What did we learn from our last shaves?

I learned I should look at my previous SOTD post before going in to shave, so that I'm not using tools I intended to replace.

 

I learned that when you don't remember how many shaves a blade has on it then change it. Weeper city.

 

I learned that The Beach from Synergy might be my easiest soap to lather. Not sure if it's the soap itself, or maybe the wide tin, but if I load it like my other soaps I get WAY more lather than I should.

 

I learned that I'm not one of the chosen. But not really one of the haters either. Speaking about The Veg of course.

 

I learned that the Neutrogena shave cream doesn't lather near as nice as their sensitive skin version.
Also, I used the MTO for the second time since I bought it(with dorco blade(4)), and it CAN give a decent shave. If I only have one days growth. It is so mild still that I had to do ATG to get everything smooth.

 

I learned that I DO like Voskhod blades after all! Tried them once and found no love in my SS. Like them in my EJ DE89! Good blades.

 

I learned that no razor is too aggressive to shim. I added a shim to my 37c today and it actually smoothed it out a bit.

I think I also learned that while I'm nervous about moving into straights, based on my DE and SE preferences, that seems to be where I'm headed for optimum comfort anyway.

 

I must add that there is a bit of a learning curve for the straight razor but it's nothing to be scared about. Please don't do what I did and assume a shavette is suitable for learning the art of straight razor shaving because it is not the same thing. They are separate tools.

 

Thanks. I thought I might start out with a shavette, but I was given a 3/4 half hollow as a PIF, honed and shave-tested by a member of another forum. I'm just waiting on my strop to arrive.

 

I learned that I need to slow down, take my time and pay extra attention to angle and pressure.

My tortured face is nearly healed

 

I never knew what "light pressure" was, either, until I began truly shaving with light pressure.

 

Dial up a Fatboy to 9 or pick up an R41. Only took me about two shaves to figure out what it meant.

 

Amen brother

 

That my fatboy is not fussy when it comes to blade choice. I might just try something unused from my noob sample pack from way back (Dec).

 

Yes the Gillette Slim is a bit more aggressive then I am used to so I should not chase the baby - he bites. Experienced some razor burn on my neck just below my chin. Will dial it back a notch and sloooowww it down

 

I did the same thing. I did not like them in my Merkur 34C but loved it in the tech. I also think the one I used in the Merkur may have been a dud. Will give it another chance at some point.

 

I learned that I can only get one shave out of a feather.

 

I re-learned that no matter how good the razor, blade or I am...if the soap/lather doesn't have good protection it can still result in a poor shave.

 

Many a discussion has been had as to what is most important to a good shave.

 

I'd say it's just like taking a photo - you have the triangle of factors;
- shutter speed,
- aperture, and
- ISO

They all need to work together to produce what you want and not one is more important than the others - actually, often they rely/depend on eachother.

The same goes for shaving where, to me, the triangle is;
- Razor,
- Blade,
- Lather