SOTD - October 2021

[GAW9576]

I keep a beard and have for years. However I shave the front and back of my neck and touch up the upper beard line on my cheeks. I get a few blemishes on my neck here and there and they can be challenging to shave around. My neck hair also comes out flat to the skin making a close shave more difficult. Ad to that not having very tough skin on my neck and I can end up with irritated skin pretty quickly. I actually find some razors that are considered aggressive to be efficient enough to not need to over work things to get a pretty close shave. To mild of a razor for me means more passes trying to get the stubborn and sti visible hairs. It can be an interesting conundrum. It seems like for me Open comb razors with a  very light touch get the smoothest results with the least work. BTW a wise man ( @twelvfret ) once said. " the success of today's shave is greatly dependent on the success of yesterday's shave" or at least something extremely similar. So if you have a good shave today you can build on that for a great shave tomorrow. If you tear up your hface today be extra careful tomorrow.

Twelvefret is a wise man!

GAW9576, your comments really summarize much of what I've learned while shaving over the last 3-4 weeks. I also have neck hair on one side only that grows flat to my skin from south to north and I'm always surprised when shaving ATG that I don't have more irritation as the razor is in no way smoothly cutting the hair!

Prior to this 3-4 week time period, I would shave on average every third day which allowed my face recovery time so that I could then chase after another close shave. After watching Dave in KY's videos and his SotD posts and seeing that he is well over 1000 days of consecutive shaves and counting...I decided to change my approach. I started by trying to back off my expectations of a close shave and went back to two passes (WTG, XTG) and then put the razor down. After about a week of every day shaving, I then added in a pickup pass that included ATG on my cheeks/neck. After about another week I added a complete third pass that included delicately ATG on my chinny chin chin and mustache. I'm nowhere near perfect, but getting better. I still find myself chasing a better shave than I should try to get. For example, three passes today with the MMOC was asking a lot of my face and I will definitely back off to a two pass shave tomorrow. This is were Twelvefret's wisdom should have been heeded by me! I know that I will improve my technique over time and just need to have better patience until I get to that point. While nowhere in the same league as Dave in KY, today was my 37th consecutive day shaving!

Sounds like things are coming along with your technique and mindset about what is a good goal in shaving. I don't chase BBS anymore. The few times I have I've paid for it with lots of irritation. I used to get BBS on face shaves but I don't think I ever got them on the neck without some irritation.

[Dave in KY]

I keep a beard and have for years. However I shave the front and back of my neck and touch up the upper beard line on my cheeks. I get a few blemishes on my neck here and there and they can be challenging to shave around. My neck hair also comes out flat to the skin making a close shave more difficult. Ad to that not having very tough skin on my neck and I can end up with irritated skin pretty quickly. I actually find some razors that are considered aggressive to be efficient enough to not need to over work things to get a pretty close shave. To mild of a razor for me means more passes trying to get the stubborn and sti visible hairs. It can be an interesting conundrum. It seems like for me Open comb razors with a  very light touch get the smoothest results with the least work. BTW a wise man ( @twelvfret ) once said. " the success of today's shave is greatly dependent on the success of yesterday's shave" or at least something extremely similar. So if you have a good shave today you can build on that for a great shave tomorrow. If you tear up your hface today be extra careful tomorrow.

Twelvefret is a wise man!

GAW9576, your comments really summarize much of what I've learned while shaving over the last 3-4 weeks. I also have neck hair on one side only that grows flat to my skin from south to north and I'm always surprised when shaving ATG that I don't have more irritation as the razor is in no way smoothly cutting the hair!

Prior to this 3-4 week time period, I would shave on average every third day which allowed my face recovery time so that I could then chase after another close shave. After watching Dave in KY's videos and his SotD posts and seeing that he is well over 1000 days of consecutive shaves and counting...I decided to change my approach. I started by trying to back off my expectations of a close shave and went back to two passes (WTG, XTG) and then put the razor down. After about a week of every day shaving, I then added in a pickup pass that included ATG on my cheeks/neck. After about another week I added a complete third pass that included delicately ATG on my chinny chin chin and mustache. I'm nowhere near perfect, but getting better. I still find myself chasing a better shave than I should try to get. For example, three passes today with the MMOC was asking a lot of my face and I will definitely back off to a two pass shave tomorrow. This is were Twelvefret's wisdom should have been heeded by me! I know that I will improve my technique over time and just need to have better patience until I get to that point. While nowhere in the same league as Dave in KY, today was my 37th consecutive day shaving!

You Sir, have come a long way in a short time. Not only are you benefiting yourself but others that will read your posts in the future of your journey. Keep it up. What you've learned will be something you can share as others join here and seek your knowledge. WELL DONE !

[Dave in KY]

Tuesday October 26, 2021
Razor: French Unmentionable
Blade: Unmentionable
Brush: Techichi "The Hive"
Soap: PdP No 63
AS 1: Humphrey's Alcoholado Maravilla 70
AS 2: CFG Ghost Town Barber
Fragrance: PdP No 63 EDT
Consecutive Daily Shaves - # 1,084

[Jayaruh]

Tabac Tuesday's Shave


Cold Water Rinse
Tabac Shave Soap
Jayaruh #41 2-band Badger
Unmentionable Razor
Unmentionable Blade
CWR
Tabac AS

The Tabac Shave Soap lathered well with Jayaruh #41 2-band Badger Brush. Two passes and touch ups with the Unmentionable Razor with an Unmentionable Blade gave me a close, comfortable shave. After a cold water rinse I finished off with Tabac AS. I am clean, smooth, and refreshed...

[Twelvefret]

The "knock-down" has been something that helped me once when using an ancient unmentionable type. I felt I was trying to do too much on my first pass and experienced tugging and some irritation on my neck.  Since I use a moist sponge to wipe the blade, I was able to see the whisker parts removed with each stroke. I was surprised and began to just do a light first WTG pass on all areas then save the detail work for the next pass. 

For me, the chin and under the nose is the most challenging area to get a good looking shave. Maybe doing less initially might help prevent irritation.

[Old Sarge]

The "knock-down" has been something that helped me once when using an ancient unmentionable type. I felt I was trying to do too much on my first pass and experienced tugging and some irritation on my neck.  Since I use a moist sponge to wipe the blade, I was able to see the whisker parts removed with each stroke. I was surprised and began to just do a light first WTG pass on all areas then save the detail work for the next pass. 

For me, the chin and under the nose is the most challenging area to get a good looking shave. Maybe doing less initially might help prevent irritation.

That's good advice, Twelvefret! The knock-down sounds like you've been shaving with Rocky Balboa!    It's a fine line trying to take enough off on each pass so as to not require additional passes that could lead to more irritation. I guess it boils down to managing expectations.

I believe my modest improvement has come as I've gotten a better handle on what it means to use little pressure as GAW9576 previously advised me on. After all, there is going to be some pressure, but it's about using the least amount as necessary. I also think that shaving with vintage SE razors has given me a better comfort level when shaving with more blade feel. SEptember helped me to fine tune the proper angle and now when I switch between SE/DE razors I'm struggling less with the technique. I can really tell that I'm getting more comfortable with blade feel when shaving with the Stoll Chrome Steel LC, as there is no top cap to ride and it's all about blade feel!

[Tony'schin]

26/10/21
Pre       -  Shower, Cold water Face rinse
Brush   -  Alpha Outlaw Titanium G4 Synth
Soap    -  OSP Dark Matter
Razor   -  Unmentionable
Blade   -  Unmentionable
Post     -  Cold water Rinse, TC's infused Witch Hazel
Balm    -  Barts Balm Amber and Moroccan Jasmine Balm & Lotion
A/S      -  Pinaud Gents Gin



Stay safe and enjoy your day All

[Whiterook]

Razor: Unmentionable
Blade: Verboten!
Brush: Simpson Emperor 3 Super Badger
Pre-Shave: Proraso White
Lather: Long Rifle Bay Rhum
Aftershave: Long Rifle Bay Rhum Shave Tonic
Additional Care:
Thayers Facial Tonic Witch Hazel Unscented
Imperial Leather Talcum Powder

[Old Sarge]

Tabac Tuesday!
Cold Water Shave
Pre: Neutrogena Soap Face Wash, Noxzema Cream as Pre Shave
Razor: Inspired by Jayaruh's Birth Year
Blade: はい
Brush: Simpson Trafalgar T2
Soap: Tabac
Post: Osma Alum Block, Thayers Unscented Witch Hazel, Aqua Velva Musk After Shave, Nivea Sensitive Balm

An unmentionably simple two pass shave!

[Dave in KY]

Tabac Tuesday!
Cold Water Shave
Pre: Neutrogena Soap Face Wash, Noxzema Cream as Pre Shave
Razor: Inspired by Jayaruh's Birth Year
Blade: はい
Brush: Simpson Trafalgar T2
Soap: Tabac
Post: Osma Alum Block, Thayers Unscented Witch Hazel, Aqua Velva Musk After Shave, Nivea Sensitive Balm

An unmentionably simple two pass shave!

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