What I learned from my last shave is that it was like the one before it, and the one before that, and the one before that... ad infinitum. In other words, my technique is perfected and second nature. The only way I will get a lousy shave now is by being a careless dolt and shaving too quickly.
I've learned that I actually have the patience to wait on a long waiting list for a razor that has a reputation as being one of the best. I'm so thankful I did! Something I knew was that the membership here at TSD will go the extra mile to help and educate a fellow member. For that I'm very thankful.
Congrats on that! That's my holy grail. I've only been at this three months, but in that time I'm beginning to see that early advice I got here makes sense: - technique, technique, technique - if you master technique, you'll be able to enjoy any shave, with any equipment. (unless of course, one becomes "a careless dolt and shaving too quickly.") Thanks for the affirmation!
After using a synthetic Fauxmere brush while traveling this week, I learned that it really churns out lather quickly! (Face lather) I purchased it and liked its size as a travel brush, I may have to rethink that or purchase another, larger one for home.
I've become a big fan of synthetic brushes, so much so as to relegate my badgers to third choice on the daily, "Which brush to use today?" list, after boars and syns.
My take is that it is best to have one brush for travel and one brush for home. That way if you - heaven forbid - lose the travel brush on the road, you always have your home brush when you get back.
Me too. Put my money where my mouth is and PIF'd my only Badger to a guy who bowl lathers. Plisson Synthetic brushes are the best face lather brush I've tried. Badger just doesn't work as well for me.
From my last shave, it's more of what I am GRADUALLY learning...that is, that as I get closer to the bottom of my Rise Super Foamy, a little more of the original(50's) Rise scent comes out. At the beginning, it's all reformulation(smell-wise).
Even with your "perfect" razor/blade set up, one must NOT rush a shave. First time in probably 6 months I had 3 weepers due to trying to hurry.
That the handle really can make a difference to the shave. Recently added a Thin Handle Tech, to buddy up with my Fat Handle Tech. Was surprised at it feeling quite different.
That different soaps require different lather techniques in my hard water. I was finding that loading up a dryer brush works best with my tallow soaps like Stirling and Mikes. I need a much wetter brush for my glycerin soaps like Conk and HTGAM.
1. That old English Gillette Techs still deliver a great shave. 2. Get in the bathroom before your daughter or wait forever! Regards, Chris
I'm still learning that I need to stop after 3 passes! Even if I'm in the "shaving groove" I have to stop at 3 passes. If I don't I'll rip up my lower left side of my neck, I'll most definitely get razor burn, and the alum block will scream at me. STOP @ 3..
So, I kinda had an aha moment today during my shave. My cheeks are sensitive to ingrowns if I shave too close but my neck couldn't care less, go fish. So I've been experimenting on my cheeks with number of passes and direction of passes but nothing really seems to work that well. Today I tried a WTG pass on my cheeks using quite a bit more pressure than the wet shaving handbook recommends and I got a really close and smooth shave without having to resort to other directions that put me at risk. Thought I'd pass it along.
I've learned that 2 x WTG before going to the XTG and ATG goes a long way when it has been many days since my last shave. That extra WTG really helps smooth out the remaining passes.