I'm on day 2 of my newly found wetshaving lifestyle. The results have been...well, OKAY but not sure I can say that it has been better than my Mach 3 days.
Granted, I have some though not all of what might be considered "adequate gear". I purchased a beautiful Fatboy in an antique shop for $8 that cleaned up very well. I acquired a shaving mug and boar brush from my father-in-law and have been using Nivea Shaving Gel and applying it with the brush. I know it's not ideal, but I was eager to get started and it's what I had.
I also picked up some pre-have oil and aftershave lotion from Rooster's Men's Grooming Center (a cool place, btw. I'd encourage all of you to locate one as I believe they cut/groom in the gentleman's spirit). I haven't butchered my face and the experience itself has actually been pretty good: I've enjoyed slowing down, participating in a ritual with rich history with cool guy gadgets. And for a long time I've been enjoying the whole classy grooming concept. It's just that I found that shaving "with the grain" wasn't getting close enough. I'm one of these guys with plenty of stubble in the moustache and goatee area but little patches here and there on the rest of the face (if any of you ever saw the Cheers episode when the guys decided to have a beard growing contest and Cliff Claven walks in with these long scraggly random patches all over his face. That would be me
). I'm also kind of a skinny guy, not a lot of meat on my face so keeping the razor in smooth contact with my face can be a little challenging.
Anyways, I went with the direction of the beard, relathered and went against it. Closer, but not close enough (maybe my expectations are too high but I am thinking that I shouldn't feel any rough areas on my face?). A little irritation and burn but not much. Knowing that it takes time and practice, I'm wondering if anyone can give some helpful advice. I'm IN for sure, guys. I'm just looking to grow in my skill through the wise counsel of some of you Wet Shaving Jedis
Granted, I have some though not all of what might be considered "adequate gear". I purchased a beautiful Fatboy in an antique shop for $8 that cleaned up very well. I acquired a shaving mug and boar brush from my father-in-law and have been using Nivea Shaving Gel and applying it with the brush. I know it's not ideal, but I was eager to get started and it's what I had.
I also picked up some pre-have oil and aftershave lotion from Rooster's Men's Grooming Center (a cool place, btw. I'd encourage all of you to locate one as I believe they cut/groom in the gentleman's spirit). I haven't butchered my face and the experience itself has actually been pretty good: I've enjoyed slowing down, participating in a ritual with rich history with cool guy gadgets. And for a long time I've been enjoying the whole classy grooming concept. It's just that I found that shaving "with the grain" wasn't getting close enough. I'm one of these guys with plenty of stubble in the moustache and goatee area but little patches here and there on the rest of the face (if any of you ever saw the Cheers episode when the guys decided to have a beard growing contest and Cliff Claven walks in with these long scraggly random patches all over his face. That would be me
). I'm also kind of a skinny guy, not a lot of meat on my face so keeping the razor in smooth contact with my face can be a little challenging. Anyways, I went with the direction of the beard, relathered and went against it. Closer, but not close enough (maybe my expectations are too high but I am thinking that I shouldn't feel any rough areas on my face?). A little irritation and burn but not much. Knowing that it takes time and practice, I'm wondering if anyone can give some helpful advice. I'm IN for sure, guys. I'm just looking to grow in my skill through the wise counsel of some of you Wet Shaving Jedis
). I always heard each blade was different, and man they sure are!!! Here is a list of blades I purchased based on comments from B&B and also West Coast Shaving.
