Thread: Still Improving

Yeah, it's been a week of ups and downs with the straight. However, I'm making progress in the forward direction. Always the best direction for progress. A grand total of 8 shaves with it so far.

First the downs. Well, actually 2 downs. I had 2 MAJOR cuts, not nicks. One on each cheek. Technique is the blame there. The blade was at too great of an angle to the skin. I will be the first to admit that I don't have the steadiest of hands. So I am learning that it takes longer to shave this way than it did with the twin safety. I read an earlier post that said that it was better to have a comfortable shave than a very close one unless it is very important to have the close one. It's not been that important for a close one lately so I am opting for the comfortable one now. And taking Lynn's advice I am just doing the cheek areas first. If I can get a week's worth of comfort and relative closenes I will venture to my neck. I was also getting some significant razor burn. I can also attribute that to technique. Again, too steep of a blade angle.

Now the ups. Opting for the comfortable shave I decreased the blade angle this morning. Not quite so the blade should was resting against the skin. Lo and behold, the razor seemed to just glide relative to what it was like last week. I also tried shave cream for the fist time this morning (T&H Almond). Interesting. I am still trying to get the soap/cream to water ratio right. The cream was more like a loose paste. But that's better than being foamy! The shave was not perfectly BBS. But it was comfortable. No razor burn at all. I didn't nick my self once. I did, however, slice off the scab on one of the cuts that was healing from last week. But the bleeding stopped pretty quickly and the aftershave didn't burn much at all.

Overall, progress. And more comfort and confidence. I am still getting used to the sound the blade makes as it cuts the whiskers!

I lay my razors nearly flat against my skin and have found that has consistently been the best angle for me.
I haven't set my protractor next to it on my face, but I'm guessing that's close to the thirty degree angle people speak of for most of my razors

Congratulations on the improved shaves.
You are making great progress!!!