- Joined
- Thursday September 26, 2013
- Location
- Halifax, Republic of Yorkshire
Thanks to some great advice and a wealth of knowledge here, this is my first DE shave ...
Quick back story ...
After a succession of awful shaves with a cartridge razor, I decided to look into exactly what I was doing wrong and whether I could get a decent shave somehow.
First, poor technique - good prep with a shower/hot water and Nuage oil, poor technique pressing too hard, scraping against the grain and too little/poor lather using gel from an aerosol and not lathering it up, not great equipment (Gillette Sensor Mach 3) and poor aftershave care using hot water/hot towel and then straight to eau de toilette! Yes ... blotchy skin, inflamed and a day later the start of a minefield of ingrowers.
Leave far too long because it hurts to shave or shave again with the same technique and compound the problem.
So, after some initial reading, I bought:
Merkur 23C (comes with one Merkur blade)
BBR Cream Sample
BBR Aftershave Balm Sample
... all arrived today.
Meanwhile, I already had a Wilkinson Sword brush, a nice porcelain bowl and with a new-found fascination for old scents picked up a bottle of Old Spice from the supermarket. Great! Now I read that these are no longer the "old" scents and I need to look to India and beyond for the originals. Thank goodness for the internet, eh?
While waiting, I've also ordered:
Gillette 7 O'Clock (Green) blades
Mixed pack of blades
Pure Badger brush ... I just can't bring myself to spend THAT MUCH on a brush ... but I know I will in due course
Tabac Aftershave Lotion ... for more "classic" smells
Brut Aftershave Lotion ... for even more "classic" smells
More fun to be had ...
So, how did it go?
Preparation: Shower, hot towels and Nuage Men oil
Cream: BBR Cream
Brush: Wilkinson Sword synthetic
Razor: Merkur 23C
Blade: Merkur Super
Aftershave: Old Spice ... later, E45 ... even later dabs of Witch Hazel
I did a four pass. With a face full of blotches, bumps and scars from ingrowers, recovering cuts from dry skin and general soreness under my nose and corners of my mouth, I intended to take it easy and go for a one pass with a couple of days to recover ... but ... it felt great after one pass and so I carried on ...
My lather was perfect. First application felt good but dried out on my face, so a drop more water and more whisking in the bowl, massaged into my face ... perfect. Nailed it! Like thick whipped cream.
Hot rinse and re-lather between passes ...
Second pass, great! Third pass, great. Two weepers - one on a raised scar and one nicked the tail end of a healing ingrower. No drama - the latter won't be an issue in future and the former, I'll know for next time.
Fourth pass ATG. Perfect! Finished the job off really well.
Hot rinse ...
Cold rinse and massage ...
Old Spice. What a difference! Yes, I read the article about the differences between aftershave, eau de toilette and eau de cologne and what a ditz I feel for doing it wrong for so long.
Still having a really dry face from those rubbish shaves, I gave a good helping of E45. I feel really good and I'm sure I'll feel even better in the morning.
Roll on a couple of days when I can go again ...
I have to say, I seem to have taken to this really easily and think I'll be quite happy with sharper blades, even a slant in due course to get the job done in fewer passes, maybe an open comb for my Grizzly Adams days.
Meanwhile, a question, or two:
First, being the first time I've done this, I found the Merkur blade fine. Where does it sit amongst other blades? What is it's character, compared?
Second, I love menthol. The pre-shave oil is lovely. Post-shave, I want more. So, is the Proraso stuff a good choice? I'm looking at the pre/post-shave cream and the aftershave lotion. Pre-shave, I'd use the cream, then a soap; post-shave, lotion for good days, cream for when I have dry skin. Is that a good idea, or is there something more menthol out there?
I'm going to grab Mitchell's Wool Fat Soap for no other reason than it's made in Bradford, my home town. That, and the great reputation for folks with sensitive and dry skin.
Third, I prefer to shave in the evenings, so the aftershave scent is not likely to be around in the morning. I like a spritz of eau de toilette in the morning. Should I avoid the face? Just neck and chest?
Cheers, all. Thanks to the folks who've directly replied to my earlier questions and for advice given. Thanks to all who've contributed to the forum so far - the collective knowledge is invaluable.
Here's to many more great shaves!
Quick back story ...
After a succession of awful shaves with a cartridge razor, I decided to look into exactly what I was doing wrong and whether I could get a decent shave somehow.
First, poor technique - good prep with a shower/hot water and Nuage oil, poor technique pressing too hard, scraping against the grain and too little/poor lather using gel from an aerosol and not lathering it up, not great equipment (Gillette Sensor Mach 3) and poor aftershave care using hot water/hot towel and then straight to eau de toilette! Yes ... blotchy skin, inflamed and a day later the start of a minefield of ingrowers.
Leave far too long because it hurts to shave or shave again with the same technique and compound the problem.
So, after some initial reading, I bought:
Merkur 23C (comes with one Merkur blade)
BBR Cream Sample
BBR Aftershave Balm Sample
... all arrived today.
Meanwhile, I already had a Wilkinson Sword brush, a nice porcelain bowl and with a new-found fascination for old scents picked up a bottle of Old Spice from the supermarket. Great! Now I read that these are no longer the "old" scents and I need to look to India and beyond for the originals. Thank goodness for the internet, eh?
While waiting, I've also ordered:
Gillette 7 O'Clock (Green) blades
Mixed pack of blades
Pure Badger brush ... I just can't bring myself to spend THAT MUCH on a brush ... but I know I will in due course
Tabac Aftershave Lotion ... for more "classic" smells
Brut Aftershave Lotion ... for even more "classic" smells
More fun to be had ...
So, how did it go?
Preparation: Shower, hot towels and Nuage Men oil
Cream: BBR Cream
Brush: Wilkinson Sword synthetic
Razor: Merkur 23C
Blade: Merkur Super
Aftershave: Old Spice ... later, E45 ... even later dabs of Witch Hazel
I did a four pass. With a face full of blotches, bumps and scars from ingrowers, recovering cuts from dry skin and general soreness under my nose and corners of my mouth, I intended to take it easy and go for a one pass with a couple of days to recover ... but ... it felt great after one pass and so I carried on ...
My lather was perfect. First application felt good but dried out on my face, so a drop more water and more whisking in the bowl, massaged into my face ... perfect. Nailed it! Like thick whipped cream.
Hot rinse and re-lather between passes ...
Second pass, great! Third pass, great. Two weepers - one on a raised scar and one nicked the tail end of a healing ingrower. No drama - the latter won't be an issue in future and the former, I'll know for next time.
Fourth pass ATG. Perfect! Finished the job off really well.
Hot rinse ...
Cold rinse and massage ...
Old Spice. What a difference! Yes, I read the article about the differences between aftershave, eau de toilette and eau de cologne and what a ditz I feel for doing it wrong for so long.
Still having a really dry face from those rubbish shaves, I gave a good helping of E45. I feel really good and I'm sure I'll feel even better in the morning.
Roll on a couple of days when I can go again ...
I have to say, I seem to have taken to this really easily and think I'll be quite happy with sharper blades, even a slant in due course to get the job done in fewer passes, maybe an open comb for my Grizzly Adams days.
Meanwhile, a question, or two:
First, being the first time I've done this, I found the Merkur blade fine. Where does it sit amongst other blades? What is it's character, compared?
Second, I love menthol. The pre-shave oil is lovely. Post-shave, I want more. So, is the Proraso stuff a good choice? I'm looking at the pre/post-shave cream and the aftershave lotion. Pre-shave, I'd use the cream, then a soap; post-shave, lotion for good days, cream for when I have dry skin. Is that a good idea, or is there something more menthol out there?
I'm going to grab Mitchell's Wool Fat Soap for no other reason than it's made in Bradford, my home town. That, and the great reputation for folks with sensitive and dry skin.
Third, I prefer to shave in the evenings, so the aftershave scent is not likely to be around in the morning. I like a spritz of eau de toilette in the morning. Should I avoid the face? Just neck and chest?
Cheers, all. Thanks to the folks who've directly replied to my earlier questions and for advice given. Thanks to all who've contributed to the forum so far - the collective knowledge is invaluable.
Here's to many more great shaves!