I can't believe it. For years I have been operating under the belief that riding the cap is the way. It only makes sense. It has the best cutting angle, so with enough skill and a light touch it would remove whiskers the most efficiently with the most ease and comfort.
However, my shaves for longer than I can remember have been problematic. Not horrible, but no BBS to speak of and mild irritation with shaves close to BBS. Some days are better than others. Like most, my neck is the biggest challenge. I have a lot of whiskers on my neck that grow parallel to the skin to 30 degrees or so, and in all different directions.
So I've been reading a lot of never-stop-learning posts lately, mostly started because of the excellent ongoing review thread he's doing on the $75 to $125 razors. In various posts he has referenced his staunch belief that steep is the way. In his typical style, he has described some of his technique in helpful detail.
Today was shave day with a four day growth. I have been frustrated and dissatisfied with my Karve. I have everything from A to F in solid bar. I've been going more and more mild because of my problem with razor burn and irritation, and have been left wanting for lack of a closer shave. So I figured, what the heck? I might as well try some of that stuff.
I went right to my F plate, which I have not used in over a year. I don't know how steep I went, but it was much more than I've ever gone before. The whiskers came of efficiently and comfortably like they do with my ATT G1 (my favorite for some months now). My angle drifted at times, and I would feel that "bad feeling" I have experienced so much of late, and I would realize I was going shallow (habits can be tough) and would have to correct.
I ended up with one of the best shaves I have had in a very long time with a DE razor. It was not perfect. There was some irritation, but much less than usual. Not perfect BBS, but way closer than usual. I attribute all of my irritation to my lack of skill in this new-to-me technique. Overall, I am thrilled and love my Karve razor again. Now we will see in the coming weeks whether I can repeat these results consistently, or if this is one of those random, magic shaves I get now and again.
If this turns out to be the real thing for me, I'm going to be wondering if I should buy that G plate or not. How could it be that much different than the F?
It never stops, does it?
However, my shaves for longer than I can remember have been problematic. Not horrible, but no BBS to speak of and mild irritation with shaves close to BBS. Some days are better than others. Like most, my neck is the biggest challenge. I have a lot of whiskers on my neck that grow parallel to the skin to 30 degrees or so, and in all different directions.
So I've been reading a lot of never-stop-learning posts lately, mostly started because of the excellent ongoing review thread he's doing on the $75 to $125 razors. In various posts he has referenced his staunch belief that steep is the way. In his typical style, he has described some of his technique in helpful detail.
Today was shave day with a four day growth. I have been frustrated and dissatisfied with my Karve. I have everything from A to F in solid bar. I've been going more and more mild because of my problem with razor burn and irritation, and have been left wanting for lack of a closer shave. So I figured, what the heck? I might as well try some of that stuff.
I went right to my F plate, which I have not used in over a year. I don't know how steep I went, but it was much more than I've ever gone before. The whiskers came of efficiently and comfortably like they do with my ATT G1 (my favorite for some months now). My angle drifted at times, and I would feel that "bad feeling" I have experienced so much of late, and I would realize I was going shallow (habits can be tough) and would have to correct.
I ended up with one of the best shaves I have had in a very long time with a DE razor. It was not perfect. There was some irritation, but much less than usual. Not perfect BBS, but way closer than usual. I attribute all of my irritation to my lack of skill in this new-to-me technique. Overall, I am thrilled and love my Karve razor again. Now we will see in the coming weeks whether I can repeat these results consistently, or if this is one of those random, magic shaves I get now and again.
If this turns out to be the real thing for me, I'm going to be wondering if I should buy that G plate or not. How could it be that much different than the F?
It never stops, does it?
).
