jelly
05-15-2010, 10:30 PM
I'm sitting here after my second DE shave in my life with a slightly red face and few nicks, but I have to say I've never had so much fun shaving.
My new-to-me 40s (looks like a '47 to me -- sweet!) Gillette Super Speed starter kit came in from B&B member insomniac the other day, and I set down to work. I'm sticking with Personna Reds, Col. Conk Amber on a Penworks pure badger hair brush (using the prominent soap-lather building in-the-mug guide on here, which works pretty damn good), and Pinaud Clubman alcohol-based aftershave.
I have to give serious props to the Pinaud Clubman, my girlfriend LOVES the smell. Somebody on here reviewed it as smelling like "mechanical" stuff or a "cowboy" aftershave. And my girlfriend said it did remind her of her grandpa at first. But hey, he's a badass Vietnam war veteran/helicopter pilot so I'm not sweating it. It also burns pretty good, but I actually like that. And it being alcohol based is really nice, it really helps tone/tighten and dry my semi-oily skin. Feels really good to me.
I'm mixing all this into my already pretty involved skin-care routine that I have to manage some acne/oily skin issues which includes: Clean & Clear 2% salicylic acid astringent, OXY Maximum 10% benzoyl peroxide facewash and AcneFree 10% benzoyl peroxide time-release acne spot treatment.
Yeah, my skin is fussy. I'm 21, it's tough. But right now, I'm all clear. We'll see where it goes from here.
Also, from my girlfriend, "I never knew you being smooth-shaven could be so sexy!" Seriously, I've lived with a RBS (Rock Bottom Shave) for years. Three-day stubble. Just getting it so I don't look homeless with an electric razor. I've never got so much face attention from her and we've been together 4 years.
But as to my technique, I need some pointers guys.
Shave #1: I got BBS/DFS but it wasn't too comfortable and took over an hour-and-a-half to do. I spent a lot of time trying to get the angles down from guides on here, and it is tough to a total newbie.
Didn't get a very good lather first time doing it but it was usable. Problem was I was going so slow it would start to dry out before I got done with the spot I was doing. Lots of relathering.
Lots of doing over spots over and over again because I'd barely take enough off. However, this was a 4-day stubble fest. But whoever said the 40s SS makes a nice chewy noise when you've got the angle right was RIGHT. This thing gives awesome feedback to when I'm getting the job done.
Tried to do a little ATG and failed. Nicked my chin a damn good one right under along the jawbone. My hair there grows in about 3 different directions though, so it's a real challenge. I think until I get really good at this, the most I can hope for there is CCS without spilling blood.
Shave #2: DFS with BBS on cheeks (where I actually succeeded in going ATG). Already, much better angle. Starting to feel easier/more confident with the razor when before there was a lot of hesitation/experimentation. Way faster shave. About 30 mins.
Got a damn fine lather this time! Remembered to really fluff up that brush and roll on the face, then brush over fast in one direction. Made a much better shaving feel. Kept the razor a lot wetter too, which also helped.
This was basically a maintenance shave. I was so excited to try shaving again, I barely had a shadow. So this encouraged me to really try to do it right. Much better approach with WTG & remembering to only do XTG. Got a DFS on chin, upper lip, neck and sideburns. Went ATG on my cheeks (where the beard is pretty thin), and got BBS there with pretty much no irritation. Girlfriend = pleased.
However, I'm having trouble doing my jaw line. Getting some serious redness there from trying to pull up the skin to shave. Maybe it's pressure while I'm doing this? The whole jawline operation is pretty tough, especially with slippery soap skin. What works for you guys?
My upper lip also isn't too happy. I go WTG and then XTG both from the left and right, and I get DFS but it feels a bit sore. Not really too much redness though.
***I think pressure and knowing what angle I should be shaving in are my main problems. I try to hold the razor as light as I can but when I get to concentrating on the angle/direction/keeping it wet, I can lose that concentration.
This is really the shaving equivalent of driving a 5-speed. But I wouldn't drive anything else so I'm sticking with it.
I have to say the feel of the hot nickel-plated steel is really nice. I'm seeing the dream shaving experience. I love my 40s SS. Just right now, I'm not getting a shave really any different than I did with the Mach 3. About the same closeness (a little better with the DE), and about the same irritation.
Practice, practice ...
My new-to-me 40s (looks like a '47 to me -- sweet!) Gillette Super Speed starter kit came in from B&B member insomniac the other day, and I set down to work. I'm sticking with Personna Reds, Col. Conk Amber on a Penworks pure badger hair brush (using the prominent soap-lather building in-the-mug guide on here, which works pretty damn good), and Pinaud Clubman alcohol-based aftershave.
I have to give serious props to the Pinaud Clubman, my girlfriend LOVES the smell. Somebody on here reviewed it as smelling like "mechanical" stuff or a "cowboy" aftershave. And my girlfriend said it did remind her of her grandpa at first. But hey, he's a badass Vietnam war veteran/helicopter pilot so I'm not sweating it. It also burns pretty good, but I actually like that. And it being alcohol based is really nice, it really helps tone/tighten and dry my semi-oily skin. Feels really good to me.
I'm mixing all this into my already pretty involved skin-care routine that I have to manage some acne/oily skin issues which includes: Clean & Clear 2% salicylic acid astringent, OXY Maximum 10% benzoyl peroxide facewash and AcneFree 10% benzoyl peroxide time-release acne spot treatment.
Yeah, my skin is fussy. I'm 21, it's tough. But right now, I'm all clear. We'll see where it goes from here.
Also, from my girlfriend, "I never knew you being smooth-shaven could be so sexy!" Seriously, I've lived with a RBS (Rock Bottom Shave) for years. Three-day stubble. Just getting it so I don't look homeless with an electric razor. I've never got so much face attention from her and we've been together 4 years.
But as to my technique, I need some pointers guys.
Shave #1: I got BBS/DFS but it wasn't too comfortable and took over an hour-and-a-half to do. I spent a lot of time trying to get the angles down from guides on here, and it is tough to a total newbie.
Didn't get a very good lather first time doing it but it was usable. Problem was I was going so slow it would start to dry out before I got done with the spot I was doing. Lots of relathering.
Lots of doing over spots over and over again because I'd barely take enough off. However, this was a 4-day stubble fest. But whoever said the 40s SS makes a nice chewy noise when you've got the angle right was RIGHT. This thing gives awesome feedback to when I'm getting the job done.
Tried to do a little ATG and failed. Nicked my chin a damn good one right under along the jawbone. My hair there grows in about 3 different directions though, so it's a real challenge. I think until I get really good at this, the most I can hope for there is CCS without spilling blood.
Shave #2: DFS with BBS on cheeks (where I actually succeeded in going ATG). Already, much better angle. Starting to feel easier/more confident with the razor when before there was a lot of hesitation/experimentation. Way faster shave. About 30 mins.
Got a damn fine lather this time! Remembered to really fluff up that brush and roll on the face, then brush over fast in one direction. Made a much better shaving feel. Kept the razor a lot wetter too, which also helped.
This was basically a maintenance shave. I was so excited to try shaving again, I barely had a shadow. So this encouraged me to really try to do it right. Much better approach with WTG & remembering to only do XTG. Got a DFS on chin, upper lip, neck and sideburns. Went ATG on my cheeks (where the beard is pretty thin), and got BBS there with pretty much no irritation. Girlfriend = pleased.
However, I'm having trouble doing my jaw line. Getting some serious redness there from trying to pull up the skin to shave. Maybe it's pressure while I'm doing this? The whole jawline operation is pretty tough, especially with slippery soap skin. What works for you guys?
My upper lip also isn't too happy. I go WTG and then XTG both from the left and right, and I get DFS but it feels a bit sore. Not really too much redness though.
***I think pressure and knowing what angle I should be shaving in are my main problems. I try to hold the razor as light as I can but when I get to concentrating on the angle/direction/keeping it wet, I can lose that concentration.
This is really the shaving equivalent of driving a 5-speed. But I wouldn't drive anything else so I'm sticking with it.
I have to say the feel of the hot nickel-plated steel is really nice. I'm seeing the dream shaving experience. I love my 40s SS. Just right now, I'm not getting a shave really any different than I did with the Mach 3. About the same closeness (a little better with the DE), and about the same irritation.
Practice, practice ...