A little disclosure first. Started DE a year ago in April with the Merkur HD 38C. A couple months in made the obligatory vintage acquisitions with a couple SEs, Tech, SS, and my 62 Slim, which moved to the top of the rotation, along with the usual assortment of creams, soaps, blades, balms, etc.
I haven't bought anything(hardly) in six months and I got to the bottom of a lot of tubs and tubes. I have, however, been getting a bit of a hardware itch for a new modern razor.
I opened my Father's Day gift bag and to my pleasant surprise found a cream and balm of Truefitt & Hill Grafton recommended by a gent in the store to my wife. I never used them as I am still working on other tubs before buying more per my sacred vow to self. When I took them out of the bag there was a tin underneath that said "Merkur Solingen". I was speechless as I beheld the monster that is the Vision.
In my perusal of the blogs I have read the good and bad and I held it with some trepidation. Of course, I shaved right away with no shower and using my new products. I opened that baby up too much. Great shave but some killer irritation low on the neck. This morning, after some online studies, I went at the lowest setting for a "decent ".
Tonight, after the gym, swim, and shower I decided I had enough beard to shave again. I prepped with shave oil and whipped up a bowl of Cade with a dollop of TOBS Avocado for good measure. Loaded a new Yellow 7 O'Clock and went to work. I turned up the setting just one increment (it's letters and a bit different since you only seem to play with the blade gape. BBS in two passes. I always do three and half (chin) or four.
I still have to work my technique and feel like I am just starting again. The other thing is that I would never pay this much for a razor. I thought she believed me crazy with the whole DE thing so I was really blown away. Turns out she still thinks I'm crazy but she's really good to me.
Back to the razor. It's huge. With it, no pressure takes on a whole different meaning. I have read complaints about the size of the head and under the nose but I think it's the opposite. With no exposed blade tabs you get right in there. With the profile of the head you can just bump your schnozz up before WTG.
OK, I am a true geek because I wrote this as the alum dried on my face. Time for a splash of Lime Sec and a snooze.
Cheers.
I haven't bought anything(hardly) in six months and I got to the bottom of a lot of tubs and tubes. I have, however, been getting a bit of a hardware itch for a new modern razor.
I opened my Father's Day gift bag and to my pleasant surprise found a cream and balm of Truefitt & Hill Grafton recommended by a gent in the store to my wife. I never used them as I am still working on other tubs before buying more per my sacred vow to self. When I took them out of the bag there was a tin underneath that said "Merkur Solingen". I was speechless as I beheld the monster that is the Vision.
In my perusal of the blogs I have read the good and bad and I held it with some trepidation. Of course, I shaved right away with no shower and using my new products. I opened that baby up too much. Great shave but some killer irritation low on the neck. This morning, after some online studies, I went at the lowest setting for a "decent ".
Tonight, after the gym, swim, and shower I decided I had enough beard to shave again. I prepped with shave oil and whipped up a bowl of Cade with a dollop of TOBS Avocado for good measure. Loaded a new Yellow 7 O'Clock and went to work. I turned up the setting just one increment (it's letters and a bit different since you only seem to play with the blade gape. BBS in two passes. I always do three and half (chin) or four.
I still have to work my technique and feel like I am just starting again. The other thing is that I would never pay this much for a razor. I thought she believed me crazy with the whole DE thing so I was really blown away. Turns out she still thinks I'm crazy but she's really good to me.
Back to the razor. It's huge. With it, no pressure takes on a whole different meaning. I have read complaints about the size of the head and under the nose but I think it's the opposite. With no exposed blade tabs you get right in there. With the profile of the head you can just bump your schnozz up before WTG.
OK, I am a true geek because I wrote this as the alum dried on my face. Time for a splash of Lime Sec and a snooze.
Cheers.
