I think the last focus month helped a lot. My technique improved quite a bit actually and I think I'd be able to get good or at least non-lethal shaves from almost any razor now
Well said. Any man who says (thinks?) he is smart when it comes to women is fooling himself. My Dad always said, "Don't try to understand 'em, just enjoy 'em."
Thanks Neil, My lather was much better yesterday. I was thinking of skipping adding water to the puck tomorrow, but now I'll add the water and just load the brush more. I did 10 seconds today and 20 seconds yesterday. Maybe I'll go 30 tomorrow and see how it is. Somehow, I don't think I'll be consistent with my bowl and face lathering in 6 days using this soap. But that's OK. It's not a race, and this is a fine soap.
I never did post last night's shave. Here it is then I'll follow it with a post on tonight's shave. Frech faux frameback from the boxtour Rolls Razor 20mm WD synthetic Pre de Provence soap TSD signature AS Aqua Velva Ice Blue Pinauld's Citrus Musk Ok so I whipped up the PdP soap effortlessly during a face lather. I liked the proformance but not the smell. I'm going to pass on this soap for that reason alone. I had earlier in the night given the fauxframeback 50 laps on each side of my pasted board then 100 laps on my strop. I did notice that it has about an inch of sawtooth edge at the tip so when I shaved with it I tried to keep to the heel end since I don't have the hones to fix it. I managed to get it to hanging hair 3 before I tried a shave. I only did a single WTG pass but it wiped hair away without hesitation except when I got too near the last inch at the tip. Then it ripped at hair. I relathered and pulled out the rolls I had cleaned up and did a XTG pass. this was a truly sharp blade and it felt like I was just wiping off lather and I managed and stopped at a DFS easy. I tried out the Shave den signature AS splash but SWMBO told me it stunk so I washed it off and tried the Aqua Velva. Still a no go, back to the sink to wash again. Pinauld's Citrus Musk was a winner before so I tried that and finally I was allowed to get in bed for the night. The Citrus Musk is staying with me. I decided that I thought so much about the straight shave that I ignored the soap quite a bit so until the box gets sent off I'm going to still to DE and SE. I'll finish up this week with the box and start my straight focus this weekend. It wasn't that hard with the straight but I'm not entirely sure either of the ones at my disposal are shave ready. I'll true up my locally mined natural stone and see if its fine enough to put a good edge on after my king 1k/5k. I also have a barbers hone that is almost glass smooth. The corners are chipped some but one side is still in decent shape.
Tonight's shave Unknown 3 piece razor from the BoxTour box Wilkinson blade 20mm WD synthetic Proraso Blue Cream L'Oreal post shave lotion SPF15 I pulled out the sample tub of Proraso Blue and it had dried up in the Boxtour box so I added some very hot water to it (drops at a time) while stirring it with a small spatula(came with my cream sampler from TSD shop) until it looked like the CO Bigalow that was also in the box. I smeared some on my face and went to work with a damp brush. Minutes later there was a rich well scented lather nearly overflowing my face. I used some painting strokes to this it out some on my face( it was very thick and fluffy). I started with a WTG pass and the razor was loud. It had a thick seemingly cast head so I didn't expect the sound. It felt aggressive but not to the point where I thought I would hurt myself. I had some trouble getting the blade aligned but it took me maybe 2 extra minutes to get the blade in and straight. I relatered and went for XTG. Blood appeared but not from the sharp edge of the blade. I managed to nick the bottom of my left ear with the side of the blade sticking out of the razor. it had a small hook shaped burr at a corner that hung and tore at my ear while getting the jawline pass. Ouch! Styptic stopped it and I finished the pass. I relathered to give it an ATG pass. It still felt aggressive but it didn't catch like some razors do ATG. I managed to accidentally catch the baby with no touchups. My fiance wanted to try this razor before it went out. I loaded and used one of her preferred blades for that very reason. I never did like Wilkinson much but it was amazing in this razor. I didn't like the handle. I felt that the length was nice but it was lightweight aluminium with very shallow checkering that looked scratched in instead of cut. It felt slick in my hand while wet. I finished up with one of the last aftershaves on my list to try from the box the L'Oreal. I liked the moisturizer in it and I liked tthat it was a sunscreen as well. I smelled alot of sunscreen smell in it but under that is a very chocolaty sweet smell. I don't know if I'll keep this yet but its going on my buy list for next year. The Proraso Blue is also on the list. Since this was the last razor I wanted to try from the box I'll be using some neglected razors from my den for the rest of my box time. The '59 Fat Boy and the Schick type B.
Just letting y'all know, I did as you told me and revisited the Proraso red after not liking it. I definitely have refined my lathering skills as I was able to produce I nice, very protective lather, instead of the paste I was getting. Truly impressed. I had a streak of bad shaves this week, and really need that solid shave tonight with the proraso and the trusty Slim. I believe the slim is my favorite razor now.
I just added a tub into the Nationwide Box Tour box. I liked it but it didn't like me. I love the white and green and I tried the blue cream today and it was great as well.
I have the green also, only been lathered once. I couldn't get behind the menthol during the shave. I prefer it after the shave.
I want to M-bomb the green and make a super lather with the cream and soap before I send the box back out. I like menthol almost as much as @crackstar.
Did my De Fitch razor shave tonight. You can read about the slight bloodshed here. http://theshaveden.com/forums/threads/defitch-group-review-thread.48127/page-6#post-942065 At least I was using Russian steel, so Neal and the cartel are pleased, and as everybody knows, whenever someone cuts themself with a Russian blade, an angel takes a shot of vodka.
Menthol is a selective anaesthetic, and will change your ability to perceive blade angle. I discourage menthol for learning. If you stick with the Slim until it's "shave in the dark" automatic, it will pay dividends when you try new razors.