Today was my first DE shave and I didn't need a transfusion or 10 styptic pencils!!
I have been a wet shaver all of my life but resigned to the drudgery of canned creams and hi-tech razors in my early days. For more than 20 years I have been a devoted soap & brush user. My usual routine was to wash my face with Noxzema and leave it on as a pre-shave prior to face lathering with Colgate & Williams soaps; my OLD preferred brands. I have to say the Noxzema has served me well as a pre-shave wash and lotion and I still swear by it. Finally early this year when my last brush needed replacing; I discovered the dark world of extreme wet shaving which brought me here.
Fast forward to a new brush, some better soaps and pre-shave products; and the discovery of wonderful creams like T&H, TOBS & CF and soon I was shaving heaven but still loyal to my Sensor Excel. I finally took the DE plunge with a vintage Fat Boy and today I was ready to die for my cause. Loaded with a Crystal and a rather wimpish #1 setting I went for TWO passes; something I NEVER did with my cartridge razor.
I did it with NO cuts, nicks, or irritation on my first try! I guess I am over the fear and will enjoy the next shaves even more! It's pretty darn cool shaving the way my grandfather did!
First of all thanks to the board for scaring the heck out of me so I was extra careful the first time. My technique will only improve with time but the fact I am still alive after the "fear factor" should be an encouragement to all on the fence. It isn't as bad as it sounds!
Now for the newbie questions:
Thanks for all the help and I'm sure I'll have lots of other questions later on.
I have been a wet shaver all of my life but resigned to the drudgery of canned creams and hi-tech razors in my early days. For more than 20 years I have been a devoted soap & brush user. My usual routine was to wash my face with Noxzema and leave it on as a pre-shave prior to face lathering with Colgate & Williams soaps; my OLD preferred brands. I have to say the Noxzema has served me well as a pre-shave wash and lotion and I still swear by it. Finally early this year when my last brush needed replacing; I discovered the dark world of extreme wet shaving which brought me here.
Fast forward to a new brush, some better soaps and pre-shave products; and the discovery of wonderful creams like T&H, TOBS & CF and soon I was shaving heaven but still loyal to my Sensor Excel. I finally took the DE plunge with a vintage Fat Boy and today I was ready to die for my cause. Loaded with a Crystal and a rather wimpish #1 setting I went for TWO passes; something I NEVER did with my cartridge razor.
I did it with NO cuts, nicks, or irritation on my first try! I guess I am over the fear and will enjoy the next shaves even more! It's pretty darn cool shaving the way my grandfather did!
First of all thanks to the board for scaring the heck out of me so I was extra careful the first time. My technique will only improve with time but the fact I am still alive after the "fear factor" should be an encouragement to all on the fence. It isn't as bad as it sounds!
Now for the newbie questions:
- I LOVE my T&H 1805, Classic Shaving Lime Coconut soap puck, TOBS Lemon Lime but I am not so in Love with my Castle Forbes Sandalwood cream. It is much harder/firmer than the other creams I've tried but I can't seem to get the same rich creamy lather as I do with the other softer creams I've tried.
My usual technique with creams which are VERY new to me is to soak my brush, shake out the requisite amount of water and put a blob of cream on the bristle tips and begin face lathering. This technique works great with the T&H & TOBS but the harder CF just doesn't want to stay put on the bristles. Should I rub the bristle tips across the CF like I do with my shaving sops or is bowl the only way to get CF to lather the way I like?
- OK here's a really dumb question. With two sides to a DE blade which side do you use when? In other words do I switch sides with each pass or use one side for X number of shaves and then switch to the other side for the same number.
Related to this question is another question: with two sides; when someone says they get four days from a particular blade does that mean four days on one side or four days total alternating sides each day or each swipe.
Thanks for all the help and I'm sure I'll have lots of other questions later on.
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