My shaving technique

wyze0ne (Jeff),

If blade reviews are pointless, what is the value of your review?  I don't consider any reviews (if written in good faith) to be pointless.  That is how we learn from each other.

It wasn't a "review". Blade conversations that unequivocally state that "this blade is the sharpest" this blade is smoother" etc hold no weight for me. The proof is in the pudding when it comes to blades and that's why I said you'll never know until you try one for yourself. The value statement there is that "blades are totally subjective".

wyze0ne (Jeff),

If blade reviews are pointless, what is the value of your review?  I don't consider any reviews (if written in good faith) to be pointless.  That is how we learn from each other.

It wasn't a "review". Blade conversations that unequivocally state that "this blade is the sharpest" this blade is smoother" etc hold no weight for me. The proof is in the pudding when it comes to blades and that's why I said you'll never know until you try one for yourself. The value statement there is that "blades are totally subjective".

Wyzone is wise. I have found what works most for most doesn't necessarily work for me. But I will say, statistically, one can and many have MEASURED SHARPNESS, and where conventional opinion corroborates the measured sharpness.... I have found this tendency to be a fair assessment. But the variables with razor head architecture, soap, shaving style, etc... Make blade selection a YMMV task. That task makes the tyro wet shavers job quite sobering actually. It took me some years to find optimal combos and I am still searching for a blade that I can get a comfortable shave with my Wolfies. . Advice and suggestions welcomed!

Ray Clem's thread and spreadsheet is a great starting point and quite elucidating to find your likes and preferences. And there will be exceptions to your ruler for the sharpness/smoothness ratio band you may think you are in. I have a very tough beard, but my skin is impervious to razor burn. I prefer mild razors, so the Astra SP should not be a very good choice [ultra sharp blades would be] , but they work great for my Karve B and Timeless 68s. Go figure.

Enjoy the exploration. It is your journey.

Sent from my SM-G990U2 using Tapatalk

wyze0ne (Jeff),

If blade reviews are pointless, what is the value of your review?  I don't consider any reviews (if written in good faith) to be pointless.  That is how we learn from each other.

It wasn't a "review". Blade conversations that unequivocally state that "this blade is the sharpest" this blade is smoother" etc hold no weight for me. The proof is in the pudding when it comes to blades and that's why I said you'll never know until you try one for yourself. The value statement there is that "blades are totally subjective".

Wyzone is wise. I have found what works most for most doesn't necessarily work for me. But I will say, statistically, one can and many have MEASURED SHARPNESS, and where conventional opinion corroborates the measured sharpness.... I have found this tendency to be a fair assessment. But the variables with razor head architecture, soap, shaving style, etc... Make blade selection a YMMV task. That task makes the tyro wet shavers job quite sobering actually. It took me some years to find optimal combos and I am still searching for a blade that I can get a comfortable shave with my Wolfies. . Advice and suggestions welcomed!

Ray Clem's thread and spreadsheet is a great starting point and quite elucidating to find your likes and preferences. And there will be exceptions to your ruler for the sharpness/smoothness ratio band you may think you are in. I have a very tough beard, but my skin is impervious to razor burn. I prefer mild razors, so the Astra SP should not be a very good choice [ultra sharp blades would be] , but they work great for my Karve B and Timeless 68s. Go figure.

Enjoy the exploration. It is your journey.

Sent from my SM-G990U2 using Tapatalk

This is what I wanted to say but couldn't figure out how to do so diplomatically. Well done TommyCarioca . Also, not sure that you meant to say "impervious". Maybe you meant, "susceptible"?

Whether or not a blade is sharp is a physical property.  That is different from the subjective feeling of a blade's sharpness.

It wasn't a "review". Blade conversations that unequivocally state that "this blade is the sharpest" this blade is smoother" etc hold no weight for me. The proof is in the pudding when it comes to blades and that's why I said you'll never know until you try one for yourself. The value statement there is that "blades are totally subjective".

Wyzone is wise. I have found what works most for most doesn't necessarily work for me. But I will say, statistically, one can and many have MEASURED SHARPNESS, and where conventional opinion corroborates the measured sharpness.... I have found this tendency to be a fair assessment. But the variables with razor head architecture, soap, shaving style, etc... Make blade selection a YMMV task. That task makes the tyro wet shavers job quite sobering actually. It took me some years to find optimal combos and I am still searching for a blade that I can get a comfortable shave with my Wolfies. . Advice and suggestions welcomed!

Ray Clem's thread and spreadsheet is a great starting point and quite elucidating to find your likes and preferences. And there will be exceptions to your ruler for the sharpness/smoothness ratio band you may think you are in. I have a very tough beard, but my skin is impervious to razor burn. I prefer mild razors, so the Astra SP should not be a very good choice [ultra sharp blades would be] , but they work great for my Karve B and Timeless 68s. Go figure.

Enjoy the exploration. It is your journey.

Sent from my SM-G990U2 using Tapatalk

This is what I wanted to say but couldn't figure out how to do so diplomatically. Well done TommyCarioca . Also, not sure that you meant to say "impervious". Maybe you meant, "susceptible"?

Tedolph, i meant impervious. I am lucky. Skin seems to be razor burn proof. But I stay with mild razors, no buffing, no passes without lather beneath the blade, 3 passes max, and I have dialed in blades that work with specific razors per our discussion in this thread!

Sent from my SM-A536U using Tapatalk

Wyzone is wise. I have found what works most for most doesn't necessarily work for me. But I will say, statistically, one can and many have MEASURED SHARPNESS, and where conventional opinion corroborates the measured sharpness.... I have found this tendency to be a fair assessment. But the variables with razor head architecture, soap, shaving style, etc... Make blade selection a YMMV task. That task makes the tyro wet shavers job quite sobering actually. It took me some years to find optimal combos and I am still searching for a blade that I can get a comfortable shave with my Wolfies. . Advice and suggestions welcomed!

Ray Clem's thread and spreadsheet is a great starting point and quite elucidating to find your likes and preferences. And there will be exceptions to your ruler for the sharpness/smoothness ratio band you may think you are in. I have a very tough beard, but my skin is impervious to razor burn. I prefer mild razors, so the Astra SP should not be a very good choice [ultra sharp blades would be] , but they work great for my Karve B and Timeless 68s. Go figure.

Enjoy the exploration. It is your journey.

Sent from my SM-G990U2 using Tapatalk

This is what I wanted to say but couldn't figure out how to do so diplomatically. Well done TommyCarioca . Also, not sure that you meant to say "impervious". Maybe you meant, "susceptible"?

Tedolph, i meant impervious. I am lucky. Skin seems to be razor burn proof. But I stay with mild razors, no buffing, no passes without lather beneath the blade, 3 passes max, and I have dialed in blades that work with specific razors per our discussion in this thread!

Sent from my SM-A536U using Tapatalk

Sorry, I had you confused with someone else. Like you, I have a tough beard, but oily skin that can handle a lot. I find that a SR gives a very gentle shave compared to anything else.

My skin is oily as well

Sent from my SM-A536U using Tapatalk

Pressure is a great tool in the shaver's technique toolbox. Don't be afraid to use it to your benefit when the time calls for it. Too little pressure is as harmful as too much is.

I agree.

What I disagree with is the notion of "let the weight of the razor do the work", since razors can be anywhere from, what, 40 to 160 grams?

Pressure is a great tool in the shaver's technique toolbox. Don't be afraid to use it to your benefit when the time calls for it. Too little pressure is as harmful as too much is.

I agree.

What I disagree with is the notion of "let the weight of the razor do the work", since razors can be anywhere from, what, 40 to 160 grams?

Hmmmm........well, I am somewhere between these two positions. I do believe that some pressure is necessary. But how much? I think, just enough pressure to get the razor to cut, and no more. Rather than apply more pressure to a trouble spot, just do another pass with minimal pressure in a different direction.

My mantra is; "closeness does not come from pressure, closeness comes from multiple passes".