March 3
Shavette Shave #3
Got a surprise in the mail yesterday, from your favorite source for blipvert-free news and mine, Bill
@Edison Carter : a surprise that is going to signify a change in cast for my March Madness rule--the Focus R21 Shavette.
Gear
- Razor: Focus R21 Shavette
- Blade: Personna Blue (1)
- Brush: Stirling Kong
- Soap: Soap Commander “Drive”
- AS: Clubman Original
- Balm: Stirling Glacial Unscented
View attachment 219633
The Shave
I stuck with just two passes today and almost no touch ups. First pass WTG, and the second pass a hybrid of XTG and AGT--whatever was easiest to perform for the particular area I was working on. Lots of skin stretching!
Got some good advice yesterday about focusing on technique rather than results, and I learned something almost immediately today: my last two shaves did nothing to help me learn how to hold the razor and approach my passes. I was too focused on getting things smooth to pay attention to HOW I was getting them smooth. And so I keep fumbling around with the razor trying to find an angle that worked. After today, I already have a better feel for how I’m holding the shavette, and I expect things will get even easier now that I’m more closely paying attention.
At the end of the day, though, results are an efficacious benchmark to gauge improvement. Today’s results--CCS with less irritation than yesterday, and one small weeper on the chin. Winner!
Thoughts on the Focus R21 Shavette
Pros
First off, holding onto this shavette is much easier than trying to hang on to my Utopia Care (UC) shavette. There is a slight tackiness to the paint that resists slipping, and it allows me hold it in a slightly more relaxed manner. The blade insert also covers the corners of the blade, so I am much less likely to nick myself because of toe/heel issues--as discussed yesterday, that is a mixed blessing.
Cons
Downsides? Covering the corners instills an unearned sense of confidence. Also, the R21 is considerably lighter than the UC shavette, so I can’t always let the weight of the shavette do the cutting for me. That will take some adjusting to, but it’s nothing major.
After today’s run with the R21, I’ve decided to stick with it. Covering the toe and heel is a bit like riding with training wheels, so I think I will compensate by learning to shave ambidextrously. For me, the biggest issue I have shaving with my left hand is that when I look in the mirror, sometimes I move the shavette to the opposite side I intend to--which is frustrating. Where it gets dicey is my knee-jerk reaction to move it back in the direction I WANT it to go in. This creates a brief sawing motion... with an open blade.
Now I don’t consider myself an expert on shavetteology--not by a long shot--but to my untutored understanding, it seems like sawing back and forth with an open blade would be a bad thing. Feel free to correct me if I’m wrong; as always I’m open to feedback. Add potential heel/toe stabbing/slicing into the mix, and you can see why I decided to just stick with my dominant hand. The R21 largely takes that fear off the table, so bringing lefty into the shave game seems appropriate. We’ll see tomorrow.
And I’ll see you all tomorrow. I have enjoyed all your reports and hope you all enjoy your evening!
3 down, 97 to go...
... and Roll Tide!
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