What soap/cream did you use today?

Oud Osmanthus (Grooming Dept) peach leather oud
Shave 4 ・ 120 g left

It’s a red-letter day for me. Today marks a solid year of consecutive shaves. Compared to some accomplishments here at DFS, that’s no great milestone, but considering my past history of hit-and-miss shaving, I felt it was noteworthy. I set out last September hoping to master the art of the shave to such a degree that I could scrape my face close and clean every day without doing any damage. I’m still far away from my target, but I have picked up a few observations that may bring that goal closer to my grasp.

1. Two passes is enough. Any more is just asking for trouble.
   
2. Shaving against the grain always results in irritation, no matter the razor, no matter the soap.
   
3. After shaves with witch hazel often cause irritation several hours after use.
   
4. A light razor is just as effective as a heavy one and does far less damage. Titanium and aluminum razors now rule my roost.
   
5. Grooming Dept Kairos soaps make the slickest and the most protective lather of all the soaps in my stable.
   
6. The more I use a soap, the less I enjoy it. After three consecutive shaves with the same soap, the fun starts seeping away. If I stick with it past that, I start to ignore it. Where’s the joy in that? Best to rotate after three days max.
   

____________
Brush PAA Solar Flare ・ Razor Karve Aluminum Christopher Bradley SB-A, 3" orange pommel handle ・ Blade Astra ・ Book Alexandre Dumas, The Count of Monte Cristo ・ Hoard 191 soaps ・ 365 consecutive shaves

Congratulations!  

Things don't need to be unique to be significant accomplishments, and a solid year of consecutive shaves ranks pretty high IMO.   And thank you for your observations Bouki.  While perhaps unavoidably somewhat personal, my guess is that they will usefully inform many of us.  Including me, thank you!

Phoenix Shaving - La Tierra Mojada (CK-6)



Can you find two waterfalls?

Oud Osmanthus (Grooming Dept) peach leather oud
Shave 4 ・ 120 g left

It’s a red-letter day for me. Today marks a solid year of consecutive shaves. Compared to some accomplishments here at DFS, that’s no great milestone, but considering my past history of hit-and-miss shaving, I felt it was noteworthy. I set out last September hoping to master the art of the shave to such a degree that I could scrape my face close and clean every day without doing any damage. I’m still far away from my target, but I have picked up a few observations that may bring that goal closer to my grasp.

1. Two passes is enough. Any more is just asking for trouble.
   
2. Shaving against the grain always results in irritation, no matter the razor, no matter the soap.
   
3. After shaves with witch hazel often cause irritation several hours after use.
   
4. A light razor is just as effective as a heavy one and does far less damage. Titanium and aluminum razors now rule my roost.
   
5. Grooming Dept Kairos soaps make the slickest and the most protective lather of all the soaps in my stable.
   
6. The more I use a soap, the less I enjoy it. After three consecutive shaves with the same soap, the fun starts seeping away. If I stick with it past that, I start to ignore it. Where’s the joy in that? Best to rotate after three days max.
   

____________
Brush PAA Solar Flare ・ Razor Karve Aluminum Christopher Bradley SB-A, 3" orange pommel handle ・ Blade Astra ・ Book Alexandre Dumas, The Count of Monte Cristo ・ Hoard 191 soaps ・ 365 consecutive shaves

Monday September 11, 2023
Razor: Durham Dorset
Blade: Feather Pro
Brush: Knothead Brush Works/Badger
Soap: B&M Passiflora
AS 1: Witch Hazel
AS 2: Florida Water
Fragrance:
Consecutive Daily Shaves - # 1,770

Sunday, September 10, 2023 - Grooming Dept Lime

Chiseled Face / Ghost Town Barber

Sent from my SM-T387V using Tapatalk

Yup...same setup three days in a row. But, if you squint your eyes, and tilt your head to the left just a little, you just might be able to imagine the new blade in the razor. 

1. Two passes is enough. Any more is just asking for trouble.
   
2. Shaving against the grain always results in irritation, no matter the razor, no matter the soap.
   
3. After shaves with witch hazel often cause irritation several hours after use.
   
4. A light razor is just as effective as a heavy one and does far less damage. Titanium and aluminum razors now rule my roost.
   
5. Grooming Dept Kairos soaps make the slickest and the most protective lather of all the soaps in my stable.
   
6. The more I use a soap, the less I enjoy it. After three consecutive shaves with the same soap, the fun starts seeping away. If I stick with it past that, I start to ignore it. Where’s the joy in that? Best to rotate after three days max.
   

Many of these points mirror or are close to my own experience. Thank you for sharing.

So often I see veteran shavers posting how wonderful a shave is and I compare it to my experience. I'm then disparaged, thinking everything is rosey for them yet I struggle. Details such as ATG always produces irritation or that Witch hazel causes irritation for some (it's usually billed as the safe choice, sort of bulletproof).

I guess it's nice to hear, from time to time, how others struggle too. Otherwise, folks like me start to think, "Why does it work for everyone else but me".

Again, thanks for sharing.