When you get it right

[Tzimisce]

Once you get the blade/razor combo right you are 9/10ths there, you also get to know which soaps suit you too.

I couldn't agree more.
You need a really bad soap or really bad preparation when you have the perfect razor/blade combination.
You may loose the slickness or the protection, get a razor burn at the difficult spots, but you can not go far from a good shave.

 

[Grishnak]

Generally you will know through trial and error which blade,razor,soap combo will be reliable for you. Chuck any variable in that mix and it can be all thrown out of kilter. I know which blade suits the razors I own and of course I can try different ones to see if they are better or worse.
Once you get the blade/razor combo right you are 9/10ths there, you also get to know which soaps suit you too. It's all through trying what is on offer.
Shaves from hell are rare, usually caused by poor preparation, rushing and applying too much pressure so I never shave in the morning, I have too much to do to give the shave the time it needs, some love their early shaves each to their own, you will find your time. For me it's after work after a shower when I can use the time to relax and end the work day. How long have you been wet shaving Sir?

Not sure whether to give you the long story, but thought, rather than bore the entire forum with my journey, the short version is
DE shaving for about four years at a guess in the mid 1980s, at which point I gave up and switched to cartridge
and returned to DE approximately two months ago.

The early experience, along with YouTube, shaving websites and the forum here, have been massively positive in my return.
My return was actually prompted by being fed up being continually unable to find my previously preferred “flavour” of shave gel, which was my first prompt to research online.

As I said, there is a much longer version of this story and although it may be useful to those struggling to sleep, it possibly requires its own novel length thread

 

[halvor]

I've had a few lately.

Every shave with the Paradigm Titanium II which was on loan from @Acer89. A near perfect razor giving excellent results. Hence why I'm desperate to get my hands on one.

It took a number of shaves with the Rex Ambassador to dial it in and my last shave was just superb. It was very satisfying as I felt as though I'd mastered something. I also had that "can't stop stroking my face" syndrome.

Yesterday's shave was another belter for a number of reasons. The finished results were great but it was the shave its self I really enjoyed. Time was against me but I lost myself during it. Listening to the new Johnny Marr album in the background and being completely immersed in the music and the shave became meditative exercise.

Have you been in touch with Andrew directly, Rob? If you can’t find his email address, let me know and I’ll send it to you.

As for my ‘digm, I cant get myself to sell it, I’m afraid. It’s just too precious...

Happy to read of your good shaves, gentlemen. I can’t find the reason for why these superb shaves occur when the same setup doesn’t render the same at other occasions. I’ll just settle with ‘the stars aligned’ for those shaves.

 

[Wayne]

Not sure whether to give you the long story, but thought, rather than bore the entire forum with my journey, the short version is
DE shaving for about four years at a guess in the mid 1980s, at which point I gave up and switched to cartridge
and returned to DE approximately two months ago.

The early experience, along with YouTube, shaving websites and the forum here, have been massively positive in my return.
My return was actually prompted by being fed up being continually unable to find my previously preferred “flavour” of shave gel, which was my first prompt to research online.

As I said, there is a much longer version of this story and although it may be useful to those struggling to sleep, it possibly requires its own novel length thread

Nice story and welcome back to the fold

 

[Grishnak]

Nice story and welcome back to the fold

Thank you Wayne........that is the very short version of the story.

I am the proud owner of one Best badger brush from TSC, my original butterfly adjustable 1985 Gillette, a Mühle Rocca, TOBS Sandlewood cream and TOBS Sandlewood Soap puck (for comparison of lather, smell, ease of use etc) and one jar of Proraso green.
Blades used so far
Wilkinson Sword - through the 1980s part
Personna Blue, 1 Nacet and 1 Voskhod since my return.

 

[Blackmass]

Have you been in touch with Andrew directly, Rob? If you can’t find his email address, let me know and I’ll send it to you.

As for my ‘digm, I cant get myself to sell it, I’m afraid. It’s just too precious...

Happy to read of your good shaves, gentlemen. I can’t find the reason for why these superb shaves occur when the same setup doesn’t render the same at other occasions. I’ll just settle with ‘the stars aligned’ for those shaves.

Hi Halvor,
No I haven't been in touch with Andrew.
I did however hear there will be a new batch of the Titanium II released in a couple of weeks. I've signed up to his newsletter and Bullgoose for email alerts. I believe there will only be 100 released. I'll see if I can get one then.

As for your decision not to sell your Paradigm. I understand but if you ever change your mind you know where I am...If you listen carefully you can hear a grown man gently weeping.

 

[Ammerkur]

So good I wrote a poem:

Only been 4 times this year,
Feels like BBS magic,
Smooth and supple skin,
Irritation free,
Waft of perfumery complexity,
Off warm skin to nostril.

Brush as soft as silk,
Backbone Bruce Lee,
Bulbous glistening handle,
Snug in hand.

Hard candy...Mr Whippy vanilla peaked,
Slick, spread lather,
Blade meets face,
Where?
Ah I hear it,
Zipping.
Shave done,
Day begun.

Bravo sir...Bravo

 

[pimple8]

Oh yeah. Love the feeling so much. If I used only 1 razor 1 blade and 2-3 soaps all the time those shaves would be more often. But sadly, theres those RADs, SADs, And all other ADs....

Sent from my PRA-LX1 using Tapatalk

 

[Deleted member 30]

I normally do a little dance and finish with a moon walk out of the bathroom.

My slippers have holes in but a small price to pay for a good shave every day.

 

[Ventriss]

I can identify with so many of the feelings, especially the can't stop stroking the face one