Unpopular opinions

[TobyC]

I would have to concur with Bob's comments above, except I don't use straights. I can still get a very good shave with milder DEs, but they require more passes and buffing which can, at times, lead to irritation. Some of the more aggressive razors can help eliminate this and provide closer shaves, for me.
It really is just a matter of preference and there will never be a perfect razor for everyone.

"Mild" razors do not require more passes, if the blade is in contact with your face and at the appropriate angle, you will get the same shave regardless of the razor.

 

[TobyC]

Really? if they are triggered by a badger brush while visiting someone else's home, that's on them. There's always Airbnb.

If someone gave me grief for my non-vegan brush I would stick my non-vegan leather boot in their tail section!

 

[Boru62]

Those who prefer aggressive razors (blade gap/positive exposure) are much more vocal...and let everyone know.

Karve’s E & F plates only add up to 12% of the sales but are talked way up on the forums.

There is clearly bragging rights posting ones use of aggressive razors recently on shaving forums than in years past.

There have always been people who prefer either end of the spectrum.
What I've noticed recently are those who prefer less assertive razors implying, and in some cases stating, that their technique is better.

I don’t believe that Gillette would have sold the Tech largely unchanged for four decades if it wasn’t good enough.

Lack of choice and disposable income. The tech was cheap but not for everyone.
Millions (billions?) of people use (have used) the Mach 3 but I get better shaves from an SE or DE.

 

[ronald]

If someone gave me grief for my non-vegan brush I would stick my non-vegan leather boot in their tail section!

Haha that's one way to deal with them !

 

[Mrchick]

Haha, I personally don't subscribe to the logic (or lack thereof) behind it, as I consume meat/dairy, wear leather shoes+belts, use goose down jackets+bedding, use devices and appliances powered by electricity produced through methods that can harm animals (e.g. hydro-electric dams, wind turbines), and eat fruit/veg/grains - all things that are farmed and harvested in ways that result in rodents/other small mammals/birds/reptiles being killed as 'pests'...and of course, use a best badger brush. I just observed that an added bonus of using a synthetic brush over a badger brush (aside from the latherability, drying time etc) is that vegans aren't upset by it and I don't have to explain how badger brush knots come from China where the badger isn't a protected species like it is here, is a pest, and is consumed for meat with the hair being a by-product of pest control and meat production, so it isn't just a case of an animal being killed purely for the sake of our shaves. The fewer of those conversations I need to have with (nice, well-meaning but slightly misinformed) people, the better

Of course, if a badger brush happened to perform significantly better than a synthetic (as was the case many years ago), I would have no objection to using one and displaying one on my shaving brush stand regardless of vegan preaching

You are more diplomatic than I am. I’m not so worried about upsetting a vegan in my home. Maybe I could use this logic on them[emoji3]

 

[Grishnak]

There have always been people who prefer either end of the spectrum.
What I've noticed recently are those who prefer less assertive razors implying, and in some cases stating, that their technique is better.

I am relatively new and profess no expert opinion at all.

My “assumption” is bad technique with a mild razor results in no shave, you have to hit the sweet spot.
Bad technique with an aggressive razor results in too much of a shave, cuts and irritation if you don’t hit the sweet spot.

Is this accurate?

 

[Deleted member 476]

lol, great comeback to a SJW vegan:
"Broccoli, that's what my food eats. Its my foods, food and I don't appreciate you eating that".

 

[R181]

I am relatively new and profess no expert opinion at all.

My “assumption” is bad technique with a mild razor results in no shave, you have to hit the sweet spot.
Bad technique with an aggressive razor results in too much of a shave, cuts and irritation if you don’t hit the sweet spot.

Is this accurate?

For me it was not that I could not get a shave with a mild DE but it would not last as long as I thought it should. The switch to aggressive DEs improved on that.

Bad technique with either variety of DE can result in cuts and irritation depending on how ham handed you are. It is just that mild DEs are a bit more forgiving. If you are getting cuts and/or irritation with a mild DE just pass on trying to use an aggressive one till you get on well with a mild one.

Bob

 

[Dr Watson]

I am relatively new and profess no expert opinion at all.

My “assumption” is bad technique with a mild razor results in no shave, you have to hit the sweet spot.
Bad technique with an aggressive razor results in too much of a shave, cuts and irritation if you don’t hit the sweet spot.

Is this accurate?

I'd agree with that. Problem is quite a few chaps (hands up, myself included) start off with the mild razors and rather than improving their technique to get a close shave they think "this is crap, give me the big blade gap upgrade!" and before they know it they're claiming Techs and DE89's are only any good for newbies or teenagers with peach fuzz. This forum is the first place I've seen which recently has pushing back against that, in fact we now have quite a few mild DE aficionados I've noticed.

 

[Jacobite]

Give me a Tech or a Super Speed every time. Well, almost every time. I do enjoy using the Fatip Grande from time to time, especially if I have 2 or 3 days' growth. My Gillette New Improved from 1920 also seems a bit more aggressive than the later Gillettes. But most days I get a great shave with a mild razor; 2 full passes with another half pass against the grain on my neck.

 

[MntnMan62]

I am relatively new and profess no expert opinion at all.

My “assumption” is bad technique with a mild razor results in no shave, you have to hit the sweet spot.
Bad technique with an aggressive razor results in too much of a shave, cuts and irritation if you don’t hit the sweet spot.

Is this accurate?

Bad technique can also end up with an opposite result. True story. Not too long ago, maybe 2 weeks ago, I decided to use my pre-war Tech. I love my Techs. I loaded a brand new Gillette Silver Blue blade in there. Stuck an Ikon Bulldog handle on the Tech head. I may have rushed things a little bit. Ended up with one of the worst shaves of my life. Not because it didn't cut any hair. Because I shredded my face. I ended up with cuts, nicks and weepers all over my face. It was a bloodbath. Even my styptic pencil, which I rarely use, didn't stop some of them. I then waited about 3 days before shaving again and I used the Tech head and handle combination with the same blade. Not as bad as before but it still wasn't pretty. I didn't try for a third time but now I feel the need to try a third time. Since then I have shaved with the same blade but in my Gillette Slim. BBS without a single weeper. So, it wasn't a bad blade. I pick my razor based upon how long it's been since I shaved last. So if I shaved the day before, I'll go mild like a Tech or Slim. For several days I'll use a Gillette Old Type, NEW, New Improved or a Schone Open Comb. Or even a Muhle R41. So, yes technique is the primary issue with poor shaves but you can either end up with lots of stubble or lots of blood. That's been my experience.

 

[R181]

I'd agree with that. Problem is quite a few chaps (hands up, myself included) start off with the mild razors and rather than improving their technique to get a close shave they think "this is crap, give me the big blade gap upgrade!" and before they know it they're claiming Techs and DE89's are only any good for newbies or teenagers with peach fuzz. This forum is the first place I've seen which recently has pushing back against that, in fact we now have quite a few mild DE aficionados I've noticed.

I like and use aggressive DEs as they suit me better but others find mild razors suit them better. I do not really care what someone uses. There really is nothing to push back on or to push people toward using.

When I was rifle shooting I would never encourage a beginner to start off using a 375 H&H Magnum as the recoil is tending to the unpleasant side. It takes a build up of skill sets to be able to shoot large caliber magnums well and for it be an enjoyable experience. If you don't have a need or desire to use a magnum rifle then you do not have to work up to it. The same is true for mild to aggressive DEs.

Bob

 

[The Gentleman]

I would have to concur with Bob's comments above, except I don't use straights. I can still get a very good shave with milder DEs, but they require more passes and buffing which can, at times, lead to irritation. Some of the more aggressive razors can help eliminate this and provide closer shaves, for me.
It really is just a matter of preference and there will never be a perfect razor for everyone.

This

 

[Grishnak]

For me it was not that I could not get a shave with a mild DE but it would not last as long as I thought it should. The switch to aggressive DEs improved on that.

Bad technique with either variety of DE can result in cuts and irritation depending on how ham handed you are. It is just that mild DEs are a bit more forgiving. If you are getting cuts and/or irritation with a mild DE just pass on trying to use an aggressive one till you get on well with a mild one.

Bob

So far, my experience has been more along the lines I’ve described.
With a blade I get on with, I tend not to get cuts or irritation with my mild razor, I just don’t get a shave if my angle /technique is off.
I do however find that my mild razor does not deal very well if I am a day or so late with my shave, though my Rocca does “mow” more effectively, it is still less comfortable with the extra growth and when I’m off with the Rocca, I then get cuts and irritation.

I can also get cuts and irritation with blades off my “bad list”. Ie. Wilkinson Sword makes the razor skip and judder, with the sensation my whole face is glowing by the end and even if I don’t find any weepers after the shave, 24 hours later I wake to pinprick dots of dry blood all over the worst areas.

I do appreciate much of my experience may be mine alone and this may change with time and experience.

 

[Grishnak]

This

In fact, I am wondering if there is a single perfect razor for any of us.
My best shaves are at the two to three day mark.
Day one feels too soon, day four onwards too late - but I wonder if I’ll find a razor that can deal comfortably with day four onwards (not that it happens often, but sometimes life conspires).