Out of focus: Before I resume my focus I need to use a big heavy blade after three days with a thin hollow ground razor. Today's razor is Hart 7/8 with a 1/4 grind. I used LASS soap and for some reason I just could not get the lather right, it has been a good performer in the past. The edge on this razor is very sharp so I decided to not temp fate and just stopped at 3 passes skipping the ATG pass. Today discretion was selected over valor. In the end there was just a tickle from the alum and DFS, not BBS. It was a shame the lather was sub par give the keenness of the edge. Irritation A Closeness B+ Smoothness A Sharpness A+
So tonight was the second DE shave of the month. It went ok, no real bleeders. So I pose this before the group: When I ride the cap, i feel like I'm not getting as good of a shave as I would if I just played around with the angle. While I'm sure riding the cap isn't the best for everyone, I'm wondering if I should A) Either try a different blade or B) A different razor. I did pickup a Maggard's handle and a couple of heads (OC and Aggressive) and wonder if I should give the aggressive one a go. Thoughts?
My thoughts on that kind of run like this: Riding the cap is not necessarily the optimal angle for every razor, or spot on your face. What it does, is allow you to get the most comfortable use out of most every razor. Whenever I pick up a razor I haven't used before, or one I haven't used in a long time, it is back to the cap. Depending on the razor, that may change. If you are riding the cap with your razor, and are getting comfortable shaves; aren't cutting yourself to shreds, the next step would be to work on different angles to see which one works best. I think you will find that milder razors NEED that shallow angle more than more efficient ones. An aggressive razor can cut a lot of whiskers with steeper angle. You might also get more irritation that way. Only one way to find out. Is it only certain areas that aren't getting cut close enough? These could be spots that might just need a little "buffing" to get them smooth. I have one spot, high up in the middle of my cheek, that except with very aggressive razors, I have to buff it a bit to get it. Experiment a little. By all means, try the 3A. I thought it was pretty moderate. Just don't let an aggressive head be a substitute for good form. That's an easy mistake. One that I made for quite some time.
Based on my last post and photo, I am not sure I would recommend an aggressive razor unless your are rather experienced. Of course if you like blood, go for it!
Wednesday, March 8, 2017 Shavemac ATG LE Flat Top Route 66 Cranberry Citrus Asylum Evolution Feather HS #1 Fine L'Orange Noir Penhaligon's Blenheim Bouquet
I apologize for asking, but how many shaves have you had with your current setup? I fall in the camp that you can get a decent shave from just about any razor, once you have good technique. I fully admit that I get better shaves from some razors than others, but I have only found one so far I could not get a good shave from, the MMOC, and I suspect that I would be proficient enough with it now that I have improved my technique. I would say if you can get acceptable enough results with your current setup, then stick with it until you have at least 30 shaves with it. Focus on your technique, especially the blade angles. As you and Jared noted, sometimes riding the cap is not the best for a given area or razor. Keep working with the angles to find what works for you.
You were in a hurry. It happens to everyone. I don't think it is an all bad idea to use an aggressive razor when you are new. They punish bad form. You shave properly or you are bloody and sore. Like throwing somebody into the deep end of the pool.
Ouch! You're official now! If new converts have interest in SR, I try to get them to Schick G quickly. Here's the riddle. Aggressive is more gentle overall. I feel like you're not going to have easy BBS with mild razors, as you self-assess your beard as heavy. When you master the Fendrihan (heavy and aggressive) you are gonna be one happy BBS guy!
Right under the chin requires the most buffing. The jawline back by the ear is probably the second spot that requires buffing. I pull taunt, but it still requires work, more then what a 3 pass shave will give. I don't keep count, but I'm probably not quite double there. Of course when I first started I will say I didn't have good technique. This month I am truly focusing on it, but like I said I feel like I'm having to do more touch ups and buffing with good technique. I'm not getting as many bleeders as before, and I am doing much better on my upper lip. And tonight the alum only set fire to my jaw line, so I'm happy with that. And I'm not saying the razor isn't giving me a decent shave, but I don't want to settle for decent. We will see what the rest of the month brings. I've got one more shave with this current blade and am going to switch it up then since I do have some samples to go through. Then we will see what April brings.
As you continue to get better, you will find that you get better shaves with less irritation and often less passes. For a few months when I started, in reality closer to a year, I would have to do three passes to get a DFS or possibly better. Almost a year into this, as I started really reading the comments in this thread about riding the cap, I decided I would really focus on that. I had assumed that since I wasn't cutting myself and my shaves felt better than with carts I had good technique. When I really focused on riding the cap, I discovered what DE razors could really do. For me they all of the sudden cut more easily and efficiently. I got much closer shaves with even less irritation. It was amazing. Now I can pull off an easy DFS on two passes, and one if I really take my time and focus. A BBS is certainly achievable on two passes with some extra care. Keep at it and work on your technique, and you might find some similar results.
Dang, your pic reminded me, I used up my sample of Fahrenheit. I do like it and plan to order a bottle.
Wednesday will be day one comparing the Gem OCMM to the Schick C1 I've been using since the beginning of March.
March Madness Barbasol and Barber Blade Edition Day Seven Lazy. Just one fun and one XTG. Change up on the AS. Call it good! Barbasol and Shark Saloon y'all, that is all. Other than that...all is quiet in Colorado. Have a wonderful Wednesday!
March Madness & Spring Cleaning!! March 7 Razor - Steampunk New LC Blade - (2) Soap - Stirling Sandalwood Brush - Jayaruh #46 Post - Alum, Nivea One more easy night before heading back to the pain stick. Just want to make sure it's all smooth sailing. Grabbed the NewLC with the Voskhod still aboard and the Stirling with the JR46. Easiest lather ever! I'm beginning to get the hang of the synthetic knot. I'm calling it three full passes but was more like two full and some extended touch ups. I didn't do a full third lather, but spot lathered for where I needed. The baby is in the house and all's well. Great way to end my weekend. Prior to my shave I did my weekly head shave. Merkur 23C and Astra SP with the VdH Deluxe soap and Boar brush. My soap is nearly gone and my plan was to discontinue that soap in my den. I have so much Arko that I figured it would be a smart and easy switch. I normally only use the VdH to head shave so seemed silly to buy a puck just for that. Then, this happened......... The bowl was full of lather as well. And, it's usually this way with this soap. Now, there are other soaps (including Arko) that lather just as easily and as well and are also cheap. So really, there shouldn't be any problem dropping this one from my lineup. Something tells me I won't though. Anyway, have a great night and a better tomorrow!
