Learnings so far, objectives surpassed & thanks

[eeney]

I never said hi here, but I'll sure say THANKS.

Having shaved with a DE for about six months with no guidance I decided that I needed to do some research, which led me to this site. My objectives initially were to:

• Look more professional for work
• get a close shave
• reduce costs
• Use more recyclables blades

Four weeks on I have a fantastically smooth shave, increased but levelling out costs, no more redness and the unexpected benefit of an overall healthier looking face.
My learning consisted of the following stages:

1. Get some decent expensive shaving gear, got a close shave for most areas, but a tad uneven.
2. Get some more expensive shaving gear, got a close shave everywhere, but a red and sore neck. Realised it's pointless to be close shaven if you look all red and sore.
3. Focus on the whole shaving routine, introduce some 'related' practices, eg. facial scrub, exfoliating, cleansing, etc. This led to not just a better jawline area, but an overall healthier looking face, even eliminating some red irritated skin areas that I've had for years.
4. Read some more, keep practising get the angle and blade pressure correct.

I still have a little way to go, but overall my routine is down pat, the face is looking good (I'm no model) and even friends are noticing the difference.

Things that have made the biggest difference, mostly learnt from this site:

1. Get a complete routing, include appropriate pre and post shave - for me this includes:
   
   • Face scrub/exfoliate (I now thoroughly was/cleanse at least twice a day, just to help my shaving)
   • Pre-shave + hot towel (I time myself so I don't rush it)
   • Good lather - initially I didn't like soaps so I bought creams (easier to lather), as I've progressed I've gone back to soaps .
   • Shave with absolutely no pressure, see here float. Sounds odd, but I've found less pressure = closer shave.
   • Lots of cold water & Alum block (if I the alum stings in any way, I know I've used too much pressure, this is my new gauge)
   • Whitchazel and Moisturise
   
   
2. If I get razor burn, stop shaving for a few days, for me it takes almost four days for the redness to fade. However I need to be clean shaven for work, therefore with redness I half-shave every other day.
3. Relax and be patient as you're learning, for me 'trying' for a close shave didn't achieve anything but razor burn.

So thanks to 'you guys', I've met my objectives and much more. Now I've found the razor and products the costs will be minimal, I consistently get a close shave and along the way I gained an overall better complexion (need a more manly word). What I didn't expect was for my wife to appreciate all this, but she is very impressed with my improved skin, and she prefers the manly aftershave scents, which in turn are much cheaper than designer perfumes, although, as I was spending so much time in the bathroom on my personal hygiene she was a little suspicious, which required a lot of "I'm doing all this for you darling".

Next stop is to go for a professional shave and see the difference, I just fear this will temp me to try a straight razor, and then it all starts again.

[mistervee123]

If you're getting razor burn from a DE, I would avoid SR's for quite a while!

[Forestsandman]

Great post man! My two big a-HAH! moments were realizing that my neck growth patterns were unconventional and that prep is dare i say it, more important than that you're doing during the shave.

[CharlieFoxtrot]

If you're getting razor burn from a DE, I would avoid SR's for quite a while!

This is a +1. Are you chasing a BBS? If so, that would explain four days of healing. On my worst day with a straight I have maybe 24 hrs of irritation. Don't chase the BBS, let it come to you.

[oakeshott]

Don't chase the BBS, let it come to you.

The BBS whisperer.

[bbsgasm]

...Don't chase the BBS, let it come to you.

Well said.

I'm not there yet but it's coming. My first full blown bbsgasm is heading my way...

[eeney]

I think that was the biggest hurdle for me... have a new razor, must have a BBS.... the float post was the one that triggered my change, I now hear the hairs been cut, but don't feel the blade. This for me is how I judge I have the pressure and angle correct... I know everyone will have different approaches.

The other one was trying not to shave everyday, I found every other day wasn't frequent enough to be 'clean' for work, so I started shaving every 36 hours for about a week, until I got the zero irritation sorted.

But the big change for me was that I came into this looking for a close, economical change... at some point this changed to wanting an overall improved appearance, ie. clean shave and zero redness. I probably spent 20% of the time leaning how to get a close shave, and 80% learning how to do it with zero irritation (which was all about face care , angle and pressure). By face care here, I have taken on a full washing, scrubbing, cleansing routine, partly because it helps my shaving, and also because I see no point in having a great close shave, if my face my face has red blotches and spots.

[Straight Rasier User]

Welcome to B&B.

Krapp what can I say as you covered it all.

I am a CPA (Certified Public Accountant) and you have to be either an Engineer or in some other technical field.

You have the basics down and know the details.

And I have to say that this is a Great Post.

After that ...

Everything boils down to personal preferences.


“Best Brush”

A Brush is a Brush and they perform differently and they are different. Boar, Badger, Horsehair, Horsehair/Boar/Badger Combos, or Syns. Get a Boar (cheap or expensive) or a Good Badger Brush.


“Soap/Cream/Stick”

Soap or Cream or Stick ... Stick or Cream or Soap ... cheap or expensive ... expensive or cheap ... glycerin based, cold processed, tripled milled, or tallow. Get a couple of each and see what works best for you.

“Safety Razor”

Safety Razors ... determine what you want and how much you are willing to spend - Open Comb, Closed Comb, TTOs, 2-Piece, 3-Piece or an adjustable. The Merkur HD or Edwin Jagger 89 are both good beginning Safety Razors. Or get an Old Gillette (SuperSpeed or 3-Piece).


“Razor Blades”

Blades ... Get a Sampler Pack and then ... Good Luck. The differences between whether a Blade is Good or Bad for any individual is because the Hand of God is at work. Maybe it is the shave preparation, or maybe it is the type of hairs being shaven, or maybe it is the patterns on the face being shaven, or the type of Razor being used (different angles or blade gaps are created by the different razor head being used), or the shaving technique being used (wrong angle, too much pressure being used and pushing down on the razor to "cut closer", or even not using multiple-passes to reduce hair growth first and always), or maybe there is one or two Bad Blades in the pack being used, or maybe for whatever reason it is a Bad Blade to you.


”Best Blade”

At first use only One Razor Blade ... use this blade only for a few weeks ... changing when dull.

The First Razor Blade you use is your “Best Blade.”

Get several of your First Best Blade.

Get down the Basics of Shaving – Preparation, Lathering, Shaving with the Razor – light touch, proper angle and little pressure, Multi-Passes – WTG, XTG, and Reverse-XTG.

Get more information and look at the Mantic59 Youtube videos, the GeoFatBoy videos and read the Wiki.


“Finding Your Best Blade”

After you have everything down ... then use a different blade for a week and see if it becomes your new "Best Blade".

If not go back to the other blade for a week then, use a different blade for a week.

Your Best Blade is your base line blade for your tests. When you find your “Next Best Blade” then, that is your “New Best Blade”. Continue working through your sampler pack looking for a “New Best Blade”.

Please note that Different Safety Razors may have a different “Best Blade” and if you have poor technique then it will also affect your choice of a “New Best Blade”.

“Map Your Face”

Make Sure you have Mapped Your Face because that is the only way to know which way your hair grows.

“Technique”

Also make sure that your preshave preparation is down.

Then shave WTG, XTG and Reverse-XTG.

Rinse, Lather, WTG
Rinse, Lather, XTG
Rinse, Lather, Reverse-XTG
Rinse, Lather, Buffing.

No Rinse, No Lather, No Shave.

For the first few weeks ... Do not do ATG ... Wait until you have your technique down because you could and usually will be holding the safety razor upside down when shaving your neck and this may cause you some problems when trying to maintain the correct blade angle while applying a light pressure.

Be careful of Feather blades as they are super sharp and unforgiving make sure you are confident of your technique before using them.

Have Fun Shaving and May All Your Shaves Be BBS.