I recently started shaving with a new Parker Variant DE razor, Wilkinson Sword blade, Gillette Foamy ---> Cremo Sandalwood Shave Cream applied by hand. The razor is set on one, the mildest shave. I usually wait 36 hours between shaves. My main concern is to avoid blood. Over the years, I've often cut myself and gotten cuts, nicks and weepers.
This is the second blade I've used in this setup. I've done this 9 times with this blade and am still going strong. I do a double pass shave, once with the grain (WTG?) and once against the grain (ATG?). The shave is very smooth. It feels very good. I'd call it BBS. I've never gotten this close with cartridge razors.
When will this DE blade get dull? I get fewer nicks and cuts than I did at the beginning. This might be due to my technique getting better or the blade getting duller. I see some hairs after the first pass but I don't know if this is any worse than with earlier shaves.
I'm not ready to retire this blade because I'm happy with this BBS shave. However, I understand it's recommended that the blade be replaced after 1 - 5 shaves or weekly.
Is my experience unusual?
This is the second blade I've used in this setup. I've done this 9 times with this blade and am still going strong. I do a double pass shave, once with the grain (WTG?) and once against the grain (ATG?). The shave is very smooth. It feels very good. I'd call it BBS. I've never gotten this close with cartridge razors.
When will this DE blade get dull? I get fewer nicks and cuts than I did at the beginning. This might be due to my technique getting better or the blade getting duller. I see some hairs after the first pass but I don't know if this is any worse than with earlier shaves.
I'm not ready to retire this blade because I'm happy with this BBS shave. However, I understand it's recommended that the blade be replaced after 1 - 5 shaves or weekly.
Is my experience unusual?