September 30 Day Focus--Blade Search
Sept 19 and 21 (Sorry for the ridiculously long post below!)
Razor -- Schick G Injector
Blade -- Schick (China)
Brush -- VDH Boar
Soap -- Stirling MITA and Lemon Chill
Post -- Cold water splash, styptic pencil
and WH
I was going to say I took a little detour this weekend and today with my blade search focus, but I don't think it is a detour at all (definitely not @
NCoxSTL and crazy Ivan stuff
). I finally received injector blades for the Schick injectors I picked up a couple weeks back at an antique store. The razors cleaned up very nicely and so I decided to given them a spin. I am definitely trying a new blade so it still falls in the blade sample search for this month, plus it allows me to join in a little on the SEptember focus.
I spent quite a while reading the posts earlier this month when everyone was getting going with their SE razors and the injectors in particular. Especially those by @
Herm2502, @
Rufus T. , @
Bama Samurai and @
Norcalnewb. My main take away is exactly what @
Bama Samurai mentioned in a previous post . . . angle angle angle and no pressure. I really appreciated @
Rufus T. post number
163. He laid out a good framework for getting started with the injector (and probably any razor).
So Saturday was day 1 with the G. I started off like was suggested with the head of the razor flat to my cheeks and started my pass. Slowly adjusting the angle and listening for feedback. I noticed it did not take much adjustment of the angle before feedback started. I continued slight adjustment until I got some good solid feedback. From there I continued with my shave as normal. The first pass WTG on face and XTG on neck was a constant work in progress to find and keep the right angle. Every pass I began with the head flat and then moved out to the proper angle. When I moved to the second pass, I was more comfortable with the angle. The second pass ATG everywhere seemed to do much better than the first in terms of removal of growth, and I think this is at least partially attributable to angle. I think I had cardinal rule number one down, find the angle and hold it.
One major difference as was mentioned but I really did not appreciate until using the G was the difference in weight between it and my L6 DE razor. The G is significantly lighter. Unfortunately, I think this meant I violated cardinal rule number 2, no pressure. I found myself multiple times pressing too hard because the razor just does not have any weight to it. Where the L6 DE razor did a lot of the work for me, and I was comfortable with it doing the work, I felt like I needed to help the Schick G along for some reason. Unfortunately, the added pressure resulted in irritation and one weeper right at the crease above my chin.
I did end up with a good shave. Did not do any touch ups because there was definitely more irritation than usual and that one weeper, but it was a good close shave. Probably DFS - so not great but definitely not bad.
Today's shave with the G meant applying the lessons learned on Saturday. ANGLE ANGLE ANGLE and NO PRESSURE!! I got up early so I would have time to be patient and really pay attention to what I was doing and how I was doing it. Lathered up with my Glacial Lemon Chill for menthol Monday and got going. First pass WTG face and XTG neck. I took my time on my cheeks to really pay attention to getting the angle. I did what worked for @
Rufus T. and started flat, moved the angle until hearing velcro, and then backed off a bit. Proceeded to do the first pass in this manner. I really had to stop myself from applying pressure with this razor. I can tell this is going to be the hardest part for me. First pass went well, no weepers or blood and minimal irritation. Unfortunately it did not do the best job of hair reduction either.
On to the second pass, ATG all over. This time I decided to keep the angle where I heard velcro and not back off. This is the sound of the angle that works best for me with a DE razor so I thought I would try a similar sound with the G. The angle is definitely different but the sound is very similar. Again, made certain not to apply pressure. It is especially hard on my neck and chin which is my thickest and coarsest hair. I finished the second pass and checked my face after the cold water shave. The irritation was significantly reduced from Saturday and no weepers or blood occurred. The shave was very good and required only minimal touch up. Again, found the angle and no pressure. Finished the touch up on my jaw line and chin. Ended the day with a DFS to DFS+ shave! Very happy with this shave as it also had minimal irritation. It was less irritation than I got with my L6 using Derby or Personna Red blades, but not irritation free like the L6 with the Ladas or GSB blades.
My "detour" into the SE arena will continue this week. I really want to get comfortable with the G before moving back to try a few more blades on my L6. Just need to keep repeating to myself angle and no pressure, angle and no pressure, angle and no pressure . . .
View attachment 77834
Click to expand...
