R41. If at first you don't succeed!

[striker6]

How's the saying go?!

So... an R41 (2011) was PIF'd to me early on my shaving journey. I ultimately seemed to cozy up to a Merkur Futur and Personna Med Preps for the past few months. I think that razor and blade really helped me dial in my technique since I was not rotating razors, soaps, blades, brushes, etc. as I was caught up in the excitement of this new world of Wet Shaving.

Focusing on one razor, one proven blade, 2-3 accomplished soaps and two simple but effective boar brushes advanced things rapidly for me (YMMV)!

(Okay... maybe it was more than 2-3 soaps )

Meanwhile... the menacing Muhle was exiled to the dark corner of my den... Packed away like the Ark at the end of 'Raiders'... Too dangerous and powerful for this mug!

Fast forward... Recent postings along with my proficiency to get consistently close, comfortable shaves with minimal blood-letting piqued my interest to have another 'face off' with the R41. I chose my weapons carefully... Proraso Green Pre and Proraso Green soap (tub) whipped up with B&B Essential Omega Boar as I love to face lather. The Personna Med Prep was loaded and away I went...

3 passes and some touch ups later... I'm looking at one of THE most precise and polished shaves yet!!! The R41 is in the Futur's place on the stand for the rest of this week... They will share the stage going forward and an ugly myth has melted away.

This IS why Wet Shaving is a journey, a craft, an art... The advice I found here at B&B could not be more 'on the money'...

• If it doesn't work at first; put it down and give it another crack sometime down the road...

• Minimize the variables until your technique is refined. Improvisation doesn't work unless the fundamentals are in place.

Now that takes discipline in Wet Shaving because part of the allure is the newly discovered choices and combinations of hardware and software that could unlock that oh-so sought after sublime shave. It's an epiphany compared to the overpriced and underwhelming products available from your local pharmacy, supermarket, etc...

Of course, I learned this the hard way and I suppose I'm part of the majority...

Happy Thanksgiving to the B&B family!

 

[sharpen]

The R41 is a monster.

It is unforgiving if you do not respect it, and very rewarding when you do.

It also requires dead-on technique, but once you master it, it gives great shaves.

Beware the irratation though : the smallest mistake can be fatal.

 

[rgraham]

Way to hang in there. Not only will you be able to get great shaves, but you will be able to do them faster than you thought. Excellent blade choice as well. I would try some Proraso Red next time, as I feel it gives even better protection from the razor and blade.
I remember my hand literally shaking when I first started out with the R41. Now, I don't give it a second thought. And the Futur is now part of my past.

 

[HUF]

And the Futur is now part of my past.

Well put, sir!

 

[jkingrph]

That somewhat mirrors my experience. The first time my face was really cut and irritated, so I put the razor away, waited a couple of weeks and tried again getting a similar experience. Next time was a couple of months later, still some cuts and irritation, I kept this cycle up for the better part of a year and now get great shaves with my 2011 or 2013 with any blade I choose.