Thread: Round 3: lessons learned

Well, round 3 didn't go as well as round 2, in my books.

Picked up some Body Shop Maca Root shaving cream, it lathered up beautifully when I got the water:cream ratio down right (or close enough at least).

Got both sides with the grain (1 minor nick on the right)), neck against the grain, and relathered for the against the grain on my face, Get about 1/3 of my right side done and the razor bit. Pretty good slice. Closed up with cold water but continued to leak a while.


Dunno if it's the fact that I didn't have a shower first, or if it was because it was the 3rd shave on the replaceable blade, but I didn't get near as close as I had on friday's shave. Significantly more razor burn and overworked spots. I usually only get 1 good shave out of a Schick Quattro cartridge (the 2nd one pulls), if that helps for reference.

Ordered Derby and Feather blades for the Parker, so we'll see how those work for multiple shaves (if I can get 3-4 shaves on a blade the price per shave will go down and make Feather cheap). 100 double blades, 200 refills, ~800 shaves would last me forever when I've got my other razors back too.


Fresh blade and a shower next time I use the cream, make sure it wasn't the issue.

Hi.
I am not an expert on this, but if I read you right, you where going straight to ATG on your neck and did not do XTG on your face before the ATG.
I have tried the same ,more or less, due to bad technique/lack of experience

I would suggest doing full WTG, re lather, Full XTG, and then, if needed,re lathering and ATG.
If you got the time, a shower first really helps too. Possibly some pre oil thing as well.
Hope that helps.
Good luck!

Good prep, ie. a hot shower or hot towel is quintessential to a good shave. As for the blade, you will start to see a deterioration with any DE blade after the first couple shaves.

Originally Posted by Birnando

Hi.
I am not an expert on this, but if I read you right, you where going straight to ATG on your neck and did not do XTG on your face before the ATG.
I have tried the same ,more or less, due to bad technique/lack of experience

Round 1 and 2 worked out all right (tuesday and friday) with just the WTG & ATG passes.

Originally Posted by red96ta

Good prep, ie. a hot shower or hot towel is quintessential to a good shave. As for the blade, you will start to see a deterioration with any DE blade after the first couple shaves.

Figured that both would cause an issue. I know my face is hard on cartridges, wasn't sure how long a DE blade would last on me. 2 shaves is still a bonus.

I got a decent number of shaves from cartridge razors, however, I found the replacable blades for straights didn't last nearly as long. Any more then two shaves, and the blade became dull enough that I was chopping myself to bits.

My beard is hard on blades as well. I learned that the Red personna gives me a great close shave. I get a good 3 shaves out of them. By the 4th shave it starts to snag/nick and leave razor burn. But for the price.. it is still a huge bargain at about 10 cents a blade. As for your shave? i would start with a hot shower or hot wet towel or splash hot water on my face. This isn't called wet shaving for nothing. You must keep your face and blade wet. I suggest to go with a WTG pass first no matter what lather up good again followed by a XTG then for a 3rd pass, lather up again and finish with ATG. If you are in a hurry? Do a 2 pass shave i go with a WTG followed up by ATG,just make sure you lather up good in between passes and keep your face and razor moist. Good luck..

Trust me, there was lots of moisture, lots of lather. Just didn't do any prep beyond a hot cloth on my face, and was trying to see if I could get a 3rd shave on a blade.

Didn't get as close as the 2nd shave was, and I had some good razor burn going today.

if it wasn't for the good slice I'd give it shot again tonight with a fresh blade and that cream. Guess I have to wait till tomorrow.