It started off so well, I made the foray into DE shaving and things looked good the *Splat* I hit the wall. I tried staying consistent that first week but then joined B&B and started learning about brushes and techniques like WTG, XTG, and ATG, shave prep, and lubricating which is where my problems began.
At first I was happy, I got a better shave than I had ever had with a cartridge. My meager setup had the basics and I was chugging along nicely with a razor (Merkur 33), a blade sampler pack & shaving cream (Real Shaving Co. or Burts Bees) applied by hand which were purchased at a local drug store. Then I read about brushes and thought "I gotta get me one of those." Ended up with buying a VDH premium shave set from a local retailer which contained a brush, bowl and soap. Right now I am just using the brush with the Real shaving Co shaving cream. I haven't used the soap or bowl yet, but may after I get more experience with my razor. I was happy and hadn't gotten a nick or a weeper.
On one of my excursions I ran across a styptic pencil which I had never heard of. I posted in the forums and the general consensus was that yes, they were good to have on hand so I picked one up. About that time I read about BBS and was like WOW, I gotta get me one of those. So I watched tutorials, learned about WTG (with the grain), ATG (against the grain) and finally XTG (across the grain). That my friends was the downfall of my nick free shaving experience. Ever since then I wanted it better and smoother which has led me to abandon what worked and try everything I have read about all at once with less than acceptable results not to mention a massive case of RAD which I won't go into here.
So, now it is time to do a hard reset. For the next month I am gonna take my razor, my shaving cream, and my brush and go back to where I started using only one blade that I liked on my face, the Astra . I will be going back to what worked and eventually incorporate different techniques, blades, and products after getting what I feel is good consistent shave.
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Note: If you are wondering how bad my RAD is, over a two week period I have acquired 37 thirty seven razors, 700 razor blades, 6 brushes (boar and badger), 12 shaving creams, 2 pre-shave oils, 3 bowls, a single razor stand, and a test tube rack for razors I want to use. I have not bought aftershave yet and I had to forcibly stop myself from buying a scuttle as I haven't tried a soap yet.
At first I was happy, I got a better shave than I had ever had with a cartridge. My meager setup had the basics and I was chugging along nicely with a razor (Merkur 33), a blade sampler pack & shaving cream (Real Shaving Co. or Burts Bees) applied by hand which were purchased at a local drug store. Then I read about brushes and thought "I gotta get me one of those." Ended up with buying a VDH premium shave set from a local retailer which contained a brush, bowl and soap. Right now I am just using the brush with the Real shaving Co shaving cream. I haven't used the soap or bowl yet, but may after I get more experience with my razor. I was happy and hadn't gotten a nick or a weeper.
On one of my excursions I ran across a styptic pencil which I had never heard of. I posted in the forums and the general consensus was that yes, they were good to have on hand so I picked one up. About that time I read about BBS and was like WOW, I gotta get me one of those. So I watched tutorials, learned about WTG (with the grain), ATG (against the grain) and finally XTG (across the grain). That my friends was the downfall of my nick free shaving experience. Ever since then I wanted it better and smoother which has led me to abandon what worked and try everything I have read about all at once with less than acceptable results not to mention a massive case of RAD which I won't go into here.
So, now it is time to do a hard reset. For the next month I am gonna take my razor, my shaving cream, and my brush and go back to where I started using only one blade that I liked on my face, the Astra . I will be going back to what worked and eventually incorporate different techniques, blades, and products after getting what I feel is good consistent shave.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Note: If you are wondering how bad my RAD is, over a two week period I have acquired 37 thirty seven razors, 700 razor blades, 6 brushes (boar and badger), 12 shaving creams, 2 pre-shave oils, 3 bowls, a single razor stand, and a test tube rack for razors I want to use. I have not bought aftershave yet and I had to forcibly stop myself from buying a scuttle as I haven't tried a soap yet.
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