....But I still can't get a BBS shave without using the Fusion for a final ATG pass.
I ordered an Omega 48 boar from Shoebox Shaveshop, and the vendor threw in 3 sample blades with my order, all of which I had never heard of before: Sputnik, Silver Star, and SuperMax.
I tried the Sputnik in tonight's shave. Up until now I have been using the Wal-Mart Personnas that are dirt cheap and readily available. I'm aware that they are widely considered sub-par, but I kept using them because I resented the fact that DE shaving requires that you spend so much time looking for the perfect tool/blade. And the blades are fine. They never cut me, give decent-enough shaves, but I always have to use the Fusion for the final pass if I want BBS.
Well tonight I found out what a sharp blade is like. The Sputnik didn't cut me, it didn't even nick me, but I could tell instantly that this was a blade that demanded a little more respect. It felt different than what I was used to. Sharper. Harsher. And more hairs appeared in the sink after the first pass than ever before.
I guess my technique over 5 months of DE shaving is good enough because like I said, I didn't get cut or nicked, and I proceeded shaving in my normal manner. I didn't TRY to be extra-careful or go about tentatively. I just kept the sharpness in mind, if you know what I mean.
Three passes...WTG, XTG, and ATG and I use a Merkur 25c open comb, so it's a fairly aggressive set up. But while my cheeks and parts of my jawline were fine, my neck and the areas right under my ears were Brillo pads. Before you ask, yes I've mapped my face. I know how my hair grows. On my neck it follows no rhyme or reason, and after the third pass, my neck began to feel tender. So then I got out the Fusion, did my quick once-over my entire face & neck, and it was fine.
My questions are: (1) I finally have a decently sharp blade, and I STILL can't get a BBS shave with an open-comb DE (which I love FAR more than a safety bar DE)? What the heck is up? And (2) The sharpness of the blade felt kind of rough. Not as butter-smooth. Is this because it was the first time I used it and it will get better next shave? I think I've read something about that but it's a little confusing.
The Sputnik blade was, according to my admittedly narrow frame of reference, a pretty sharp blade. I honestly wouldn't want to try a Feather since it's supposed to be sharper! What's weird though is that even though my face & neck started to feel tender by the 3rd pass, I'm sitting here right now with a WONDERFULLY-smooth face and it feels...uh, a little bit better than usual. Think that's the blade? The blade was the only thing that was different tonight. Even the Floid I splashed on didn't burn anywhere near what I thought it would.
(BTW, I highly recommend Shoebox Shaveshop. Great vendor and FAST shipping! I might get some Yellow & Green 7 o'clock blades next)
I ordered an Omega 48 boar from Shoebox Shaveshop, and the vendor threw in 3 sample blades with my order, all of which I had never heard of before: Sputnik, Silver Star, and SuperMax.
I tried the Sputnik in tonight's shave. Up until now I have been using the Wal-Mart Personnas that are dirt cheap and readily available. I'm aware that they are widely considered sub-par, but I kept using them because I resented the fact that DE shaving requires that you spend so much time looking for the perfect tool/blade. And the blades are fine. They never cut me, give decent-enough shaves, but I always have to use the Fusion for the final pass if I want BBS.
Well tonight I found out what a sharp blade is like. The Sputnik didn't cut me, it didn't even nick me, but I could tell instantly that this was a blade that demanded a little more respect. It felt different than what I was used to. Sharper. Harsher. And more hairs appeared in the sink after the first pass than ever before.
I guess my technique over 5 months of DE shaving is good enough because like I said, I didn't get cut or nicked, and I proceeded shaving in my normal manner. I didn't TRY to be extra-careful or go about tentatively. I just kept the sharpness in mind, if you know what I mean.
Three passes...WTG, XTG, and ATG and I use a Merkur 25c open comb, so it's a fairly aggressive set up. But while my cheeks and parts of my jawline were fine, my neck and the areas right under my ears were Brillo pads. Before you ask, yes I've mapped my face. I know how my hair grows. On my neck it follows no rhyme or reason, and after the third pass, my neck began to feel tender. So then I got out the Fusion, did my quick once-over my entire face & neck, and it was fine.
My questions are: (1) I finally have a decently sharp blade, and I STILL can't get a BBS shave with an open-comb DE (which I love FAR more than a safety bar DE)? What the heck is up? And (2) The sharpness of the blade felt kind of rough. Not as butter-smooth. Is this because it was the first time I used it and it will get better next shave? I think I've read something about that but it's a little confusing.
The Sputnik blade was, according to my admittedly narrow frame of reference, a pretty sharp blade. I honestly wouldn't want to try a Feather since it's supposed to be sharper! What's weird though is that even though my face & neck started to feel tender by the 3rd pass, I'm sitting here right now with a WONDERFULLY-smooth face and it feels...uh, a little bit better than usual. Think that's the blade? The blade was the only thing that was different tonight. Even the Floid I splashed on didn't burn anywhere near what I thought it would.
(BTW, I highly recommend Shoebox Shaveshop. Great vendor and FAST shipping! I might get some Yellow & Green 7 o'clock blades next)