Recommendations wanted! ...and tip or 2.

[TobyC]

Razor: use the Tech at no extra cost. A better mildish DE razor is hard to find.
Pre: Face lather. Nothing else required.
Technique: Make sure to use no pressure. Ride the cap not the bar.
Post: Try not using the Nivea-allegedly-Sensitive. Some guys are allergic to it. It was the sole reason for my “sensitive skin”.
Oily skin: Use alcohol based aftershave.
Practice. It will get better.

I agree with all of that! I've never used "Nivea" though, sounds girly to me.

I shave without having just showered, the first thing on my face is lather, the last is alcohol based aftershave. I've never owned alum either. Any stuff you leave on your skin will feed the bacteria and clog the pores, avoid all unnecessary products.

 

[R181]

I shave without having just showered, the first thing on my face is lather, the last is alcohol based aftershave. I've never owned alum either. Any stuff you leave on your skin will feed the bacteria and clog the pores, avoid all unnecessary products.

I do the same but do use alum as it has slight anti bacterial proprieties. I actually use a turn up alum antiperspirant stick for the purpose. I apply it to a wet face, let sit while I rinse my brush and then rinse it off so it does not stay on my face. I finish with alcohol based after shaves which are also a bit antibacterial. The other thing I do is use cold tap water in the sink for shaving. It helps keep skin irritation down over using hot water.

Bob

 

[Chris]

I agree with all of that! I've never used "Nivea" though, sounds girly to me.

I shave without having just showered, the first thing on my face is lather, the last is alcohol based aftershave. I've never owned alum either. Any stuff you leave on your skin will feed the bacteria and clog the pores, avoid all unnecessary products.

Nivea's just a brand name, it's not thought of as girly here. Alum is a natural antibacterial which is why it works so well as a deodorant, however I agree with you about not adding unnecessary products.

OP - I don't have much to add to the great advice you've already been given, I was going to recommend a Muhle / Edwin Jagger 89 as they're excellent razors that are easy to get started with. Assuming your clone is accurate you should be good to go. As for the Tech, Gillette got so much right with that razor, they're gentle on the skin but give an excellent shave. You do need to be a bit more careful to find the right angle for it to work well but it won't punish you if you get it wrong. Regarding angle, the advice about starting with the handle horizontal and then bringing it down until the blade works is the way to go, this will present the blade to your skin at a more acute (shallow) angle. I have sensitive skin too and if I use a steeper angle (more towards the bar) it can leave my skin feeling scraped and a bit raw. I've found the Tech to be one of the best razors for me.

 

[R181]

Regarding angle, the advice about starting with the handle horizontal and then bringing it down until the blade works is the way to go, this will present the blade to your skin at a more acute (shallow) angle. I have sensitive skin too and if I use a steeper angle (more towards the bar) it can leave my skin feeling scraped and a bit raw. I've found the Tech to be one of the best razors for me.

This is a critical point. You want the blade to be just at the point of cutting the whiskers. If you go past that point you are scraping the whiskers off rather than cutting them off. Instant skin irritation follows.

Bob

 

[TobyC]

 

[SammieM]

I would try Astra SP and Treet Platinum. They are both middle of the road inexpensive smooth blades.

 

[HereticHermit]

I have oily and sensitive skin too but am wet shaving for over 30 years now and my routine comes almost my muscle memory to me. All above is very solid advise from everyone.
To me a very slick lather and sharp blade works well. Try more sharper blade in a mild razor and you don't have to run over twice at same spot which cause irritation. Try to get better soap than proraso. It works for many and I am not advocating for artisan soaps but better soaps are not cheap. Keep your lather very hydrated, something like that drips down from razor safety bar in about 5-6 seconds. Extra wet lather sometimes compensate for a bad soap because it is very slick and sharp blade does the job right. You may also want to consider that you do not over work the whisking part when making lather. Too much air in lather can dry it out even if it looks good just like soap advertising from 60s. That kind of fluffy lather is just impractical.

 

[TobyC]

Yep, one pass with touchups for me, BBS is a fools errand. I like my lather wet, not something that looks like ice cream.

 

[Sami]

That '50's razor is probably a Tech, and is the perfect razor for you. The Personna or Astra blades are smooth and easy, and that Proraso white is good too. The best thing for you now is to shave, it will become more natural and your face will become accustomed to it, you may want to shave every other day for a while.

Man looking at the bird in your profile is just majestic

 

[Grarea]

Brilliant suggestions.
Only a little thing to add. When I first started back to traditional shaving, I could often feel I had shaved by a gentle sting.
Turned out the only thing i am sensitive to is a lot of products. I assumed I was getting something wrong.
I think it is when fragrant oils are used rather than essential oils.
Certainly, the stronger the scent, the stronger the sting.
I also find prep products make my skin sensitive, the same with anything after.

I now prefer a sharp blade and plenty of blade exposure. Much more fun
I do like to shave after a shower though as it softens the stubble.

 

[HereticHermit]

Yep, one pass with touchups for me, BBS is a fools errand. I like my lather wet, not something that looks like ice cream.

Yes Sir, that BBS is purely an Internet invention meant to satiate the the thrill of wild goose chase.

 

[jeepie]

What does this show? There’s no explanation.

 

[SammieM]

What does this show? There’s no explanation.

It shows how you can effectively ride the top cap. This way you can tame aggressive razors and blades. You start with the handle perpendicular to the cutting plane. At this point the blade should not make contact with the skin or hairs. Then you start dropping the handle towards the floor until you start cutting hair. You can start hearing the audio feedback from the blade. Hope that helps.

 

[TobyC]

It shows how you can effectively ride the top cap. This way you can tame aggressive razors and blades. You start with the handle perpendicular to the cutting plane. At this point the blade should not make contact with the skin or hairs. Then you start dropping the handle towards the floor until you start cutting hair. You can start hearing the audio feedback from the blade. Hope that helps.

Exactly, roll it down until it shaves, don't start with the guard on your face. You want to cut the hairs, not scrape them off.

 

[Downhill]

Sorry The lack of responses. I'm on paid leave from work and went to vacation. During that I put some of the tips I got from here to work and lo behold, riding from top-cap was golden advice. Stinging with alumn block or splash pretty much halved. I used my r89 clone. Problem areas now are chin and neck where it's really hard to maintain the angle. Neck because beard grains grows in so many directions so I find hard to get comfortable shave with less passes. Gonna keep practicing with muhle blades (comes 10 in a pack) and I get four 3-pass shaves from one.

Tho I'm itching to try a razor that I got as early birthday gift from my uncle. Gillette "slim" adjustable from 1966 (date code L3). Gonna Post pics to acquicition thread.

Also I experimented on lather. I think I better to try another soap. Nothing wrong with proraso but I couldnt get it feel slick enough. I face lathered and added water on the way. Sometimes bit less and sometimes more. Even between passes. I still have that another soap I got when I bought My r89 clone. Gonna try with that one next.