Recommendations wanted! ...and tip or 2.

[Downhill]

I have oily and sensitive skin too but am wet shaving for over 30 years now and my routine comes almost my muscle memory to me. All above is very solid advise from everyone.
To me a very slick lather and sharp blade works well. Try more sharper blade in a mild razor and you don't have to run over twice at same spot which cause irritation. Try to get better soap than proraso. It works for many and I am not advocating for artisan soaps but better soaps are not cheap. Keep your lather very hydrated, something like that drips down from razor safety bar in about 5-6 seconds. Extra wet lather sometimes compensate for a bad soap because it is very slick and sharp blade does the job right. You may also want to consider that you do not over work the whisking part when making lather. Too much air in lather can dry it out even if it looks good just like soap advertising from 60s. That kind of fluffy lather is just impractical.

I think that I do over work my lathers. Especially last one on wednesday. I didn't have bowl with me but now that I'm home think I'm gonna practise that. Face lathering is convinient but I find it easier to do lather in bowl. That's a preference that came apparent to me during The trip.

Also... I decided not to use exfoliating face washes on shave days anymore. Definetly helps.

 

[SammieM]

Sorry The lack of responses. I'm on paid leave from work and went to vacation. During that I put some of the tips I got from here to work and lo behold, riding from top-cap was golden advice. Stinging with alumn block or splash pretty much halved. I used my r89 clone. Problem areas now are chin and neck where it's really hard to maintain the angle. Neck because beard grains grows in so many directions so I find hard to get comfortable shave with less passes. Gonna keep practicing with muhle blades (comes 10 in a pack) and I get four 3-pass shaves from one.

Tho I'm itching to try a razor that I got as early birthday gift from my uncle. Gillette "slim" adjustable from 1966 (date code L3). Gonna Post pics to acquicition thread.

Also I experimented on lather. I think I better to try another soap. Nothing wrong with proraso but I couldnt get it feel slick enough. I face lathered and added water on the way. Sometimes bit less and sometimes more. Even between passes. I still have that another soap I got when I bought My r89 clone. Gonna try with that one next.

Have you smelled Tabac before? If you don’t mind the scent, the performance is hard to beat for the price. Pro rasp is nice, but I find Tabac provides better protection. Lasts a long time. I would also recommend trying a different blade. Astra SP works very good for me in many razors. Sharper blades like Permasharp, Wizamet etc work in some razors for me. You might need a sharper blade for the neck in order to reduce buffing and passes. No pressure is key.

 

[Downhill]

Have you smelled Tabac before? If you don’t mind the scent, the performance is hard to beat for the price. Pro rasp is nice, but I find Tabac provides better protection. Lasts a long time. I would also recommend trying a different blade. Astra SP works very good for me in many razors. Sharper blades like Permasharp, Wizamet etc work in some razors for me. You might need a sharper blade for the neck in order to reduce buffing and passes. No pressure is key.

I have astra greens, personnas blues, muhle, vosdhoks and bic's. Bic I haven't tried yet. Astra green are good. And gonna go back to them soon as I run out of muhle blades. Astras were 1st blades to try with, but that was when I didn't know much of DE shaving.

Need to see If there's tabac shaving soap available. I have used their deodorant so I know how it smells. Tabac is readily available everywhere here but not sure about shaving soap. Might find those aerosol foams but can't remember seeing latherable soap on sale.

 

[SammieM]

There is an online store in the U.K. that sells it very reasonably.

 

[Downhill]

There is an online store in the U.K. that sells it very reasonably.

Just checked and my go-to shaving supplier has Tabac. In creme, stick and in that ceramic jar.

Tabac

<p></p> <p>Each of us probably remembers seeing a classic Tabac aftershave bottle as a child on the shelf of a father or some other manly man. And no wonder those strong-smelling products have been made since 1959. Now TABAC is also available from us, and the latest addition to the series is the...

en.nordicshaving.com

Funnily enough even among artisan soaps Tapac in ceramic jar is one of the most expensive ones in Nordic Shaving Co. Only few others goes over 25 euros.

With another quick look to biggest stores over here, and only Tabac products available are deodorants, EdTs, after-shaves and shower gels.

 

[Downhill]

And even other suppliers don't have Tabac. Nordic Shaving Co. is with the best selection.

 

[HereticHermit]

I have no hesitation in saying that instead of trying to finish the current blade stock I will look into online sellers at e-bay offering blade sample packs. They cost reasonable. There is one seller from Sweden who have big catalogue.
Two blades from each brand can give you a fair idea. Ask the seller to help you with grading them as per sharpness. From your list it appears most of your blade are low to medium sharp. Don't be afraid to experiment. Once you find the ones that work for you, it is nirvana.

 

[Downhill]

I have no hesitation in saying that instead of trying to finish the current blade stock I will look into online sellers at e-bay offering blade sample packs. They cost reasonable. There is one seller from Sweden who have big catalogue.
Two blades from each brand can give you a fair idea. Ask the seller to help you with grading them as per sharpness. From your list it appears most of your blade are low to medium sharp. Don't be afraid to experiment. Once you find the ones that work for you, it is nirvana.

I will get into it evetually. I have to be careful when ordering from e-bay. It has to be EU country, otherwise I have to pay not only customs but VAT too... and that raises the price up. I think I found that swedish seller you mentioned. Thanks for that. The selection is huge.

 

[Downhill]

Ok... Saturday evening shave is now done. What I've learned? One: Personna blue labs blades are not for me. Two: The other shaving soap I own wasn't that good. Atleast today. For some reason I couldn't get it slick and protective. Razor felt dry against skin. Gonna keep using proraso until I get myself to order some other. Was thingking TOBS, heard so much good of it. And not that pricey. Or perhaps sample kit from NSC.

Not the best shave today because that the blade. Gillette slim adjustable worked fine (I had to test my bithday gift ). Third pass actually felt nice to do on cheeks with setting #2, even with that blade. Started with setting #4 but changed it to #6, second pass went #4 and last as I said #2.

 

[Paul L]

Lots of good advice already given

As you have 'oily and sensitive' skin, I would recommend you use only witch hazel post shave, and don't use alum (unless you need to use it to stop cuts bleeding)
Your skin will thank you for it

 

[Downhill]

Lots of good advice already given

As you have 'oily and sensitive' skin, I would recommend you use only witch hazel post shave, and don't use alum (unless you need to use it to stop cuts bleeding)
Your skin will thank you for it

I use alum for comforts sake. If shave been bit too aggressive the sting is not that bad because stinging being "localized" in one spot. If using aftershave only, the burn is much worse. And I do rinse my face good after alum and before aftershave. My post shave is cold water rinse -> alum -> cold water rinse -> aftershave.

As for witch hazel, I can't seem to find any aftershaves with witch hazel, here in europe. Don't know why. But I do use alcohol based one. Balm is in use only if "botched" the shave.

EDIT: many aftershaves seems to contain witch hazel so never mind... It just doesn't read on the bottles but many uses witch hazel as ingredient.

 

[Paul L]

I use alum for comforts sake. If shave been bit too aggressive the sting is not that bad because stinging being "localized" in one spot. If using aftershave only, the burn is much worse. And I do rinse my face good after alum and before aftershave. My post shave is cold water rinse -> alum -> cold water rinse -> aftershave.

As for witch hazel, I can't seem to find any aftershaves with witch hazel, here in europe. Don't know why. But I do use alcohol based one. Balm is in use only if "botched" the shave.

EDIT: many aftershaves seems to contain witch hazel so never mind... It just doesn't read on the bottles but many uses witch hazel as ingredient.

This is what I meant

https://www.superdrug.com/Health/First-Aid/Antiseptic-Creams-&-Gels/Care-Witch-Hazel-200ml/p/642108

Seriously, ditch the alum rub - it's just burning your skin

 

[R181]

Seriously, ditch the alum rub - it's just burning your skin

Alum is also used as a deodorant so I seriously doubt that it is literally burning your skin. You get the same burning sensation using an alcohol based after shave especially if you messed up your shave.

Bob

 

[Downhill]

Alum is also used as a deodorant so I seriously doubt that it is literally burning your skin. You get the same burning sensation using an alcohol based after shave especially if you messed up your shave.

Bob

I think @Paul L meant that witch-hazel is much more milder on the skin than alum but as effective. Doesnt sting as much so to speak.

This is what I meant

https://www.superdrug.com/Health/First-Aid/Antiseptic-Creams-&-Gels/Care-Witch-Hazel-200ml/p/642108

Seriously, ditch the alum rub - it's just burning your skin

I wish that it would be that simple, witch-hazel waters I found on Sale here in Finland is quite pricey. Not to mention being quite rare. Pharmacies doesnt sell it. Chepeast I found was 250 ml for 16 euros.