My maiden DE voyage: a Father's Day tale

[apologeticus]

Got my goodies today:



new stuff from the kids is EJ DE89L, EJ BBB + stand. The kids were so excited that they got me just what I wanted (gee, how'd they figure it out? ) and they wanted to watch me shave. So after I showered I invited them in the bathroom for my maiden voyage. This was probably a mistake.

I had already loaded up the Derby blade and had my brush soaking while I showered, so it was time to make the lather.

Mistake #1:
Didn't really squeeze any water out of the brush. This, of course, resulted in a too wet lather. I added some extra cream to try to correct the problem but apparently I didn't add enough. Decided just to move on. The kids giggled at my face with the lather all over it.

Mistake #2:
Too much pressure. I knew this would likely be an issue and was determined not to let it happen, but I was distracted by the kids' giggling and constant barrage of questions. This of course resulted in several nicks which the kids were quick to point out as soon as they spotted blood.

Definitely had some razor burn on my neck, particularly on my right side which is my problem area. Finished with witch hazel then Bigelow black ASB, followed by styptic where necessary.

It was fun having the kids in there and I'm glad that they were so interested, but I'm hoping to get much better results tomorrow when the razor has my undivided attention. Blade angle and pressure are my big issues and I'm determined to defeat them!

[luvmysuper]

This is a mixed bag, On one hand, you want solitude and focus when doing something that is fairly new to you. Also, solitude and focus increases the "zen" like quality of the process.

On the other hand, we lost a generation of kids who remember their Dad standing at the sink lathering up and shaving, and it is something they will have their entire lives.

I don't have any of those memories of my Dad, due to non-shaving related issues, but there are plenty of folks who share my position who are there because of a cart razor and a can of goo.

Good show I say, even though the shave was a bit rough, you've given your kids something wonderful that they can share and recall.

Whiskers grow back and you can try again, kids don't get young again.

[Uncle Erik]

Sorry your first "real" shave didn't go perfectly, but lather up and try again tomorrow, then keep working at it! Good to see you picked an excellent razor and the Proraso is wonderful stuff! It will just get better as you go along.

Have you thought about watching Mantic's videos with the kids? Maybe they'd be bored, but I think it'd be fun.

[Topgumby]

Great post!

My kids will sometimes get in the act with shaving, but mostly the get to judge the results afterwords.

My seven year old is pretty critical, and has learned to check against the grain, 'cause that's where he gets to bust me for missing a spot most often.

[ctr]

Sounds like you did fine. The nicks are really priceless marks from the kids - you can't get that time back ever. I'll bet you think it was well worth it, and you would be right in my book.

[apologeticus]

thanks, guys. I'm sure they will be fun memories. The kids were great to me today. we ended the day watching Looney Tunes together before bed. They cuddled up with me and told me to pick which show I wanted to watch, so I picked a favorite from my childhood. They thought it was great and really cracked up when Yosemite Sam's clothes got burned/knocked off and they saw his polka dot underwear!

Have you thought about watching Mantic's videos with the kids? Maybe they'd be bored, but I think it'd be fun.

I might give that a shot tomorrow and see what they think.

[Sueto]

Good shaves will come and go, but those moments with giggling kids are forever. I hope to have those moments someday.

You'll have plenty of first shaves with all the products out there.

[DFrancis]

Thanks for sharing, I remember watching my dad shave when I was young. You will probably benefit from some alone time when you shave, I get paranoid when my wife is in the room with me.

[apologeticus]

yeah, I remember watching my Dad wet shave when I was a little kid before he switched to electric. he would even lather me up sometimes and take the blade out of one of his razors and let me pretend to shave. I'd like to do that with my son too, but I only have one razor right now.

[apologeticus]

I had the bathroom to myself for today's shave, which was a definite plus. Got a better lather this time, but perhaps still a tad on the wet side. I remembered this time to grip the brush by the base of the hairs instead of the handle as I applied the lather. That also helped.

I wish I had a video of today's endeavors. I'm sure it would give you vets a good laugh!

3 things I'm concentrating on now:

1. NO PRESSURE! I was only a cart shaver for a couple of weeks yet it's still difficult for me to remember to take it easy and not bear down
2. BLADE ANGLE - Just gotta get used to it and take it slow
3. SLOW DOWN! Just realized this one today. My whole life I've approached shaving as something to rush through and it's hard to get out of that mindset.

[STP]

Hahaha, I wish you good shaves !

[Kcaps]

I lather up my 2 year old son and let him scrape it off with a butter knife. He thinks it is hilarious, but I should let him try my spare DE without a blade, good idea!

My old man has shaved with a disposable cartridge razor for as long as I can remember, but for fathers day I bought him some shaving stuff. I'm trying to convert him with a brush and cream to start, then maybe a DE in the future. It seems wierd teaching my dad how to shave..... Freaky Friday!

[Barbash]

Thanks for sharing your story.

I remember as a child sitting on my Dad's bathroom counter on Saturday mornings watching him shave and I use to bother him to smell everything.

[apologeticus]

Got a closer shave today, but still had some nicks and my first official cut. And my neck is on fire after I shave! Picked up some Nivea sensitive lotion and that has helped. Think I'll give my face the day off tomorrow to heal up a bit.

Would it be legitimate to switch blades at this point? I've heard Derbys are hit and miss these days. I'm wondering if loading up a new one might help.

[Don]

Neck on fire is a typical complaint. You may need to map your beard growth to ensure more comfortable shaves.

Angle, pressure (lack of), both are so important. Plus, do not try for that elusive BBS, this is a mistake many make. Maybe two passes as you learn is what it takes, a CCS is just fine.

Derby's are usually a good starter blade, but YMMV. What other blades do you have at hand?

Cheers!

[apologeticus]

Neck on fire is a typical complaint. You may need to map your beard growth to ensure more comfortable shaves.

Angle, pressure (lack of), both are so important. Plus, do not try for that elusive BBS, this is a mistake many make. Maybe two passes as you learn is what it takes, a CCS is just fine.

Derby's are usually a good starter blade, but YMMV. What other blades do you have at hand?

Cheers!

just got a pack of Crystals in from brianw

[dougr]

[apologeticus]

Changed things up a bit today and used a Crystal blade so kindly PIF'd from brianw. SOOO much better! It glided across the skin much better than the Derby I had been using. This is the first time I haven't needed to use my styptic pencil afterwards. This time also gave me my first glimpse at why people like wet shaving so much. I actually kind of enjoyed this shave, and had no irritation afterwards. No more neck on fire!

But here's the best part: lovemysuper was kind enough to PIF me an old razor of his after my previous day's post, so now my 5 yr old son could join me during this morning's shave (sans blade, of course). He loved it so much he insisted on 3 passes, so that's what we did. As you can see, joy was the result.









Thanks so much to Phil for facilitating this moment. I'm sure it's a memory that my son and I both will remember the rest of our lives.

[Greglam]

Got a better lather this time, but perhaps still a tad on the wet side.

If you don't mind me throwing in 2-cents worth of free advice I'll pass along a good tip from my first baking & pastry chef instructor, "better to start out too dry and add more liquid as you go rather than start too wet and try to dry it out."

And, while I'm thinking of it, my barber always would tell me, "I can always take more off but I can't put it back on"

Happy Shaving!

-Greg

[luvmysuper]

The lttle shaver has a pretty good grip there for a first shave, been giving him pointers?
Glad to see he's having fun with it, beats sitting forgotten in a cabinet.