I learned to give certain setups a another try. I started out wetshaving with an EJ89. I tried a number of blades with it and it was my go to razor for nearly a year. Then I started using an NDC super speed and used it almost exclusively with Astra SPs or Polsilver SIs. I went back to the Jagger with a Polsilver and just had a few really rough, unpleasant shaves. I wrote the Jagger off as no good for me anymore. Today I gave it another shot with an Astra SP and remembered why I like the razor so much in the first place. A solid comfortable shave. So, in short, circle back to things every now and then. You might find you underestimated a product, technique, or combination.
Learned that slowing down can actually make things faster. Took my time on a a 3 pass shave and by paying more attention on each pass, ended up with better shave. The shave also took less time because the need for touch ups went down. Not bad for a work morning.
I learned that there may be no such thing as too aggressive when it comes to my face. My head on the other hand... I can get excellent one-pass WTG shaves on my face with just about any aggressive razor I pick up. I have a Fatboy with custom blade gaps, so my 7 setting is equivalent to a normal 9. Shaved my head with it yesterday wide open and while the shave was good, I did end up with a couple of nicks and just a touch of irritation. Shaved my face with it this morning and got an excellent DFS with a single pass WTG. It seems like I can accomplish that on my face with any razor I pick up. I don't think I've ever nicked my face, and I can only remember getting any irritation once. I've tried the Fatboy wide open, a NEW LC with 3 shims, DE89 with a single shim, R41, 37c, Shovel Head SE. Very similar face results with all of them. I really wish I could figure out how to do the same on my head.
How about Mild and Sharp combo such a Tech with a Lab or Feather? You could also try the more aggressive razors with smoother blades such as using a Red with the NEW, not that it is a super aggressive razor. I find that sharper blades in that chew me up but the RED is a good choice for that razor and that the Labs do me good in a Tech. I only go for two passes on my head. One ATG and the second ATG/XTG as in front to back. Btw how does your FB have such settings?
Good stuff - I'm nearing the end of a puck. I won't reorder though. While LPL is good, there are far better soaps at less cost out there - like Barrister and Mann, or Mikes Natural, or MWF. I've learned that no matter how seducing the reviews, I'm better off just avoiding Veggie soaps.
As to the first, I have tried the mild razor sharp blade combo. I either get irritation or poor results. The R41, the wide open Fatboy, and the shimmed DE89 have given the best results so far, but I still need 2 passes on my head to get the same 1 pass result on my face. As to the second, Captain Murphy over at B&B is the man.
Gentlemen, from my last shave... I learned a better way to stretch the skin on my neck for shaving. Kudos to a post by @macaronus for helping me out!
I also learned that when using g AOS shave soap alone does not give my face proper pertection and not be used with a straight razor, when used with Arco or king emporium shave stick seems to give better pertection for straight razors. I also found to be true with both VDH & Williams shave pucks.
Over the last few days, I've learned that the Kent BK4 brush is too small for daily use. It makes a better travel brush for me.
I was pressed for time this morning and my shave was just a 1-pass with the following; Barbasol - Yellow Gillette New (Long Comb) w/Derby Blade Osma Alum Aqua Velva I got a very nice, close comfortable shave (CCS). Barbasol still makes a great product!
