The Manly Shaving Thread
- Thread starter gam3r
- Start date
- Status
Soldato
- Joined
- 13 Dec 2006
- Posts
- 6,914
- Location
- On the forest moon Endor
I've just purchased the Merkur 34C with this brush and this cream soap stick. They should be getting delivered from the Rainforest store within a few days 
I've seen others here recommending XYZ blades - do all different type of blades fit the above razor? The Derby ones seem quite cheap when compared to the Feather ones? Apologies in advance for the "n00b" questions but I'm in the process of converting from the rather expensive Mach III brigade to a proper shave
I've seen others here recommending XYZ blades - do all different type of blades fit the above razor? The Derby ones seem quite cheap when compared to the Feather ones? Apologies in advance for the "n00b" questions but I'm in the process of converting from the rather expensive Mach III brigade to a proper shave
Soldato
- Joined
- 13 Sep 2005
- Posts
- 4,356
Tried my Merkur 34c for the first time today.
First impressions are not good. Obviously I dont know what im doing.
But it tugs the bristle, it cuts myface, even when Im using it ever so lightly and it doesnt seem to shave anywhere near as close as my gillette fusion...
Don't worry been there mate. The tools are useless without the knowledge. Watch this and more of his others if you want to.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xjhIy9rgWQU
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ufG1dPmVo8Q&feature=relmfu
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dd7Aj9vwrtc&feature=relmfu
I bought a 34c years ago and ditched it as the shave was very poor without changing your technique.
Keep at it, its well worth it.
I've just purchased the Merkur 34C with this brush and this cream soap stick. They should be getting delivered from the Rainforest store within a few days
I've seen others here recommending XYZ blades - do all different type of blades fit the above razor? The Derby ones seem quite cheap when compared to the Feather ones? Apologies in advance for the "n00b" questions but I'm in the process of converting from the rather expensive Mach III brigade to a proper shave
Derbys would be good for a first time as they are sharp but forgiving, I used them for a while but tried feathers and never went back. Feathers took some getting used to though so I wouldn't start with them. You could pick up some Personna blades a supermarket, they are pretty tame.
As far as I know all blades fit all razors. A selection pack might be a good idea to find a blade that fits your face. You can usually find blades on eBay for good bulk deals when you have a favourite.
Oh the humanity! It was a massacre!
I have been using Gillette (insert new more expensive version here) razors for years but decided to jump ship on a budget.
I picked up a Boots Safety razor and some extra blades yesterday for half the price of a pack of 4 Fusion blades. I intended to read up on here before using it but didn't have time when I got up this morning, so I just dived in (I know, foolish me
).
I used my trusty Wilkinsons shaving bowl and brush to get a good lather applied to my mug and got to it. I tried to keep the blade at just under 45 degrees (can't remember where I read that) and I didn't feel any tugging despite not having shaved for 4 days. I didn't try to cut through the growth in one sweep like I would with my Fusion but tried to work a bit at a time with the grain.
I haven't seen that much blood outside of budget horror flick in years
. Oddly, about the only area I didn't nick was around my Adam's Apple, which I almost always cut with a disposable razor.
My second mistake of the day was to use a Gillette Aftershave Balm pump which dispensed some weird orange gunk that felt like Napalm For Men when applied.
On the plus side my skin does still feel very smooth at this point of the day. I have learnt my lesson and I will research proper technique (vids posted above look very helpful, thanks) and more suitable skin saving creams/balms and try again in a day or two, then build towards daily shaving if possible.
If I get on with this method, I may well end up nagging my wife for some nice pressies.
I have been using Gillette (insert new more expensive version here) razors for years but decided to jump ship on a budget.
I picked up a Boots Safety razor and some extra blades yesterday for half the price of a pack of 4 Fusion blades. I intended to read up on here before using it but didn't have time when I got up this morning, so I just dived in (I know, foolish me
).I used my trusty Wilkinsons shaving bowl and brush to get a good lather applied to my mug and got to it. I tried to keep the blade at just under 45 degrees (can't remember where I read that
) and I didn't feel any tugging despite not having shaved for 4 days. I didn't try to cut through the growth in one sweep like I would with my Fusion but tried to work a bit at a time with the grain.I haven't seen that much blood outside of budget horror flick in years
. Oddly, about the only area I didn't nick was around my Adam's Apple, which I almost always cut with a disposable razor.My second mistake of the day was to use a Gillette Aftershave Balm pump which dispensed some weird orange gunk that felt like Napalm For Men when applied.
On the plus side my skin does still feel very smooth at this point of the day
. I have learnt my lesson and I will research proper technique (vids posted above look very helpful, thanks) and more suitable skin saving creams/balms and try again in a day or two, then build towards daily shaving if possible.If I get on with this method, I may well end up nagging my wife for some nice pressies
.Unlike your Gillette jobbies you can't really tell from the angle of a safety razor which angle the blade will be at, they are all a little different. The best way I've found is to rock the head down until the blade is at the right angle and to just practice until you know the angle.
Nicks normally happen if you press it to much but can also happen if you move the blade sideways. I cut myself a bit the first shave but never more than once (and pretty rarely) per shave after that. Reading advice is ok but nothing really beats watching some of the videos on youtube from Manic.
Nicks normally happen if you press it to much but can also happen if you move the blade sideways. I cut myself a bit the first shave but never more than once (and pretty rarely) per shave after that. Reading advice is ok but nothing really beats watching some of the videos on youtube from Manic.
As you say, I suspect a lot of the damage was down to slipping sideways slightly. I have bookmarked Manic's youtube page to watch later . What surprised me is that I didn't feel the nicks when they happened but I always noticed if I cut myself with the Gillette. I guess that is down to it have 5 closely packed blades with a set angle.
. What surprised me is that I didn't feel the nicks when they happened but I always noticed if I cut myself with the Gillette. I guess that is down to it have 5 closely packed blades with a set angle.
Soldato
- Joined
- 18 Mar 2010
- Posts
- 4,137
I decided to give this manly shaving malarky a go. A 34c arrived in the post this morning and I had my first shave.
It was fun, but my god are they dangerous! My face was a bloody mess afterwards, I had literally 15 or so cuts and nicks. I think i was pressing too hard, I will keep practising!
It was fun, but my god are they dangerous! My face was a bloody mess afterwards, I had literally 15 or so cuts and nicks. I think i was pressing too hard, I will keep practising!
Soldato
- Joined
- 13 Dec 2006
- Posts
- 6,914
- Location
- On the forest moon Endor
Mine arrived today as well - I'll make an attempt tomorrow when I've not had a few beers
I'm expecting the same results as you initially though
Soldato
- Joined
- 18 Mar 2010
- Posts
- 4,137
I wish I had taken a photo, it looked ridiculous!
Associate
- Joined
- 22 Sep 2008
- Posts
- 822
Don't press at all! Best advice is to use the lightest possible touch. It take some effort but you will be rewarded. I can get a great result in less than a minute of actual shaving now. Don't give up.
Soldato
- Joined
- 13 Dec 2006
- Posts
- 6,914
- Location
- On the forest moon Endor
With a forum name like you're should I guess at the other shaving products you've purchased:
Thanks for the advice - I'm going to go against all my experience and attempt the downward then upward shave
Associate
- Joined
- 22 Sep 2008
- Posts
- 822
Manic59 has the best vids but this is also well worth a watch.
http://www.gentlemans-shop.com/acatalog/How-to-shave.html
Obviously you don't really need an elaborate series of preparations or post shave products, but the rest of the advice is good. You'll reap the rewards guys. It's a skill that's well worth learning.
http://www.gentlemans-shop.com/acatalog/How-to-shave.html
Obviously you don't really need an elaborate series of preparations or post shave products, but the rest of the advice is good. You'll reap the rewards guys. It's a skill that's well worth learning.
Thanks to this thread, I've been using a Merkur 23C for 1-2 years now and I love it. Once I got the hang of using it properly, it's reduced my shaving irritation to almost nothing at all. Once again, I really recommend trying it out yourself. It's also cut down the costs of shaving for me too.
I just purchased 100 of those Gillette 7 'O Clock blades (and a free gift of 10 Feathers!) from the Shaving shack. They have to be an improvement over the basic blades I've been using so far, looking forward to their arrival.
I'm tempted to get the Merkur 34C later this year as even though I love the 23C, I can't help but feel that now I have the hang of it, a razor with more weight to it will improve the quality and effort of the shave by a little. Now I'm using these razors I actually quite enjoy the shaving experience, whereas before it was quite a chore with irritation and poor results!
Cut myself very few times, but once by putting my hand into a bag that had the Merkur in with a blade in it, and cutting my finger deep. Live and learn.... Should get a case really.
I just purchased 100 of those Gillette 7 'O Clock blades (and a free gift of 10 Feathers!) from the Shaving shack. They have to be an improvement over the basic blades I've been using so far, looking forward to their arrival.
I'm tempted to get the Merkur 34C later this year as even though I love the 23C, I can't help but feel that now I have the hang of it, a razor with more weight to it will improve the quality and effort of the shave by a little. Now I'm using these razors I actually quite enjoy the shaving experience, whereas before it was quite a chore with irritation and poor results!
Cut myself very few times, but once by putting my hand into a bag that had the Merkur in with a blade in it, and cutting my finger deep. Live and learn.... Should get a case really.
Associate
- Joined
- 1 May 2010
- Posts
- 662
Any current deals running that i should be aware of? Looking at the Merkur razors there seems to be a lot of different numbers and letters attached to each of them...Do they mean anything?
The number is the model and the letters seem to be about the colour. C seems to mean chrome which means anything metal pretty much. At least the 38R = red, 38b = blue, etc
I'm not sure on any deals really. I'll leave that up to people that have bought razors lately.
Thanks for the advice - I'm going to go against all my experience and attempt the downward then upward shave
You really need to be able to shave downwards without cutting yourself before trying upward, its much easier to accidently jam the blade in your neck, I have a scar from going wrong with a DE blade!
- Status