I know there's probably nobody here that cares about this, but I really just had to tell someone that would appreciate it.
I've been wet shaving for about a month now with a Parker shavette. I know that opinions are pretty polarized on here when it comes to shavettes, but the price was right and I figured it was a good way to get a feel for open-blade shaving before investing money into a real straight razor.
At first I started off with just the shavette and the blades that came with it, but then I realized that the canned goo had to go. Then came the brush and the Col. Conk soap. That was alright too. Something was still off though, my technique was improving but I was still getting cuts and weepers. Then came the blade sampler pack. Okay, these are better than the Derby blades that came with the thing.
My shaves were getting better, but they were only about as good as the best cartridge shaves that I had ever had, and blood was still making an appearance with every shave. My chin has always given me problems and I have never been able to get it smooth. I've always shaved against the grain with my cartridge razors, but it never made a difference. My chin and part of my jaw line have never been smooth.
Then something amazing happened. Yesterday morning I was having my very first shave with Proraso, and it felt absolutely wonderful. After lathering up for my second pass, I was feeling good enough to finally attempt going against the grain on my chin. I was okay with shaving up and down my neck and chin, but the grain runs perpendicular to that and the motion of running against the grain with the shavette just felt awkward and scared me.
It wasn't as bad as I thought it would be. I slowly made my way against the grain for the second and then third pass. I didn't slice my chin open. I didn't have to call 911. It actually went okay. I finished my shave and then cleaned up, happy with myself for my first shave without any blood. Well, there wasn't any blood until I sliced my thumb trying to get the blade out of my shavette. Ouch. Better luck next time.
Now, my facial hair is fairly light and I only really need to shave every 2-3 days, but I woke up this morning and found that I was absolutely craving that cool menthol feeling from that beautiful green metallic tube, so I loaded a new Shark blade into my shavette and went at it again. I felt like I was doing something naughty as I soaked my brush. I used a little more water and a little more product this time and got an absolutely godly lather. I mean this was seriously the best lather that I've had so far. I took that as a good sign and continued with my shave.
When I was finished, there was absolutely no blood and I was left with honestly the best shave that I've ever had in my life. It's been a rough journey for me and there were several times that I almost gave up and ordered a DE safety razor. Heck, there was even a time when I hit rock bottom and almost opened the pack of Fusion cartridges that I've been saving in case of emergency. I stuck with it and now I'm absolutely certain that open-blade shaving is for me, and I've even found a new addiction with Proraso.
Now if only my birthday would get here sooner so I could get a real straight razor. I have my eye on the Boker Edelweiss that SRD has.
I've been wet shaving for about a month now with a Parker shavette. I know that opinions are pretty polarized on here when it comes to shavettes, but the price was right and I figured it was a good way to get a feel for open-blade shaving before investing money into a real straight razor.
At first I started off with just the shavette and the blades that came with it, but then I realized that the canned goo had to go. Then came the brush and the Col. Conk soap. That was alright too. Something was still off though, my technique was improving but I was still getting cuts and weepers. Then came the blade sampler pack. Okay, these are better than the Derby blades that came with the thing.
My shaves were getting better, but they were only about as good as the best cartridge shaves that I had ever had, and blood was still making an appearance with every shave. My chin has always given me problems and I have never been able to get it smooth. I've always shaved against the grain with my cartridge razors, but it never made a difference. My chin and part of my jaw line have never been smooth.
Then something amazing happened. Yesterday morning I was having my very first shave with Proraso, and it felt absolutely wonderful. After lathering up for my second pass, I was feeling good enough to finally attempt going against the grain on my chin. I was okay with shaving up and down my neck and chin, but the grain runs perpendicular to that and the motion of running against the grain with the shavette just felt awkward and scared me.
It wasn't as bad as I thought it would be. I slowly made my way against the grain for the second and then third pass. I didn't slice my chin open. I didn't have to call 911. It actually went okay. I finished my shave and then cleaned up, happy with myself for my first shave without any blood. Well, there wasn't any blood until I sliced my thumb trying to get the blade out of my shavette. Ouch. Better luck next time.
Now, my facial hair is fairly light and I only really need to shave every 2-3 days, but I woke up this morning and found that I was absolutely craving that cool menthol feeling from that beautiful green metallic tube, so I loaded a new Shark blade into my shavette and went at it again. I felt like I was doing something naughty as I soaked my brush. I used a little more water and a little more product this time and got an absolutely godly lather. I mean this was seriously the best lather that I've had so far. I took that as a good sign and continued with my shave.
When I was finished, there was absolutely no blood and I was left with honestly the best shave that I've ever had in my life. It's been a rough journey for me and there were several times that I almost gave up and ordered a DE safety razor. Heck, there was even a time when I hit rock bottom and almost opened the pack of Fusion cartridges that I've been saving in case of emergency. I stuck with it and now I'm absolutely certain that open-blade shaving is for me, and I've even found a new addiction with Proraso.
Now if only my birthday would get here sooner so I could get a real straight razor. I have my eye on the Boker Edelweiss that SRD has.
) But I enjoy shaving since I started DE.
