Learning to enjoy it

[lamaman3]

Hello everyone,

About a year ago I was introduced to this forum through a wetshaving info post by a member of another forum that I frequent. Ive always loved shaving and getting a great shave so it was natural for me to jump right into the whole wetshaving. To start off with I got 2 tubs of Mama Bears Soaps (Rosemary Mint and Tangerine Clove) along with KMF Vanilla cream and Williams Soap, a Merkur HD, C&E BB brush and a blade sampler pack. My DE start was not good - even though I had seen the Mantic videos, upon discovering that the DE blade was not cutting my skin I started treating it like a mach 3, scraped it over my skin and got the worst razor burn ever. I tried a couple more times and got less burn because I was more slow and careful but the razor left me extremely stubbly. Couple this with the fact that I could get a good shave with a fusion with one ATG pass and a stressful new job situation I put the DE back in the drawer and went back to the Fusion but still used my soaps and brush (with the one ATG pass - Ive tried the multiple passes with the fusion and it leaves me irritated - which also leaves me frustrated that I only get to lather up once!).

A few months go by and things have quieted down at my job, I am less stressed, and still reading B&B and getting jealous of the shaving ritual everyone else gets to enjoy. I went to C&E picked up the SAO SC and got 6 new soaps from HBS and decided to give it another go.

I got my DE out and this time was very very careful and slow, always remembering the rules of no pressure, right angle, locking the wrist. I also realized the my grain goes from my nose across to my cheek on both sides of my face and neck (from the center, horizontally out) so I started being very careful to not push it and go WTG only at first. Ive now done 3 new DE shaves and last night for the first time I really heard the hair being cut. I do one WTG pass, wash face, then do another. I still have a LONG way to go as after these 2 passes I am still very stubbly. Before I would get really frustrated at shaving at night, finishing stubbly, and going to work the next morning very stubbly which really left me frustrated and not happy with the DE. Now I use a different approach - I do the 2 slow WTG passes with the DE to slowly hone my techinique and finish up with an ATG pass with the fusion. Yes it takes longer to do than I could prob do with the fusion alone and not really any more comfortable (prob a bit more burn) - but instead of doing a 2 min fusion shave for the first time last night, after my third night shave I really learn to enjoy this night ritual Ive made for myself. I take a really hot shower, wash with noxema on my face, lather up the HBS Brut soap, the bathroom gets really steamy, I now do my 3 passes (2 with DE, one with Fusion), splash with really cold water all over face, run ice cube over face, splash witch hazel and go to sleep really relaxed as if I just came out of a sauna. My skin is also softer I suspect from that much more lathering and passes with the HBS moisturizing soap. Since I still get smooth I dont get frustrated.

I picked up a guitar the other week and tried to learn a song by tablature. At first it was really frustrating and I couldnt move my fingers fast enough to switch chords or stretch them far enough to get the chords but after a few days of practicing Im now getting the song down pretty good. Im telling myself that its the same thing with the DE now - so Im going to go slow and enjoy the process and hope for the day when Im skilled enough to get a damn fine shave with just the DE in the morning. Mantic said it took him 4 months to get consistently good shaves with the DE so Im not going to rush it. For now, Ive added a relaxing ritual for myself at night that I thoroughly enjoy.

[Eagle]

Congrats lamaman. A couple thoughts after reading your post. First, I've said it many times and still believe there is nothing wrong with wetshaving using a cartridge razor. I did it for 12 years and got acceptable shaves. The quality soaps/creams applied with a nice brush are the key ingredient. Your biggest problem I think is the Fusion. Five blades are too harsh as you've found. If you decide the DE isn't for you, try the Mach 3. The consensus is that three blades is about the max you want to use. That way you could take advantage of multiple lathering and passes. Second, if you take your time and work on the technique, learn your face and so on you will get good shaves from your DE. A DE shave is never quick though. The quickest "good" DE shave I've heard talked about takes around 10 mins. I spend double that or more. As I get better, I expect that time to decrease a bit, but not by much. I like spending the time to do it right. Third, try adding an XTG pass into your rotation. It helps mow them down a little better and prepares your face for the ATG pass. I also dumped the second WTG pass as I found it wasn't doing much other than adding to the number of passes that could potentially irritate my face.

Good job and stick with it. Stop lurking around and keep us posted .

[lamaman3]

Hey there Eagle!

Appreciate your response. I will definetely take your advice into account. The reason I was doing 2 WTG passes was that was what Mantic reccomended on one of his vids to do for 2 weeks to start out - I guess to get technique down and avoid irritation. But I guess if Ive prepped well adding an XTG pass instead of the second WTG pass makes sense - especially as my grain goes from nose E-W or W-E (depending on which side of my face) so an XTG can be a simple N-S pass which may even be easier for me to get the angle right on my HD than an E-W pass.

I also think you are right about the Fusion - the reason I still use the damn thing is that I have like 8 cartridges still left and after spending tons of money I want to get some use out of them! But I know thats why I end up with some burn after doing the 2 passes with the DE and then an additional 5 blade pass. A Mach 3 which I used to use should be fine - or even a sensor excel - just feel stupid investing an arm and a leg in new cartridges. I suppose an M3 or Sensor Excel can give me a DFS with still being able to do multiple passes - but I do want to try to learn on a DE. If it took Mantic 4 months to get consistantly good shaves - I can stick with it at least that long! Thanks for your help.

[studman46]

Some suggestions. First, is your lather hydrated enough so razor slides smoothly. Try a $1.50 puck of VDH glycerin soap at Walmart. Second, place head of razor at 90 degree angle on skin, then slowly reduce angle till you can feel and hear whiskers being cut. Third, make second (or even first) pass across the grain and thirde pass across the grain in opposite direction. Skip the ATG pass for now. Buying more and more products will not produce a better shave. You have a good razor. Stick with it, till you have your lather making technique and shaving technique down. Good luck and keep us posted. PS: NO NOT SHAVE OVER UNLATHERED AREAS.