Hello! I'm a 37-year-old father-to-be who has been happily shaving with an open-combed Merkur 15C for almost a year now but has only just invested in a brush (Simpson's "Special" pure badger) and soap ("The Fat"). I'm from Yorkshire and have fairly sensitive skin, so the latter was a no-brainer. I also have a beard, so only shave my neck, and had been using a certain well-known aerosol brand — which shall remain nameless — so, WOW, what a difference! I could tell immediately that I was getting a far smoother shave but I wasn't expecting my skin to actually feel better after shaving than before! I guess that's the lanolin for you. I also noticed I had no nicks, no weepers, and an incredibly close shave. There's no way I'm going back now!
A couple of observations, for the sake of science, based on previous threads. I live in a hard-water area (Hampshire, England) and didn't have any big issues lathering. The photo below shows what was left after three passes. It wasn't exactly a huge amount of lather, either, but I'm putting that down to a lack of experience, as it was my first attempt. The water here mostly comes from chalk aquifers so is high in calcium carbonate but not, as far as I know, magnesium sulphate — which I know a few people have identified as a potential sud-killer. Another observation is that, although I did experience the stickiness some people have complained about from Mitchell's, this was on my fingers when initially testing how the puck responded to water. I didn't get it at all post-shave, though — just a wonderfully hydrated, smooth, and very soothed neck! Honestly, I was in two minds about whether I even needed to bother applying any aftershave balm (though I did anyway).
Looking forward to learning more and getting know this place better!
In the corner is a repurposed stilton jar where the razor lives!
A couple of observations, for the sake of science, based on previous threads. I live in a hard-water area (Hampshire, England) and didn't have any big issues lathering. The photo below shows what was left after three passes. It wasn't exactly a huge amount of lather, either, but I'm putting that down to a lack of experience, as it was my first attempt. The water here mostly comes from chalk aquifers so is high in calcium carbonate but not, as far as I know, magnesium sulphate — which I know a few people have identified as a potential sud-killer. Another observation is that, although I did experience the stickiness some people have complained about from Mitchell's, this was on my fingers when initially testing how the puck responded to water. I didn't get it at all post-shave, though — just a wonderfully hydrated, smooth, and very soothed neck! Honestly, I was in two minds about whether I even needed to bother applying any aftershave balm (though I did anyway).
Looking forward to learning more and getting know this place better!
In the corner is a repurposed stilton jar where the razor lives!
The (Spode) bowl was a wedding present, if I remember correctly.
