Tried my dad's old DE slim adjustable out of sheer frustration when the Fusion went dull and I couldn't stand forking over that much dough for replacement cartridges. I had some Old Spice soap, an Old Spice mug and a Gillette synthetic brush from some funky shaving lotion cartridge system that had been lying around for years. First attempt was better than expected, but bad technique, old blades and ignorance did not combine for an ideal shave.
Google led me here, and lo, there was knowledge aplenty. I armed myself with Williams soap, a boar brush, an old cork, some new Wallyworld Personnas and a Clubman styptic pencil to help hide the marks of my learning curve. The Afta I grabbed with the blades got nixed by SWMBO, so Clubman Bay Rum let me know when I didn't do so well. Things progressed.
Christmas brought me a Tweezerman Badger brush, some Burt's Bees Bay Rum Aftershave Balm and both Burt's Bees and Col. Conk's Bay Rum soaps. My own foraging brought me a fairly odd scuttle, a stand for razor and brush that included a combed Gillette New and rather dry old brush of some sort. I'm now torn between the older razor and my dad's Slim.
I've watched the YouTube videos. I've buffed, J-hooked and learned about my facial geography. I'm getting good shaves, and much happier about it than when I was quickscraping with a cartridge. Hell, I even got some cologne based on what I read here (the wife is pretty pleased with that) and I'm glad I got in to this mess of brushes and potions.
But, I seem to have hit a wall. The shaves are quite good, but I feel that really good and great are just around the corner that I'm not turning.
Is this common? To try and break through I've got some Dorco 301s heading my way. Is this gearhead approach all steam and mirrors? Is the quest for BBS folly? Is the Hokey-Pokey really what it's all about, and I should just lather up, man up and shut up?
Google led me here, and lo, there was knowledge aplenty. I armed myself with Williams soap, a boar brush, an old cork, some new Wallyworld Personnas and a Clubman styptic pencil to help hide the marks of my learning curve. The Afta I grabbed with the blades got nixed by SWMBO, so Clubman Bay Rum let me know when I didn't do so well. Things progressed.
Christmas brought me a Tweezerman Badger brush, some Burt's Bees Bay Rum Aftershave Balm and both Burt's Bees and Col. Conk's Bay Rum soaps. My own foraging brought me a fairly odd scuttle, a stand for razor and brush that included a combed Gillette New and rather dry old brush of some sort. I'm now torn between the older razor and my dad's Slim.
I've watched the YouTube videos. I've buffed, J-hooked and learned about my facial geography. I'm getting good shaves, and much happier about it than when I was quickscraping with a cartridge. Hell, I even got some cologne based on what I read here (the wife is pretty pleased with that) and I'm glad I got in to this mess of brushes and potions.
But, I seem to have hit a wall. The shaves are quite good, but I feel that really good and great are just around the corner that I'm not turning.
Is this common? To try and break through I've got some Dorco 301s heading my way. Is this gearhead approach all steam and mirrors? Is the quest for BBS folly? Is the Hokey-Pokey really what it's all about, and I should just lather up, man up and shut up?