So I have been waiting to use my R41 as I recently went through a variety of wet shaving changes and need to get reoriented (new products, razors, blades, etc.). But tonight I decided it was worth trying out the R41. I only shave my cheeks and neck, but I recently have been having a lot of difficult with the neck area with razor burn. I just received Tabac in the mail today and was excited to also try out this soap. The soap lathered beautifully. It required a bit more water than some other soaps I've used but the lather was just wonderful and cushion-y.
I have started using Personna Med Preps and so this was the blade I wanted to try out in the R41. I found shaving my cheeks to be very easy, but my cheeks are fairly resilient to razor blades and I've never gotten razor burn on them. I did ATG then XTG in opposing directions. I noticed that the blade was so close that it was literally scraping the slick off of my cheeks (the thin layer of shaving soap that still remains after a pass). It literally shaved my face dry. However, again, on my cheeks I had no cuts or razor burn of any kind. Without going ATG I was able to achieve a near BBS (acceptable for a first attempt with a new razor).
My neck wasn't too bad. Recently I have been attempting ATG passes on my neck which is from the ears in towards the adams apple and I have consistently performed poorly. So I have been suffering from bouts of razor burn this past month in an attempt to improve. I think I am going to stop doing ATG on the neck for a while. So I had taken a day off from shaving yesterday to let my razor burn heal and it was probably 80% healed. So tonight I did a 2 pass on the neck, WTG (Adam's Apple out towards ears) and XTG (S-N). I followed up with a touch up along the underside of my beard along my jaw line.
I have to say, I did pretty ​well. I think I aggravated some of the previous razor burn but I don't believe I caused any new razor burn. My alum block did not cause much stinging. Overall, I found the razor to be very enjoyable to use and quite smooth (considering I have heard some claims that it is not really a "smooth" razor). While I certainly did not achieve a perfect shave (definitely some stubble on the neck still, but not awful), it was not the gruesome bloodbath I had catastrophized in my head.
I will make some updates as I become more familiar with this razor.
I have started using Personna Med Preps and so this was the blade I wanted to try out in the R41. I found shaving my cheeks to be very easy, but my cheeks are fairly resilient to razor blades and I've never gotten razor burn on them. I did ATG then XTG in opposing directions. I noticed that the blade was so close that it was literally scraping the slick off of my cheeks (the thin layer of shaving soap that still remains after a pass). It literally shaved my face dry. However, again, on my cheeks I had no cuts or razor burn of any kind. Without going ATG I was able to achieve a near BBS (acceptable for a first attempt with a new razor).
My neck wasn't too bad. Recently I have been attempting ATG passes on my neck which is from the ears in towards the adams apple and I have consistently performed poorly. So I have been suffering from bouts of razor burn this past month in an attempt to improve. I think I am going to stop doing ATG on the neck for a while. So I had taken a day off from shaving yesterday to let my razor burn heal and it was probably 80% healed. So tonight I did a 2 pass on the neck, WTG (Adam's Apple out towards ears) and XTG (S-N). I followed up with a touch up along the underside of my beard along my jaw line.
I have to say, I did pretty ​well. I think I aggravated some of the previous razor burn but I don't believe I caused any new razor burn. My alum block did not cause much stinging. Overall, I found the razor to be very enjoyable to use and quite smooth (considering I have heard some claims that it is not really a "smooth" razor). While I certainly did not achieve a perfect shave (definitely some stubble on the neck still, but not awful), it was not the gruesome bloodbath I had catastrophized in my head.
I will make some updates as I become more familiar with this razor.
