So I’m steadily working on getting my shaving kit and technique worked out. I got started with artofmanliness (which is what pointed me here) and various other resources (including an experienced-looking Scotsman who made a tutorial video on wet shaving for Executive Shave Club). Got a basic shaving kit from Bespoke Post, which included a Maapilim safety razor, shaving cream, and alum block, a Baxter of California Best Badger shaving brush from as well as a smooth, thin Barber towel, five Astra Superior Stainless blades, and five Astra Superior Platinum blades.
From there, I replaced the cream with Mitchell’s Wool Fat shaving soap (and figured out how to properly lather it thanks to this forum, as it is a bit tricky), and replaced the Astras with Kai because I can’t stand the Blade Mounting Jelly. It bugs me, I think it’s a magnet for moisture retention and thus pathogen and mold growth, and it’s a pain in the butt to clean off of my safety razor head.
Now, I come to this board in search of a solution to another couple problems:
1: Kai blades feel a whole lot less forgiving of too much pressure than Astras. I love the sharpness and the glorious lack of blade mounting jelly, but my first shave with a Kai left me feeling raw, like I had been using way too much pressure the whole way - whereas Astras left me feeling fine.
While I understand and concede that a big part of this is my newbie technique, are there safety razor holders that mitigate this?
2: Grip.
Simply put, the Maapilim’s mirror finish looks great but I found myself getting extremely nervous about it slipping in my fingers after I had properly lathered my soap. Rinsing with water didn’t help - I had to stop in the middle of my shave several times to rinse and dry my hands and the handle... otherwise, I found myself gripping the darn thing like I was rock climbing.
Not pleasant - I’d like to avoid forearm cramps during my shave, thanks. I’d also be willing to bet my death-grip is at least partially responsible for the raw feeling I had after this last shave.
What safety razor’s have a good handle to avoid slickness and slipping even while wet or soapy?
And are there any razors that help with both of these issues?
From there, I replaced the cream with Mitchell’s Wool Fat shaving soap (and figured out how to properly lather it thanks to this forum, as it is a bit tricky), and replaced the Astras with Kai because I can’t stand the Blade Mounting Jelly. It bugs me, I think it’s a magnet for moisture retention and thus pathogen and mold growth, and it’s a pain in the butt to clean off of my safety razor head.
Now, I come to this board in search of a solution to another couple problems:
1: Kai blades feel a whole lot less forgiving of too much pressure than Astras. I love the sharpness and the glorious lack of blade mounting jelly, but my first shave with a Kai left me feeling raw, like I had been using way too much pressure the whole way - whereas Astras left me feeling fine.
While I understand and concede that a big part of this is my newbie technique, are there safety razor holders that mitigate this?
2: Grip.
Simply put, the Maapilim’s mirror finish looks great but I found myself getting extremely nervous about it slipping in my fingers after I had properly lathered my soap. Rinsing with water didn’t help - I had to stop in the middle of my shave several times to rinse and dry my hands and the handle... otherwise, I found myself gripping the darn thing like I was rock climbing.
Not pleasant - I’d like to avoid forearm cramps during my shave, thanks. I’d also be willing to bet my death-grip is at least partially responsible for the raw feeling I had after this last shave.
What safety razor’s have a good handle to avoid slickness and slipping even while wet or soapy?
And are there any razors that help with both of these issues?