A newbie’s journey into DE shaving

[Guido75]

Date	03.08.2024
366 daily shaves	216/366

Razor	Blade	Brush
Greencult 2.0 II SB	Dorco Titan (8)	Simpson T3
Preshave	Soap	Postshave
Cold splash KCG Face Wash	Mike’s Natural Soaps Barbershop (146)	Cold splash Proraso Green Balm

Passes	WTG XTG ATG and touch up
Effectiveness	FIS
8.75/10 (BBS-)	7/10 (Cut)

Notes:

Another smooth run with the GC2.II. A face and head shave again with the GC2 attending to both. Very nice!

Bowl lathered again to dust things up and then finish on my face. This seems to work best for this brush. Had just enough lather to complete my face and head shave in one go.

Technique was very much constant with previous shaves. I did cut myself due to erroneous usage of the razor. So I need to deduct points for that, although nothing gashing or syptic. Just annoyed it happened. Otherwise it was a nice shave.

 

[BigAlVista]

I have been fiddling around with Aaron’s @Flanders excellent rating system for rating shaves beyond the regular BBS, DFS, et cetera. As I mentioned this might help me in better positioning my comfort scores. I think we are working towards the same goal, but he is definitely better and more eloquent in his descriptions.

I have done two things: 1) reverse score his ratings to match my other ratings, and 2) I added some rating down the bottom to complete the 10-scale system I normally use. I thought about slightly modifying some of the wordings and their ratings. As some of you know I can take a beating even though I have sensitive skin so aftershave setting to me isn’t a bad thing. Particularly the wording with rating 8 where Aaron mentioned no aftershave feedback would potentially mean I will never score above 7 which sounds counterintuitive to me and my shaving experience. I also tend not to use alum. For now I will consider my aftershave feedback to be refreshing.

I might be inclined to drop my quality rating altogether, but I am not sure yet.

Muchos kudos to @Flanders for putting into words what I could not.

Rating	Description
10+	Regardless of closeness, a shave that feels nothing more than washing my face. Hairs regrow straight out the next day.
10	This feels like shaving, but doesn't seem to have any more impact on my face than 10+, it is assumed that it does though. No sense of pulling hair in the slightest, all silent slicing.
9	This is the goal, exceeding it is not easy. This has a tactile feel to the hairs being remove whereas 10+ and 10 don't. The impact is probably no more than 9, still little aftershave feedback.
8	Now we are getting into every day shaves and I can handle this every day no problem. I should not have anything more than a slight tightening upon applying alum and not before, it should not last much beyond the shave. Aftershave should have no sting and only feel refreshing.
7	This would be the other every day rating when things don't go completely optimal or I want to push the closeness. I may have some slight tightening without alum and momentary zing from the aftershave. Alum would cancel that out when applied first. Nothing should last more than an hour, no itchy feeling.
6	Just above average impact, no long term consequences. Strangely, this one may not have any skin tightening because we are starting to get into actual damage instead of a merely close shave. This might manifest later in the day as slightly flakey skin, but most post shave feedback is similar to 7. This may have some lasting feeling beyond 1 hour, but not more than a few. Shaves with hair pulling go here, this will cause itchiness after the shave.
5	Not comfortable and it's obvious! No major damage that will prevent shaving the next day, but it will still be felt and care must be taken. A slight sting from the alum and/or the after shave is to be expected and some kind of discomfort after the shave as well. Now we get into the level of damage than produces red splotches and lines, possibly actual bumps on my neck.
4	Minor damage that will not prevent shaving the next day, care must be taken to avoid opening up anything. Jodel levels from the alum and/or the after shave is present and discomfort after the shave as well. This would include multiple weepers that do not close after rinsing.
3	Major damage that might prevent shaving the next day, care must definitely be taken to avoid opening up anything. Jodel levels from the alum and/or the after shave is present and discomfort after the shave as well. This would include actual nicks and cuts.
2-1	Stop shaving and recoup. Period. Consider using a cart or an electric razor for some periods to give myself time for healing.

His FIS system is really helpful in the overall evaluation.

 

[BigAlVista]

Date	03.08.2024
366 daily shaves	216/366

Razor	Blade	Brush
Greencult 2.0 II SB	Dorco Titan (8)	Simpson T3
Preshave	Soap	Postshave
Cold splash KCG Face Wash	Mike’s Natural Soaps Barbershop (146)	Cold splash Proraso Green Balm

Passes	WTG XTG ATG and touch up
Effectiveness	FIS
8.75/10 (BBS-)	7/10 (Cut)

Notes:

Another smooth run with the GC2.II. A face and head shave again with the GC2 attending to both. Very nice!

Bowl lathered again to dust things up and then finish on my face. This seems to work best for this brush. Had just enough lather to complete my face and head shave in one go.

Technique was very much constant with previous shaves. I did cut myself due to erroneous usage of the razor. So I need to deduct points for that, although nothing gashing or syptic. Just annoyed it happened. Otherwise it was a nice shave.

Hey, Guido. Going over your posts, you seem to really like the GC2. What other razor would you compare it to?

 

[Guido75]

Hey, Guido. Going over your posts, you seem to really like the GC2. What other razor would you compare it to?

I do Mark. It’s a nice allrounder. I would compare it very similar or close to the Blackbird and Karve.

Razor wars - comparing razors in my den

It was time for another one: Gillette New Improved versus Razorine Flatboy here. Earlier comparisons: Karve CB OC-C versus Eclipse Red Ring here. NEW Raised Flat Bottom and the Matador Deluxe here. Mühle Rocca and Mühle R89 here. Greencult 1.0 versus Swing here. R89 versus KCG versus Tech...

www.badgerandblade.com

Although I did learn after my posts that the exposure of the Blackbird as measured by B&B is .22mm (rather than the Kickstarter stats of .11mm - but Blackland never mentioned they altered their initial design) closer to the Greencult 1* than the Greencult 2. So I need to do some more shaves with that one too.

I still think the GC2.II is a viable alternative to those two and also to my Ti95. I know that’s high praise, but Greencult is a very well built razor.

*) The GC1 is an effective monster (.95mm gap with .25mm exposure) that demands my attention, but it is brutal on stubble. Blade dependency is there admittedly. Nacet seems to be a very good match.

 

[Guido75]

His FIS system is really helpful in the overall evaluation.

Absolutely! I have made some further adjustments yesterday to incorporate my quality (damage) score into the ratings effectively leaving me with FIS and end result scores. I have recalibrated all my previous stats for comparison purposes.

Rating	Label	Description
10	GlideFest	This is the goal. This has a tactile feel to the hairs being removed, but no sense of pulling at all. All smooth slicing and gliding. The impact is probably no more than 9. Aftershave feels refreshing. Also without mishaps. Perfectly clean.
9	Butterysmooth	I can handle this every day no problem. This is butterysmooth and I should not have anything more than a slight tightening upon applying alum and not before, it should not last much beyond the shave. Aftershave should have no sting and only feel refreshing. There might be one or two red pin needle spots.
8	Smooth	This would be the other every day rating when things don't go completely optimal or I want to push the closeness. I may have some slight tightening without alum and momentary zing from the aftershave. Alum would cancel that out when applied first. Nothing should last more than an hour, no itchy feeling. I might have had a weeper that closed during final rinsing.
7	Comfortable	Just above average impact, no long term consequences. Strangely, this one may not have any skin tightening because we are starting to get into actual damage instead of a merely close shave. This might manifest later in the day as slightly flakey skin, but most post shave feedback is similar to 6. This may have some lasting feeling beyond 1 hour, but not more than a few. Shaves with hair pulling go here, this will cause itchiness after the shave. There might also be more than one weeper, but again closed during final rinsing.
6	Tolerable	Not comfortable and it's obvious! No major damage that will prevent shaving the next day, but it will still be felt and care must be taken. A slight sting from the alum and/or the after shave is to be expected and some kind of discomfort after the shave as well. Now we get into the level of damage than produces red splotches and lines, possibly actual bumps on my neck. Definitely when I nick myself.
5	Harsh	Minor damage that will not prevent shaving the next day, care must be taken to avoid opening up anything. Jodel levels from the alum and/or the after shave is present and discomfort after the shave as well. This would include multiple weepers that do not close after rinsing.
4	Uncomfortable	Major damage that might prevent shaving the next day, care must definitely be taken to avoid opening up anything. Jodel levels from the alum and/or the after shave is present and discomfort after the shave as well. This would include cuts.
3	Painful	Stop shaving and recoup. Presence of a divot or divots. Consider using a cart for some periods to give myself time for healing.
2	Hurting	Stop shaving and recoup. This is open slices territory. Consider switching to an electric razor for some periods.
1	Unbearable	Stop shaving. Period. No need to be Sweeney. Consider growing a beard.

I have dropped the highest two as these will never ever be attained by me and I want perspective (something I can achieve). That required some adjusting of the wording, but still pretty much in spirit of the original system. I also added labels as a form of shorthand in my SOTD reports. This shorthand is an updated version of my previous comfort scores.

 

[BigAlVista]

I do Mark. It’s a nice allrounder. I would compare it very similar or close to the Blackbird and Karve.

Razor wars - comparing razors in my den

It was time for another one: Gillette New Improved versus Razorine Flatboy here. Earlier comparisons: Karve CB OC-C versus Eclipse Red Ring here. NEW Raised Flat Bottom and the Matador Deluxe here. Mühle Rocca and Mühle R89 here. Greencult 1.0 versus Swing here. R89 versus KCG versus Tech...

www.badgerandblade.com

Although I did learn after my posts that the exposure of the Blackbird as measured by B&B is .22mm (rather than the Kickstarter stats of .11mm - but Blackland never mentioned they altered their initial design) closer to the Greencult 1* than the Greencult 2. So I need to do some more shaves with that one too.

I still think the GC2.II is a viable alternative to those two and also to my Ti95. I know that’s high praise, but Greencult is a very well built razor.

*) The GC1 is an effective monster (.95mm gap with .25mm exposure) that demands my attention, but it is brutal on stubble. Blade dependency is there admittedly. Nacet seems to be a very good match.

Perfect, Guido. Thanks!

 

[Guido75]

Date	04.08.2024
366 daily shaves	217/366

Razor	Blade	Brush
Mühle R89	Dorco Titan (9)	Simpson T3
Preshave	Soap	Postshave
Cold splash KCG Face Wash	Mike’s Natural Soaps Barbershop (147)	Cold splash Proraso Green Balm

Effectiveness	Facial Impact Score FIS
8.75/10 (BBS-)	10/10 (GlideFest)

Notes:

A marvellous shave with the R89 this morning. I would be perfectly ok with having these shaved every morning!

A great allrounder as well that gets the job very well done in combination with this equally wonderful blade.

Face lathering with the T3 again and keeping the brush less moist. This produced the most consistent and also cushioning lather for me.

Regular passes and touch ups. Diagonal still works very well WTG as does starting in the chin with subsequently doing my jaw lines. Although lifting my skin works very well XTG in attacking my stubble on the jaw line, I also sense this increases my chances of ingrown hairs which I normally am void of. So I skipped it today and did some slanted extra regular strokes instead. Worked like a charm!

Enjoy your shave today!

 

[Guido75]

Date	05.08.2024
366 daily shaves	218/366

Razor	Blade	Brush
Mühle R89	Dorco Titan (10)	Simpson T3
Preshave	Soap	Postshave
Cold splash KCG Face Wash	Mike’s Natural Soaps Barbershop (148)	Cold splash Proraso Green Balm

Effectiveness	Facial Impact Score FIS™
8.75/10 (BBS-)	10/10 (GlideFest)

Notes:

Eat sleep shave repeat. Fabulous shave again. I know we call this an entry razor or maybe even a beginners razor, but it has given me nothing but great shaves so far. Yesterday and today were actually spectacular. And that’s even without my usual prep. This razor is autopilot - not entirely autopilot, but that’s good!!

Lathering as yesterday again to see if that can be repeated as well. It did. Solid lather, slightly dry but much better than previous days. And interestingly the T3 started dispersing water during the third pass while I did not dunk it in water after the first face lathering. But no water on the second pass. What?!

Technique steadily locked in. And the R89 gives you the impression it is about your technique and it allows you to use your technique. Finding your way to the prefect angle without reaping havoc.

Enjoy your shave today!

 

[thombrogan]

it has given me nothing but great shaves so far.

It’s the rose gold handle. More power

 

[Guido75]

Date	06.08.2024
366 daily shaves	219/366

Razor	Blade	Brush
Mühle R89	Dorco Titan (11)	Simpson T3
Preshave	Soap	Postshave
Cold splash KCG Face Wash	Mike’s Natural Soaps Barbershop (149)	Cold splash Proraso Green Balm

Effectiveness	Facial Impact Score FIS™
8.5/10 (DFS+++)	10/10 (GlideFest)

Notes:

Initially I had intended to switch back to the GC2.II for today’s shave, but the combination of Titan and R89 made me decide otherwise. Another great shave. The R89 feels very nimble and easy to use while it does a magnificent job in bringing home the smoothness together with this double digit Dorco.

Loaded for 12 counts as this seems the sweet spot for this brush. It’s my most used brush according to my stats, but that doesn’t mean it’s my favourite.

Technique really sank in and I am finding this pattern to be intuitive and effective for my face and beard map. Very comfortable shaves so far. Slightly less effective execution so a little lower score compared to yesterday.

Enjoy your shave today!

 

[Guido75]

Date	07.08.2024
366 daily shaves	220/366

Razor	Blade	Brush
Greencult 2.0 II SB	Dorco Titan (12)	Simpson T3
Preshave	Soap	Postshave
Cold splash KCG Face Wash	Mike’s Natural Soaps Barbershop (150)	Cold splash Proraso Green Balm

Effectiveness	Facial Impact Score FIS™
8.5/10 (DFS+++)	8.5/10 (Smooth to butterysmooth)

Notes:

So after yesterday opted for the GC2.II today. The blade continues to perform and the combination is very strong today. Easy three passes with relatively minor touch ups. Could have stopped at two passes if I wanted to (but I seem to never do). The GC.II remains a solid daily driver and bearing in mind that there other baseplates would make a perfect system.

Used the T3 slightly dryer today (not on purpose) and couldn’t get my lather going. I thought it was the amount of soap so I loaded some more. Nothing. Thin film at best. So added some water and BOOM!! Lather! (Mike Szorady).

Mike’s at the 150 shaves mark and still has plenty of soap left although the ring is growing significantly in size. Will easily finish August with it and I am assuming September will be its final month.

Technique on par and a step up from yesterday. If my ATG was more effective BBS, but now only close to it. I backed off in the final parts of the shave as it felt rougher as also evidenced by a weeper I retained post rinse. Better safe than soar(y).

Enjoy your shave today!

 

[mgweatherly]

Better safe than soar(y)

 

[Guido75]

Date	08.08.2024
366 daily shaves	221/366

Razor	Blade	Brush
Mühle R89	Dorco Titan (13)	Simpson T3
Preshave	Soap	Postshave
Cold splash KCG Face Wash	Mike’s Natural Soaps Barbershop (151)	Cold splash Proraso Green Balm

Effectiveness	Facial Impact Score FIS™
8.5/10 (DFS+++)	9/10 (Butterysmooth)

Notes:

A relaxing no nonsense autopilot shave this morning. And so well matched together. Blade and razor working in unison. Blade performance felt slightly less effective this time. Will check tomorrow if it’s on the way out. So far (with actually 2 head shaves uncounted for) the blade is giving an excellent performance.

Lather was ok for what I can generate with the T3. I like it and I also know I can do better.

Technique pretty much a copy of yesterday. Worked like a charm! No specific adjustments made.

Enjoy your shave today!

 

[cranewarrior]

Date	08.08.2024
366 daily shaves	221/366

Razor	Blade	Brush
Mühle R89	Dorco Titan (13)	Simpson T3
Preshave	Soap	Postshave
Cold splash KCG Face Wash	Mike’s Natural Soaps Barbershop (151)	Cold splash Proraso Green Balm

Effectiveness	Facial Impact Score FIS™
8.5/10 (DFS+++)	9/10 (Butterysmooth)

Notes:

A relaxing no nonsense autopilot shave this morning. And so well matched together. Blade and razor working in unison. Blade performance felt slightly less effective this time. Will check tomorrow if it’s on the way out. So far (with actually 2 head shaves uncounted for) the blade is giving an excellent performance.

Lather was ok for what I can generate with the T3. I like it and I also know I can do better.

Technique pretty much a copy of yesterday. Worked like a charm! No specific adjustments made.

Enjoy your shave today!

13 uses! Wow. Can't wait to try these.

 

[Guido75]

13 uses! Wow. Can't wait to try these.

Counting headshaves I would say 15 even, so that’s a record for me as well if I recall correctly.

 

[cranewarrior]

Counting headshaves I would say 15 even, so that’s a record for me as well if I recall correctly.

How do you like the Titans vs. the ST300 and the Prime? I've only used the ST300 and it's very good for me, way better than the extremely low AMZ price would suggest it would be. I don't know I don't use them more frequently.

 

[Guido75]

How do you like the Titans vs. the ST300 and the Prime? I've only used the ST300 and it's very good for me, way better than the extremely low AMZ price would suggest it would be. I don't know I don't use them more frequently.

Titans are a tad better than the ST300, but I like those too. They are punching above their weight for sure so I agree with you on that one.

Primes are better statistically for me, but I have used only 2 blades of those. The difference was in the first shave. Titan can be a bit harsh as the coating needs to wear off a little (my theory) whereas the Prime is smooth out of the gate. But overall Titans are a favourite of mine. Which is a purely emotional thing, because in my stats it doesn’t make the top 10 even. I just like them very much as they appear to be very consistent over different razors. Which is what I prefer blades to be.

 

[Flanders]

It looks like today's sharpness testing backs up your experience with the Titans, they are very durable. What is puzzling, again, is that they are nearly as sharp as a Nacet(under the coating I guess). Most people consider these milder blades and that might be due to the coating, I admit that I haven't pushed one past where the coating sheds so I only know how they behave initially. The resistance doesn't make one think that they should use one of these past 4 shaves.

 

[Guido75]

The resistance doesn't make one think that they should use one of these past 4 shaves.

My unscientifical approach or view is that a decent blade should be able to make it at least to 7 daily shaves. Before that would imply less than average for me and therefore a lesser blade.

But I need to factor in shaving skill development (i.e time spend DE shaving in months or years). Nacet is one of those blades that in the beginning I couldn’t get past 5 shaves and these weren’t my most favourite shaves (15 shaves using 4 blades so far). Made me believe (and I am sometimes still confirmed of that view) that stainless blades are less suitable for me. I much prefer platinum blades. But my more recent shaves with Nacet have been better than before, so there might be a change of season for me that I can only attribute to better technique.

 

[Guido75]

Date	09.08.2024
366 daily shaves	222/366

Razor	Blade	Brush
Greencult 2.0 II SB	Dorco Titan (14)	Simpson T3
Preshave	Soap	Postshave
Cold splash KCG Face Wash	Mike’s Natural Soaps Barbershop (152)	Cold splash Proraso Green Balm

Effectiveness	Facial Impact Score FIS™
8.25/10 (DFS++)	9/10 (Butterysmooth)

Notes:

No, blade is still sharp and comfortable. Great shave today. Not autopilot, but relaxing nonetheless.

Lather was thin and I was reluctant not to load extra. Today was a more or less quick shave compared to other days. Decent enough to get the job done.

Technique. Solid although I was less effective in the clean up on my neck. Again no biggie. I had been a while since I last used Dorco Titan as we went into blade bonanzas, but this is definitely an island blade for me. Luckily I stocked up in bulk on this one. My son shaved with Titans nonstop until July this year. The blade was getting too sharp for him (his technique is still developing, although I am super proud of his current levels already!), so I suggested Astra which seems to help he said. And it’s not my kind of blade so there’s that.

Enjoy your shave today!