Now you're getting down to it. "..focus on technique and muscle memory." That's it in a nutshell. Keep the variables to a minimum. Use one blade, brush, soap and in your case, plate. And yes, it is an adventure.
Day 7: Thu @730AM There was a little visible growth this morning. So I decided to have a shave. Prep: Stirling Spice Bath Soap Shaving Soap: RazoRock xXx Shaving Bowl: Fine Lather Bowl Brush: RazorRock Bruce Handle Plissoft (24 mm x 57 mm) Razor: Rockwell 6S (#3) Blade: Gillette Silver Blue (3) Direction: WTG - XTG - ATG Splash: Stirling Glacial Lemon Chill Balm: Stirling Piacenza I was focusing on using my off-hand when shaving the left side of my face. Other than it feeling a little unfamiliar, it all went very well. Very comfortable and smooth shave. I did have a couple of small weepers (left lower throat and right upper lip) but am very happy with he results. Still working on angle and drawing the blade with as lite a touch as possible. 1 quick note: Stirling soaps seem to be a little slicker than RazoRock xXx. I love both, but have a little smoother shave with less irritation using Stirling Soaps, just my observation (YMMV).
Day 7: Thu @830PM Decided to clean up a bit after this evenings shower. Nice, slow and tame. Prep: Stirling Bay Rum Bath Soap Shaving Soap: Stirling Glacial Lemon Chill Shaving Bowl: Fine Lather Bowl Brush: RazorRock Bruce Handle Plissoft (24 mm x 57 mm) Razor: Rockwell 6S (#3) Blade: Gillette Silver Blue (4) Direction: WTG - ATG Balm: Stirling Piacenza There was just enough stubble to warrant a shave. So only a 2 pass shave tonight. Also tried a sample of the Stirling Bay Rum Bath Soap. While I really like Stirling's soaps, I just didn't care too much for this bath soap. The shave was uneventful, which is good. The Glacial Lemon Chill felt really good and was very soothing for my slightly irritated face. Since my face was already frozen, I just applied a post shave balm.
Day 8: Fri @700PM Got a few new things in, so time to change it up a bit. Prep: Cold Water Rinse Shaving Soap: Cella Shaving Bowl: Fine Lather Bowl Brush: RazorRock Chubby #506 Handle Extra Silvertip Badger (27.5 mm x 51 mm) Razor: Rockwell 6S (#3) Blade: Astra SP (1) Direction: WTG - XTG - ATG Splash: Stirling Bergamot & Lavender (+Menthol) 1st time using Cella. The lather was tremendous! So thick and slick, truly amazing. The Astra SP blade just slipped over my face and the stubble evaporated. Not a BBS shave but a DFS for sure. This was my best feeling shave to date. I also used a new Silvertip Badger brush from RazoRock. This had a very different feel from my RazoRock Plissoft Bruce brush. Not bad, just different. Not scratchy , but much stiffer (more backbone). I really felt like it was cleaning my face and not just applying the lather. I think I like it better than my Synthetic. I will just need a few more days of using it to get a real idea of what this brush feels like.
I had the same experience. But, the RR Badger needs some break in time. It will get softer with use. Mine had a bit of funk that took awhile to go away, too. I think it is a pretty good deal for silvertip badger brush, but I'm like you; I like my RR Plissoft brush better. One thing that is true for me about all of my badger brushes is that they seem to create a bit more lather than my synthetics.
Day 9: Sat @800AM Morning clean up... Prep: Cold Water Rinse Shaving Soap: TOBS Sandalwood (Cream) Shaving Bowl: Fine Lather Bowl Brush: RazorRock Chubby #506 Handle Extra Silvertip Badger (27.5 mm x 51 mm) Razor: Rockwell 6S (#3) Blade: Astra SP (2) Direction: WTG - WTG - WTG Splash: Stirling Glacial Lemon Chill Balm: Stirling Piacenza I know I said this before with other Soaps but WOW! TOBS is really, really nice. Lather was great. Slickness was fantastic. After shave feel was awesome! A was so in the moment and things were feeling so good, I did not want to risk any irritation and only shaved WTG all 3 passes this morning (there wasn't much growth anyway). The brush also is performing great. I really like the feel of it on my face and I can sense it will just get better with every use.
Day 9: Sat @900pm Evening clean up and new soap test... Prep: Cold Water Rinse Shaving Soap: RazoRock One X Shaving Bowl: Fine Lather Bowl Brush: RazorRock Chubby #506 Handle Extra Silvertip Badger (27.5 mm x 51 mm) Razor: Rockwell 6S (#3) Blade: Astra SP (3) Direction: WTG - WTG - ATG Splash: Stirling Glacial Lemon Chill Balm: Stirling Piacenza So tonight I tried the RazoRock One X Soap and it was great! The Scent was nice. The shave slickness was good. The post shave fell was very nice. The biggest change I made, which started last night, was rinsing my razor much more frequently. If I saw any soap building up underneath the razor I would flip to the other side and then when I saw the same on the other side, I would rinse the razor. I could hear much more feedback this way and was completely irritation free after the second pass. I felt so good after the second pass I did an ATG 3rd pass, without any irritation as well! This resulted in a BBS shave without even trying. One of the reasons (excuses) I am shaving twice a day now is to break in my new Badger Brush quicker. At least that's what I am telling myself. I have decided; I will not be going back to my synthetic brush. This brush is awesome on my face!
Day 10: Sun @930pm Evening clean up... Prep: Bergamot & Lavender Bath Soap Shaving Soap: TOBS Sandalwood Shaving Bowl: Fine Lather Bowl Brush: RazorRock Chubby #506 Handle Extra Silvertip Badger (27.5 mm x 51 mm) Razor: Rockwell 6S (#3) Blade: Astra SP (4) Direction: WTG - WTG - WTG Splash: Stirling Glacial Lemon Chill Balm: Stirling Piacenza Just another perfect shave. TOBS is awesome. Fantastic lather, incredible slickness and a post shave feel that is excellent. I had no irritation and a shave that would be classified as DFS. The Silvertip Badger Brush is getting better and better. There is no animal smell and it lathers like a champ! I have been so excited about all the new soaps I am using I have forgotten to comment about the Rockwell razor. Lets just say; it's so smooth and trouble free, it is no longer a factor in any problems I have with my shaves.
That's a great notion as I feel the same. The 6S once mastered is no longer a part of the equation. If you get a bad shave, something else is amiss. Not the razor.
Day 11: Mon @1230PM Afternoon indulgence... Prep: Warm Water Rinse Shaving Soap: Stirling Piacenza Shaving Bowl: Fine Lather Bowl Brush: RazorRock Chubby #506 Handle Extra Silvertip Badger (27.5 mm x 51 mm) Razor: Rockwell 6S (#3) Blade: Astra SP (5) Direction: WTG - WTG - WTG Splash: Stirling Bergamot & Lavender (+Menthol) Was working from home and noticed a bit of growth, didn't shave this morning, so I decided to treat myself to a shave. What can I say that I haven't said 10 times before? Soap = Awesome Brush = Incredible Razor = A+++ Splash = Nice finish Even with 5 shaves on the Astra SP; it is performing very well.
Day 12: Tue @3PM Another afternoon shave... Prep: Warm Water Rinse Shaving Soap: Cella Shaving Bowl: Fine Lather Bowl Brush: RazorRock Chubby #506 Handle Extra Silvertip Badger (27.5 mm x 51 mm) Razor: Rockwell 6S (#3) Blade: Astra SP (6) Direction: WTG - WTG - WTG Splash: Stirling Glacial Lemon Chill While Cella is a very good performer (lather, slickness, aftershave feel). I am finding the scent starting to annoy me. Maybe it is just me today (not feeling great). The shave was perfect and I cannot believe how well an Astra SP with 6 shaves on it is still performing. In all honesty, it feels like it is getting better.
Day 13: Wed @645AM After shower shave... Prep: Stirling Bergamot & Lavender Bath Soap Shaving Soap: Tabac Shaving Bowl: Fine Lather Bowl Brush: RazorRock Chubby #506 Handle Extra Silvertip Badger (27.5 mm x 51 mm) Razor: Rockwell 6S (#3) Blade: Astra SP (7) Direction: WTG - XTG - WTG Splash: Stirling Glacial Lemon Chill Balm: Stirling Piacenza I really love Tabac! If I could only have 1 soap and it was Tabac, I would have no problem with it. Performs great and I really like the scent. This Astra SP blade just keeps on going.
Day 13: Wed @1050PM Evening shave... Prep: Stirling Bergamot & Lavender Bath Soap Shaving Soap: Tabac Shaving Bowl: Fine Lather Bowl Brush: RazorRock Chubby #506 Handle Extra Silvertip Badger (27.5 mm x 51 mm) Razor: Rockwell 6S (#3) Blade: Gillette SB (1) Direction: WTG - XTG - WTG Splash: Stirling Bergamot & Lavender (+Menthol) Balm: Stirling Piacenza Changed blades, just because it had been a week. I would rather sacrifice a blade that has 1 or 2 more shaves left in it than the comfort of my face. Another fantastic shave. The RazoRock Chubby Silvertip Badger is really awesome. I will more than likely PIF the RazoRock Plissoft Bruce brush I have soon as I do not see myself using another brush. It's kind of sad... I have found the 1 razor I like and will definitely be using for everyday shaves. I also have found the 1 brush I will be using for every shave. All that is left to discover are soaps. And in my limited experience (13 different soaps), TABAC seems to be the best performer of the lot. With Stirling a close second.
Trying out new razors is the name of my game. I have the R0ckwell, which is my no,1 by far, but today I shaved with the Gillette new RFB. It was a different experience and well worth skipping using the 6S, even if the shave wasn't as outstanding as it would have been with the Rockwell.
Keep it going Kokak, I'm really enjoying reading your journey! Plus you are giving some really good info on the soaps. I'm pretty much a Stirling guy although I have XXX and some sample pucks of Love My Skin which I really like but LMS while VERY slick just doesn't have the cushion that Stirling has. You have me wanting to try TOBS and Tabac now!
Both are outstanding performers. Of the 2, if you're not planning on getting both at the same time, I would say get TABAC. There is a reason everyone who has shaved with it sings it's praises.