I have learned a ton shaving for a year. I tried it before and gave it up as dangerous, but this time I stuck with it for a year and found I leaned a ton even when I thought I had plateaued . Particularly confidence. I have no concern that I am going to fillet my face at this point because I know what I am doing well enough to get great results. I still use a cartridge under my nose I admit. Anyway some aspects wet shaving is for everyone even if you use a cartridge … hear me out. You wouldn’t eat mashed potatoes with your fingers and now I find applying shave foam without a brush every bit as wrong. I have a lot more control with just my basic medium sized Omega synthetic brush and basic stainless steel small bowl. I can mix up some Ivory soap and make a lather richer than most shave goos, which are only advantageous because they take no time to later at all. Either way a shave brush and bowl also allow me to control the consistency where I start thick but thin it a bit for the last pass. Shave soaps are amazing! Almost all are better than the caned studs, and when traveling I take a Harry’s cartridge on my carry on. Even if you use a cartridge as your daily driver get a brush and some shave soap! I leaned equipment doesn’t need to be expensive. I had a Van Der Hagen and it was okay for a while. I now have some $30 Parker and am thinking about a nice Rockwell Stainless, but you can shave great in a $15 safety razor! It’s worth a try to everybody for that price; I think. I leaned how to lather fast and that I can always dip for more soap or add a splash of water… It provides a lot of control. Recently I have been doing a lot of face lathers if I am in a rush, and if works very well. The brush even holds enough extra to reapply for subsequent passes! Most of all I leaned to try new things to see what I like, and I leaned it is not one size fits all even for me. For one day growth I like a Gillette or Astra blade, or even a cartridge if the growth is absolutely minimal. For two days of growth hands down a cartridge is torture that tugs and clogs. As for the DE at that point I begin to lean toward a Feather blade. My beard is thick and course and it is great to not have tugging. I also leaned to soak with a hot wash cloth for at least 15 seconds before a shave. I also keep a styptic pencil handy for stop weepers, but a good shave has not a drop of blood. The trick is simply to be gentle and get the angle right (why I use a cartridge under my nose). What do others think and notice?
I think you would find an old Gillette Super Speed an improvement over your current razor. The shave would be similar, but the build quality was much better on the Gillette's.
I think you're doing great. Shaving is 95% technique, and 5% razor and software. Even when I use my electric shavers I use information I learned from traditional shaving. For fun try an injector razor next, I guarantee it'll shave like a cartridge razor and leave you nick free. Sent from my SM-A526U using Tapatalk
What is this "rush" you speak of? If I don't have time to enjoy my shave my way, I don't shave. Glad to hear you're getting things figured out and your shaves are getting better
Last time I shaved it was like 1 AM and I was dead tired. Just saying it wasn't about taking a lot of time but rather getting a result.
If it takes me longer than 10 minutes to shave, even with a straight razor, I'm going slow. I am one of those "ah, that's good enough" type guys, though.
@wristwatchb I get up at 4:15 to be out the door for work at 6:45. I hate to rush. Those 2-1/2 hours give me time to shower, enjoy my shave, get dressed, spend some in prayer and Bible reading, eat breakfast, brush my teeth and go, all without rushing I learned a long time ago--alarm clocks are adjustable
