So yesterday, I had some extra time in the evening and used it for the shave. I have been carefully putting together the set of grips, angles, and strokes to get a good shave in the minimum number of passes.

Well did it ever work yesterday. I just got the smoothest most comfortable shave of my life and equal to a barbershop! And it felt great with nothing but a cold water rinse, it only improved with Alum, another rinse, and then some moisturizer.

It was unreal. Wetting my hands and face, I rubbed my finger tips everywhere and couldn't feel any stubble in any direction, anywhere! I mean zero. My skin as slick as an eel. And this morning I can just begin to feel some beard. I really don't need to shave today, at least not until maybe later this evening. Amazing.

Now the question, while doing the shave it remained comfortable at all times, but I noticed on the ATG pass and some cleanup spots my skin was getting a light pink color. Now I've done razor burn before and I definitely know what that looks like and feels like. So I thought to myself, "You know the test. Man up!"

So I wet my face and an Alum block and ran it over my face and neck, the best I got were a couple of 'tingles' and no sting. Now I've hit the burn head on with the Alum and felt the raging face fire, this wasn't it. This wasn't even close. The tingles barely registered.

The subtle pink color disappeared just a few minutes after the Alum block was dried on my skin. I washed it off and put on some moisturizer. No feeling but smooth skin, I let that soak in and dry. Then a small splash of an aftershave. Total comfort...

So what happen? Did I just push my skin to the very edge of starting a burn but halted just before? My face and neck skin look great this morning. The only thing different is the beard is coming in more slowly.

So is this what I should aim for, or try to avoid any pink at all? The shave was well phenomenal from the BBS and comfortable perspective. I mean I have got many smooth comfortable shaves before now, but this was different - a new level.

Slick as an eel, a total lack of beard, not even fuzz or skin pores, the pores closed up tight; my face and neck felt like I was lightly running my wet finger tips over smooth wet glass.


Best,

Ed