What soap/cream did you use today?

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.

In that vein, I learned early on from these blogs and from tyros and veterans alike, that everyone's skin, whiskers, skills, gear, PREFERENCES, and approach are different. So when you see people easily lather MWF, and you [read here me] can't, don't get discouraged. Find another way. That is the segment of the joy and fun in this game - it is an exploration, discovery exercise.

I have given up on BBS on my neck. Whisker growth pattern and shaving angle put me at risk for burn more often than not. So I enjoy BBS where I can with it with 2 to 3 passes without the redness.

I really enjoy learning from this group. Keep the honesty and communication flow apparent for all of us - tyro and 'pro'







Sent from my SM-A536U using Tapatalk

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.

In that vein, I learned early on from these blogs and from tyros and veterans alike, that everyone's skin, whiskers, skills, gear, PREFERENCES, and approach are different. So when you see people easily lather MWF, and you [read here me] can't, don't get discouraged. Find another way. That is the segment of the joy and fun in this game - it is an exploration, discovery exercise.

I have given up on BBS on my neck. Whisker growth pattern and shaving angle put me at risk for burn more often than not. So I enjoy BBS where I can with it with 2 to 3 passes without the redness.

I really enjoy learning from this group. Keep the honesty and communication flow apparent for all of us - tyro and 'pro'







Sent from my SM-A536U using Tapatalk

Absolutely agree.
For the first I don't even know how many years I had lots of trouble shaving without a nick, even with my best gear at the time.
Still not perfect, but always learning and adjusting.
YMMV is the only true rule in my book. And one's next shave may vary without understanding why!

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.

In that vein, I learned early on from these blogs and from tyros and veterans alike, that everyone's skin, whiskers, skills, gear, PREFERENCES, and approach are different. So when you see people easily lather MWF, and you [read here me] can't, don't get discouraged. Find another way. That is the segment of the joy and fun in this game - it is an exploration, discovery exercise.

I have given up on BBS on my neck. Whisker growth pattern and shaving angle put me at risk for burn more often than not. So I enjoy BBS where I can with it with 2 to 3 passes without the redness.

I really enjoy learning from this group. Keep the honesty and communication flow apparent for all of us - tyro and 'pro'







Sent from my SM-A536U using Tapatalk

Absolutely agree.
For the first I don't even know how many years I had lots of trouble shaving without a nick, even with my best gear at the time.
Still not perfect, but always learning and adjusting.
YMMV is the only true rule in my book. And one's next shave may vary without understanding why!

Definitely good to hear I'm not alone. Thanks guys Of course, some would say I do it to myself...

I have sensitive skin. I think some scents, ingredients, etc. add to the issues. Worst of all, I have an ineffable need (!) to get a hair-free shave. ATG is always a must, and I'll jump through hoops to get it to work. So, I know it's my fault.

Nonetheless, hearing others post about their troubles puts it in perspective... Considering what I must achieve, I'm doing pretty well I think. Lol. I'm also 5 years into this... I better have learned SOMETHING, even if I still can't call it anywhere near perfect.

Mondo Monday
MdC

Stuff never disappoints.

C U all tomorrow

Sent from my SM-A536U using Tapatalk

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

Congrats Bouki!  I'm still in the hit or miss shaving zone so a year straight feels like an eternity!

Phoenix Shaving - La Tierra Mojada (CK-6)

 

Can you find two waterfalls?

I see two in the middle on the right side of the pic.  But that could be the same waterfall.

Phoenix Shaving - La Tierra Mojada (CK-6)



Can you find two waterfalls?

In that vein, I learned early on from these blogs and from tyros and veterans alike, that everyone's skin, whiskers, skills, gear, PREFERENCES, and approach are different. So when you see people easily lather MWF, and you [read here me] can't, don't get discouraged. Find another way. That is the segment of the joy and fun in this game - it is an exploration, discovery exercise.

I have given up on BBS on my neck. Whisker growth pattern and shaving angle put me at risk for burn more often than not. So I enjoy BBS where I can with it with 2 to 3 passes without the redness.

I really enjoy learning from this group. Keep the honesty and communication flow apparent for all of us - tyro and 'pro'







Sent from my SM-A536U using Tapatalk

Absolutely agree.
For the first I don't even know how many years I had lots of trouble shaving without a nick, even with my best gear at the time.
Still not perfect, but always learning and adjusting.
YMMV is the only true rule in my book. And one's next shave may vary without understanding why!

Definitely good to hear I'm not alone. Thanks guys  Of course, some would say I do it to myself...

I have sensitive skin. I think some scents, ingredients, etc. add to the issues. Worst of all, I have an ineffable need (!) to get a hair-free shave. ATG is always a must, and I'll jump through hoops to get it to work. So, I know it's my fault.

Nonetheless, hearing others post about their troubles puts it in perspective... Considering what I must achieve, I'm doing pretty well I think. Lol. I'm also 5 years into this... I better have learned SOMETHING, even if I still can't call it anywhere near perfect.

FWIW Paul, it took me awhile to learn how to get a consistent and irritation-free BBS shave.  But now that I know how do it, it's almost like I don't want to.  The thing is, I've found over the past few months the joys of a simple 2-pass shave (mostly WTG and then XTG but every now and then I'll throw in an ATG).  Now I only go for the BBS when I know for certain I won't be shaving the next day or if it's a special occasion/holiday/date night

Another first-time use of a soap.  Much like yesterday's shave, I need to work the lather better on this one.  It was still slick and cushiony but I feel like it could be better.  The scent is a very familiar fougere scent. One that I'm certain I have in the den but I haven't been able to figure out which fougere yet