- Thread starter
- #41
Two Sunday night shaves, a week apart, a world of difference...
Last week my shave was a repeat of the shave from three days earlier. I used the Treet White Carbon blade for the fifth time, prepped my face as per my routine and then bowl lathered the FITCO House Blend using the massive WCS badger brush. For the third time, I was unable to produce any sort of thick, protective lather with any appreciable slickness. Again, as before, the closeness of the shave was excellent but the after-shave feeling of my skin was dry and actually felt scraped, unlike any other soap I've previously used. Maybe this brush/soap combination with bowl lathering just don't play well together, maybe I really haven't figured out bowl lathering in the least, maybe....?
I had intended to shave at some point during the week but it didn't happen. Tonight I started with seven days of growth and the decision to step back to a combination that had worked well in the past to produce an excellent shave with a great post-shave feel. I grabbed a fresh White Carbon blade and went back to my half-used sample puck of Sterling Sheep, bowl lathered after the usual prep and carefully put blade to skin...the difference was immediate and confirming. From the first few strokes, it was clear that I hadn't forgotten everything I'd learned about pre-shave prep, loading a brush, creating a slick lather or focusing on exactly where the blade was contacting my face. Even with a weeks growth in place, the first pass felt smooth, no tugging, no nicks, no cuts and, by the time the pass was done, my skin had that feeling of slickness left behind that I'd been expecting. The GameChanger 0.76 and the fresh blade had taken the hair down to the same level as the first pass of a shave with just two or three days growth with minimal irritation, actually no more than what is obviously due to my 'improving' technique.
Although I truly enjoy the scent of the FITCO soap, I have put it away for a while so I can continue to focus on further advancing my technique. I'll be continuing, for the next few weeks, by eliminating variability in blade, razor, soap and prep...now to choose 'the soap' to stick with for a while!
I've read many of you out there mention that noticeable improvements in technique are often realized not on a regular basis due to repetition and thoughtful practice, but often after that time period of focused effort a realization occurs that things are different...and better without feeling like any improvements have been happening. I sense that my recent attention to the issue I've had lathering this wonderfully scented soap allowed any recently developed physical changes in my technique to become more ingrained and that the muscle memory has elevated my shave to that next plateau. I'll gladly continue to strive for improvement - reduced post-shave irritation and fewer missed spots. For me, evening shaves allow for the luxury of fewer time demands, giving the process of scraping hair from face the attention it deserves.
Soaps to choose a singular focus from for the next few weeks:
MWF
Muddy Focker
Bundubeard Hittin' the Town
Rex 1966
Stirling various samples
Any thoughts on which to choose?
Enjoy the ride,
Jay
Last week my shave was a repeat of the shave from three days earlier. I used the Treet White Carbon blade for the fifth time, prepped my face as per my routine and then bowl lathered the FITCO House Blend using the massive WCS badger brush. For the third time, I was unable to produce any sort of thick, protective lather with any appreciable slickness. Again, as before, the closeness of the shave was excellent but the after-shave feeling of my skin was dry and actually felt scraped, unlike any other soap I've previously used. Maybe this brush/soap combination with bowl lathering just don't play well together, maybe I really haven't figured out bowl lathering in the least, maybe....?
I had intended to shave at some point during the week but it didn't happen. Tonight I started with seven days of growth and the decision to step back to a combination that had worked well in the past to produce an excellent shave with a great post-shave feel. I grabbed a fresh White Carbon blade and went back to my half-used sample puck of Sterling Sheep, bowl lathered after the usual prep and carefully put blade to skin...the difference was immediate and confirming. From the first few strokes, it was clear that I hadn't forgotten everything I'd learned about pre-shave prep, loading a brush, creating a slick lather or focusing on exactly where the blade was contacting my face. Even with a weeks growth in place, the first pass felt smooth, no tugging, no nicks, no cuts and, by the time the pass was done, my skin had that feeling of slickness left behind that I'd been expecting. The GameChanger 0.76 and the fresh blade had taken the hair down to the same level as the first pass of a shave with just two or three days growth with minimal irritation, actually no more than what is obviously due to my 'improving' technique.
Although I truly enjoy the scent of the FITCO soap, I have put it away for a while so I can continue to focus on further advancing my technique. I'll be continuing, for the next few weeks, by eliminating variability in blade, razor, soap and prep...now to choose 'the soap' to stick with for a while!
I've read many of you out there mention that noticeable improvements in technique are often realized not on a regular basis due to repetition and thoughtful practice, but often after that time period of focused effort a realization occurs that things are different...and better without feeling like any improvements have been happening. I sense that my recent attention to the issue I've had lathering this wonderfully scented soap allowed any recently developed physical changes in my technique to become more ingrained and that the muscle memory has elevated my shave to that next plateau. I'll gladly continue to strive for improvement - reduced post-shave irritation and fewer missed spots. For me, evening shaves allow for the luxury of fewer time demands, giving the process of scraping hair from face the attention it deserves.
Soaps to choose a singular focus from for the next few weeks:
MWF
Muddy Focker
Bundubeard Hittin' the Town
Rex 1966
Stirling various samples
Any thoughts on which to choose?
Enjoy the ride,
Jay
