Smoosh's Shaving Journey

[Smooshface]

I've had several shaves in here that I haven't put up, mainly because my son was born and while I had time to shave, I haven't really had time to journal. However, today's shave was my first that I got close to BBS!

Shave #10

Gillette Slim I3 Set to 4
Omega Synthetic Brush
Astra Superior Platinum (2)
AoS Lemon Pre-Shave Oil
TOBS Avocado
Nivea Sensitive Skin Balm

This was just a 2 pass shave, I went top to bottom for the first pass to trim everything down, then on my second pass, I went toward my nose and diagonally upward. I have hairs that both grow down and sideways, so this does a good job of hitting both in one stroke. I do have a couple spots where it isn't perfectly clear and I got 2 small nicks on my neck, but other than that, BBS all around, my face feels great and I'm proud of my accomplishment. My first great shave with a DE. :-D

 

[Smooshface]

Shave #11

Gillette Slim I3 Set to 5
Omega Synthetic Brush
Astra Superior Platinum (3)
Aveeno Active Naturals Men's Face Wash Scent Free
AoS Lemon Pre-Shave Oil
TOBS Avocado
Nivea Sensitive Skin Balm

Best shave of my life! BBS almost everywhere, (Just a few random hairs that got missed on the last pass) I did a 2 pass, one straight down, and then one inward and up at a diagonal. That second pass goes very close to ATG for most of my face and neck. My face feels great, though I did have slight irritation in the hollow of my neck, and a small little cluster of 3 nicks almost on top of each other on my chin. 1 bad swipe can do you in! Regardless, the shave was fantastic and I hands down think it's the best shave I've ever had. So proud of the results and what's more amazing to me is that I'm TAKING PRIDE in the shave. As crazy as that would have sounded to me a month ago, it's fantastic now. :-D

 

[StubbleTrouble]

Congrats on all (wee one and the shaving success), and thanks for posting the journal

You're about as far along as I am, I'd say

 

[Smooshface]

Thanks Stubble!

Shave #12

Gillette Slim I3 Set to 5
Omega Synthetic Brush
Astra Superior Platinum (4)
Aveeno Active Naturals Men's Face Wash Scent Free
AoS Lemon Pre-Shave Oil
AoS Sandalwood
Alum Block
Nivea Sensitive Skin Balm
Adidas Cool Energy AS

Best shave I've had, period. This went so well, I went 3 passes, it was comfortable and BBS. AoS is expensive, but it seems like a solid cream. I also got a new shaving mug, and it worked much better than my super smooth coffee cup mug and made a lather-splosion. I almost want to post some of the lather porn shots you see out on the forums.

 

[Smooshface]

Shave #13

Gillette Slim I3 Set to 5
Omega Synthetic Brush
Merkur Super Platinum (1)
Aveeno Active Naturals Men's Face Wash Scent Free
AoS Lemon Pre-Shave Oil
AoS Sandalwood
Alum Block
Nivea Sensitive Skin Balm
Adidas Cool Energy AS

Bad Merkur Bad! I do not like those blades, they seemed to miss a lot of the hair on my face even with the same passes, and tugged a bit as it went through. Nothing else in my setup changed, but I am NOT happy with the way that blade ran. I know I need to keep trying blades to find the best for my face and my razor, and I love the Astra's so far, the Merkur's are not for me though. I will finish out this blade to see if shaves 2 and 3 (and maybe 4) are better, but that first run was not satisfying.

 

[Smooshface]

Mmmm, I need to shave tomorrow, I've gone too long, the stubble is quite long and must be sheared. Tomorrow, the hair will DIE!

 

[ShavedFrank]

Your journal is a great read for a newbie like me who has been lurking and have a few supplies, but haven't actually shaven yet with a DE. So it took about 10 shaves until you sounded really happy, guess it takes time but eventually the technique is learned.

Do you typically take a hot shower and then soak your face with a towel? What's the pre-shave lotion like?

Any other newbie tips appreciated.

 

[Smooshface]

Thanks Frank, I generally take a shower then soak my face AND NECK with a hot towel (Neck is more important in my case, I think my face skin is made of leather). When I don't take the shower, I still soak with a hot towel, I Just refill the water on it more often. I like the lotion, but a lot of people don't seem to find it necessary. It's basically an extra layer on your skin to stop you from getting yourself and to add some glide. Supposedly it also helps the hair stand out better for shaving, but I think that's mostly malarkey.

The biggest newbie tip I've been given is no pressure. Set the razor on your skin, do not press it there at all, and let nothing but the weight of the razor do the shaving. No pressure from your hands at all. What ended up being the best for me, is I hold the razor in like a pincer grip, on either side of the handle, so that I'm not touching the back of the handle where I would typically apply pressure.

The second tip is, one pass, lather, one pass lather. Don't sit there and work an area, if there isn't lather, don't keep hitting a "rough spot". That's a recipe for upset skin and nicks. Instead, realize that the goal of a DE shave is to reduce hair through passes, and not to get it super smooth in one go.

The last tip I have is experiment, but only ever change 1 thing at a time. New blade? Keep everything else stuff you are already using. New Cream (This is where I get hit, I love to try creams/soaps already) then keep the same blade, razor, brush, and any other parts of your shave you are using.

I will say I am using two Art of Shaving items, but they are overpriced and you can easily get something else that will work as well for cheaper. However, since I have them... definitely going to use them, because they ARE quality products.

Take your time, expect your first shaves to take half an hour or more and be okay with that, and just meditate on the process and the scents and sounds of shaving. Enjoy it and make it a ritual. And really, make a journal like this, it has helped me to go back and see where I am sometimes to make changes. Really was a great idea.

 

[Smooshface]

Shave #14

Gillette Slim I3 Set to 5
Omega Synthetic Brush
Merkur Super Platinum (2)
Aveeno Active Naturals Men's Face Wash Scent Free
AoS Lemon Pre-Shave Oil
TOBS Avocado
Alum Block
Nivea Sensitive Skin Balm
Adidas Cool Energy AS

Merkur blade did much much better today. Maybe that was just unlucky shave #13. It still wasn't as nice as the Astras, but I was able to get a BBS shave with minimal effort. I did 2 passes everywhere with a 3rd pass on the neck to touch up the hollows. It was great, though I apparently missed a few on the corners of my mouth that I'm going to go spot get in a few minutes. I still love the TOBS, it's just a great cream that gives a fantastic shave. The only thing I got was a tiny little nick on my upper lip where I kept "touching up" a spot.

There is just so much enjoyment that I am getting out of these shaves, I LOVE using the DE and the Gillette was a fantastic purchase. I'd still like to pick up a fatboy and a super speed to test it out and I'd love to pick up a silvertip badger brush, but I am doing great with the supplies I have. I'd also like to get a full TOBS, as currently, I have the remains of a jar with quite a few shaves in it, but that won't last forever.

 

[Smooshface]

Gillette Slim I3 Set to 5
Omega Synthetic Brush
Merkur Super Platinum (3)
Aveeno Active Naturals Men's Face Wash Scent Free
The Shaving Yeti - Yeti Snot
Alum Block
Nivea Sensitive Skin Balm
Adidas Cool Energy AS

I was so excited to try the Yeti Snot that I forgot to put on my Preshave Oil, but regardless, I had a very good shave and only got 1 nick. It was on my upper lip and I over shaved that area again. So I have to talk about the Yeti Snot. COLD. COLD, and very COLD. The first pass was chilly and my nose cleared up. The second pass was even colder. I thought about doing a third, but my face was really really cold and I wasn't brave enough to try a third. I'm not a menthol freak, but that was a pretty fun shave and I felt extremely cool and refreshed. It was like splashing your face in cold water and running out into a snowy day. I will say that it was a great comfortable shave with good lather and the only down side was my face was a little too numb to tell when I nicked myself. If you like cold, you should try out the Yeti Snot, maybe I did it a little early in my shaving career since I haven't gotten my technique down to habit yet, but it was a great shave regardless.

 

[Smooshface]

Shave #17

Gillette Slim I3 Set to 4
Omega Synthetic Brush
Wilkinson Sword (1)
AoS Lemon Preshave Oil
Petal Pusher Fancies - Neroli
Alum Block
Nivea Sensitive Skin Balm
Adidas Cool Energy AS

Whoops missed my last shave, but here's the one for today.

I screwed up my lather, the PPF has lathered great in the past, but I screwed it up today and it was aenemic. I should have just relathered, and trashed that batch, but I didn't, and it's a testament to the PPF soap that it still shaved smooth even though I could see my face through the lather and only had enough for two passes. Even with the thin lather, I could run a pass and touch up before reapplying. It's a very impressive soap. I also have purchased an electric kettle, I've used it to warm up the water as my bathroom tap just doesn't get that hot. When coming from the kettle, my lathers are extremely warm and comfortable on my face, it may have been the smartest shaving thing I've done yet! Anyway, while I didn't enjoy the shave as much as normal due to lack of lather, it's still nice and smooth. I also decided while I'm still testing new blades (and learning) I'm turning my Slim back to 4 instead of 5, I can get aggressive once I feel extremely proficient and have a razor/blade combo that I'm very happy with.

The general report, 2 nicks on my jawline (Fixed by Alum of course), and I still have a little hair on my neck if I run my fingers E-W or W-E (depending on side), all other directions are BBS and BBS on the face all over. :-D

 

[quietearth]

Keep up the good work! Great read.

And ... Yeti Snot? There's actually a cream or soap called Yeti Snot? You learn something new every day.

 

[Smooshface]

Yes there is a yeti snot soap, it's a highly mentholated shaving soap for those who love the feeling of a cold shave. It actually seems to be the soap that I've had the best shaves with. If you are interested, they are just a couple of guys making soaps, and just opened a facebook page for their business due to demand for the Snot as well as their other scents.

https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Shaving-Yeti/436491363131744

 

[Smooshface]

Shave #18

Gillette Slim I3 Set to 4
Omega Synthetic Brush
Wilkinson Sword (2)
AoS Lemon Preshave Oil
The Shaving Yeti - Yeti Snot
Alum Block
Nivea Sensitive Skin Balm
Adidas Cool Energy AS

I have to say it, all my best shaves are coming from the Yeti Snot, not only is it insanely refreshing and invigorating in the morning, but it also gives a great shave. Truly enjoyed my morning shave this morning, opened my sinuses and really woke me up for the 2 1/2 hour drive I had to get to work. I'm also liking the Wilkinson Swords, I may have to test an Astra SP afterward to get a back to back comparison. It's definitely going on my purchase of samplers next time for narrowing down choices once I get done with the sampler I have.

Great shave, 1 little nick on the neck, and smoothest shave I've had yet.

 

[Smooshface]

Shave #19

Gillette Slim I3 Set to 4
Omega Synthetic Brush
Wilkinson Sword (3)
AoS Lemon Preshave Oil
Petal Pusher Fancies - Neroli Shave Soap
Alum Block
Adidas Cool Energy AS

Read an article on how to lather shave soaps, and man, did that help me make some great lather. My lather was unbelievably slick and thick and it was fantastic. The shave is smooth and great, unfortunately I have a "butt chin" and I really got myself trying to get the inside of the hollow. A subtle reminder that these blades are sharp. Regardless, this was a clean and smooth shave that felt great. The super warm lather from the kettle just feels so fantastic against my skin. I am loving these shaves. The Wilkinson's are really holding up too, it's a good shave that's close but not causing irritation, this is the best my neck has felt through these 3 shaves. This could be a result of the blade, or my technique improving. I'll try an Astra next again and see if these results hold up.

 

[Smooshface]

Shave #20

Gillette Slim I3 Set to 4
Omega Synthetic Brush
Wilkinson Sword (4)
AoS Lemon Preshave Oil
The Shaving Yeti - Yeti Snot
Alum Block
Nivea Sensitive Skin Balm
Adidas Cool Energy AS

Quick great shave, no nicks, the Wilkinson is still doing a great job, no tugging and on the fourth shave on the blade, which is different from the Astras. Those guys stopped liking my face at shave 4. But again, I've shaved a lot since those and learning curve may be having an effect on that too. My next blade will be an Astra again for comparison.

 

[Smooshface]

Shave #21

Gillette Slim (4)
Astra SP (1)
AoS Lemon Pre-Shave Oil
Trader Joe's honey mango shaving cream
Alum Block
Nivea Post Shave Balm

Ow! I thought my technique was spot on, but I sliced myself up. Maybe the Trader Joe's doesn't like bowl lathering. It took a decent amount of water to get it to lather, but when it did, it exploded. However, I don't feel like it greatly protected my face.

Anyone else used the Trader Joe's and am I wrong, was it maybe just me giving myself a bad shave?

 

[Smooshface]

Shave #22

Gillette Slim (5)
Astra SP (2)
AoS Lemon Pre-Shave Oil
AoS Sandalwood Shaving Cream
Alum Block
Nivea Post Shave Balm

Overwatered my cream at the start of my shave, barely emptied the brush before I started. I had to add another dollop in, and then WHOOSH out came lather. So once that was there, applied the lather and had a great shave. The Astra did really well this time, though I did nick my upper lip right under my nose and my Alum block seems to think I angered my neck a little bit. Regardless of that, the neck irritation is invisible and doesn't hurt to the touch, just to the Alum Block.

Made it a point through this shave to be so gentle that I didn't see my skin move when the razor hit it, just hear the hair getting sliced. There were some times where I could see the pressure (especially on my cheeks which don't seem to care what I do to them so I'm a little more careless there) but overall, an almost pressureless shave.

 

[Rnx070]

Great journal! The learning curve is a steep one at first. There's much for us newbs to gain from reading these!

 

[Smooshface]

Great journal! The learning curve is a steep one at first. There's much for us newbs to gain from reading these!

Thanks, I hope it helps!