Just when you think that you've got your shave down really good, you'll end up finding something that makes it just a little bit better. Allow me to explain: Over the past few months my shave seemed to have evolved into a nice relaxing time for myself that ended up leaving me feeling quite good. Technique was good, equipment excellent, and the results were almost right on. I say almost right on because a few things were left to be desired. By that I mean the occasional nick/weeper, and the dreaded razor burn. I started out DE shaving doing a 4 pass shave which I had down to a nice 3 pass shave. I'd go WTG, XTG, and ATG. The shave was really good, smooth, close, and feeling fine. After all was said and done I'd always seem to have some razor burn on all areas of my neck. I thought just working on my technique would take care of the problem, but it didn't. Until today's shave.
Being one who always tries to improve the shave, here's what I did today. After my usual shower and other prep, I chose not to use my go to razor, the 1904. I had tried the Merkur barberpole HD before, but thought it was a bit on the big side and just put it away. Today I decided, after over 9 months of shaving, technique improvement, etc., to give it another shot. I did and found it to give me an excellent shave. Very close and with no irritation at all. Very nice I thought, my technique has indeed improved. I also decided to skip the XTG pass, which I felt was a cause of the razor burn I'd experienced. When It came to the 2nd pass, especially on my neck, I just went right to the ATG pass. The results were great. When I finished up, after only 2 passes, the entire shave felt very nice. A couple of rough spots that I do get, corners of the mouth, adams apple area, and just under the jaw line, were taken care of by using some of the deep brush lather squeezed from the brush and rubbed on with the fingers followed by some blade buffing/chopping with the HD barberpole.
The entire shave was an experience. Smooth close and very comfortable. Looks like I'm able to drop 1 pass, shave a different way, and get an even better shave than I've been getting
The whole point of this post I guess is to keep an open mind about shaving, and don't be afraid, or set in your ways, to try something new. It sure opened my eyes, and now for sure I know that one never really has it down.
Being one who always tries to improve the shave, here's what I did today. After my usual shower and other prep, I chose not to use my go to razor, the 1904. I had tried the Merkur barberpole HD before, but thought it was a bit on the big side and just put it away. Today I decided, after over 9 months of shaving, technique improvement, etc., to give it another shot. I did and found it to give me an excellent shave. Very close and with no irritation at all. Very nice I thought, my technique has indeed improved. I also decided to skip the XTG pass, which I felt was a cause of the razor burn I'd experienced. When It came to the 2nd pass, especially on my neck, I just went right to the ATG pass. The results were great. When I finished up, after only 2 passes, the entire shave felt very nice. A couple of rough spots that I do get, corners of the mouth, adams apple area, and just under the jaw line, were taken care of by using some of the deep brush lather squeezed from the brush and rubbed on with the fingers followed by some blade buffing/chopping with the HD barberpole.
The entire shave was an experience. Smooth close and very comfortable. Looks like I'm able to drop 1 pass, shave a different way, and get an even better shave than I've been getting
The whole point of this post I guess is to keep an open mind about shaving, and don't be afraid, or set in your ways, to try something new. It sure opened my eyes, and now for sure I know that one never really has it down.
