I'm about a month in now. Things are not perfect but they are improving and I am figuring out what works best for me.
I have a very coarse beard but also have sensitive skin in the neck area.
1- I always shower first.
2- I am now using a pre-shave. Doesn't take long and actually gives me a little more slickness.
3- I use my Merkur 34C and my Nivea shaving cream only. I find that playing with different soaps and blades and razors all at the same time is not a good idea at the beginning because there's too many variables. The ONLY thing I'm changing is the blades so I can find which ones are working best for me.
4- I have to relearn how to shave. After all these years using cartridges, letting the razor do the work actually is a big change. Learning how my beard is growing and in what directions in different part of my face is a big plus as well.
5- Blades that are considered very sharp like the Feathers that people don't recommend to newbies like me are actually quite good if not my favorite. Why? I find that the razor has an easier time cutting the coarse beard resulting in less irritation and less passes. You do have to check what you are doing with your technique but even if you nick yourself, it's not the end of the world and you learn from it.
6- Since I face lather, I absolutely love my Semogue 620.
Incredible brush. Great backbone, nice short handle and digs well into soaps if you need to.
7-I have an Edwin Jagger best badger brush....I find it too floppy. Sure it's super soft but I think I prefer boar with more backbone.
8-I love the forum so far except for one thing. Not actually understanding the big idea of having to wait 90 days and have 50 posts to use the BST section.... I don't like that rule....I love this forum but hate that rule. I feel like I'm on probation. I don't get what will make me a better member in 90 days as opposed to now.
. Actually, it pushes you to sell your things or get things in other more open forums which is counter-productive when you want to keep members here. Sorry. Nothing personal but I wanted to mention it. End of rant
I have a very coarse beard but also have sensitive skin in the neck area.
1- I always shower first.
2- I am now using a pre-shave. Doesn't take long and actually gives me a little more slickness.
3- I use my Merkur 34C and my Nivea shaving cream only. I find that playing with different soaps and blades and razors all at the same time is not a good idea at the beginning because there's too many variables. The ONLY thing I'm changing is the blades so I can find which ones are working best for me.
4- I have to relearn how to shave. After all these years using cartridges, letting the razor do the work actually is a big change. Learning how my beard is growing and in what directions in different part of my face is a big plus as well.
5- Blades that are considered very sharp like the Feathers that people don't recommend to newbies like me are actually quite good if not my favorite. Why? I find that the razor has an easier time cutting the coarse beard resulting in less irritation and less passes. You do have to check what you are doing with your technique but even if you nick yourself, it's not the end of the world and you learn from it.
6- Since I face lather, I absolutely love my Semogue 620.
Incredible brush. Great backbone, nice short handle and digs well into soaps if you need to.7-I have an Edwin Jagger best badger brush....I find it too floppy. Sure it's super soft but I think I prefer boar with more backbone.
8-I love the forum so far except for one thing. Not actually understanding the big idea of having to wait 90 days and have 50 posts to use the BST section.... I don't like that rule....I love this forum but hate that rule. I feel like I'm on probation. I don't get what will make me a better member in 90 days as opposed to now.
. Actually, it pushes you to sell your things or get things in other more open forums which is counter-productive when you want to keep members here. Sorry. Nothing personal but I wanted to mention it. End of rant
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