Today was the day! Thought I might share it with a sympathetic group.
I started shaving many decades ago with a DE razor, probably Gillette and shaving foam because that is what my father did. Continued until the cartridge razor marketing convinced me to convert. At the time life was busy and I wanted a quick convenient shave that didn't irritate my skin too badly. Fast forward name decades to several years post retirement and the realization I have the time to indulge myself and current cartridge technology gave me an acceptable shave but still some irritation.
After consulting with the B&B bible I dove in to purchase a Rockwell 6C, an Omega boar brush, and Proraso cream for sensitive skin (white tube). I have been experimenting now for 2 months with blades. Experimenting with blades has been interesting but I think I will simply commit to a 100 pack of Astras while I continue to refine my shaving technique. Once I have a handle on that I might retry other blades to see/feel the differences. So what is notable about today? My son purchased a little bottle of a preshave oil made locally (Victoria Grooming Co.) There may be better out in the market place but the improvement in comfort is a game changer! Up until today I could do 2 passes with some touch up and get an acceptable shave. It wasn't outstanding and almost always some irritation. I am using as much advice as I can glean from the forum and try to just use the weight of the razor, etc. Today with the preshave oil I did 3 full passes with a couple of touch ups. The shave was probably the closest I've ever had and no irritation.
I am hooked on shaving now. I can't wait until until the next shave. I look forward to more advice/suggestions from the forum and continue my journey in self indulgence.
I started shaving many decades ago with a DE razor, probably Gillette and shaving foam because that is what my father did. Continued until the cartridge razor marketing convinced me to convert. At the time life was busy and I wanted a quick convenient shave that didn't irritate my skin too badly. Fast forward name decades to several years post retirement and the realization I have the time to indulge myself and current cartridge technology gave me an acceptable shave but still some irritation.
After consulting with the B&B bible I dove in to purchase a Rockwell 6C, an Omega boar brush, and Proraso cream for sensitive skin (white tube). I have been experimenting now for 2 months with blades. Experimenting with blades has been interesting but I think I will simply commit to a 100 pack of Astras while I continue to refine my shaving technique. Once I have a handle on that I might retry other blades to see/feel the differences. So what is notable about today? My son purchased a little bottle of a preshave oil made locally (Victoria Grooming Co.) There may be better out in the market place but the improvement in comfort is a game changer! Up until today I could do 2 passes with some touch up and get an acceptable shave. It wasn't outstanding and almost always some irritation. I am using as much advice as I can glean from the forum and try to just use the weight of the razor, etc. Today with the preshave oil I did 3 full passes with a couple of touch ups. The shave was probably the closest I've ever had and no irritation.
I am hooked on shaving now. I can't wait until until the next shave. I look forward to more advice/suggestions from the forum and continue my journey in self indulgence.
