This is not about a Slim and Merkur merger, rather my progress with my Slim. My progress may be slim, too, though!
Since my return to wetshaving about a month or so ago (6wks?), I have used my $5 1965 Slim exclusively.
At first, my technique was bad. I was out of the habit. And just as when I was a daily wetshaver in years past, the pressure to brag, if only to myself, about aggression tolerance in razors made me start with my Slim on 4.
I am a softy. Even the setting of 3 were too much. After a bloody (plenty of weepers), painful week, I backed things down to setting 2, and swallowed some pride. However, with my improved lathering skills came dramatically more comfy shaves. And improved technique.
Today I turned it up to 3 and kept the technique the same. So far, my best shave yet this go-round! Simply amazing. Closer, and like I remember things before.
I don't care if I ever go above 3, to me the value of my $5 Slim is that it allowed me to turn things down to improve skills, and then marry those skills with an efficiency I could put to good use.
I know my gear is not trendy. It is not the latest. It is not being collected to add to my personal museum. It is a tool. I have spent the required time with my tool to get great results consistently, which has made me love my tool for its abilities in my hands.
I think in our cultural pursuit of better, or best, or even more, we forget how to be satisfied with enough. I will confess myself to be good at that, anyway. To my personal dismay at myself, my greed can wear many justifiable outfits. And I am pleasantly surprised to learn that with age there can at times come a deeper appreciation for the bigger picture that leads to peace with where I am at. I love that feeling, and I am thankful for my "Slim progress."
Since my return to wetshaving about a month or so ago (6wks?), I have used my $5 1965 Slim exclusively.
At first, my technique was bad. I was out of the habit. And just as when I was a daily wetshaver in years past, the pressure to brag, if only to myself, about aggression tolerance in razors made me start with my Slim on 4.
I am a softy. Even the setting of 3 were too much. After a bloody (plenty of weepers), painful week, I backed things down to setting 2, and swallowed some pride. However, with my improved lathering skills came dramatically more comfy shaves. And improved technique.
Today I turned it up to 3 and kept the technique the same. So far, my best shave yet this go-round! Simply amazing. Closer, and like I remember things before.
I don't care if I ever go above 3, to me the value of my $5 Slim is that it allowed me to turn things down to improve skills, and then marry those skills with an efficiency I could put to good use.
I know my gear is not trendy. It is not the latest. It is not being collected to add to my personal museum. It is a tool. I have spent the required time with my tool to get great results consistently, which has made me love my tool for its abilities in my hands.
I think in our cultural pursuit of better, or best, or even more, we forget how to be satisfied with enough. I will confess myself to be good at that, anyway. To my personal dismay at myself, my greed can wear many justifiable outfits. And I am pleasantly surprised to learn that with age there can at times come a deeper appreciation for the bigger picture that leads to peace with where I am at. I love that feeling, and I am thankful for my "Slim progress."