Hey everyone!
I just registered with B&B, after having lurked around here unregistered for about a week. Amazingly enough, I didn't discover the full extent of this site until recently. Previously I thought it only contained the odd review. It looks awesome!
This summer I bought a double-edged safety razor, and made the transition from cartridge shaving. I made quick improvements the first weeks, but then the development stagnated, and for a long time I would get semi-good shaves, though not BBS. Ive since mixed up different methods, tried some different blades, but especially the neck area and the jawline has given me quite a headache (as it has for many, Ive gathered). I kept getting razor burns on the neck. Ive since transitioned to (a slightly modified version of) Kyles pre-shave routine, and the 4-pass shave. Now I get a closer shave, but Im still having some problems with the neck area and a stinging sensation in the post-shave routine, and razor burns now and then.
So I though that I could post my routine here, and hopefully get some feedback and tips on what to change and how to improve. Ive listed the different phases separately with a list of gear and products at the start. Hopefully this makes it easy to read.
Any advice is greatly appreciated.
PRE-SHAVE ROUTINE
This is a slightly modified version of Kyles pre-shave routine which I read here at B&B. I see that he avoids showering or washing his face in advance of the shave, but Im not giving up my morning shower, so Ive added a pre-shave oil to compensate for the loss of natural oils when washing my face and showering.
Product list
Baxter of California Daily Face Wash
D.R. Harris Marlborough Shave Soap
Truefitt & Hill Ultimate Comfort Pre Shave Oil
Mühle Black Fibre
1. I start of washing my face in hot water. I then apply the face wash, which I rub in and then rinse with water.
2. I get into the shower, wash my body and hair, while now and then showering my face in the hot water. Before I get out I make sure I shower my face for about 15-20 seconds. When I dry off, I keep my face wet.
3. I now lather up and start Kyles routine. I soak my brush in hot water, shake it a couple of times and squeeze out the excess water. I proceed soaking the soap in hot water as well, and swirl my brush in the soap for up to 10 seconds, before applying it to my face.
4. I rub the soap with my fingers for 2-3 minutes.
5. I soak a towel with hot water, get rid of the excess water and apply it to my face. I leave it here for about 2 minutes, before washing off the rest of the soap.
6. I apply a few drops of the pre shave oil to my face.
THE SHAVE
This is based on the 4-pass shave routine by guenron. It is especially during the horizontal passes on the neck I feel the most discomfort. The first horizontal pass is going ATG on my right side (on my left side it grows slightly different, and Im not having as many problems on this side. The horizontal pass on this side is more in between ATG and XTG), and the second goes WTG. I also have problems with creating flat surfaces to shave, since my jawline is well defined, making the rest of the neck pretty arced. So I cant be certain I have especially good shaving angle at this point. How can I train this?
Im also uncertain about the lather, since I dont have that much to compare it with. I feel I get a thick lather that covers my face, but it sometimes dries up during a pass. Other times it can be a bit see-through at the end of the paintbrush-strokes, but most of the time I feel it is good.
Ive mostly used the Astra-blades. The Feather-blades I didnt like very much, as I found them to harsh on the skin. Ive only tried one Derby-blade, and first impression is worse than Astra-blades, although Im going to give it a chance. I just bought a sample pack, so I have the Astra Superior Stainless, a couple of different Shark-blades (Super Stainless and Super Chrome) and Dorco New Platinum ST-301.
Product list
Mühle Rytmo
Mühle Black Fibre
Astra Superior Platinum / Feather Hi-Stainless / Derby Extra Super Stainless
D.R. Harris Marlborough Shave Soap
1. I start with lathering up. I use the same lather that was created for the pre-shave routine, which has been standing on the shelf while doing the rest of my prep. When lathering I do circular motions over my face, with just enough pressure to make the brush hairs fold out. I then finish with paintbrush-strokes over my face to evenly distribute the lather.
2. I start with a N-S pass of the whole face, following guenron's procedure. The razor is run through hot water before the pass.
3. I wash off my face with hot water, and re-lather.
4. I continue with the first of the two diagonal passes on my cheeks (going from top of ear to bottom of chin), and the horizontal pass on the neck area (going from the outside in towards the middle). The razor is run through hot water before the pass.
5. I wash off my face with hot water, and re-lather.
6. I continue with the second of the two diagonal passes on my cheeks (going from bottom of chin up to top of ear), and the horizontal pass on the neck area (going from the middle out towards the outside). The razor is run through hot water before the pass.
7. I wash off my face with hot water, and re-lather. This time I squeeze out the rest of the lather after first having applied a thin layer, and use my fingers to distribute.
8. I finish with a S-N pass of the whole face. The razor is run through hot water before the pass.
POST-SHAVE ROUTINE
This has been constructed from reading around on different websites about skin care products, and watching videos by geofatboy and mantic59 on YouTube. I have an oily T-zone, but rather normal skin aside from that. After going over to the 4-pass shave, this procedure has been more uncomfortable, since the alum block, after shave and moisturizer stings more than it used to (before I could apply the after shave and moisturizer without feeling any stinging sensation).
Product list
Osma Alum Block
Baxter of California Herbal Mint Toner
Portland General Store Whiskey After Shave Splash
Baxter of California Oil Free Moisturizer
1. I wash off the rest of the shaving soap with cold water.
2. I then wet the alum block, and run it over my face. I leave this on for 30-60 seconds, while cleaning my brush, before I wash it off with cold water.
3. I dry off my skin, and apply the herbal mint toner using a cotton pad. I leave this and let it air dry for 30-60 seconds, while cleaning off the soap bowl and safety razor.
4. I shake the after shave bottle, and apply 4-5 drops to my face. I let this air dry for about 30-60 seconds.
4. I finally apply the moisturizer.
I just registered with B&B, after having lurked around here unregistered for about a week. Amazingly enough, I didn't discover the full extent of this site until recently. Previously I thought it only contained the odd review. It looks awesome!
This summer I bought a double-edged safety razor, and made the transition from cartridge shaving. I made quick improvements the first weeks, but then the development stagnated, and for a long time I would get semi-good shaves, though not BBS. Ive since mixed up different methods, tried some different blades, but especially the neck area and the jawline has given me quite a headache (as it has for many, Ive gathered). I kept getting razor burns on the neck. Ive since transitioned to (a slightly modified version of) Kyles pre-shave routine, and the 4-pass shave. Now I get a closer shave, but Im still having some problems with the neck area and a stinging sensation in the post-shave routine, and razor burns now and then.
So I though that I could post my routine here, and hopefully get some feedback and tips on what to change and how to improve. Ive listed the different phases separately with a list of gear and products at the start. Hopefully this makes it easy to read.
Any advice is greatly appreciated.
PRE-SHAVE ROUTINE
This is a slightly modified version of Kyles pre-shave routine which I read here at B&B. I see that he avoids showering or washing his face in advance of the shave, but Im not giving up my morning shower, so Ive added a pre-shave oil to compensate for the loss of natural oils when washing my face and showering.
Product list
Baxter of California Daily Face Wash
D.R. Harris Marlborough Shave Soap
Truefitt & Hill Ultimate Comfort Pre Shave Oil
Mühle Black Fibre
1. I start of washing my face in hot water. I then apply the face wash, which I rub in and then rinse with water.
2. I get into the shower, wash my body and hair, while now and then showering my face in the hot water. Before I get out I make sure I shower my face for about 15-20 seconds. When I dry off, I keep my face wet.
3. I now lather up and start Kyles routine. I soak my brush in hot water, shake it a couple of times and squeeze out the excess water. I proceed soaking the soap in hot water as well, and swirl my brush in the soap for up to 10 seconds, before applying it to my face.
4. I rub the soap with my fingers for 2-3 minutes.
5. I soak a towel with hot water, get rid of the excess water and apply it to my face. I leave it here for about 2 minutes, before washing off the rest of the soap.
6. I apply a few drops of the pre shave oil to my face.
THE SHAVE
This is based on the 4-pass shave routine by guenron. It is especially during the horizontal passes on the neck I feel the most discomfort. The first horizontal pass is going ATG on my right side (on my left side it grows slightly different, and Im not having as many problems on this side. The horizontal pass on this side is more in between ATG and XTG), and the second goes WTG. I also have problems with creating flat surfaces to shave, since my jawline is well defined, making the rest of the neck pretty arced. So I cant be certain I have especially good shaving angle at this point. How can I train this?
Im also uncertain about the lather, since I dont have that much to compare it with. I feel I get a thick lather that covers my face, but it sometimes dries up during a pass. Other times it can be a bit see-through at the end of the paintbrush-strokes, but most of the time I feel it is good.
Ive mostly used the Astra-blades. The Feather-blades I didnt like very much, as I found them to harsh on the skin. Ive only tried one Derby-blade, and first impression is worse than Astra-blades, although Im going to give it a chance. I just bought a sample pack, so I have the Astra Superior Stainless, a couple of different Shark-blades (Super Stainless and Super Chrome) and Dorco New Platinum ST-301.
Product list
Mühle Rytmo
Mühle Black Fibre
Astra Superior Platinum / Feather Hi-Stainless / Derby Extra Super Stainless
D.R. Harris Marlborough Shave Soap
1. I start with lathering up. I use the same lather that was created for the pre-shave routine, which has been standing on the shelf while doing the rest of my prep. When lathering I do circular motions over my face, with just enough pressure to make the brush hairs fold out. I then finish with paintbrush-strokes over my face to evenly distribute the lather.
2. I start with a N-S pass of the whole face, following guenron's procedure. The razor is run through hot water before the pass.
3. I wash off my face with hot water, and re-lather.
4. I continue with the first of the two diagonal passes on my cheeks (going from top of ear to bottom of chin), and the horizontal pass on the neck area (going from the outside in towards the middle). The razor is run through hot water before the pass.
5. I wash off my face with hot water, and re-lather.
6. I continue with the second of the two diagonal passes on my cheeks (going from bottom of chin up to top of ear), and the horizontal pass on the neck area (going from the middle out towards the outside). The razor is run through hot water before the pass.
7. I wash off my face with hot water, and re-lather. This time I squeeze out the rest of the lather after first having applied a thin layer, and use my fingers to distribute.
8. I finish with a S-N pass of the whole face. The razor is run through hot water before the pass.
POST-SHAVE ROUTINE
This has been constructed from reading around on different websites about skin care products, and watching videos by geofatboy and mantic59 on YouTube. I have an oily T-zone, but rather normal skin aside from that. After going over to the 4-pass shave, this procedure has been more uncomfortable, since the alum block, after shave and moisturizer stings more than it used to (before I could apply the after shave and moisturizer without feeling any stinging sensation).
Product list
Osma Alum Block
Baxter of California Herbal Mint Toner
Portland General Store Whiskey After Shave Splash
Baxter of California Oil Free Moisturizer
1. I wash off the rest of the shaving soap with cold water.
2. I then wet the alum block, and run it over my face. I leave this on for 30-60 seconds, while cleaning my brush, before I wash it off with cold water.
3. I dry off my skin, and apply the herbal mint toner using a cotton pad. I leave this and let it air dry for 30-60 seconds, while cleaning off the soap bowl and safety razor.
4. I shake the after shave bottle, and apply 4-5 drops to my face. I let this air dry for about 30-60 seconds.
4. I finally apply the moisturizer.
