Okay, just completed a first SR shave. I did it in patches, tried different soaps - Alles Seife, Geo F. Trumper, even Irish Spring just for grins. Best of all, I didn't end up in the ER.
It cut down the beard, I would say the results are maybe 80% as thorough as when using a Mach3. If I rub my fingers against the grain I feel more grab than I normally would after shaving with the Mach 3, with which I shave pretty much exclusively against the grain.
The most obvious difference between using a cartridge razor or an electric is the irritation factor. I'm sure my technique is part of it - I think I got better as I went, probably don't have the optimal angle or pressure down consistently. The soap might be a factor - I find that Geo F. Trumper cream I got gives a better lather than I'm able to work up with Alles Seife Shaving Soap and the Trumper feels a bit more comfortable. And of course the condition of the razor is a question mark. I gave it a stropping and it did cut the hairs - whether it's doing it as well as it's capable of is a question mark. In middle of the process I ran it over a wet Naniwa 12000 Super Stone and stropped again - I'd say it's inconclusive if doing that improved the edge or not given my almost surely inconsistent technique. I don't think it made it any worse.
I probably made four to six passes over each area, did a lot of re-application of lather. Took it really slow - staying out of the ER was my primary goal.
Does SR shaving ever get to the comfort level of a cartridge razor or does that irritation factor always remain to a certain extent?
It cut down the beard, I would say the results are maybe 80% as thorough as when using a Mach3. If I rub my fingers against the grain I feel more grab than I normally would after shaving with the Mach 3, with which I shave pretty much exclusively against the grain.
The most obvious difference between using a cartridge razor or an electric is the irritation factor. I'm sure my technique is part of it - I think I got better as I went, probably don't have the optimal angle or pressure down consistently. The soap might be a factor - I find that Geo F. Trumper cream I got gives a better lather than I'm able to work up with Alles Seife Shaving Soap and the Trumper feels a bit more comfortable. And of course the condition of the razor is a question mark. I gave it a stropping and it did cut the hairs - whether it's doing it as well as it's capable of is a question mark. In middle of the process I ran it over a wet Naniwa 12000 Super Stone and stropped again - I'd say it's inconclusive if doing that improved the edge or not given my almost surely inconsistent technique. I don't think it made it any worse.
I probably made four to six passes over each area, did a lot of re-application of lather. Took it really slow - staying out of the ER was my primary goal.
Does SR shaving ever get to the comfort level of a cartridge razor or does that irritation factor always remain to a certain extent?