Angle and pressure, angle and pressure. If you have been a member here long enough you have read those words of advice a thousand times. I learned the wisdom of angle and and pressure the hard way several months ago when I was very new to this style of shaving. Since then I have continually improved my technique and reduced my irritation level to zero or pretty close to it. I have even gotten 25 shaves on an Astra SP and joined the Excalibur Club! But I learned something this morning that made me realize that I still have much to learn.
I am required to shave for work and I shave six days a week. I typically skip Sunday's as I did yesterday. I don't have a Sasquatch beard but when I skip a day it is very noticeable. It was a beautiful sunny day in Mid-Michigan yesterday and the family spent the afternoon picnicking in the yard. Since this was the first truly beautiful day I have spent outside in months, the thought of dusting off the bottle of sunscreen never even entered my mind. Needless to say, later that evening my face looked like a lobster right out of the pot. My face burned and hurt and I thought "OH NO, I have to shave in the morning for work!" I can't skip another day and I have a meeting later this afternoon.
I did my normal prep of lukewarm shower, sensitive skin face wash, leave my face wet all the way to the sink. I lathered up and as I'm putting blade to face all I could think was that this is not going to end well. I knew that angle and pressure would be more important today than ever. I decided to use even less pressure if that were even possible, just the weight of the razor and even try to use a little negative pressure. I was looking to not add to my irritation and if that meant a shave that was not as close as normal then so be it.
First pass WTG, rinse, relather, second pass ATG, rinse (I decided not to do three passes to keep the irritation as low as possible). During the rinses and relather I didn't even pay attention to how close or not close my shave was, I really didn't care. I just wanted to be presentable for my meeting. I skipped the alcohol based a/s and went straight for the sensitive skin balm. As I'm rubbing it in I noticed something. I HAVE NO STUBBLE! I just gave myself as good a shave as I have ever had. The only thing that was different is that I really, really, and I mean really made the effort to ensure no pressure. Not only was it as close a shave as I have ever had, I did not add one bit to my already irritated face.
Thank you to my B&B brothers. Your wisdom has saved yet another face.
I am required to shave for work and I shave six days a week. I typically skip Sunday's as I did yesterday. I don't have a Sasquatch beard but when I skip a day it is very noticeable. It was a beautiful sunny day in Mid-Michigan yesterday and the family spent the afternoon picnicking in the yard. Since this was the first truly beautiful day I have spent outside in months, the thought of dusting off the bottle of sunscreen never even entered my mind. Needless to say, later that evening my face looked like a lobster right out of the pot. My face burned and hurt and I thought "OH NO, I have to shave in the morning for work!" I can't skip another day and I have a meeting later this afternoon.
I did my normal prep of lukewarm shower, sensitive skin face wash, leave my face wet all the way to the sink. I lathered up and as I'm putting blade to face all I could think was that this is not going to end well. I knew that angle and pressure would be more important today than ever. I decided to use even less pressure if that were even possible, just the weight of the razor and even try to use a little negative pressure. I was looking to not add to my irritation and if that meant a shave that was not as close as normal then so be it.
First pass WTG, rinse, relather, second pass ATG, rinse (I decided not to do three passes to keep the irritation as low as possible). During the rinses and relather I didn't even pay attention to how close or not close my shave was, I really didn't care. I just wanted to be presentable for my meeting. I skipped the alcohol based a/s and went straight for the sensitive skin balm. As I'm rubbing it in I noticed something. I HAVE NO STUBBLE! I just gave myself as good a shave as I have ever had. The only thing that was different is that I really, really, and I mean really made the effort to ensure no pressure. Not only was it as close a shave as I have ever had, I did not add one bit to my already irritated face.
Thank you to my B&B brothers. Your wisdom has saved yet another face.
