Great shave, Paul! Place the razor head flat against your cheek with the handle parallel to the floor. Then lower the handle until you feel the razor begin to shave. That’s the angle you want to maintain throughout the shave. Remember, no pressure, let the weight of the head do the work.
That's a great start with the Red Tip, Paul. From your description, it sounds like you just need to dial in the angle. You'll get there. Great idea to work the DE razor into your shave gradually. I'm a visual thinker, and this might help you. Take a close look at the razor head with the blade loaded in it. Ideally you want the blade edge parallel to the surface of your skin. As the blade moves along, it will ideally cut off the hair close to skin level without damaging the skin surface. You will be able to tell by feel when you have the correct angle. It's easier to do this on flat areas (facets of the diamond), and that's why skin stretching and using a light touch helps. You obviously want to avoid letting loose skin "bunch up" in front of the blade's cutting edge...that's a recipe for nicks and cuts. When the blade angle is not right, you're either scraping your skin or not cutting any hair. You're shooting for somewhere in the middle. Here are some helpful resources. Keep going. You're on the right track, and it will take some practice.
The photos are great Charlie, thanks. Well, it wasn't so great(the start with the Red Tip), but I could feel SOME action. Some trumps none. But I'll go by this tomorrow.
It's a learned skill, Paul, for all of us. Practice should get you there. My first few DE shaves were pretty crummy, but I couldn't make it down Aisle 12 these days without causing quite a ruckus. I'd be the talk of Fruits and Vegetables.
Sincerely hope it works for you Clint. I've looked at their line of in ear devices for noise reduction several times over the past couple years, just haven't jumped on it as my options have sufficed. First heard about Flare Audio from my other acquisition disorder website, head-fi.org (welcome to head-fi, sorry about your wallet). I bought into the Flare Audio Pro 2 BT system a few years ago, and it still completely blows away most every product I've tried in it's category. Look forward to some feedback once you've had some time with their Calmer line. The reviews and information on their blog about it is very interesting & promising.
Paul, you need to go on youtube and look at shavers using a RedTip. Great shave btw! It's unfortunate that none of us live near you to show you the way. I think if you actually see it live then I think you would have more success!
Permit me to communicate this about the last part of your comment: LOL. But seriously, yes....this baby is going to take some serious practice.
Thanks Dave. We all just want to see @Paul Turner succeed with his birth quarter Red Tip. Have a great day, my friend. I always enjoy seeing the cool goodies in your SOTD posts.
Thanks Jeff! I am in a class right now. They are quietly doing a science assignment and then I have to go over some of the questions in a few min. Today's an easy gig! I am with this group tomorrow and all next week and maybe beyond! Lol! I have made so much dinero that I may be able to by another Max. Lol! On second thought, I need to restrain myself! Lol!
January 28th Ariana & Evans SS & AS - Vanille de Tabac Ever Ready 100 w/Synth Flat Top Rex Ambassador Astra SP Phoenix Artisan Accoutrements Star Jelly ASB An often overlooked soap and after shave combo this morning, but a welcome pleasant fragrance on a super cold morning for our neck of the woods. Vanille de Tabac is a warm dark spicy aroma, an aged pipe tobacco in a leather pouch fragrance with a hint of vanilla, the spice (to my nose) coming from an allspice/cinnamon/slight clove mix. The soap is very dark in the tub, so I choose a synthetic knot to avoid any problems with color absorption in a traditional knot. Nice thick lather from 30 seconds of loading, definitely tan in sheen & appearance. Super slick face feel while shaving. Also hadn't used the Ambassador in a while, loaded up an Astra Superior Platinum blade, dialed the RA to 6. BBS in 2 passes, 1 nick on the ATG stroke along the jawline, not enough skin stretching apparently, probably would've been avoided by using a shorter buffing stroke option. The RA is a super aggressive beast of a safety razor compared to most other safeties I rotate through, requires a very light swipe pressure to get the job done. Tons of heft in this bad boy, plenty of blade feel, exposure & skin engagement with the dial on 6.....the shaving sensation w/the Astra SP in combo with the dial at 6 reminds me of shaving with the Drew Dick 5/8 'extra full hollow' straight razor. Finished with a pump of PAA's after shave balm called Star Jelly, followed by a palmful of A&E's matching after shave. This AS lasts and lasts, looking forward to whiffs of it all day. Hope everyone has an awesome Thursday!
