Don't be too surprised! What were we even talking about now?
(there is a guy here that puts the razor in his ear so you are not alone)
On Shaving: Minor Musings of an Eternal Beginner
- Thread starter Goblin
- Start date
(there is a guy here that puts the razor in his ear so you are not alone)
Agreed. I could think of worse. Imagine an equivalent tag line if you were a bikini line shaver...
I used to shave my ear lobes, including that little nib at the front of the ear lobe.... I have ummmm cut myself a few times. I no longer use that procedure. <eg>... Did I stop after one nick?.... No... hence the "few times"....
- Thread starter
- #644
So, all the new razors have been tried and there’s 11.5 long months until year end relief. Do I mind?
Not right now. I feel like since I began this journal I have spent a fair bit of cash, but I have also gone from having a collection of DE razors with no genuine stars to a little stable of winners. Sure, some of it is technique adjustments, but the decision to acquire a few mildish OC razors has really paid dividends in terms of shaving quality and enjoyment. I need to spend much more time with all these razors - none currently have more than 3 or 4 shaves and I don't know how they will respond to different blades - but currently we have:
Karve CB OC-B – Everything I hoped it would be. After just one shave I can say it's almost perfect.
Razorock Gamechanger 0.68 OC – A big surprise. A real step up from the SB model.
Tatara Masamune OC – A little too mild in stock form, but excellent when swapping in the Nodachi cap for some slightly positive blade exposure.
Gillette NEW LC – Just a great shaving, no fuss razor...and I also have my English NEW which is what started the whole thing.
Plus, the Masamune cap on the Nodachi SB plate (Masadachi) really blew me away, which was not expected at all, and the vintage Swing is one of the best shaving SB razors I have come across and was putting in shaves to match any of the open combs for comfort and closeness.
Karve Overlander – I will keep trying but right now it feels like probably the mildness and head geometry are going to prevent this from becoming a favorite for me. It's borderline whether I keep it around.
Muhle R41 – Well, I gave it another try, but me and the R41 aren’t meant to be. It’s a classic. I still think it is a cool looking razor but it just doesn't work for me.
So, RAD is in abeyance and I am looking forward to a year of great shaves with all my recent additions, and I still have my trusty Fatips and shavettes to ring the changes and keep things interesting. The shaving outlook is good for 2025!
Also, after these latest additions I have identified about 11 older razors that I will sell as soon as we get a decent sunny day for some photography, so hopefully by the end of Q1 2025 the collection will actually be smaller than it was last year.
Not right now. I feel like since I began this journal I have spent a fair bit of cash, but I have also gone from having a collection of DE razors with no genuine stars to a little stable of winners. Sure, some of it is technique adjustments, but the decision to acquire a few mildish OC razors has really paid dividends in terms of shaving quality and enjoyment. I need to spend much more time with all these razors - none currently have more than 3 or 4 shaves and I don't know how they will respond to different blades - but currently we have:
Karve CB OC-B – Everything I hoped it would be. After just one shave I can say it's almost perfect.
Razorock Gamechanger 0.68 OC – A big surprise. A real step up from the SB model.
Tatara Masamune OC – A little too mild in stock form, but excellent when swapping in the Nodachi cap for some slightly positive blade exposure.
Gillette NEW LC – Just a great shaving, no fuss razor...and I also have my English NEW which is what started the whole thing.
Plus, the Masamune cap on the Nodachi SB plate (Masadachi) really blew me away, which was not expected at all, and the vintage Swing is one of the best shaving SB razors I have come across and was putting in shaves to match any of the open combs for comfort and closeness.
Karve Overlander – I will keep trying but right now it feels like probably the mildness and head geometry are going to prevent this from becoming a favorite for me. It's borderline whether I keep it around.
Muhle R41 – Well, I gave it another try, but me and the R41 aren’t meant to be. It’s a classic. I still think it is a cool looking razor but it just doesn't work for me.
So, RAD is in abeyance and I am looking forward to a year of great shaves with all my recent additions, and I still have my trusty Fatips and shavettes to ring the changes and keep things interesting. The shaving outlook is good for 2025!
Also, after these latest additions I have identified about 11 older razors that I will sell as soon as we get a decent sunny day for some photography, so hopefully by the end of Q1 2025 the collection will actually be smaller than it was last year.
I'm a little late to the blade tab discussion. I have nicked my ear lobes with them before, but, I do use them to align my blades. For the CB razor I purchased the wide body cap. I am not sure if I have had any others that covered the tabs. I am sure I must have I just can't remember. Do the Rex or PAA ones do that?
Edit: I seem to remember the Rex's being rounded on the sides.
Edit: I seem to remember the Rex's being rounded on the sides.
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- Thread starter
- #646
For a second I did a brain-fart and thought, "He uses his ear lobes to align blades? No wonder they get nicks..."
Anyhow, it was back to my specified Shave of the Week razor today. The Overlander on circa 30hrs growth.
With a Feather enhancement!
Dare I say...it was almost great? I tried to just stop worrying about the cap shape and go by feel. The Feather did Feather things. It meant I wasn't fighting for efficiency and really helped me out.
The aftershave warned me that I spent a little too much time on touch ups in one or two areas, and there are a couple of spots where I know mild razors tend to struggle (I think the hair grows particularly flat) so I had to learn some entirely new tricks to get the job done today. No problem. I got skills!
So, the result is almost worthy of being labelled a BBS, and the facial impact scores are 0 for blood and barely a 1 for irritation (especially considering I am normally a 48hr shaver who has now shaved 5 days in a row).
The most important thing of all is that today I enjoyed the shave!
I still think the CB OC-B is going to be my favourite, but the Overlander earned its stripes today. It will stay in the den, and I look forward to putting more Feather powered shaves on it.
I appreciate you saying that. Thank you.I can't tell you how grateful and humbled I am to receive supportive messages from folks like
I hope to have time to read your journal this weekend. I've been lacking time and energy, and I've missed reading the board
- Thread starter
- #648
So I just wanted to make a little update.
I know that @Phoenixkh found that a close shave from the Overlander was not a deep and lasting shave. My initial experiences matched that, but last night I shaved at about 9:30. At that same time this morning I was in a car on my way to a medical appt and when I checked my face I thought, "Wow...still smooth." By the time I actually got to my appointment at 11am, I could definitely feel the stubble starting to show, but that's still a 12 hour shave.
Not bad, Overlander. Not bad at all.
Plus, of course, the Feather blade which unlocked that performance. I feel like the Feather + Overlander combo might be similar to the magical Feather + Tech combo that many of us know.
I know that @Phoenixkh found that a close shave from the Overlander was not a deep and lasting shave. My initial experiences matched that, but last night I shaved at about 9:30. At that same time this morning I was in a car on my way to a medical appt and when I checked my face I thought, "Wow...still smooth." By the time I actually got to my appointment at 11am, I could definitely feel the stubble starting to show, but that's still a 12 hour shave.
Not bad, Overlander. Not bad at all.
Plus, of course, the Feather blade which unlocked that performance. I feel like the Feather + Overlander combo might be similar to the magical Feather + Tech combo that many of us know.
It's nice to hear that you maybe getting a feel for the Overlander. The right razor with the right blade using the right technique may unlock the mysteries of life.... Or, not.
- Thread starter
- #650
Another shave with the Overlander / Feather combination on 48hrs growth, although it was a light 48hrs. That last shave was closer than I thought...
...and if that one was close, this one is craaaaazy close.
Partly that's because I've learned which areas are going to need special attention with this razor, but I suspect I am also still pressing down a little hard. That means extra close shaves, but I did overcook things slightly under my left jaw and it feels a bit sore. My left side always seems to be trickier (it's like the growth is tougher) but things were going so well I tried to get it as clean as the right hand side without exercising the additional caution that is usually needed. Chalk it up to "user error". AS feedback wasn't too bad, so I don't think it's serious. If I can just learn to trust the razor to do its job and ease back a little then we will really be cooking.
But still. Damn. Is there another category beyond BBS, because this is it?! It wouldn't surprise me if this turns out to be a 16hr shave.
In the course of a week I have gone from being a bit lukewarm on this razor to being rather enchanted by it. If I hadn't dropped the blade and dinked it whilst cleaning the razor, I would have just popped it back in and continued with the Overlander for next week.
As it is, it's time to select another set up for next week's SotW. With so many recently acquired razors to choose from, I feel like I should spread the love, but part of me is really tempted to spend another week with the Overlander / Feather set-up to continue exploring what it can do and refining my results.
Also, it's interesting to see that there is already some very definite patina forming on parts of the cap. Some bits seem more resistant than others, but I suspect it will all even out over time. I am not concerned.
...and if that one was close, this one is craaaaazy close.
Partly that's because I've learned which areas are going to need special attention with this razor, but I suspect I am also still pressing down a little hard. That means extra close shaves, but I did overcook things slightly under my left jaw and it feels a bit sore. My left side always seems to be trickier (it's like the growth is tougher) but things were going so well I tried to get it as clean as the right hand side without exercising the additional caution that is usually needed. Chalk it up to "user error". AS feedback wasn't too bad, so I don't think it's serious. If I can just learn to trust the razor to do its job and ease back a little then we will really be cooking.
But still. Damn. Is there another category beyond BBS, because this is it?! It wouldn't surprise me if this turns out to be a 16hr shave.
In the course of a week I have gone from being a bit lukewarm on this razor to being rather enchanted by it. If I hadn't dropped the blade and dinked it whilst cleaning the razor, I would have just popped it back in and continued with the Overlander for next week.
As it is, it's time to select another set up for next week's SotW. With so many recently acquired razors to choose from, I feel like I should spread the love, but part of me is really tempted to spend another week with the Overlander / Feather set-up to continue exploring what it can do and refining my results.
Also, it's interesting to see that there is already some very definite patina forming on parts of the cap. Some bits seem more resistant than others, but I suspect it will all even out over time. I am not concerned.
I'm right handed and have a hard time on the left side of my face just below the jaw line. I know my technique needs improvement and the fact that I am right handed trying to shave the left side of my face doesn't help.
For me there is - it’s Marble or Dolphinic depending on the mood.
Way to go with the Overlander. Glad things are working out for you.
- Thread starter
- #653
I'm right handed and have a hard time on the left side of my face just below the jaw line. I know my technique needs improvement and the fact that I am right handed trying to shave the left side of my face doesn't help.
I shave ambidextrously with a DE from having learned to use my offhand when shaving with straights and shavettes. I am definitely not as good with the left hand, but I am good enough for it not to be a significant factor as long as I am careful...at least I don't think so.
It genuinely does feel like strokes that are easy on the right hand side are not so easy on the left due the whiskers "pushing back" harder and being far more prone to snag the blade. When I let things grow out, I always feel like I have more "nylon whiskers" on the left. Who knows - if it is technique related, I am not sure quite where things are going wrong.
I would be interested to know if anyone else experiences similar things.
I am barely dexterous so I can offer no insight 
I thought dexterous was something chemists put in packaged food.
