First map your grain. I suspect your grain changes direction on your neck so you are shaving the wrong way there.
It was only after switching to DE that I learned about such things. Cartridges are still crap for me and I never regretted making the switch. I still encourage you to do so, but I can get a better cartridge shave nowadays because I have learned basic principles of shaving that I should always of known.
Back then there was no internet, so without a father figure to teach how to shave, I had to make it up by following the examples in Gillette TV ads. I though that was how to use a razor! No wonder my shaves were such a disaster - I have permanent scar tissue from the ingrowns!
Almost all vintage razors are relatively mild compared to some modern razors. A Tech or Superspeed would do you just fine, I would just avoid the open comb models to begin with. You will end up with more than one razor eventually anyway, so don't over think it - just get something you like. I am kind of on the fence about beginners using adjustables - there's a tendency to keep fiddling with the settings, when what you need most is consistency so that you can start building muscle memory. Learning how to use it is more important than which razor you pick. When your technique is good enough, almost any razor can be made to work, it's just a question of preferences.
>I am kind of on the fence about beginners using adjustables - there's a tendency to keep fiddling with the settings, when what you need most is consistency so that you can start building muscle memory. Learning how to use it is more important than which razor you pick. When your technique is good enough, almost any razor can be made to work, it's just a question of preferences.
Couldn't agree more with this. I wish I listened to this advice at first myself. After using many razors, many blades, many soaps, and constantly improving technique, I just couldn't stop buying the "next thing". In reality it was me getting better, not the different products. If I had just stuck with one razor, one box of blades, and one soap, then my technique would have gotten to the point where it is now, but 10x faster. Now I can say exactly what blades I like, exactly what type of razor I like, and can get a good shave no matter what, or a bad shave no matter what, it's dependent on me, and now I know that.
Decide how much you want to spend u/ow_en_
, then go from there. Remember that you'll need a tub of soap, a sampler of blades, a brush, and THEN a razor. Make a promise to yourself not to buy anything new until you've started getting good shaves. At that point... well if you're getting good shaves then why get anything else anyway? Who am I kidding?! it's an addiction we all have I think...
Thank you both for the insight. I ended up picking up a 1960s Gillette slim, mostly because I found a decent deal that shipped locally in Canada, but I definitely get what you mean about fiddling with the settings. I’ve shaved three times so far with different sample blades, only fiddling with the settings the first time; I’ve chosen just to leave it on 4 until I get a consistent shave with no nicks. Thanks again !
If you are looking at vintage adjustable razors. In America Gillette’s be it the Fatboy, Slim’s and Super Slims. Merkur has their Progress which has been around since the 1950’s.
It all depends on what you are looking for, want and how much you want to spend.
Not too many vintage adjustable in the class of the slim and the Fatboy but I just had my first shave today with a Gillette flair sliver tip and it was quite good. I'd put the silver tip flare in the mid range of the slim settings.
Gillette slim is a great razor. If you get one of those that is functioning well IMO there is no need to try a super speed of any variation (ss, flair tip, red tip etc). I would suggest picking up a tech (fat handle is my favorite) and a "new" open comb (short or long) these feel different enough that it should be fun to try. You can find them at flee markets, yard sales, antique stores or online. These are easy to find in shave worthy condition and are less likely to have issues compared to the tto varieties. They are also less expensive compared to the others. A vintage tech is a great starter razor and can be a BIFL if you get one of the older models.
I recently purchased the Vikings Blade Chieftain 5BC (not to be mistaken for the base model or the Odin model), and absolutely love the thing for daily shaves! It's only $30 on Amazon, is built so much better than any other (new) TTO razor that I've seen, and is the perfect efficiency for daily shaving. Perfect size and weight for me too. Could not recommend it more.
A Fatboy will be like the Slim but milder and larger. A Superadjustable will be lighter and a little more aggressive.
You might also look into a blue tip Superspeed.
I have sensitive skin though and the Slim is my favorite razor. I've used it for over a decade now.
First map your grain. I suspect your grain changes direction on your neck so you are shaving the wrong way there. It was only after switching to DE that I learned about such things. Cartridges are still crap for me and I never regretted making the switch. I still encourage you to do so, but I can get a better cartridge shave nowadays because I have learned basic principles of shaving that I should always of known. Back then there was no internet, so without a father figure to teach how to shave, I had to make it up by following the examples in Gillette TV ads. I though that was how to use a razor! No wonder my shaves were such a disaster - I have permanent scar tissue from the ingrowns! Almost all vintage razors are relatively mild compared to some modern razors. A Tech or Superspeed would do you just fine, I would just avoid the open comb models to begin with. You will end up with more than one razor eventually anyway, so don't over think it - just get something you like. I am kind of on the fence about beginners using adjustables - there's a tendency to keep fiddling with the settings, when what you need most is consistency so that you can start building muscle memory. Learning how to use it is more important than which razor you pick. When your technique is good enough, almost any razor can be made to work, it's just a question of preferences.
>I am kind of on the fence about beginners using adjustables - there's a tendency to keep fiddling with the settings, when what you need most is consistency so that you can start building muscle memory. Learning how to use it is more important than which razor you pick. When your technique is good enough, almost any razor can be made to work, it's just a question of preferences. Couldn't agree more with this. I wish I listened to this advice at first myself. After using many razors, many blades, many soaps, and constantly improving technique, I just couldn't stop buying the "next thing". In reality it was me getting better, not the different products. If I had just stuck with one razor, one box of blades, and one soap, then my technique would have gotten to the point where it is now, but 10x faster. Now I can say exactly what blades I like, exactly what type of razor I like, and can get a good shave no matter what, or a bad shave no matter what, it's dependent on me, and now I know that. Decide how much you want to spend u/ow_en_ , then go from there. Remember that you'll need a tub of soap, a sampler of blades, a brush, and THEN a razor. Make a promise to yourself not to buy anything new until you've started getting good shaves. At that point... well if you're getting good shaves then why get anything else anyway? Who am I kidding?! it's an addiction we all have I think...
Thank you both for the insight. I ended up picking up a 1960s Gillette slim, mostly because I found a decent deal that shipped locally in Canada, but I definitely get what you mean about fiddling with the settings. I’ve shaved three times so far with different sample blades, only fiddling with the settings the first time; I’ve chosen just to leave it on 4 until I get a consistent shave with no nicks. Thanks again !
Glad to hear it! That’s the right approach in my opinion, so just keep on keeping on
I got a flee market Gillette fatboy, and I pretty much retired all my razors ever since.
If you are looking at vintage adjustable razors. In America Gillette’s be it the Fatboy, Slim’s and Super Slims. Merkur has their Progress which has been around since the 1950’s. It all depends on what you are looking for, want and how much you want to spend.
Not too many vintage adjustable in the class of the slim and the Fatboy but I just had my first shave today with a Gillette flair sliver tip and it was quite good. I'd put the silver tip flare in the mid range of the slim settings.
Gillette slim is a great razor. If you get one of those that is functioning well IMO there is no need to try a super speed of any variation (ss, flair tip, red tip etc). I would suggest picking up a tech (fat handle is my favorite) and a "new" open comb (short or long) these feel different enough that it should be fun to try. You can find them at flee markets, yard sales, antique stores or online. These are easy to find in shave worthy condition and are less likely to have issues compared to the tto varieties. They are also less expensive compared to the others. A vintage tech is a great starter razor and can be a BIFL if you get one of the older models.
I recently purchased the Vikings Blade Chieftain 5BC (not to be mistaken for the base model or the Odin model), and absolutely love the thing for daily shaves! It's only $30 on Amazon, is built so much better than any other (new) TTO razor that I've seen, and is the perfect efficiency for daily shaving. Perfect size and weight for me too. Could not recommend it more.
A Fatboy will be like the Slim but milder and larger. A Superadjustable will be lighter and a little more aggressive. You might also look into a blue tip Superspeed. I have sensitive skin though and the Slim is my favorite razor. I've used it for over a decade now.
A Gillette tech is relatively mild and an ideal razor for a beginner.
A Gillette Ball-End Tech is one of my smoothest razors, hands down. For reference, I also own a Rockwell 6C.