My shaving diary

**Furex** · 07-20-2007, 04:41 PM

I'm starting a personal thread to keep a diary of my shaves (without them getting lost in the SotD threads). My aim is to keep track of my progress (no pun intended

); being a newbie comments are welcome - feel free to drop a line or two.

2007-07-12 went back to boar-and-blade
(... some wetshaves in between ...)
2007-07-18 tried my electric which was back from service; shaved with boar brush and ProRaso soap. Too much irritation especially on the neck.

2007-07-19: bought some ProRaso Pre/post; tried both pre and post - as a post the effect is more evident. Shave was pretty harsh, my Sensor3 is getting dull, almost time to change cartridge; also weather might have played a role, it's hot and wet. But I tried too hard, shame on me.

2007-07-20:

Yesterday I studied mantic's videos on traditional wet shaving another time; they reminded I need to keep a lighter hand and strive for a better lather.

what I did:

focused on keeping a light hand
lathered directly on the face instead of using the bowl.
left ProRaso Pre/post on for several minutes while I was preparing.
Did 1 WTG, 2 XTG and 1 ATG only on cheeks.

Results: Final pass was not a good idea, I have some lasting irritation on the cheekbones, especially the left one; they do not look good at all (see photo). Applied some Nivea Q10 cream on the face as I felt my skin was a little dry.

**Furex** · 07-21-2007, 07:48 PM

Back to the Mach3. My mind went zen somewhere towards the end, as a result this is one of the least close shaves I have had recently.

I tried to be light with the brush, as I feared this might be a reason behind the irritated cheekbones skin. I avoided shaving over there, too.

Used ProRaso Pre/Post both as a pre and aftershave. Not entirely persuaded about the performance as a pre-shave.

Good news is, skin is slowly recovering.

**Furex** · 07-22-2007, 06:01 PM

Right cheekbone is almost ok. Kept concentrated for all the four passes and did some final touchup, too. My ATG was very bad on the left side of the face, probably the soap had dried because of me stalking mosquitos half through my shaving... lesson learnt: wash your face and lather again next time.

I'm trying to focus on keeping a short stroke length and move slowly, especially when going ATG. Jawline and neck are still rough, probably because I don't stretch them properly.

A couple things best remembered about ProRaso Pre/Post:

Use very little for best results as an aftershave.
Use it to ensure glide and visibility when doing fine work around the goatee.

I didn't use it as a pre today, I can't honestly say the shave was worse because of that.

**rickw** · 07-22-2007, 08:42 PM

How long have you been using the Omega? For a while after I got mine, my face would start to itch. I have sensitive skin. I did wash the brush in boraxo. With me that could also cause an itch. I don't remember which was first. I hadn't bought M3 blades in over 18 months. I would use one a month. I got some last April and they seemed dull. Haven't touched the M3 since. You might try switching to a DE after letting your face heal. Also drop the ATG pass.

**Furex** · 07-23-2007, 07:21 PM

Hello Rick, thank you for joining my humble little diary

My Omega is really old: it was my father's and I picked up from him so many years ago I can't actually remember when! Unfortunately that also means I can hardly imagine how much it has been used.

I guess my next buy will be a softer brush, for added comfort. I've ordered a Merkur Progress last week and I'm using the M3 just in the meanwhile, I come from a wet electric which was really good when new but went bad after some months. The full story is in my newbie checkin thread titled From blade to electric and back

**Furex** · 07-23-2007, 07:29 PM

Today I concentrated on keeping strokes short, slow and moderate pressure. Successful combo: the cheeks were almost BBS and jawline perfect!! neck was good but my wet electric could do better in its golden days.

Secret is: after the first WTG pass, I have to listen to the sound of whiskers getting cut.

I managed to make a nick on my neck when the razor head came in contact with my stretched skin. Little blood shed but it is easily noticed like all other nicks I made shaving traditional-style with ProRaso.

Wonder why

- it's like the skin becomes overly delicate on the final pass... too soap ? or too much scrubbing from lathering on face?

I'll try to lather in the mug and see what happens.

**Furex** · 07-24-2007, 05:42 PM

Tried to stick to aforementioned formula, but did some more skin stretching exercises. I used Goosemeplease's soap lathering technique and it works wonders! used bowl, did not get any nicks in latter passes but only a microscopic one at the very start.

Cheeks are more or less the same as yesterday, jawline not perfect but close, and neck is better.

I think the bottom of the soap box is starting to show up a little

**Furex** · 07-25-2007, 08:02 PM

Easily the closest shave since I went back to wetshaving.

I'm experimenting with proper skin stretching: the most delicate spots are the left jawline and the right side of the neck, which sported several micro-cuts after the shave. Irritation seems under control anyway.

**Furex** · 07-26-2007, 10:59 AM

Progress is here

Ready to slice

I was getting sick of the M3...

This evening I will watch Mantic's videos on DE again, then I'm gonna try the Progress with the least sharp razor blade I've bought (which is Wilkinson's Sword according to edit).

Been reading a little on the topic of a good setting for a newbie and I think I'll settle on +0.5 - +1.0 (which corresponds to 2.0 - 2.5 using the absolute scale, as my setup zeroes in on the common spot of 1.5)

All the people I've talked with about DE shaving have been surprised of it and asked if I was crazy, that I could slice my face up!

So I'm a little scared, wish me luck

**gse123** · 07-26-2007, 11:04 AM

hey good luck! Let us know how you get on with the Progress

**mantic** · 07-26-2007, 01:09 PM

Originally Posted by Furex

Progress Been reading a little on the topic of a good setting for a newbie and I think I'll settle on +0.5 - +1.0 (which corresponds to 2.0 - 2.5 using the absolute scale, as my setup zeroes in on the common spot of 1.5)

Its no secret that a Progress is my razor of choice

. Oh, I've flirted with HD's, Slants, Fat Boys, and all that (lately I've been playing with a Weishi which I find suprisingly good for the price)...but I always go back to the Progress. After you load a blade, screw it all the way down then turn it up 1/2 turn on the dial. Let whatever that number is (3 on mine) be your absolute upper limit for the next several months. Ohhhh you'll be tempted to go higher but...trust me...don't do it until your technique is down pat. Have fun with it!

--Mark

**fritz** · 07-26-2007, 01:42 PM

Good luck, Marco! Although you probably don't need it, you've done your homework and you should be ready to roll!

**Furex** · 07-26-2007, 02:46 PM

Thank you all people!

I've started a new thread to ask for advice as this first shave was so tame I'm actually wondering whether I shaved or just dreamt of it

I would be glad to read your thoughts and opinions there.

**Furex** · 07-26-2007, 06:33 PM

Just a pic of the nice, customized starting kit that edit was so kind to assemble just for me.

(click to enlarge)

Today I learned that razor angle is not much of a visual thing; it's something that you feel on your skin, instead. If the angle is right, the razor will cut and make sounds accordingly. Too wide an angle? Razor hovering over your face silently. Too narrow and you could cut yourself.

Also worth of noting, all the talk (and pics) of faces sliced have made me too afraid of the razor. I was too wary and as a result my shave was poor: the progress set on +1 seems to be a razor gentle enough, which will not rip your face up. The Wilkinson looks like a forgiving blade, too.

Tomorrow will be better.

**Furex** · 07-27-2007, 09:52 AM

Shaved again today, 4-pass: WTG + 2xXTG + ATG and touchup (=cartridge routine as I learned it from Mantic's videos)

Made a couple of nicks during touchup but nothing to call home about; the one most easily avoided was on the upper lip while trying to shave around my moustache. Closeness is better than Mach3 and there's less irritation, and I'm talking especially about the neck because the M3 was good on the cheeks most of the times anyway.

My electric was so close on the neck that it's still unmatched by a blade (it was really jaw-dropping!), there's still hope I can get better, though: it's just my second DE shave.

Shaving with the Progress is not so difficult as I thought it would be, and - at least with this setting and this blade - it is easier than the M3!!!

Maybe the years spent with a modern Gillette in my hand were not entirely wasted?

The 'delicateness' I was experiencing on the last pass is much reduced: the brush felt less harsh than before and there were no cuts from just putting the blade on the skin. Still I have to pay attention because DE cuts are less painful than Mach's, but they draw more blood.

(Almost) Needless to say, I'm very happy. For the next few days I will shave in the same way until the blade gives the soul away. As the Wilkinson seems not to be exceedingly smooth, my next move will be to cork it before putting it in.

**Furex** · 07-28-2007, 03:21 PM

Usual routine but great results, the best shave I ever experienced with a blade!

There is still a slight roughness on the neck and a residual trace on the jawline, but I guess it's just matter of exercise. I have some slight (invisible) irritation on the neck, and some 'red spots' from previous shaves that are healing.

I'm really really really happy - can it get much better than this?

BBS seems almost round the corner!

**fritz** · 07-28-2007, 06:25 PM

Originally Posted by Furex

<snip>I'm really really really happy - can it get much better than this? BBS seems almost round the corner!

Oh, Yes! It can get even better!

Just persevere, you're coming along very nicely!

**Furex** · 07-29-2007, 08:29 AM

Better than this? that would be shaving heaven

**Furex** · 07-29-2007, 05:04 PM

Today's entry has been posted in a separate thread called Razor sent me a warning...

**Furex** · 07-30-2007, 01:36 PM

Shaved for the fifth time with the same Wilkinson (UK), that I have corked specifically for today.

Following the tips from Scotto's glycerin soap tutorial, I went through much less trouble to get a good lather, this is easily the best I've generated until today, yet I think not as good as it can get.

I went through 3 passes (2x XTG and ATG) + a touchup pass. The blade (now corked) showed less drag than yesterday; due to the increased dullness my skin was more irritated than in the two shaves that preceded this one. But in the end I had only one microscopic nick (vs the 3-4 of yesterday), and reached top-notch smoothness.

However the touchups were long enough to begin resembling another two ATG passes; the blade has now retired, new one tomorrow.