It took me nearly a year of practice and a lot of small cuts, but I can finally achieve a clean shave in two passes, with and against the grain. I honestly learned a lot from watching Geo's technique in videos like this one. One piece of advice I would give about using a DE safety razor is that less is more. I might not get every little piece of hair going against the grain, but being conservative helps me set up my next shave, usually 3 days later, and avoid irritation.
@@jahoopyjaheepu497 for me it wasn't worth it because I don't want any irritation ever. I shave once with the grain and if I miss something, I miss something. Shaving too much ages the skin IMO.
I've decided TODAY, to make the change to wet shaving after disposable Gillette blades cause my face to burn every time I shave (hurts like hell!). I've been watching a bunch of your videos, and I never thought in my life I'd find shaving videos so entertaining and satisfying. I absolutely love your videos, thanks a lot!
Try Arianna and Evans soaps they are very good. Pick a couple scents you think you will like. Don't over pay for brushes a synthetic will work just fine. Get a blade sample pack so you can see what works for you. Lots of good starter options for razors don't have to pay a lot for a really nice shave. Shave on man and screw gillette lol
Hello from Russia! I think for the past two weeks I have watched half of you videos and definitely can say that you are the person who got me into wet shaving after 7 years of beard-devotion :). Thank you for great your great work and all the best with upcoming ideas!
R41 is very efficient. I just switched to wet shaving after 4 decades of cartridges, which sometimes gave me skin rashes on my neck. Started with Muhle r89, but found it to be a little lacking on the aggressiveness side. Switched to r41 after 2 shaves and I found it to be exactly what I was looking for - smooth, close shave with 1 pass, minimal pressure applied. Since I am new to the world of wet shaving, I am really careful and so far the nicks were minimal. However, I would not do against the grain due to easily irritated skin on my neck, but it is not needed for me. I wish I would have discovered my dad's way of shaving 30 years ago - there is absolutely no skin irritation after I shave anymore and after the initial cost of purchasing the hardware, costs are minimal. Most importantly, I look forward to shaving now, instead of hating it and putting it off for a day or two just to avoid it during the cartridge days. Never knew shaving could be pleasurable...
Thanks for this! I’m 16 started shaving recently, used cartridge razors at first but wasn’t satisfied with the feel after, ever since I’ve moved to DE razors they are perfect! Cheap blades and silky smooth face like I remembered it !
Dear God. One pass against the grain shave with an R41 and Feather blade. And No Safety Net. Never thought I sould see the day. Was it a Bet? Bravo Sir.
I am from India. I am a 45-year-old physically challenged person. I can't walk without my crutches, and I always shave my face from bottom to top with one pass, like you showed me just before in this video. My shaving blade is a Gillette Mach 3 Turbo. I use the normal Gillette shaving cream for daily use, and it gives me a close and clean shave as always.
Just picked up the R41 as my first safety razor. I know some people would call me insane but I was feeling ambitious. I am loving it so far, I don't think I will ever stop wet shaving. I have had two shaves so far and it has been amazing. A few nicks but nothing major, probably due to rough skin from ingrown hairs before.
Received my new Muhle R41 razor in the mail yesterday and just finished a late Friday afternoon shave listening to some AC/DC, but remained cool and calm..... Taking it very slow and easy with my new friend, I completed a two pass shave with zero nicks or cuts and honestly could have stopped after the first pass, but out of pure habit, cleaned up with a second pass...The result was The Best Shave for me ever. I used the Muhle blade that came with the razor, and was very impressed with it as well. But I will use a Feather for my next shave and see what difference I experience.... Once again, Shave Nation customer service is second to none.
@@thomaspage2773 I don't even go against the grain on my neck anymore. All it does is turn red unless I shave the night before. Looks terrible when I'm out. Would rather have 90% smooth and no irritation than 100% and looking like I just got choked.
Thanks geo for sharing, tried this earlier, worked very well, used the R41 with a feather blade too, anyone attempting this make sure you do it after a shower and use a good quality pre shave and soap/cream 👍
My R41 should be here tomorrow. Wont be trying this lol. Thanks for all the great products I have purchased from shave nation thus far. As well as getting me into wet shaving. Loving every minute of it. Thanks Geo
Geo, no doubt you are a master of your craft, but having watched your videos over the last 3 or 4 years, I feel I can safely say that you have the hide of a rhino. I'm quite certain you could shave with a clutch of blunt, rusty nails and still look a million bucks. Half your luck. I wish I had skin like yours. Great work as always.
I've been going against the grain since I was 17. I'm 42 now. I wouldn't have it any other way. That smoothness! The one down side is that I only get 4 shaves out of a blade before I have to change it
@wildebest For me, it is likely poor (yet improving) technique, but under my chin is impossible to shave against the grain like this without dicing myself lol. The rest of my neck and face are usually fine without knicks. I use a Merkur Progress.
@@mattfairfield9103 maybe try some different blades or even a preshave? I dobut it’d help, as some of my areas are like that too. You may just have to go with the grain only on that spot.. everyone’s face is very different
@@BrettzGaming56 Hey thanks for your input. I'm still working my way through a sample pack of blades, but so far I think it's just the way the hair grows on my chin lol.
@@mattfairfield9103 yeah, it might just be how it is for you. If you’re newer and are looking for stuff to try, I 100% recommend Stirling soaps. Great product at a price pretty much any atrisan can’t beat, the lather is crazy slick. Anyways, use what works for you! Take care and enjoy your shaves.
I tried that 1 pass ATG technique with my Feather Popular on an almost 2 day growth and it worked so well. Blade was a 3rd use Dorco ST300. Thanks for that, Geo!
This is how I shaved daily for the past year lol. I get a few nicks and weepers almost every time, but I spend no more than five minutes for the whole process of shaving. R41 is a great razor and is not aggressive as some people are made to believe(post 13 version).
Ordinarily, I would say "remarkable" but I am not because, Y.O.U. are the consummate professional with exquisite skill , knowledge and competence; thus, in your case this was a matter of something fairly difficult reduced to routine. In other words, this is what experience and confidence looks like where wet shaving is concerned. Bravo.
Loved every bit of the video, been using the same setup as your (r41 and feather) for everyday shave, and sometimes one single against the grain. So yeah, i know exactly how it feels !
Hi Geo- Great one-pass shave; thank you! I rarely use my R41 and usually only with the grain for one pass! Kudos on your success with this shave. I hope you have been having a great week. Take good care and be safe and be well. Best regards, as always, Geo!
Nice video Geo👌💪 . In my case I just go with one against the grain pass and one cleaning pass with my parker srdw shavette , enough to have a clean and smooth face . This is how a get the closest shave . I take my time , get close to the mirror and I make sure to get my latter on point before starting.
Well. I find that for me, one pass against the grain actually give less irritation than a normal 2 pass shave, and closer than one wtg. Strange how it can be so different from person to person
Challenge accepted! Though i just started with DE shaving, i decided to use a R41, since i don't like spending much time in the bath. I tried it this morning to go against the grain in a single pass and i can say it worked for me. Smooth finnish, one little spot at the chin, very okay so far.
Watching this video, the first thing that popped into my mind was a line from the song "Stuart" by "The Dead Milkmen". "Pow! He was decapitated!" In all seriousness, your videos are great. I was leery about a guy who sells shaving supplies talking about different products, but I find your reviews to be very helpful and accurate.
I adore my R41 Grande for the pleasure and service it gives me every time I use it - which is quite often actually. I rarely shave against the grain, so doing a sole ATG pass isn’t really for me. But you make it look so safe, easy and visibly efficient, that I gotta wonder why I shouldn’t at least try it myself sometime. Geo, for across the grain on the cheeks, which is better, ear to chin, or the other way round? Sometimes I do both. Maybe needlessly.
oh Geo ! you finally did it ! this is how I shave every 4 days ! first past against the grain ! now you did it and I liked it very much ! I thought you are going to start that challange I told you for not shaving untill the next 2 months which it's gonna be the night before christmas and then shave it all completely with R41 , as you told me in the comments !
Haven't see you for a long time GFB, yr still looking sharp. I just did this (2 pass both ATG) with my Atra & had a perfect shave out of it, with substantially reduced blades wear - both to it & the skin. 1st pass with the grain seems unnecessary (to me at least) after this. Stay frosty.
a fantastic video, hopefully will convince more to tame the beast. I love using my R41 but ive swapped out the handle for a stainless steel one instead. Im going to give this a try, as im normally a 3 pass guy but this looks fun,
Now, with the original 2011 R41, that would be quite a feat! Though I have done the single pass against the grain myself using it - the ambulance arrived in just 10 minutes! LOL 😇
I am quite new to DE shaving. I have a tough beard and sensitive skin, and I was put off both the R41 and sharper blades by so my ‘aggressive’ comments about them. I think ‘efficient’ would be a more useful term. Turns out that the best option for me on 2 or 3 day’s growth is the R41 with a BIC or Feather. I also have a Rockwell T2 which is great on setting 6 for heavier growth. Fewer passes, fewer issues😊. Cheers!
Hey Geo! That was one KILLER shave, if I may say so! For one of your next vids, I’d like to see you demonstrate shavettes (half DE blade and Feather AC, specifically) and a traditional straight with Captain’s Choice shaving cream (the soft one, ofc). That’d be a treat to see!:)
I have a light beard, so this is normal for me. I find that moving the blade up and across simultaneously is key - especially on the moustache (but here I’m more shaving across and sliding the blade up).
Geo💈💈 First of all, congratulations on no blood. Let us know in the next video if you developed any irritation. Trumper is some good stuff, Spanish Leather is fantastic. Great video as always. Enjoy!
Could you try the Alpha Outlaw Safety Razor and compare it to the Muhle R41? The Outlaw's selling point is being a mild aggressive one-pass shave razor. I have tried the Outlaw, it is great.
No one really ever showed me how to shave and I have always done one-pass against the grain since about 15. To be honest, I dry shaved for years due to my light growth. 20 years later I still don't have much facial hair but I have started wet-shaving with a safety razor. I've been trying the whole three-pass thing and it's been great. The thing is I decided to do a one-pass against the grain with two days of growth and it ended up being just as good as my three-pass shaves. I didn't feel much tugging or blade irritation, have any pain, with a normal alum block feeling post-shave, and we will see if I get any ingrown hairs. I think I will stop doing a three-pass and stick with my one-pass against the grain. I dunno, we'll see...
I went from R89 + Feather blade to R41 + Astra SP Not enough hair :D Did it in 1 pass though. PRE-Shave is a must, as is styptic pencil. Few "weepers", usual places I get them with my "old" Cartridge razors. Little irritation. Me likey, but it is a beast to be wary of. You cant shave the same way with the two razors. Having got used to the R89, it will take a few shaves with the R41 I think. I bought the "Twist".
I’ve been thinking about trying this. Because of the way my beard and face is contoured, where my checks and chin meet. I typically do an across the grain pass because doing an wtg and xtg passes doesn’t do anything more. After the xtg pass it’s still not very close in that area. It’s even difficult to get bbs after the atg pass. The aggressiveness of the razor doesn’t matter much whether it’s a R41, Variant, 37c, or 6c. So I’ve been contemplating doing this with a possible clean up after.
I usually shave after taking a shower. The effect is very obvious. I don't have many beards, only under the nose and chin. My beards are of the hard type. I shave backwards, just like the gentleman in the video. I shave backwards twice to be clean, and then see if there is anything that I haven’t shave. I have tried a lot of straight shaves, but the effect is not obvious.
You inspired me to try this with the iKon Tech (which Shave Nation once carried), but I still had to do additional passes. :/ I hope you try this test again with one of your largest straight razors.
I am transitioning back to shaving with a de razor and am enjoying it but I'm afraid that at this stage of the game if I tried that one pass shave my face would end up looking like sliced baloney.
I'm sensing a Monty Python skit. "In our day, we would only shave a single pass against the grain." "That's right, and we didn't have any fancy preshave oil." "Preshave oil?! We didn't even have shaving cream. We had to use leftover bacon grease." "Luxury! We couldn't afford bacon. We just wet our face with water and went straight in with the razor." "Well, you were lucky to have a razor. We had to shave our wet unlubricated beard with a rusty nail." "At least you had water!...."