Hi all,
I've read a decent bit on this website and others on the web, but decided to sign up today to ask this question. First I will give a bit of a background as to how I got here
Like a lot of folks I was never really learned how to shave. I remember buying my first razor, a disposable razor from a vending machine in a hotel. I didn't particularly need to shave, but like most young teens I was eager to get a beard, hah!
So anyways, I've shaved for years with a Mach 3 that I received in the mail when I was 16, 8 years ago. I also used a Fusion a few times, also received in the mail at no charge. During that time, I've inherited a Braun electric razor.
First and foremost, I found the Fusion to be a really poor razor... The cost of the cartridges kept my Mach 3 in use, but I couldn't feel my face for a few days afterward.
With the Mach 3, I definitely wasn't changing my blades as often as I should. Mainly out of being cheap/lazy/never properly taught. My facial hair doesn't grow very thickly or quickly for that matter, so I wouldn't shave more than every 2-3 days. But at the same time, I wasn't shaving since my skin would feel sensitive. Once I got the electric razor I would alternate every other day.
In any case, in June of this year I randomly decided to Google around for some shaving alternatives as my can of Gillette Fusion shaving cream was running out. I like researching just about everything I buy so I figured this would make sense. I landed on a few of these websites and got a rough idea of what DE/wetshaving was all about. It definitely appealed to me - the same way fountain pens also appeal to me.
Not expecting to find anything, I headed out to my nearest Shopper's Drug Mart and I was surprised to find what I needed to get started. I had never noticed any other products than the main marketed ones. So I walked out with an Omega boar brush and a green can of Proraso.
It took me a few times to get the water ratio right, I was definitely using too much water in my brush. I think I originally watched a video on lathering Williams, which instructed in shaking the brush only a few times before starting the soap lathering. I was still using my Mach 3, so at least I knew what to expect in that aspect, if anyone new is reading this: you might want to consider getting used to lathering with a specific soap before buying a double-edge razor. Even with a sub-par lather, the experience wasn't any more unpleasant than my regular gel-foam-mysterycream Gillette sells. I eventually figured out by trial and error that what I wanted was to remove most, if not all, of the water from the brush.
Since then, I've acquired a Merkur Classic 1904. I definitely enjoy using it and did not suffer as many cuts as I expected when I touched a real blade for the first time!
Just the other day, I realized I've mostly ran through my first can of Proraso - the bottom started breaking out as I lather. So I was curious as to how long the Proraso plastic tub/can is supposed to last? I know this will be different for everyone, but is +/- 3 months too quick?
I was thinking that the boar brush was breaking down the soap too quickly and using much more than necessary. Instead I got a bowl to lather in... What I've been doing is taking a small chunk, about nickel-sized, of the more or less broken up pieces and bringing the brush to it in the other bowl. Unfortunately, it wasn't very thick. I kept whipping it up and the bubbles got very very small, but it simply didn't thicken. Ironically, I get the similar results from the Williams puck I bought.
Another thing, I used to wash out the soap from the top of the soap after I was done using it. My spouse asked me why I needed to do this, I couldn't really answer her as I simply did without questioning it. Perhaps this is why it ran out faster than I expected?
If 3 months, of what I consider excellent lather, is all I can get out of these than so be it! I really enjoy shaving with Proraso.
Anyways, I'll shut up for now and see if anyone wants to chime in. I'd like to film myself making the lather so you could see where I could improve.
Have a good morning/day/evening wherever you are,
-Patrick.
I've read a decent bit on this website and others on the web, but decided to sign up today to ask this question. First I will give a bit of a background as to how I got here
Like a lot of folks I was never really learned how to shave. I remember buying my first razor, a disposable razor from a vending machine in a hotel. I didn't particularly need to shave, but like most young teens I was eager to get a beard, hah!
So anyways, I've shaved for years with a Mach 3 that I received in the mail when I was 16, 8 years ago. I also used a Fusion a few times, also received in the mail at no charge. During that time, I've inherited a Braun electric razor.
First and foremost, I found the Fusion to be a really poor razor... The cost of the cartridges kept my Mach 3 in use, but I couldn't feel my face for a few days afterward.
With the Mach 3, I definitely wasn't changing my blades as often as I should. Mainly out of being cheap/lazy/never properly taught. My facial hair doesn't grow very thickly or quickly for that matter, so I wouldn't shave more than every 2-3 days. But at the same time, I wasn't shaving since my skin would feel sensitive. Once I got the electric razor I would alternate every other day.
In any case, in June of this year I randomly decided to Google around for some shaving alternatives as my can of Gillette Fusion shaving cream was running out. I like researching just about everything I buy so I figured this would make sense. I landed on a few of these websites and got a rough idea of what DE/wetshaving was all about. It definitely appealed to me - the same way fountain pens also appeal to me.
Not expecting to find anything, I headed out to my nearest Shopper's Drug Mart and I was surprised to find what I needed to get started. I had never noticed any other products than the main marketed ones. So I walked out with an Omega boar brush and a green can of Proraso.
It took me a few times to get the water ratio right, I was definitely using too much water in my brush. I think I originally watched a video on lathering Williams, which instructed in shaking the brush only a few times before starting the soap lathering. I was still using my Mach 3, so at least I knew what to expect in that aspect, if anyone new is reading this: you might want to consider getting used to lathering with a specific soap before buying a double-edge razor. Even with a sub-par lather, the experience wasn't any more unpleasant than my regular gel-foam-mysterycream Gillette sells. I eventually figured out by trial and error that what I wanted was to remove most, if not all, of the water from the brush.
Since then, I've acquired a Merkur Classic 1904. I definitely enjoy using it and did not suffer as many cuts as I expected when I touched a real blade for the first time!
Just the other day, I realized I've mostly ran through my first can of Proraso - the bottom started breaking out as I lather. So I was curious as to how long the Proraso plastic tub/can is supposed to last? I know this will be different for everyone, but is +/- 3 months too quick?
I was thinking that the boar brush was breaking down the soap too quickly and using much more than necessary. Instead I got a bowl to lather in... What I've been doing is taking a small chunk, about nickel-sized, of the more or less broken up pieces and bringing the brush to it in the other bowl. Unfortunately, it wasn't very thick. I kept whipping it up and the bubbles got very very small, but it simply didn't thicken. Ironically, I get the similar results from the Williams puck I bought.
Another thing, I used to wash out the soap from the top of the soap after I was done using it. My spouse asked me why I needed to do this, I couldn't really answer her as I simply did without questioning it. Perhaps this is why it ran out faster than I expected?
If 3 months, of what I consider excellent lather, is all I can get out of these than so be it! I really enjoy shaving with Proraso.
Anyways, I'll shut up for now and see if anyone wants to chime in. I'd like to film myself making the lather so you could see where I could improve.
Have a good morning/day/evening wherever you are,
-Patrick.
Hah!
