Shave of the day?

Interesting points on the various viewpoints surrounding shaves per blade, Gollnick. I must be an unwitting "hyper-shaver" with a less discriminating notion of a good shave.. even the garden-variety cheapo DE blades sold locally (at least at the few places that still stock them) seem to last me weeks and weeks of shaving my entire head. Granted, I don't do this on a daily basis, so the life of a given blade is extended... and a little more so by the occasional straight razor shave of the face.

Most importantly, cheapskatitude may be at play in my case. :D
 
The individual perceptions and preferences of DE blades is amazing. I got some Super Iridiums in last week and I have only use one, but so far I'm not that impressed. I just tossed the first one after the third shave. Right now I'm having a hard time finding anything that I prefer over a Derby:confused: And it ain't for a lack of looking:D I'm finding my that my over the top pre-shave technique seems to influence the quality of my shave as much or more than the brand of the blade (within reason).
 
test shave on the cpm154 razor went well. i was a bit heavy handed so i got a few little weepers (was sharper then i was used to)

i thinik that with a bit of adjustment on my form i will have one killer razor and it will be low maint.
 
My Futur arrived yesterday... I enjoy its sheer chrome aesthetic even more than the pics on the web led me to believe. I think my technique is going to need some adjusting though. Nicked the corners of my mouth... gotta find a better way to do these troublespots!

Shaved the scalp without incident. :thumbup:
 
I used to cut my lips and corners of my mouth all the time with carts. Since I've switched to using old Gillette razors with Derby blades, that doesn't happen anymore. If you don't have an old silver or black handled adjustable from the '60s, you really ought to get one.
 
well lets get this back up
i used mama bear soap and nivea after lotion
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I used to cut my lips and corners of my mouth all the time with carts. Since I've switched to using old Gillette razors with Derby blades, that doesn't happen anymore. If you don't have an old silver or black handled adjustable from the '60s, you really ought to get one.

I figured out the problem I was having... since I'd been using straights these last few months, I grew accustomed to stretching the skin everywhere. This is a bad idea when going against the grain on the corners of the mouth with a DE. If I just relax the skin there, no nicks. :thumbup:
 
I used a three blade throwaway gillette to dry shave a 2 month mountain man scraggle last night, it took me close to two hours :/
 
Funny thing, I actually don't stretch the skin at all when I shave. If I do, I get ingrown hairs. I still get BBS shaves with a good razor and blade without stretching.
 
Funny thing, I actually don't stretch the skin at all when I shave. If I do, I get ingrown hairs. I still get BBS shaves with a good razor and blade without stretching.

I have a few stubborn spots... particularly the chin and the jawline just to the right of the chin. My hair is a bit on the thick/coarse side, and there's usually 3 days growth on average between shaves. BBS might take me a bit more effort. :confused:
 
I wish I could use a straight razor…they last time I tried I did a real number on myself.
 
I wish I could use a straight razor…they last time I tried I did a real number on myself.

In my admittedly limited experience with straights (about 5-6 months of occasional shaving), I find that it's one of those cases where the sharpness of the edge will result in a face that's less prone to rawness, razor burn, and nicks from scraping too hard. If your straight has any spots that aren't up to snuff, boy, you'll feel it! :mad: Of course the degree of care is quite different than the usage of safety razors regardless.
 
This morning I was shaving with a DE while listening to the radio. Then "All Along the Watchtower", Jimi Hendrix version, started to play.


I felt like I was in another time.
 
Just had a fantastic shave with my Dovo Special Tortoise, Dovo brush (I forget who they contracted that with but it's really nice badger) and my hand-made cedar-scented glycerin shaving soap. I just put a fresh edge on it and boy is it one heck of a shaver! :)
 
Dovo 5/8 black star with Green scales 30 and 60 passes on canvas and leather. wall mart brush and bowl and Williams mug soap. Shaving ability keeps getting better but it may be time to send this razor in for a honing, its draging a little. Results are still smooth though!
 
The majority of the time using my Merkur Futur, it's been set at "2". I was feeling bold and cranked 'er up to "3" for two of my prior shaves. Long story short, I'm back to 2 now. :D
 
I've got a pretty good mix of str8 razors that I use. From Full hollows to wedges in different widths. Two recent purchases include a Thiers Issard frameback and Wade&Butcher near wedge both 7/8. Just got a kamisori that needs to be honed. Can't wait to try it out.

Butch makes some of the most gorgeous razors I've seen. Keep it up.
 
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DE just got here this morning. First shave was a little rough, but damn fine in some places. Just gotta work on angle.

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I'm amazed that something 50 years old is this pretty yet still so cheap.
 
That's a good-lookin' kit. I have that same razor (Thanks again to Steve) and it really likes Derby blades. With a three-pass shave, I can get a 1st class shave with that razor. You'll find your shaves will improve three out of four days (with one day of slight regressing) for the next four to six months as you get dialed in. I suggest selecting a lather product quickly and sticking with that lather product for those four to six months as you figure out blades, angles, razor settings, pressure, etc. It's one less variable.
 
Thanks Gollnick, I'll have to get some derbys to try. they're common enough to be found in local supermarkets right? Using an Astra super stainless and working through a sample pack. Been switching up lathers trying to decide what to use while I was waiting for the Slim to arrive. but I used the JM fraiser stuff for the first time today, and its fantastic. Slick as goose shit, but thankfully with a nicer scent.

It's fantastic. I end up waking up earlier because Im looking forward to shaving.
 
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