Testing how long GEM Blades last?

[ShadowsDad]

Very little pressure is NOT the goal. No pressure is the goal. If your skin deforms under the razor you have too much pressure. I told a friend that for quite some time and he was about to give up. But before he did he had the inspiration to actually put what I'd been telling him into practice. He called me up to tell me that he'd just had the best shave of his life. In his exact words, "When you say no pressure you really do mean no pressure, don't you?". Yup, when I say no pressure that's exactly what I mean.

If your lather is good that can be ruled out.

I can tell you how I shave, but it's different for all of us. If you don't know the direction of growth of your beard you need to face map it. The first pass I start with strokes in the direction of growth. The 2nd pass I go against the grain, putting fresh lather on for all passes. Then under my jawline requires one more pass since the hair under there grows haphazardly. 2 1/2 passes and done. But again, it'll probably be different for you, we're all different.

Why people use other razors other than a Schick injector... In my case ALL injectors. They are mute. A SE razor that uses a GEM blade speaks to me when I have the correct angle, they make a sound like bacon frying. In some razors that sound is louder than others. Injectors say nothing when they're correctly used.

[bcshaves]

Very little pressure is NOT the goal. No pressure is the goal. If your skin deforms under the razor you have too much pressure. I told a friend that for quite some time and he was about to give up. But before he did he had the inspiration to actually put what I'd been telling him into practice. He called me up to tell me that he'd just had the best shave of his life. In his exact words, "When you say no pressure you really do mean no pressure, don't you?".  Yup, when I say no pressure that's exactly what I mean.

If your lather is good that can be ruled out.

I can tell you how I shave, but it's different for all of us. If you don't know the direction of growth of your beard you need to face map it. The first pass I start with strokes in the direction of growth. The 2nd pass I go against the grain, putting fresh lather on for all passes. Then under my jawline requires one more pass since the hair under there grows haphazardly. 2 1/2 passes and done. But again, it'll probably be different for you, we're all different.

Why people use other razors other than a Schick injector... In my case ALL injectors. They are mute. A SE razor that uses a GEM blade speaks to me when I have the correct angle, they make a sound like bacon frying. In some razors that sound is louder than others. Injectors say nothing when they're correctly used.

I have used a similar method. I do 2 1/2 passes in the same manner except under my chin which the hair grow toward my right ear. It is hard to go against the grain there so I do multiple across the grain passes. I will try using no pressure and see if the fixes the problem. I like Williams to have a lot of water in it so that it is slick so I think my lather is not the problem. Schick seems to me like the practical razor. Give me one that is adjustable and I could sell every other razor. I wont sell my razors but my point is that it has everything a man would need or want I a shave. I agree a GEM does sound like frying bacon. A Schick just shaves. I can see why you prefer GEM. I need to try a micromatic or shovelhead. The 1912 might be milder than what I need.

[luv2shave]

Very little pressure is NOT the goal. No pressure is the goal. If your skin deforms under the razor you have too much pressure. I told a friend that for quite some time and he was about to give up. But before he did he had the inspiration to actually put what I'd been telling him into practice. He called me up to tell me that he'd just had the best shave of his life. In his exact words, "When you say no pressure you really do mean no pressure, don't you?".  Yup, when I say no pressure that's exactly what I mean.

If your lather is good that can be ruled out.

I can tell you how I shave, but it's different for all of us. If you don't know the direction of growth of your beard you need to face map it. The first pass I start with strokes in the direction of growth. The 2nd pass I go against the grain, putting fresh lather on for all passes. Then under my jawline requires one more pass since the hair under there grows haphazardly. 2 1/2 passes and done. But again, it'll probably be different for you, we're all different.

Why people use other razors other than a Schick injector... In my case ALL injectors. They are mute. A SE razor that uses a GEM blade speaks to me when I have the correct angle, they make a sound like bacon frying. In some razors that sound is louder than others. Injectors say nothing when they're correctly used.

This !!

I've been wetshaving for a long time now. Started somewhere in 2008 or so when I saw some videos on how to save money and have a better face feel with a two sided  razor.  The first part is yet to happen as I slipped hopelessly from one rabbit hole to another and then I discovered SE razors !! 

I used unmentionable razors for a long time before I learned of GEM style razors and that is when I truly understood the meaning of zero pressure. Injectors always seemed to tear me up even the likes of the Schick G which is supposed to be mild. I agree that is because they are so silent and so sharp. I used to have redness and irritation with a Schick G injector initially and had given up till I learned this technique and never looked back.  The Gem to me sounds like scrapping a burnt toast and its great feedback to learn. With a schick its always a matter of learning by irritation and alum sting to know if you got it right.

I took this technique to my unmentionables and this helped me there dramatically. 

Everything  you've said is perfect. I am almost 5 weeks in to a Gem PTFE blade in an ER shovel head razor. If it wasn't for zero pressure I would have chucked the blade at best 10 OK shaves. 35 shaves on any blade is simply shave nirvana for me and the blade is still going strong each time I pick it up. I have some 400 to 500 Gem PTFE blades and with this refined technique combining Gem / Injector / AC and 2 sided blades I think I will have to shave till I am 400 years old !!

[ShadowsDad]

There is a place for the 1912 or '24 even if it's not an everyday razor. IMO a GEM SS blade is just too sharp when fresh out of the wrapper. So I use the fresh blade for 4 shaves in a milder razor to make it better. Then it can go into any other razor. FWIW, other folks strop a fresh GEM SS blade but IMO that just wastes the first few shaves.

Luv2shave, the Shovelhead is my favorite razor. But I don't shave everyday anymore and it was clogging on me, so I put it down and picked up a Clog-Pruf. They are aptly named razors. The cutoffs would need to be very long for it to clog.

[bcshaves]

Fourth shave, I have been having trouble with my phone so I could not get a picture for you guys. Anyways I had maybe 5 days of beard growth. I lathered some Williams to perfection. If anyone has a problem with Williams I can set them straight. All you have to do is soak the puck for a minute use a dry brush then load for 10-20 seconds. Paint it on your face then add water slowly until it is the slickest stuff on the planet and then smooth it out. The shave was amazing! I used no pressure and short strokes. Two pass shave and clean up. It was such a good shave near bbs. At the end of the shave I used the remaining soap in the brush to clean my goatee. At the end I took a shower. I will be putting on some after shave in a little bit. What a fine shave! Bordering on bbs!