my experience.
Soap/Cream/Brush use up what you already have first.
You would do better in an independent chemists or buying online in my experience.
Soap/Cream/Brush use up what you already have first.
Wilkinson DE bought yesterday following the advice above.
Wow, what a great close shave. Single pass perfection.
I have some derby blades that came with a cut throat I tried (without success). Are these any good or do I need to stick to Wilkinson? (or anything else I should be buying).
Wow, what a great close shave. Single pass perfection.
I have some derby blades that came with a cut throat I tried (without success). Are these any good or do I need to stick to Wilkinson? (or anything else I should be buying).
Use the first couple of WS blades (at least four shaves) first so you have a benchmark then try a couple of derbys. Derbys in my experience rather hit or miss, at least one rough one per pack. Supermarkets sell persona blacks as own brand blades, sharper than the others so worth trying, otherwise order a sample pack is the general advice.
jdw100 said:
Picked mine up from the Post Office yesterday.
Will pop one in a Merkur Futur later and see how they go.
Can't belive they will be better than my favourites, Persona, but worth a punt!
I have to report that these are actually really good!Will pop one in a Merkur Futur later and see how they go.
Can't belive they will be better than my favourites, Persona, but worth a punt!
So that's a year's supply of blades for about £8.
IanMorewood said:
Supermarkets sell persona blacks as own brand blades, sharper than the others so worth trying, otherwise order a sample pack is the general advice.
Is this true? I use Personna Platinums which are fantastic, but I tried a set of Tesco own brand blades based on hearing the above and they are seriously horrible. Very jumpy, gave a crap shave, and my neck was very red afterwards. Same razor, brush, soap etc.
Did I just get a bad batch, or is there something else at play here?
Hmmm. Bugger. 
I've stripped the thread on my Muhle R89. Didn't think it'd ever been over-tightened but it appears it must've been. I have the braveheart head and R41 to fall back on as well as the WS plastic affair and a 1960's aluminium Gillette (that I can't get on with).
Have ordered the EJ equivalent DE89 so I'll see how that goes.
I've stripped the thread on my Muhle R89. Didn't think it'd ever been over-tightened but it appears it must've been. I have the braveheart head and R41 to fall back on as well as the WS plastic affair and a 1960's aluminium Gillette (that I can't get on with).
Have ordered the EJ equivalent DE89 so I'll see how that goes.
Am about to buy a muhle R41. After i dropped DE89 and water got behind the plating.
When I started DE shaving (thanks to this thread god dammit!) i had a very kind soul send me a selection of blades including derbys, personnas etc. but i just didn't feel they were right. So i bought a single box of feathers and have used nothing ever since. Ultra smooth, ultra sharp but at the expense of maybe getting a shave or two less from them than the others.
Anyway, with the R41 being more aggressive, am i lining myself up for a skin graft from my arse or do i just adjust my style?
When I started DE shaving (thanks to this thread god dammit!) i had a very kind soul send me a selection of blades including derbys, personnas etc. but i just didn't feel they were right. So i bought a single box of feathers and have used nothing ever since. Ultra smooth, ultra sharp but at the expense of maybe getting a shave or two less from them than the others.
Anyway, with the R41 being more aggressive, am i lining myself up for a skin graft from my arse or do i just adjust my style?
While you're still thinking about it, you'll be fine. It's a few days in when you relax and think it's okay you will shave your face off. 
I think I must have a heavy hand or something. For me, I like a Feather or Personna Red in R89 or DE89, maybe even the Braveheart but in the R41 I prefer a Gillette 7 O'Clock SharpEdge, especially if shaving every day.
Let us know how you get on.
I think I must have a heavy hand or something. For me, I like a Feather or Personna Red in R89 or DE89, maybe even the Braveheart but in the R41 I prefer a Gillette 7 O'Clock SharpEdge, especially if shaving every day.
Let us know how you get on.
BorkFactor said:
IanMorewood said:
Supermarkets sell persona blacks as own brand blades, sharper than the others so worth trying, otherwise order a sample pack is the general advice.
Is this true? I use Personna Platinums which are fantastic, but I tried a set of Tesco own brand blades based on hearing the above and they are seriously horrible. Very jumpy, gave a crap shave, and my neck was very red afterwards. Same razor, brush, soap etc.
Did I just get a bad batch, or is there something else at play here?
So all my bits finally arrived. Edwin Jagger razor and brush, Arko soap bar and Feathers blades. The razor came with a pack of 5 Derby blades so I thought I'd give them a whirl first as seems a waste otherwise. I know my technique won't be amazing yet but these Derby blades feel blunt straight from the pack, from what you guys have said on here the Feathers should be much better! Face is notably less irritable after a couple of days though, much improvement from my Mach 3. Cheers for the advice!
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