yet another how many

[vreddy2000]

I see a lot of threads recently on blade usage.
This is a question for those that use the blade until it can shave
and when you toss it, it is because it does not give a comfortable shave and not because its been used once or three times or some preset number of shaves.

A little background on why I am asking this question.

As my routine changes in small ways..(and so far it is a constant feature..some small thing seems to change all the time)
the shaves have been getting better, this last few weeks I have changed one part that gave me a huge significant difference.

I soak my face for a good two minutes..a count of 120..two minutes is a long time when you stand in the shower.I always shower and shave.
In the last few weeks I have been using Tabac or Cella.

Gillette Black, tossed it after 14 uses, it was tugging ATG.
right now I am no shave 9 with a Derby. I had thought that I was done with derby and have not touched them for about six months now, This is the first time
I am using them with the new routine.I get BBS and no burn whatsoever,feed back from alum block is almost nothing..and my current shave consists of WTG,XTG and ATG, a full three pass shave for a BBS.

K..sorr..its late and I am rambling a bit.

Specifically, for those who cannot use a blade beyond 1 or 3 shaves ..
1)what does your prep consist of
2)what software do you use
3)what blade do you use

and the same question for those that use a blade beyond 7 shaves..

 

[hedonist222]

I sometimes apply almond oil to my face prior to scrubbing. I haven't used it enough to determine whether it helps.
Wouldn't washing it off defeat the purpose of it? But leaving it on may not mix well with the lather. So further investigation is imminent .

Or I'll apply a hotel towel to my face for as long as the heat lasts - usually no more than a minute.

Then I'll shave with either one of my creams or soaps (if I can get a lather with the damn TF&H soap)

I'm using a DE TF&H Ebony Carlton with Feather blades and a Crabtree & Evelyn pure badger brush. Chubby 3 Manchurian butterscotch should be in my mailbox right now!

I finalize the shave with a final ice water rinse. I love it. Feels great and more importantly the soreness is less.

Then I apply L'Occitane Aftershave Cade balm.

 

[Dugz]

I was trying to see how many shaves I could get from an Astra SP, and today on the fourth shave it seemed like it was starting to bite me, so I banked it when I was done.

My prep is probably not very good. I start by splashing hot water on my face, then I gather up my shaving stuff. When I am loading my brush, as soon as I have a bit of soap on it I brush it around on my face just to get the soap working on my whiskers. Then I continue loading the brush and proceed to generate lather in my bowl. So I have a few minutes of water then light soap for a pre-shave treatment. Then I get down to business.

I've been rotating through cheap soaps, VDH Deluxe, Williams, and Godrej Shaving Round. Strangely the Godrej tends to clog up my razor and the residue is hard to wash out.

I'm still pretty new at this though, and I think I might be able to get a couple more shaves from a blade if my technique improves.

 

[jesperw]

1) Wash my face with face wash in the shower. After shower Decleor or Truefitt & Hill or Proraso preshave and let sit while loading brush. Facelather and let sit on face for a minute before shaving.

2) Mikes Natural Soap, Proraso, MWF and TOBS Jermy Street are my current favourites.

3) Feather, Polsilver, Wilkinson Sword, Astra SP are my favourites.

Enjoy your shaves and dont worry if you do not get BBS the first times. There is a learning curve for almost everyone.

 

[Jussi]

I rarely get more shaves than 3 from any blade. I actually chose my current go-to -blade (Silver Blue) for its ability to give me at least 3 very good shaves and occasionally go to 4 relatively comfortable ones.

My prep is, I think, very good. I take a long-ish shower, exfoliating my face and shaving my head (with Fusion, but with a proper lather - shall move to DE's some day, I think) in there. I finish my shower by standing 2 minutes still, my face towards the showerhead, temp as high as I can comfortably stand. After that, I make the lather (Harris' Arlington or Mühle hard soap, Proraso, Palmolive or Mühle creme, depending on day and feeling). I splash my face with warm water, then use brush to put the lather on (first swirling movements, then painting the even layer on). WTG, XTG, ATG, rinsing with warm water & re-applying the lather between the shaves. After the shave I rinse my face with cold water, put on the AS, loosen the razorhead, rinse it, shake it and leave to dry. Moisturize & go.

I'm a redhead, so my beard isn't the most wiry there is. My skin is relatively soft and sensitive, as well. However, I've noticed early that my face has a tendency to eat razors - my head doesn't, at least as severely, so it's the beard (or face). It can be anything - diet, water, sweat or whatever - but I think that there's a high amount of minerals in my skin or beard that wear the edge down. The ease (and undeniable results) of handlapping my head shaving razor would point towards my skin being abrasive.

Whatever the reason, some blades only give me 2 comfortable shaves, most give me three - and it takes the perfect positioning of moon, stars and everything to push any blade past 4 OK shaves. With any blade, BBS is achievable only during the two first shaves, never on third.


So, shortly:

1) Very long shower, exfoliating and thorough lathering, letting the lather work for ~45-60 secs before shaving.

2) D.R. Harris & Co. Arlington soap, Mühle soap, Proraso creme, Palmolive creme, Mühle creme.

3) Gillette Silver Blue, Gillette 7'o clock Black (Indian), Feather, Personna Lab, Astra SP, Rapira Platinum Lux - all on Mühle R89 or R41.

 

[Mick]

If I shave after showering I do nothing special other then wet my face before lathering.

If I shave mid day I will wash my face/beard with glycerine soap (pears or neutrogena) as glycerin helps your beard absorb water which softens it.

I use a blade until it starts to tug or pull then I discard it. Since I use a different blade and razor every day (hey this is a hobby not a grooming function) I store my open blades out of the razor as I may not use that razor again for a month or more.

My open blades are kept on the paper blade wrappers marked from 1 through 6 on my counter which correspond to the number of shaves on the blade. After shaving I pat the blade dry by putting it on a towel, folding a corner over and pressing the blade (no wiping) then move the blade to the next numbered paper

I find that a DE blade will last me from 4 to 7 shaves (sometimes longer) depending on the blade and razor it was used in.

 

[tjg5181]

I'm more of a vampire shaver doing it at night. Doing so, I hardly ever take a shower before doing so, whereas I'm just going to take one in the morning to help with the wake up process. So my "normal" pre shave prep includes soaking my lather bowl in hot water and placing both my razor and brush in there to heat up. While that is off to the side, I use the Nivea facial scrub to exfoliate. Then I add about 3 drops of AoS shaving oil (I find it doesn't clog too much if I splash a bit of water on my face AFTER adding the oil.) By this time everything is nicely heated and I can begin forming my lather and applying.

On the off chance that I have a few extra minutes and I want to feel "pampered", after I do the preshave scrub, i apply a hot towel to open the pores up before applying the lather. And then end the shaving experience with a cold towel to close up the pores. I leave the bathroom feeling GREAT!

Eiher way, I have been using the Astra SP blades and get about 4 decent shaves out of them before I feel the tug. Which means I'll have a fresh blade tonight!! =)

 

[vreddy2000]

Perhaps the very first thing I read was about soaking and I promptly did not register it,
with minimal prep my beard was like steel and with proper prem its like butter.
In hindsight it is self obvious, but i digress

My prep is, I think, very good. I take a long-ish shower, exfoliating my face and shaving my head (with Fusion, but with a proper lather - shall move to DE's some day, I think) in there. I finish my shower by standing 2 minutes still, my face towards the showerhead, temp as high as I can comfortably stand. .

Intresting, that even with what I would consider proper prep you still find the blade tugging after 2 shaves..

 

[vreddy2000]

that is a great system,wish I was allowed that much counter space ...

 

[Mick]

that is a great system,wish I was allowed that much counter space ...

Counter space is something I have plenty of (blades are down the right side)

 

[vreddy2000]

Counter space is something I have plenty of (blades are down the right side)

tch...very jealous...top right corner where you have the brushes, half of that is what I have and no sharp objects allowed anywhere in that space..

 

[Mick]

tch...very jealous...top right corner where you have the brushes, half of that is what I have and no sharp objects allowed anywhere in that space..

Put up a shelf (if you have some wall space)

I put my after shaves on a shelf but it could hold anything

 

[vreddy2000]

Put up a shelf (if you have some wall space)

I put my after shaves on a shelf but it could hold anything

I tried and was promptly overruled,
this was the answer I got .
I have learned to live with what I got rather than wish for what I won't get.
(secret of my success at restraint )

 

[Jawaburger]

Interesting, that even with what I would consider proper prep you still find the blade tugging after 2 shaves..

Everyone has different facial hair. Some people have much thicker and coarser hair that can dull the blade faster. Also, some people have different opinions on what is acceptable in regards to tugging, pulling and irritation. I usually enjoy 3-4 shaves with a blade before I find the blade uncomfortable to use. This is a big YMMV situation. It is way too subjective.

 

[vreddy2000]

Everyone has different facial hair. Some people have much thicker and coarser hair that can dull the blade faster.

this notion was what I wanted to test, someone who considers their hair to be like steel, if they spent the time to do a proper prep would it make a difference to their shave,
regardless of blade longivity, my shave quality itself has improved

Also, some people have different opinions on what is acceptable in regards to tugging, pulling and irritation. I usually enjoy 3-4 shaves with a blade before I find the blade uncomfortable to use. This is a big YMMV situation. It is way too subjective.

This was something I did not fully consider, as you say YMMV.
I just assumed if it tugs in any direction its time to change the blade..