I shave daily & for the last couple of months, the only 2 razors I have used have been a Tradere OC & a FaTip Picolo. Having not managed to spill any blood with the FaTip, an acknowledged aggressive razor, I thought I would take things up to the next level & I bought a 2013 R101 (R41 head / black acrylic handle). I had read glowing reports of this razor, which stated that the razor scythed through bristles like a hot knife through butter & I liked the sound of this. I also saw it as a challenge for me to master the R101, as even in its tamed 2013 form, the R41 head still has a reputation for being a bit of a handful.
For my first shave with the R101, I used my usual prep & blade (Astra SP), which has been working very well with the FaTip & Tradere. I chose a Saturday to test drive my R101, so that I could take my time & not be rushing to get to work. My shave was quite tuggy & not at all smooth. I carried out my usual 2 pass shave (WTG/ATG) & was left with a beautifully smooth face, with no nicks, or razor burn. I just didnt enjoy the shave because of all the tugging involved. The next day, I swapped the Astra into my FaTip & had a great shave, so the blade wasnt a dud.
Undaunted by my previous experience, the following Saturday, I again loaded a new Astra SP into the R101 & despite some experimentation with angles, my shave was exactly the same as the last time, with a lot of razor tugging. I used the R101 again the next day, hoping for a breakthrough, but though the end result was very good, the journey to get there was again not at all enjoyable. Also, after back to back shaves with the R101, several bumps appeared on my neck, caused by ingrown bristles, which is something I have not experienced at all whilst using my Fatip & Tradere.
Today, in an effort to facilitate a change in my fortunes with the R101, I swapped my usual Astra SP for a Feather. This made the tugging far worse & I can only liken the shave to trying to remove a weeks worth of stubble with a blunt Mach3!! After finishing the WTG pass, I could take no more & swapped the Feather into my trusty Tradere. What a revelation! I had never used a Feather in my Tradere before, as I have always got a close, smooth, shave using the Astras. With the Feather in the Tradere, it took smooth to a whole new level.
I have now retired my R101 to the naughty drawer, where bad razors are sent to ponder on their behaviour! It will sit alongside my Muhle R89, which currently is the only other resident of the naughty drawer, due to the fact that it doesnt shave very close & is the only one of my collection of 14 razors that causes me consistent razor burn. It would appear that Muhles arent for me.
I think you can all guess the razor / blade combo I will be using for tomorrows shave!
For my first shave with the R101, I used my usual prep & blade (Astra SP), which has been working very well with the FaTip & Tradere. I chose a Saturday to test drive my R101, so that I could take my time & not be rushing to get to work. My shave was quite tuggy & not at all smooth. I carried out my usual 2 pass shave (WTG/ATG) & was left with a beautifully smooth face, with no nicks, or razor burn. I just didnt enjoy the shave because of all the tugging involved. The next day, I swapped the Astra into my FaTip & had a great shave, so the blade wasnt a dud.
Undaunted by my previous experience, the following Saturday, I again loaded a new Astra SP into the R101 & despite some experimentation with angles, my shave was exactly the same as the last time, with a lot of razor tugging. I used the R101 again the next day, hoping for a breakthrough, but though the end result was very good, the journey to get there was again not at all enjoyable. Also, after back to back shaves with the R101, several bumps appeared on my neck, caused by ingrown bristles, which is something I have not experienced at all whilst using my Fatip & Tradere.
Today, in an effort to facilitate a change in my fortunes with the R101, I swapped my usual Astra SP for a Feather. This made the tugging far worse & I can only liken the shave to trying to remove a weeks worth of stubble with a blunt Mach3!! After finishing the WTG pass, I could take no more & swapped the Feather into my trusty Tradere. What a revelation! I had never used a Feather in my Tradere before, as I have always got a close, smooth, shave using the Astras. With the Feather in the Tradere, it took smooth to a whole new level.
I have now retired my R101 to the naughty drawer, where bad razors are sent to ponder on their behaviour! It will sit alongside my Muhle R89, which currently is the only other resident of the naughty drawer, due to the fact that it doesnt shave very close & is the only one of my collection of 14 razors that causes me consistent razor burn. It would appear that Muhles arent for me.
I think you can all guess the razor / blade combo I will be using for tomorrows shave!
