Okay, some of you know that I've been researching this stuff for several months. I've watched "most" of the videos, posted some questions and have even been trying to get down the process of lathering with my Mach (trial runs until my real razor showed up).
Well, I have to say through the patience of this board, I feel very comfortable with my setup, in fact I'm proud of it! Here is a list of my current gear:
After admiring my new cobalt blue Merkur for what seemed to be an hour, lifting the cap off...screwing it back down....taking dry runs down my cheek to see how it felt....I finally loaded it up with a Derby. Decided that was the blade for me to start out with. I opted to not load the Merkur blade that came with my razor, in fact I might just toss it because how can something that jostles around in a package all the way from Germany still be factory smooth and sharp?
So, I soak my brush and hop in the shower. I swear my shower was quicker than usual because of my excitement and anxiety to shave. At the sink, I pour the water out of my mug and shake as much water out of my brush as I can. This is a new step for me, usually don't start with a semi dry brush. Turned on the faucet to a trickle, squeezed out a nickel sized dollop of cream onto my brush and went to work! I kept adding a bit of water every so often to see how the lather was progressing. At first it was all in the brush, not creamy, very thick. Then it started to come out of the brush and was getting more yogurtish just lighter. I knew I was getting close...a little more water and I thought I was there. Perfect peaks on the brush and nice thick (not foamy) lather. Tested it with my fingers and it was very slippery. Awesome! Went to work lathering up my face.
Okay...here it comes. I reach down and slide my Merkur into my hand. The blade seemed to have grown out from under the cap a few feet! SCARY!!! But, I sucked it up...found a comfortable grip that would prevent me from putting any pressure on my face...placed the cap on my cheek, rotated the razor down while moving in a downward stroke and found that sweet angle. WOW what a sound!!! It really really grabs those hairs!! But it doesn't hurt or pull like it sounds like it should. Just really loud. So far so good!! Great angle, hair seems to be coming off and I seem to be doing well at no pressure. The razor itself has just an incredible feel to it, the weight is more than enough for the shave. note: all these passes are WTG (with the grain).
I get down to my jaw line and I'm thinking, okay here is where I get my first nick. Whelp...here goes...and zoop! Around my jawline down my neck with no problem! Awesome...the one thing I wasn't sure about is how often do you turn the razor? Do you do one pass with one edge then the next with the other? Do you do one side of your face with one side and vice versa? I just sort of twisted it back and forth so as to keep both sides happy. Not sure that it was even or anything.
Now comes my chin. The hair seemed to be more difficult in this area. I needed to pull the razor a bit more to get it through. I suck at shaving this part of my face. It is the most difficult to get smooth. But I just take short strokes and do my best. Neck went fairly easy too. So, my first WTG pass was successful!!! No nicks, no burning. Still feel quite a bit of hair left, so after a quick warm rinse I re-lather and get ready for pass #2 WTG. Again, very successful.
So, I'm feeling pretty confident at this point. But I remember what others have said about getting too cocky then they need a few stitches hehe...so I tried to remain focused. A re-lather and I tried a XTG pass (across the grain). Again, my cheeks loved it...my chin sort of fought it and my neck seemed to do okay.
I know you're not supposed to go for BBS (baby butt smooth) on your first shave, but I couldn't help but try an ATG (against the grain) on my cheeks. This is where I figured I'd not be able to maintain an angle and nick myself, but NO!!! Went well!!
I did have some trouble around my top lip, it was touch and go as far as how close I can get to my nose. And also those two little ridges in the middle of your lip? I figured I'd shave them right off..but NOOOO....it actually went well. Pretty smooth too for only WTG passes. I didn't spend alot of time here. Sure did not want to press my luck.
Okay, all done! There are some spots I'd like to touch up...but I'm leaving them. Not pushing my luck at all...I'm very happy with my first shave and I'd say that I probably achieved a DFS (damn fine shave). So, here's the test. I rinsed really well in cold water to close the pores. Then grabbed the Nivea. It contains alcohol. Here is where I'd find out where I screwed up...it had to happen right? Wow, it was very soothing. No major burns anywhere. I have a little discomfort under the right side of my chin and had a few red bumps on my lower neck, but they seems to have gone already.
All in all, I want to thank everyone here for your excellent advice on equipment and technique. I'd like to thank cuttingedgerazors.com, westcoastshaving.com, and Bath and Body Works for providing amazing products at great prices. Silex over at cuttingedgerazors is making an acrylic stand for me, but he got sick last week...and is running a bit behind. So hope to get that soon.
I'll be taking a picture of my setup. Very proud of it. And even more proud of my shave. So far, the Derby blades are coporating with my face in a pleasant manner. I have some others to try, feathers, crystal, personna, etc.
Well, I have to say through the patience of this board, I feel very comfortable with my setup, in fact I'm proud of it! Here is a list of my current gear:
- Merkur long handled HD (38B) -beautiful blue handle
- Penworks 22mm Finest Badger brush
- Cnl. Conk Styptic Pencil (as of yet unused)
- C.O. Bigelow Premium Shave Cream
- Awesome blade sampler pack from westcoastshaving.com
- Nivea replenishing post shave balm
After admiring my new cobalt blue Merkur for what seemed to be an hour, lifting the cap off...screwing it back down....taking dry runs down my cheek to see how it felt....I finally loaded it up with a Derby. Decided that was the blade for me to start out with. I opted to not load the Merkur blade that came with my razor, in fact I might just toss it because how can something that jostles around in a package all the way from Germany still be factory smooth and sharp?
So, I soak my brush and hop in the shower. I swear my shower was quicker than usual because of my excitement and anxiety to shave. At the sink, I pour the water out of my mug and shake as much water out of my brush as I can. This is a new step for me, usually don't start with a semi dry brush. Turned on the faucet to a trickle, squeezed out a nickel sized dollop of cream onto my brush and went to work! I kept adding a bit of water every so often to see how the lather was progressing. At first it was all in the brush, not creamy, very thick. Then it started to come out of the brush and was getting more yogurtish just lighter. I knew I was getting close...a little more water and I thought I was there. Perfect peaks on the brush and nice thick (not foamy) lather. Tested it with my fingers and it was very slippery. Awesome! Went to work lathering up my face.
Okay...here it comes. I reach down and slide my Merkur into my hand. The blade seemed to have grown out from under the cap a few feet! SCARY!!! But, I sucked it up...found a comfortable grip that would prevent me from putting any pressure on my face...placed the cap on my cheek, rotated the razor down while moving in a downward stroke and found that sweet angle. WOW what a sound!!! It really really grabs those hairs!! But it doesn't hurt or pull like it sounds like it should. Just really loud. So far so good!! Great angle, hair seems to be coming off and I seem to be doing well at no pressure. The razor itself has just an incredible feel to it, the weight is more than enough for the shave. note: all these passes are WTG (with the grain).
I get down to my jaw line and I'm thinking, okay here is where I get my first nick. Whelp...here goes...and zoop! Around my jawline down my neck with no problem! Awesome...the one thing I wasn't sure about is how often do you turn the razor? Do you do one pass with one edge then the next with the other? Do you do one side of your face with one side and vice versa? I just sort of twisted it back and forth so as to keep both sides happy. Not sure that it was even or anything.
Now comes my chin. The hair seemed to be more difficult in this area. I needed to pull the razor a bit more to get it through. I suck at shaving this part of my face. It is the most difficult to get smooth. But I just take short strokes and do my best. Neck went fairly easy too. So, my first WTG pass was successful!!! No nicks, no burning. Still feel quite a bit of hair left, so after a quick warm rinse I re-lather and get ready for pass #2 WTG. Again, very successful.
So, I'm feeling pretty confident at this point. But I remember what others have said about getting too cocky then they need a few stitches hehe...so I tried to remain focused. A re-lather and I tried a XTG pass (across the grain). Again, my cheeks loved it...my chin sort of fought it and my neck seemed to do okay.
I know you're not supposed to go for BBS (baby butt smooth) on your first shave, but I couldn't help but try an ATG (against the grain) on my cheeks. This is where I figured I'd not be able to maintain an angle and nick myself, but NO!!! Went well!!
I did have some trouble around my top lip, it was touch and go as far as how close I can get to my nose. And also those two little ridges in the middle of your lip? I figured I'd shave them right off..but NOOOO....it actually went well. Pretty smooth too for only WTG passes. I didn't spend alot of time here. Sure did not want to press my luck.
Okay, all done! There are some spots I'd like to touch up...but I'm leaving them. Not pushing my luck at all...I'm very happy with my first shave and I'd say that I probably achieved a DFS (damn fine shave). So, here's the test. I rinsed really well in cold water to close the pores. Then grabbed the Nivea. It contains alcohol. Here is where I'd find out where I screwed up...it had to happen right? Wow, it was very soothing. No major burns anywhere. I have a little discomfort under the right side of my chin and had a few red bumps on my lower neck, but they seems to have gone already.
All in all, I want to thank everyone here for your excellent advice on equipment and technique. I'd like to thank cuttingedgerazors.com, westcoastshaving.com, and Bath and Body Works for providing amazing products at great prices. Silex over at cuttingedgerazors is making an acrylic stand for me, but he got sick last week...and is running a bit behind. So hope to get that soon.
I'll be taking a picture of my setup. Very proud of it. And even more proud of my shave. So far, the Derby blades are coporating with my face in a pleasant manner. I have some others to try, feathers, crystal, personna, etc.
just sayin...hehe
