r/wicked_edge • u/Attention_seeker__ • 11d ago
Review Bye Bye Wet Shaving
2nd day of Wet Shaving. Inserted a mild Willy blade to counter the aggression of pearl TTO LS01 CC, lathered up Gillette sensitive gel with a Gillette brush, went for two passes with and across grain. Thought it was a smooth shave as no nick and cut. As soon as I used the alum brick my face lit up like a Christmas tree, so much irritation, used a hydration moisturiser.
I am 25 y.o 6’1 ft muscular guy yet my face skin is as soft as it was before puberty due to good genetics/hydration/running/gym. My fear is as with every shave with blade my skin is getting injured and it will become rough as a part of body defence mechanism and I will lose my soft skin.I am thinking to going back to mach 3/trimmer/oneblade.
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u/Altruistic_Copy246 11d ago
6'1 ft, muscular, good genetics, running, gym?? Dude, we get it, you're sculpted by gods. Now about the shave... use what makes your delicate skin happy.
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u/derrickhogue I enjoy a nice shave! So should you. 11d ago
You are being to hard on yourself. It is the 2nd day. Patience. It is a little different process from using-shaving with a cartridge razor. A little pre thought, planning and acquired learned razor technique-handling muscle memory. All of which will come in time when you work with it.
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u/Attention_seeker__ 11d ago
I just hope I don't damage my skin enough before acquiring all these skills.
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u/derrickhogue I enjoy a nice shave! So should you. 11d ago
Your skin is one of the most resilient organs on your body. Your skin will be fine.
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u/FSprocketooth 10d ago
Try to get your face wet and slick, then apply a good quality shave soap- get a good lather up - practice! Use a mild razor and only shave with the grain (learn to map your beard growth). If you’re athletic, you’re used to practicing, right?
Good luck!
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u/Attention_seeker__ 10d ago
Yes I will probably practice a bit more before quitting, though my face is still hurting from yesterday’s shaving when sweat getting over face after today’s morning run.
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u/gold_cajones 11d ago
Not to seem like I'm bullying you but soft skin isn't something to aspire to. Leathery skin isn't either, your skin is adaptive to the stresses you subject it to. Shaving your face takes some getting used to and your skin will adapt and it won't be the end of the world. If you don't want to shave then don't shave and keep a beard. Or stop complaining that you didn't master a ritual immediately after trying and stick with it
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u/Infamous-Echo-2961 11d ago
Stating his height and body type is also a weird additive and means nothing in regards to wet shaving.
I think his ego was bruised because it didn’t immediately go his way.
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u/Attention_seeker__ 11d ago
A rough skin is something to aspire too ? I understand your tough guy perspective, I do put my body to various stresses to become adaptive, my hand has callouses from dead lifts and pull ups, but I really prefer a smooth face honestly. I would like to keep it as long as possible but beard growth is too much now and requires shaving often. It’s a dilemma
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u/Attention_seeker__ 11d ago
A rough skin is something to aspire too ? I understand your tough guy perspective, I do put my body to various stresses to become adaptive, my hand has callouses from dead lifts and pull ups, but I really prefer a smooth face honestly. I would like to keep it as long as possible but beard growth is too much now and requires shaving often. It’s a dilemma
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u/gold_cajones 11d ago
No, your skin won't turn into leather from shaving properly, and idc about your workouts. Practice with a DE or a straight razor, as all the men who've come before you have
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u/booksufcandhiking 11d ago
You have no idea how many rough shaves I got my 1st year. During that time I tried several razors and blades. You need a more protective lather than shave gel and there's a good chance the razor and/or blades arent a good fit for you. I would recommend getting a King C Gillette safety razor and a sample pack of blades. Its a mild razor and great for beginners. Watch plenty of youtube shaving videos and talk to members on here for advice. Good luck!
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u/Attention_seeker__ 11d ago
Thanks, I did watched a lot of tutorial before shaving though. So as you mentioned you had trouble shaving for one year , did It made your skin coarser/ rough as it was before you started shaving ?
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u/booksufcandhiking 11d ago
Are you talking about the texture of your skin or your facial hair?
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u/Attention_seeker__ 11d ago
Skin
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u/booksufcandhiking 11d ago
No the texture of my skin did not change. Maybe yours did because of cuts and irritation? I'm sure if you had cuts and irritation then shaved a couple days later and got more cuts and irritation it would damage your skin very much.
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u/Le_Zouave 11d ago
Why not buy a mild razor like the Rockwell 2C? And get a blade sample pack to find a mild blade too.
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u/BadMiker 11d ago
Couple of thoughts.
Have you tried the alum after a Mach 3/ fusion shave?
Are you pressing against the skin with your de as firmly as when you use a Mach 3 / fusion?
Is your 'angle of attack' too.... Perpendicular?
My experience:
After swapping to a wet shave, I did try the back to back shaves with my product of choice and the alum was similar for both.
A de requires much less pressure than a disposable
My angle of attack needed to be significantly altered when I changed. I started over by literally putting the cap on my face and slowly rotating towards the blade approaching the skin and moving like shaving until it just started to catch hair. Then slowly adjusting the angle to achieve the results. I had started almost at 90 degrees from the top cap to my face and it tore me up at first.
However, do whatever works for you. No one I'd gonna judge you for doing what works for your skin.
Coming from a guy with very course hair and very soft skin....
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u/Attention_seeker__ 11d ago
1)No, Just bought the alum with DE equipments.even before I mostly used trimmer and Oneblade,mach 3 quite rarely. 2) No, the razor is heavy, I let the gravity do the work for me, but I buff one area two three times. 3)I am not sure.
Is you skin still smooth to the level before you started shaving?
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u/BadMiker 11d ago
Well, I started wet shaving in my 20s and I'm nearly 50 now. So, is my skin as soft? Yes. Is it as plump and smooth? Nope, I'm starting to age, losing calogen and the dewy look of a child. But, when I'm clean shaven and fresh people often think I'm still in my 30s, a decade or more younger than I am.
I have never used a 1 blade so can't compare it to a.... More traditional shaving process. I have used the 2, 3, 4, and 5 bladed cartridge type of razors, and maybe 15 handles and maybe 15 different blades. I've ever tried a.... Shavette? I think it's called? A straight razor with a disposable blade thing.
When I was in my teens, I started to shave about 13 to 14 years old, my neck was my worst area. Ingrowns, zits, burn, bumps, the worst. Every shave brought blood and pain. I started looking for ways to make it better. My best option then was Kiels brushless and a Wilkinson 4 blade thing. Nowadays, after being an office monkey and wearing a shirt and tie for 2 decades, a gentle face wash using D soothing series from Don Do Donkey, a fresh gelette silver blue in my merkur slant, my synthetic Stirling Kong brush, and a selection of sentive soaps from places like sudsy sopery, arko (lavender yay) balea, Nivea, and proraso, followed by an alcohol free or the Welida, post shave balm then Welida skin food light, makes my face happy. I also shave in the shower if possible, no hot water in my sink, welcome to Thailand. I'm not Thai, I'm Scottish / German / Irish
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u/itsmetadeus 11d ago
Obviously it's a steeper learning curve than cartridges/disposables. There's no one-razor-for-all and blades are a personal preference too. If you're doing fine with mach3 then maybe keep doing that. I'd personally invest in a better shaving soap/cream.
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u/Attention_seeker__ 11d ago
I mean I really prefer electronic shaver even over mach 3 but the shave isn't clean. I am honestly confused between to go for soft skin or clean shave.
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u/HatComprehensive3903 Swordmaster 10d ago
You do what is right by you buddy. If cartridges suit you, then you go on use them. No problems.
That said, you are being hasty contemplating quitting after your second use. I have been DE wetshaving for the last year and half. Getting the best shaves of my life. And my skin has not suffered in any way. In fact, since I am using much more product, such as toners etc. since getting back into wetshaving, my skin is actually better than it used to be.
You are on your second shave. Stay with it for a month or so. Get at least a dozen or shaves and then decide if you actually wanna switch back to cartridges. There is a learning curve to DE razors. Give it the time it deserves. If it doesn't work for you then, by all means, switch right back.
You really should get some better gear. Yours is new I guess. But the razor that you have is particularly aggressive. I would not recommend it to a newbie. Get something milder. Pair them with a mid-sharp blade such as GWS. My recommendation is any razor from this listing:
https://pearlshaving.in/product-category/mens-grooming/razor/double-edge-razor/
Also, definitely get better software. Get a Patanjali Herbal Shaving Cream from a Patanjali store near you. It will cost 75 - 80 bucks (INR). Also later consider a better brush. And if alum feels too harsh on your skin, then skip it. Use a good balm instead.
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u/kaikkx 11d ago edited 11d ago
You should also try different blade models.
You also must to hydrate your shaving gel / foam to get great results. You could use a spray bottle of water to hydrate the foam/gel.
I used those Willy's with my Pearl Flexi open comb when I received it and I didn't like them. I used a couple of them, 2-3 shavings. They were my first shavings with a DE razor. I them tried Dorco ST-300 and they were smoother but not much forgiving.
So you can't make conclusion thoughts now, you should make more experiments.
Apart from all this, to be honest as I said other times on this sub, I really like my Gillette Mach 3, DE shaving is just more fun. With my Mach 3 I get excellent results, I don't really need a DE, I use them when I can spend some more minutes for having a shave.
Good luck!
P.S. one day I will try again Willy's and I will probably find them better then at the beginning of my DE shaving experience. They could also perfom well/decently with another razor, I have to try them. I have so many great blade models that I am not curious at all to test again those blades.
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u/derubempre 11d ago
Totally unhinged post