What did we learn from our last shaves?

I still hate Williams.

Yes, and it was confirmed this morning.
I had a puck of Williams under my bathroom cabinet that is probably close to three years old. Last time I used it was for Williams Week back in 2013.

First, it is true what they say - leave a puck of Williams to sit out and the scent will go away. It did, which left me with a soap with just the slightest of skeeter-be-gone smell. There's a reason I have 30+ different soaps, all with a different scent - I like all the different scents! I don't want a scentless soap!! And I'm not going to put up with a soap that smells like a urinal cake.

Second, I'll be honest, I whipped up a rich, thick, fantastic looking lather. Then came the second pass... nothing. Williams up to its old disappearing tricks. I managed to squeeze out enough to get my three passes done, but I hate thin, wimpy shave soap.

In my opinion (again, my opinion) this soap is not even worth the $1.09 I paid for it.

For those of you who love it, more power to ya!!

 

Astra Superior Platinum= Hell of a blade.

 

When shaving with a straight, and in a hurry, don't try and get too close to the mouth.

 

This mornings shave reinforced my dislike for the Gem Featherweight. It just isn't working for me. I am much fonder of the very early Gem offerings.

Oh, and Proraso Red, more and more it is becoming a second tier soap for me. It's still good, just not great.

Of course, I've been wrong before.

 

I think a lot of my irritation issues on my head in the past may have been brush burn and not pressure. I recently went back to head lathering after a couple month hiatus. This time with an Omega S brush rather than my previous boars. It's by far my softest brush, even softer than my Super Badger. As much as I missed head lathering, even the S Brush now feels prickly to me and a little rough. I thought I preferred boars due to their stiffness and backbone. Now I'm starting to wonder. I may have to pick up one of those Fine synthetic brushes that people have been talking about. Or maybe I'll spluge a little and just grab a Plisson.

 

When it comes to shaving...simple, uncomplicated is better.

 

I'm hearing the knots are nearly identical. That Fine Angel Hair is my next brush. I'm not a brush collecting type of guy and have heen completely satisfied with my Plisson. I use it everyday and the few other brushes I own have been sequestered.

 

I'm glad you have identified that with your brush. I believe I have similar issues and now palm lather and apply by hand.

 

I learned that Cornel Conk's takes less water in the brush than the Proraso I've been used to, but even so, it's a nice shave. I like it.

 

Ingram shave cream...I like it. I had forgotten I bought it several months ago. No Buy July saw me doing a general purge of the gear and I ran across the new tube (among some other forgotten purchases). It's a virtually unscented cream with a menthol kick. Very nice.

Alpa Windsor- a very subtle aftershave scent after the initial big warm up. Definitely a keeper.

 

Dial back my Fatboy every once in a while to give my face a break. I dont always need to be Mr. Clean

 

Derbys work best on my face. Period. I started with a couple Derbys that came with my Jagger, then my sample pack came in. While other blades were okay, I never got that same shave I got with the Derbys. I put another in last night for this morning's shave, and I may just never use another blade...

 

That's good, they're inexpensive and plentiful. I wish they worked as well for me.

 

Yup, I just ordered 200 off Amazon for 16 bucks. Nice.

 

I learned to check that the doors on the Fatboy are closed properly before shaving.

 

How much smoother my str8 shaves are when I use my Dirigo Blue PSO.
I had a brain fart (sure glad they don't stink) this morning and forgot to apply it.

 

PSO can certainly make a difference, particularly for me if I have several day's growth.
My beard/whiskers isnt/aren't thick or dense enough to require daily PSO use for straight razor shaves, but I appreciate the extra 'lube' on those heavier growth days.

 

Slow and easy, while enjoying the sensation. Lol

 

I spent more time this morning figuring out my beard growth on my neck, man was it well worth the time! I thought I had it all figured out, I was way wrong, spend time mapping out your beard growth! It's well worth it.

 

I should walk through these posts from time to time. You always learn something. And it's only 72 pages by now.