The Manly Shaving Thread

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I 'should' be receiving my merkur futur today, i am quite furry atm intentionally so should make for a nice challenge, don't know if i should be brave and try the feathers first. :D

And what do you know it's all arrived, no brush so i'll make do with a face cloth.
 
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Yowee!!! jesus man i knew i should have used the kos as a pre shave but i totally forgot, i threw in the derby blades as they're meant for noobs, i think i rushed it but more importantly my technique needs quite a bit of work.

Not quite bbs but a close and better shave than the pos disposables and oddly i feel like more of a man for it, i think im going to love this malarky, good job i did buy some good post shave balm.

Just curious on the merkur is 1 the most or least sensitive setting?
 
:D ^ Another victim.
My first DE blade was the Future 7 something, I think its the same one you have and I gave up (went for a 34C instead) using it after 3 uses. Poor blade change system meant that it was dangerous, and how the hell can it not have any gripping zones and its all silky smooth :/ It takes time to get the right technique but you learn fast.
 
RossG said:
Ack. Tried again, with yet more bloody results. Used a derby blade this time. Chin looks like ive fallen face first into a pile of razor wire. However, where I'm less prone to cuts and irritation, it seems to have worked pretty well, though im not sure if that's more the new cream/brush than the razor. Tried to follow those youtube tutorials closely too,but it seems to get to a certain point where it stop cutting through the hair, so then I apply pressure. It cuts the hair after that, as well as my face

>_<
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Make sure you always have lather on the bit you're shaving, so don't keep going back over the same area several times until you've put more on; that should stop you getting cut as much.

I always have problems shaving my jaw line; try shaving with-the-grain first then across-the-grain after, and finally if you're up for it against-the-grain. My beard grows in different directions on the left/right side of my face, so keep that in mind.

The idea is to use the weight of the razor; so hold it fairly lightly and don't put any pressure on it, let it do the work. It can also be deceptive in that you think it's not cutting, but infact it really is after you've washed it off and had a look.

Also let your face recover before trying again, if it's still sore from yesterday give it a miss today as it'll only make things worse if you're not careful.

Check your shaving angle is ok too, the angle of the handle should be around 30 degrees from your face. To get this fairly easily put the top of the razor against your face with the handle parallel to the ground (the blade will be parallel to your face and so won't cut) then move the handle either up/down until the blade is just touching your face (roughly halve the distance to get to 45' then go a little bit more to get to 30').

Mind you I do have a 39C which is slightly different, but it should all be fairly relative :).
 
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Sorry to revive this thread again, but I feel the need to post results on my shaving attempts!

I've used my 33C a couple of times now since recieving it a few days ago.

The first time I went at my face with it a little half heartedly in fear of slicing myself open as many others seem to have done on their first attempts. The shave went ok, I didn't cut myself - but it wasn't a very close shave (due to the fact I wasn't applying much pressure at all).

The second time I used it I pushed a little harder, and it shaved my cheeks perfectly, but my jaw line and below was still a little lacking.

I've just used it for a third time, and this is probably the closest shave I've had in a long time. My face is perfectly smooth, jaw line and below is decent. I imagine within a few more tries my entire face will be extremely smooth.

Best of all - I haven't had one bit of razor burn any of the times I've used it! I have nicked myself only once just to the right of my mouth, but nothing bad.

Amazing razor, and I owe it all to OcUK! :)
 
With the Merkurs you need to shave in passes so you need a few shaves to get close, its not a shave once and its done like other razors, I usually do 2 or 3 shaves following the grain then 1 against the grain. If it doesn't seem like much is coming off don't press harder, just continue and do another pass. I didn't like the derby blades, feathers worked best for me.
 
i just got a merkur futur as well, and my first attempt at using it resulted in a inch long slice only my thumb- wasn't paying attention and tried turning the head (yes i know this is possibly the most stupid thing ever, and despite the pain i had a laugh at my own moranic behaviour)

took two passes, and i still hadn't managed to get it close. i imagine its technique, but i find shaving irritates my cheeks so shaving with a feather blade scared the living hell out of me.

suffice to say i looked like a bit of a plonker the next day with tufts of hair i'd missed poking out of my face. practive makes perfect with these things my old man keeps telling me
 
Had another stab at it today, after refreshing myself with the shaving tutorial videos on youtube. And wow, what a difference. However, it was by means the closest shave I've had, but probably the most satisfying. I think I had got my lather all wrong before, but thefeel of applying warm, creamy lather to your face is bliss. I took my time over it, about half an hour in total, and it was a great feeling. So much better when it isn't rushed.
Next step is to just keep improving the technique and try and get closer shaves. I can still see and feel quite a bit of stubble on my chin, but having a fat chin probably doesn't help :o.
I can't stop rubbing my cheeks though. So smooth! :D
 
RossG said:
Ack. Tried again, with yet more bloody results. Used a derby blade this time. Chin looks like ive fallen face first into a pile of razor wire. However, where I'm less prone to cuts and irritation, it seems to have worked pretty well, though im not sure if that's more the new cream/brush than the razor. Tried to follow those youtube tutorials closely too,but it seems to get to a certain point where it stop cutting through the hair, so then I apply pressure. It cuts the hair after that, as well as my face

>_<
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I've decided to stop using the derby blades as you say they cut but only to a point after which it does more damage.

Give astra superior blades a try they are so smooth compared to the derby, sharp but they glide over so well you end up with less nicks and irritation plus i cranked the razor to 2.5 where it would be on 1 with the derby.

I can't wait to try the feather blades next time around.

As for technique with the futur i find lightly gripping just below the head works great, means i get great balance and a real feel for what the razor is up to, i believe merkur designed it with this in mind which is why so many go wrong.

Apparently the hd or the gillette super speed are better for the first timers but the futur is meant for the more experienced de user and rewards you with a closer shave if done right.
 
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Right just had a quicke with the feather blades, didn't have much growth so thought it'll be easier for a first time with these blades.

My aren't they sharp only problem is razor burn but shave close they certainly do and are harsh if you make any slip ups i had a nice nick with only a small slip i can see why they don't suggest these for beginners.

My favourites are still astra superiors, i'll reserve the feathers for when i fancy it deadly close, the astra's smoothness make them my current go to blades, might try their keramik blades at some point.

It's also my first proper bbs shave for which i am loving.

It's a good job i have good post shave balm is all i can say, i can feel the burn. :D

One thing i find, the soap dries a little bit then the skin gets a bit draggy, any advice on how to reduce this?

Also are lather bowls a good investment, i assume you throw the puck inside and just lather up however you want?
 
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I was very fortunate over the Christmas period to receive a Merkur Vision 2000 Brushed Steel Razor. It has taken until this weekend for me to put aside the time to have a proper shave.

The razor itself comes in a great box that means I can keep it safe and away from the kids as well as holding a couple of packs of spare blades. The blades that were used were the Merkur Stainless Platinum at £4.50 for 10.

As this is my first proper razor (I have been a mach 3 user for many years) I may repeat what a lot of people have known for years.

My routine was as follows:

While having a shower I used the following:

Elemis Energising Skin Scrub for men
Elemis Trienzyme cleaner
Elemise Deep Cleanse Facial Wash

Once out of the shower, I partially dried my face and then applied Elemis Skin Smooth shave gel.

Blade fitted to Razor, set it on number 1 - very small gap between blade and cover and then shaved.

Fortunately I always leave a half inch line of stubble around my jaw line along with stubble up and over my mouth. The razor felt a nice weight and although I was only shaving my cheeks and neck the blade carved through it every time. Not a single cut, not did I ever feel that the blade was likely to. The wife agreed it was the closest shave she has ever known me to have. Took very little time, only slightly more than with my mach 3 and left no burn at all.

To finish off I applied Elemis Daily Moisture Boost and the skin was soft, smooth and shine free.
 
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Btw, I figured out why some of my shaves had a lot of razorburn - The Merkur blades I was using not only looked dull when coming out of the wrapper, but they weren't too sharp when I tried to cut some paper with them. 4/4 Merkur blades wouldn't even cut a sheet of A4 until I pressed hard.

I've been using Derby blades since the start of the year and my are they sharp. Not had any razorburn or problems at all now with my 33 HDc.
 
Good to see people are still giving it a go.

I've gone and bought me another razor, sure the futur is nice but very aggressive which forces me to enjoy the shave just a bit less.

So after lots of looking on badger & blade a lot of people love the new edwin jagger de89L so i thought id give it a go.

This is a little beauty first shave with feathers i got a few nicks but my second shave i threw in my astras plus i decided to try a superlather which is using a mix of a cream and a soap in this case ingram and trumpers coconut oil soap, it worked great i needed one more pass but the cream gave me more cushion and the menthol was very cooling great for folk with sensitive skin the lanolin also helped, i'll try it with the trumpers alone next time which is a fantastic soap.

I was able to get a damn fine shave not quite bbs but so close and hardly any nicks or weepers, i have some super iridium blades on order which are meant to be one of the best, smooth and sharp.

Id also advise you buy an alum block, really helps the skin for when you decide to shave extra close just remember to rinse it off with cold water after a few minutes if you plan on using any balm or lotions.

Amnesia - yes i do now use oil it was just experience i was lacking, in fact i rarely need it now my prep is better that and i've learned the lay of my skin so to speak, plus i needed to use a bit more water i was mixing it up a bit too thick now it's fine.

Thing is i can now fly about with suitable aplomb which is great, im even blade buffing and j hooking when i need to get extra close, i think i'll have another shave tonight that should get a few people talking in work tomorrow. :)
 
Is anyone able to recommend some online shaving shops? The Shaving Shack has been out of stock on the Merkur 34C since early January now. Pretty much everything else I want is in stock. I've even emailed them asking when the Merkur 34C is back in stock; had no reply so far.

I'd prefer recommendations from people who've actually bought from the site they recommend, rather than just, "Yeah that looks a good site, decent prices" etc, kind of thing. :p:)
 
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