What did you learn from your last shave?

[VBH37118]

I’ve become a cold water shaver. I’m done before the tap water gets warm or hot.

Please don’t tell my parents

Can’t beat a cold water shave, jmo

 

[thombrogan]

I learned it’s possible to apply too much soap and have it not feel like too much soap is used by only using painting strokes.

 

[Benzadmiral]

That a Derby blade in a Merkur Progress set to 5 and then 4, on a 36-hour beard, is much better than I could have hoped.

 

[Phoenixkh]

I discovered that I like Neutrogena Hydro Boost Gel-Cream Extra Dry Skin: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00NR1YQK4/

I learned about it here... don't recall who recommended it... but thx if it was you. I have psoriatic arthritis... and as a result, get these red bumps on my face after a shower. They usually take several hours to disappear but after using this product, they were all gone in under an hour. Of course, as "we" always say... YMMV.

 

[thombrogan]

Sorting through the self-imposed limits that provide benefit and provide needless stress is tough.

 

[StewB]

I learned that shave soap just doesn't seem to be protective enough for my neck.

 

[wimbouman]

That a razor in safety bar version can be quite different from the open comb version of that same razor.

 

[desrgrl]

One must adapt to new hardware and software.

Beat me to it. Just shaved with my new Slim adjustable. Even on 9 it was a tad less aggressive than my Parker open comb, and I had it down on 8 when I got a couple of weepers, which I hadn't done in quite some time. I was going a bit too fast because it was smoother, and not respecting that I need to go a bit slower until I have a better feel for the new razor.

 

[Butch Waxx]

I think whether a newbie or an experienced shaver, you should always learn something from every shave, no matter what it is.

So, I guess i'll start.

Today I learned not to get greedy looking for a BBS shave, and that a 2 pass with clean ups is enough for a DFS.

I concur wholeheartedly t Martin……Especially when you are recently retired like I am and suddenly not having to shave everyday for the office for the last 43 years!!!

 

[BRC]

I learned (yesterday) that Proraso red cream can take some serious water, and together with my new boar brush and Henson razor, they make for a darn good shave!

Looking forward for tomorrow's shave...what will it be...

 

[sm29]

I learned that synthetic brushes can be great brushes. I recently replaced a terribly shedding Major (after less than 40 uses) with a Muhle STF travel brush and it performed very well. It splayed nicely and had sufficient backbone for me.

During the search for the travel brush, I also purchased an AP Shave Co Blue Lagoon w 22mm Synbad that I am also enjoying. It is similar in size to a Simpson Classic 2. It has a nice splay, sufficient backbone and to my face a slight amount of scrub.

After experiencing and hating a Simpso Classic 1 synthetic, I have learned that synthetic brushes can be very good or very bad but generalizing that they ate bad does us a huge disservice.

 

[VBH37118]

I learned that synthetic brushes can be great brushes. I recently replaced a terribly shedding Major (after less than 40 uses) with a Muhle STF travel brush and it performed very well. It splayed nicely and had sufficient backbone for me.

During the search for the travel brush, I also purchased an AP Shave Co Blue Lagoon w 22mm Synbad that I am also enjoying. It is similar in size to a Simpson Classic 2. It has a nice splay, sufficient backbone and to my face a slight amount of scrub.

After experiencing and hating a Simpso Classic 1 synthetic, I have learned that synthetic brushes can be very good or very bad but generalizing that they ate bad does us a huge disservice.

For me synthetic brushes never did well, but that’s just my personal experience

 

[thombrogan]

Found some areas on my whiskerscape where skin stretching could slightly change the grain’s direction to make it easier to shave.

 

[Phoenixkh]

I learned how much difference it makes when I have somewhere to go and rush my shave. We're retired but had to get out of the house the other day for some needed furniture shopping. We had an hour and a half drive. I shaved with the same razor.. same blade... got in the car and noticed... my upper lip was rough.

I shaved yesterday at my leisure.... almost perfect shave.

 

[thombrogan]

Over the past three shaves, I learned the less prep I do, the less sensitive my skin feels.

And I learned that only lasted two weeks if I wanted a close shave without changing out razor blades like crazy…

 

[1Pet5_8]

The GEM 1912 with GEM by Personna "Super Stainless" blade gives an amazing shave.

 

[Phoenixkh]

Yesterday, I confirmed and as a result learned..... some of the B&B members give extremely sound advice. In this case, Tomo and APBinNCA. The both recommended I try Baume.be shaving cream.. and APB suggested I add their pre-shave.

I tried them yesterday... the best shave I've had since I started this journey on Feb 15th.. and I've had quite a few nice ones. This one topped them all.... so nice...

 

[kyleifornia]

I can use a Gillette Slim on setting 9 with ease on all passes except the ATG pass on the mustache area

 

[Phoenixkh]

My last shave, I used the Baume.be pre-shave with Canada Shaving Soap.... great combination... Turns out this pre-shave doesn't just work with Baume.be cream..... It's now a settled part of my shaves.

 

[thombrogan]

I learned putting my boar brush in a cup of cold water a few hours before shaving (benefit of being a night shaver or a poor sleeper?) makes the bristles superbly soft even if the brush isn’t broken in.