Thread: A honing/shaving experiment with Bart

A few weeks ago I started the thread Super sensitive skin!, in which Bart kindly offered to send me a razor to see if my skin would respond differently to a less aggressive hone than I had been shooting for. Offer I couldn't refuse!

I had my first shave with this razor (a Colibri 3/4 hollow ground Solingen steel 6/8") was on 9/15. After three shaves in six days (most recent today, 9/21), I dare say it's making a difference.

Just wanted to document the process with some pictures and see if others have some feedback to add.

First, photo of my neck about an hour after shaving with my normal straight. I will admit that I honed it myself, and I am no master, but it was rather sharp (HHT good!) and polished, and looked good under 100x microscope. Also, this photo is representative of my neck after many shaves no matter who has honed my razor.

Taken 8/31:

Here's my neck after my first shave with Bart's razor. I had waited 2.5 days between shaves, which is on the short side for me. I usually wait 3 days or more due to irritation.

Second shave with Bart's razor, 9/18, 3 days later:

I skimmed through your linked post first, but those pics you posted look like my neck if I use too much pressure.

Have you tried the ol' "razor lightly held between two fingers" trick on the neck area?

I shaved today, about an hour ago. It's hard to get a good picture because it's dark out and my bathroom doesn't have the brightest lights. Here's a decent photo.

Originally Posted by joke1176

I skimmed through your linked post first, but those pics you posted look like my neck if I use too much pressure.

Have you tried the ol' "razor lightly held between two fingers" trick on the neck area?

Too much pressure was my first thought as well. OTOH, we aren't all shaving the same whiskers. I've never had that much of a problem with mine. Lucky I guess. An edge off a coticule is more forgiving IME and Bart is an expert honer. That makes a difference too.

Originally Posted by joke1176

I skimmed through your linked post first, but those pics you posted look like my neck if I use too much pressure.

Have you tried the ol' "razor lightly held between two fingers" trick on the neck area?

I try to minimize pressure. Even when I shave very very lightly, I still get similar irritation, but there are whisker stubble mixed in : )

I should note that I have done my best to keep all other factors the same. All I switched out was the razor. Same routine down to every other detail.

looks like YOU need to get some coticule action going on then, right?

Perhaps 2 or 3 of them to find the "perfect" stone, eh? Eh?

Originally Posted by joke1176

looks like YOU need to get some coticule action going on then, right?

Perhaps 2 or 3 of them to find the "perfect" stone, eh? Eh?

Hehehe... we all see where this is going! : )