Hello everyone,
I wanted to first of all thank this community for teaching me and guiding me in how to shave properly many years ago. I had inherited a silvertip shaving brush from my father, and I can still remember using it to lather Noxema red can foam on my face before using a Mach 3. I then discovered Badger and Blade, and learnt all about shaving soaps, creams and single blade razors.
A few years ago I developed a sensitivity on my facial skin, and found that using traditional creams and soaps with a brush seemed to irritate my skin very easily. I decided to stop using them and switched to shaving once or twice a week at most with a foam and twin blade cartridge. This seemed to be the least irritating way to shave for my skin. I had loved using my old SuperSpeed razors, and had tested almost every blade I could find. Unfortunately my skin seemed to be having trouble with DE shaving, even though I felt by then that I had a very solid technique. I tried the newest Gillette 5 blade cartridges, which I hated. I found them very irritating and aggressive. The Mach 3 was better but also a bit more irritating than I would like. I finally settled on a Sensor Excel twin blade cartridge, and this was the best solution I had found.
Having shaved like this for at least a couple of years, I thought my days of proper wet shaving were behind me. That was until I was sorting through some boxes and found my silver tip brush and stand. I put it out for display, and after a few days I suddenly felt a strong urge to see if I could use it again. I hoped that maybe my skin would be better by now, and would be able to handle traditional lather. So I went online and ordered a tube of an old favourite, Proraso green. It arrived two days ago. With great anticipation I walked into my bathroom yesterday. Opening the tube brought back the familiar eucalyptus/menthol smell. I began to lather my face and got a beautiful and rich lather right away. I have recently switched to a Gillette Skinguard cartridge, which I must admit has been my favourite cartridge by far since I have begun using it.
Anyway, I proceeded to have my best shave in at least two years! The razor glided through the cream effortlessly, and I got such an incredible irritation free and close shave I almost couldn't believe it. After splashing cold water and enjoying the lovely cooling effect of the Proraso, my skin looked the healthiest and cleanest I could remember.
I am genuinely elated to be able to use a brush and really good quality shaving cream again. I shaved again this morning, and the same fantastic result, and I could swear my skin looks healthier compared to when I use the foam and cartridge. Based purely on this experience, and thinking of all of my shaves with foam (which were fine, but nothing more), I can genuinely say that using a brush and proper lather makes an enormous difference. I am very happy to be back in the wet shaving fold!
I wanted to first of all thank this community for teaching me and guiding me in how to shave properly many years ago. I had inherited a silvertip shaving brush from my father, and I can still remember using it to lather Noxema red can foam on my face before using a Mach 3. I then discovered Badger and Blade, and learnt all about shaving soaps, creams and single blade razors.
A few years ago I developed a sensitivity on my facial skin, and found that using traditional creams and soaps with a brush seemed to irritate my skin very easily. I decided to stop using them and switched to shaving once or twice a week at most with a foam and twin blade cartridge. This seemed to be the least irritating way to shave for my skin. I had loved using my old SuperSpeed razors, and had tested almost every blade I could find. Unfortunately my skin seemed to be having trouble with DE shaving, even though I felt by then that I had a very solid technique. I tried the newest Gillette 5 blade cartridges, which I hated. I found them very irritating and aggressive. The Mach 3 was better but also a bit more irritating than I would like. I finally settled on a Sensor Excel twin blade cartridge, and this was the best solution I had found.
Having shaved like this for at least a couple of years, I thought my days of proper wet shaving were behind me. That was until I was sorting through some boxes and found my silver tip brush and stand. I put it out for display, and after a few days I suddenly felt a strong urge to see if I could use it again. I hoped that maybe my skin would be better by now, and would be able to handle traditional lather. So I went online and ordered a tube of an old favourite, Proraso green. It arrived two days ago. With great anticipation I walked into my bathroom yesterday. Opening the tube brought back the familiar eucalyptus/menthol smell. I began to lather my face and got a beautiful and rich lather right away. I have recently switched to a Gillette Skinguard cartridge, which I must admit has been my favourite cartridge by far since I have begun using it.
Anyway, I proceeded to have my best shave in at least two years! The razor glided through the cream effortlessly, and I got such an incredible irritation free and close shave I almost couldn't believe it. After splashing cold water and enjoying the lovely cooling effect of the Proraso, my skin looked the healthiest and cleanest I could remember.
I am genuinely elated to be able to use a brush and really good quality shaving cream again. I shaved again this morning, and the same fantastic result, and I could swear my skin looks healthier compared to when I use the foam and cartridge. Based purely on this experience, and thinking of all of my shaves with foam (which were fine, but nothing more), I can genuinely say that using a brush and proper lather makes an enormous difference. I am very happy to be back in the wet shaving fold!
