So the passed couple of weeks I've been checking out some new items and looking to possibly revamp my shaving. I've been using the same products for the last 5 years.
So let's start with the Gillette Guard.
I have been shaving my head with a Fusion for the last 5 years as I have explained ad nauseum in other threads. It served me well and I've tried them all. Hard to believe but in the years I've been headshaving I have never had a nic other than the blade on the back of the Fusion catching my ear once.
So today I used the Gillette Guard.
I know people love these things and I wanted to also. Didn't work for me. I got at least 3 nics (that I know of) and possibly more. When I ran water on my head it stung everywhere like I was full of holes. My shave isn't as close either. I really wanted this to work. Fusions are outrageously priced and destined to get higher.
But if it ain't broke don't fix it I guess. I'm stuck' with Fusions.
Moving on I also tried Astra blades; and I'll add Mama Bear soap in here also since there may be a connection. I'll explain.
I purchased a few astra blades to try out since I have been using Derby's since day one (after sample pack). They have served me well. But I hear good things about Astra's. I am also waiting for a pack of feathers.
In my recent switch to using soap rather than cream I was using VDH deluxe. The shaves were great. Then I purchased a puck of Mama Bear Sandlewood and Vanilla. At the same time my Astra blades arrived. Great! So I used them both. Wow, was that lather good! And double wow how smoothly the Astra shaved. All around great shave, so I thought. After I shaved and cleaned up I was left with this slight stinging feeling. My face felt like it was a bit raw. Too sharp? I thought. Hmmm, I am experienced enough and went lightly and the shave was as comfortable as can be. A couple of hours later and still stinging and feeling raw. And I had a lot of missed spots. I think I posted about that and chalked it up to a new and different blade and me being cautious.
So I gave it another try next day and even touched up a bit. Again the stinging and again missed spots. Odd thing is that I touch up only on my neck and under the jaw and that feels fine. It's my cheeks!!! No aggressiveness there and no touchups ever.
At this point I am starting to wonder and I'm not blaming the blades yet. I wait a day and get some good growth and have at it again. Same Mama Bear soap but this time a different blade. Back to the Derby. I got a good shave I thought,... except now I notice that the Derby isn't as sharp as Astra. But the shave was still comfortable. I touched up my neck as usual. So here's the thing. I am raw again and my face stings and pretty bad. AND, I have missed spots. What the...?
So at this point I'm blaming the soap. Tomorrow I will go back to an Astra but with VDH this time and see what happens.
I had no problem with VDH and Derby. If I have no problem with VDH and Astra then I blame the Mama Bear soap. Then next step after I use the VDH will be Mikes Natural. Mama Bear and the Guard will go in the drawer.
I feel bad about the Gillette Guard and am almost willing to give another shot. But why? I already have something that has worked flawlessly for years. It nicked me once it will happen again.
And there you have it!
Tommy
So let's start with the Gillette Guard.
I have been shaving my head with a Fusion for the last 5 years as I have explained ad nauseum in other threads. It served me well and I've tried them all. Hard to believe but in the years I've been headshaving I have never had a nic other than the blade on the back of the Fusion catching my ear once.
So today I used the Gillette Guard.
I know people love these things and I wanted to also. Didn't work for me. I got at least 3 nics (that I know of) and possibly more. When I ran water on my head it stung everywhere like I was full of holes. My shave isn't as close either. I really wanted this to work. Fusions are outrageously priced and destined to get higher.
But if it ain't broke don't fix it I guess. I'm stuck' with Fusions.
Moving on I also tried Astra blades; and I'll add Mama Bear soap in here also since there may be a connection. I'll explain.
I purchased a few astra blades to try out since I have been using Derby's since day one (after sample pack). They have served me well. But I hear good things about Astra's. I am also waiting for a pack of feathers.
In my recent switch to using soap rather than cream I was using VDH deluxe. The shaves were great. Then I purchased a puck of Mama Bear Sandlewood and Vanilla. At the same time my Astra blades arrived. Great! So I used them both. Wow, was that lather good! And double wow how smoothly the Astra shaved. All around great shave, so I thought. After I shaved and cleaned up I was left with this slight stinging feeling. My face felt like it was a bit raw. Too sharp? I thought. Hmmm, I am experienced enough and went lightly and the shave was as comfortable as can be. A couple of hours later and still stinging and feeling raw. And I had a lot of missed spots. I think I posted about that and chalked it up to a new and different blade and me being cautious.
So I gave it another try next day and even touched up a bit. Again the stinging and again missed spots. Odd thing is that I touch up only on my neck and under the jaw and that feels fine. It's my cheeks!!! No aggressiveness there and no touchups ever.
At this point I am starting to wonder and I'm not blaming the blades yet. I wait a day and get some good growth and have at it again. Same Mama Bear soap but this time a different blade. Back to the Derby. I got a good shave I thought,... except now I notice that the Derby isn't as sharp as Astra. But the shave was still comfortable. I touched up my neck as usual. So here's the thing. I am raw again and my face stings and pretty bad. AND, I have missed spots. What the...?
So at this point I'm blaming the soap. Tomorrow I will go back to an Astra but with VDH this time and see what happens.
I had no problem with VDH and Derby. If I have no problem with VDH and Astra then I blame the Mama Bear soap. Then next step after I use the VDH will be Mikes Natural. Mama Bear and the Guard will go in the drawer.
I feel bad about the Gillette Guard and am almost willing to give another shot. But why? I already have something that has worked flawlessly for years. It nicked me once it will happen again.
And there you have it!
Tommy
