[OLD_SCHOOL]

I figure this may help other NooB's.
So I finally got some "REAL" shaving soaps and a copy of Lynn's DVD so in theory I should be set.


Sunday 07 October

I've taken Lynn's advice from his DVD and going back to just shaving my cheeks and sideburns til I get my technique sorted, also will try using both hands, with a Japanese style feather it's not easy using both hands.

So today's shaving accessories, (which really won't change) consisted of:

Japanese style feather,
TGQ Provencal Lavender shave soap
Hot towel method
Gillette Sensor Excel
Boars bristle brush.

Well I really like TGQ lather it doesn't dry as fast as Japanese soaps if at all, the shave was good but I think the blade was a little dull so will change that for tomorrow (no cuts though). Only did the cheeks with the feather, used sensor for neck and chin area. Used a hot towel instead of cold water like Lynn did on his DVD to finish, was interesting, but when I used aftershave it burned something fierce, so I won't do that again. Colleen's soap left my face feeling soft and supple from the excellent moisturizers, everything I could have hoped for from her soap.

[OLD_SCHOOL]

Well I changed blade in my feather and used Yuzu shaving soap by Honeybee soap. The lather seemed creamier than Colleens but the moisturizing effect was almost non existant so Colleens soaps are still in the lead.
Well I scraped my face good and proper and had a dozen or so beads of blood form on my face. I guess I still gotta work on the angle but I have had a bit of conflicting info regarding angle. First I was told I want the blade damn near flat against my face, then I'm told I need it at 30 degree whilst I have reat others saying they use 45 degree angle
I think I will spend a fortnight foing the cheeks before progressing onto the neck. Coz I find the feather rather awkward to position/hold correctly.
I will not give up though.

[Milton Man]

When I first started, I wanted a Feather as well since I was scared of honing, stropping, etc. I finally decided to go the traditional route, but picked up some good advice along the way from a lot of different sources. From what I can gather, the proper blade angle for a feather is anywhere between 5 and 20 degrees. It is generally agreed that the "traditional" 30 degrees is too aggressive for a feather, and I fear that 45 may actually remove your cheek completely!

I'd say keep your blade angle fairly shallow, and your pressure nearly non-existant.

Good luck, and keep at it!

Mark

[OLD_SCHOOL]

Originally Posted by Milton Man

It is generally agreed that the "traditional" 30 degrees is too aggressive for a feather, and I fear that 45 may actually remove your cheek completely!

I'd say keep your blade angle fairly shallow, and your pressure nearly non-existant.

Good luck, and keep at it!

Mark

Well thats probably why I ended up with all the blood spots yesterday that and the fact it was a fresh blade.

Well today folks I decided not to attempt a shave let my face recover a little.

I think I might try one of the MB soaps, see how that performs.

[OLD_SCHOOL]

Well since the only thing in my shaving routine that changes is my soap, I will get right into this.

Used MB Beau Brummel soap today, it has an interesting scent to it, I found it took quite a bit of effort to lather up and it didn't seem like a good lather for the first 2 passes, but then when I was touching up it was quite good, my only qualm is that it dries out too fast for my liking. Didn't feel like I got razor burn to start with but now an hour later, my face has a burning sensation. I am not going to give MB soaps a verdict until I try it again, coz I have mixed feelings towards it. I got BBS skin, but found the soap dried out quick and the lather takes a bit of effort, so I'm sure you would agree that I shouldn't dismiss it after one attempt.

[Milton Man]

Keep us posted.

Hey, how did shallowing the blade angle work?

Have you ever thought of "corking" your feather blade? I've heard a lot of DE guys do that, and they say it's akin to stropping for the feather blades in that it aligns the edge and gives you a much better shave right from the start - just a thought. I know there are some good thread on here as well as SMF and B&B on the subject.

Mark

[OLD_SCHOOL]

Originally Posted by Milton Man

Keep us posted.

Hey, how did shallowing the blade angle work?

Have you ever thought of "corking" your feather blade?
Mark

It wasn't too bad, I guess its as they say YMMV. But I didn't bleed so thats the main thing eh.

Perhaps you could be a little more specific? Corking a blade?

[Milton Man]

Take a look at this page from B&B - it has all you'd need to ever know about corking blades. The links on the bottom are invaluable! If I were using a Feather, I'd definitely be inclined to at least test the theory.

http://badgerandblade.com/vb/showthread.php?t=18616

Best of luck, and let us know how corking the blade works.

Mark

[OLD_SCHOOL]

Well no shave today. When I went to bed last night, my face started burning like I had shaved with a cheese grater. When I woke up my face wasn't quite BBS anymore but it was about as smooth as I used to get using a cartridge razor so it will do. When I was in the shower and washed my face it started burning again, I suspect I did quite a bit of damage during yesterdays shave, but the interesting thing is, I wasn't bleeding nor was my face red after yesterdays shave so.....

[OLD_SCHOOL]

Originally Posted by Milton Man

Take a look at this page from B&B - it has all you'd need to ever know about corking blades. The links on the bottom are invaluable! If I were using a Feather, I'd definitely be inclined to at least test the theory.

http://badgerandblade.com/vb/showthread.php?t=18616

Best of luck, and let us know how corking the blade works.

Mark

Wow I just finished reading all those threads took a few hours in between other jobs.
When I first got the feather I tried it on my arm but I feel thats hardly a comparison because 1) my angle on my arm was much greater than I use on my face and 2) the hairs on the arm are much thinner so the pressure thing really don't apply.

I saw the pics of Joel's face, hell I should have taken pics of mine the other day to show you what a massacre really looks like. So I take it when you have a bead of blood appear thats what you call a weeper? I thought a weeper was like a graze that weeps out the clear plasma like fluid.

I found only one post about corking but I do not understand the mechanics behind it. I mean how does it have even a remotely similar effect as a strop when the cork is supposed to move with the razor? Strops are motionless thats how they work.

I thank you for the links I read lots of interesting stuff and it seems the feathers only made a boom just last year is that right? I seen the price of them on classic shaving

Hope my face feels better by tomorrow coz I love shaving even when it is uncomfortable, just means I need to tweak my technique.

[Milton Man]

I guess I have more "homework" for you to read! Sorry if you didn't find any on technique, I thought those links were also about the process.

See here for more info:
http://badgerandblade.com/vb/showthr...hlight=CORKING
http://www.shavemyface.com/forum/vie...t=cork+feather

These should really be what you're looking for. Essentially, what you do is run your blade very gently through the corner of a wine cork. It works by smoothing out the edge of the blade. Some say that it "micro aligns" the metal in a similar way to stropping, while others say that it deburs the feather blades (and also claim that feather blades are subject to inconsistent edges), and still other claim that is just dulls the edge slightly so the shave is less agressive.

In my estimation, whichever reason you choose to profess, the one constant in all those theories is that the shave becomes appreciably better after corking the blade.

Just as an aside, others use packing foam instead of cork and seem to get really good results as well. Those two links I just gave you talk about all of that and more.

Good luck, and keep us posted.

Mark

[OLD_SCHOOL]

Hey thanks so much for your help.
Yeah all those threads were about the first shave and one post mentioned corking and their method was to roll the blade with the cork. I presumed that the way it was written that the cork was actually in motion thats why I couldn't understand the mechanics, however I may have read that wrong as I had Smacked my head open on a doorway just a few minutes before reading. (Thats a long story but lets just say that the house shook and I was bleeding stupid doorways )

I will read those other 2 threads shortly. I was thinking I should join up at B&B also and post to hear of peoples technique and experience with the Japanese style feather.
I forgot to mention earlier that its perhaps best I buy some super pro's, at the moment I am just using the regular pro's.
I tried shaving, no I did shave my arm at 0 angle right up til about 35 degree at which point it wanted to dig in and slow down. So I shall aim for a 2 degree angle tomorrow, and keep you updated.
I'm also not certain but I actually think I have had a reaction to something in the Beau Brummel soap, this is highly irregular for my face to still be burning more than 36hrs after a shave, its nearly 48hrs actually.

Originally Posted by Milton Man

I guess I have more "homework" for you to read! Sorry if you didn't find any on technique, I thought those links were also about the process.

See here for more info:
http://badgerandblade.com/vb/showthr...hlight=CORKING
http://www.shavemyface.com/forum/vie...t=cork+feather

These should really be what you're looking for. Essentially, what you do is run your blade very gently through the corner of a wine cork. It works by smoothing out the edge of the blade. Some say that it "micro aligns" the metal in a similar way to stropping, while others say that it deburs the feather blades (and also claim that feather blades are subject to inconsistent edges), and still other claim that is just dulls the edge slightly so the shave is less agressive.

In my estimation, whichever reason you choose to profess, the one constant in all those theories is that the shave becomes appreciably better after corking the blade.

Just as an aside, others use packing foam instead of cork and seem to get really good results as well. Those two links I just gave you talk about all of that and more.

Good luck, and keep us posted.

Mark

[dave5225]

Originally Posted by OLD_SCHOOL

I'm also not certain but I actually think I have had a reaction to something in the Beau Brummel soap, this is highly irregular for my face to still be burning more than 36hrs after a shave, its nearly 48hrs actually.

Now that you mention it , it could very well be your soap doesn't agree with your skin . I tried Classic Shaving bay rum soap , and it burned the hell out of my face . This is not to say Classic's soap is bad , it's not . Alot of guys use it , and love it . But it doesn't react well with MY skin . If you can find some Van Der Hagen soap , the kind with aloe vera and shea butter , give it a try . It works for me , YMMV .

[OLD_SCHOOL]

WARNING: This post contains graphic image(s)

Todays shave.... rather excruciating on my neck only where I used.......




Wait for it......




My cartridge razor which I replaced the the cartridge on the 10th at the same time I replaced the feather blade. Now it looks bad but it isn't the worst I have had oh no, in fact my cheeks started to look like that the first time I used the feather, but I don't get it looking like that anymore. Also just to note, no my face did not look like that the other day and even as I write this the burning effect is pretty much gone so I think it may have been an ingredient (fragrance) caused a reaction.

Todays shave made use of cedarwood lemon. The scent was a little better mixed with water, but I really don't think cedar or sandal wood soaps will be on my regular purchase list.



Now I have no idea why it would have turned out that way with just the second shave from a cartridge, it doesn't normally get that bad until bout the 6th shave.

My beard prep consisted of hot shower, then hot towel, lather, hot towel, lather, then shave. Then a splash of hot water lather and shave again, this all happened on the second pass. Then I was doing touch ups so the blood spots/weepers you see on my cheeks are NOT from the feather. I didn't have to do very much touch up on cheek, after 2 passes my cheek were nearly BBS.

ETA: My jawline has always looked like my neck there, when using a cartridge I have no idea how or why but my jawline just don't like being shaved.

[vgod]

i think at this point, i would have just grown a beard. sorry to hear you are having so many issues. hope everything works itself out for you. ouch!

vgod

[OLD_SCHOOL]

Originally Posted by vgod

i think at this point, i would have just grown a beard. sorry to hear you are having so many issues. hope everything works itself out for you. ouch!

vgod

LOL I would but my wife won't allow it, she used to let me have a goatee but got sick of the whiskers stabbing and scratching her skin.
I am contemplating creating a ritual bonfire to destroy the cartridge after that damage. Also its probably hindering my use of the feather. Time to man up and just go feather, after all my cheeks where I shaved and didn't need a touch up are/were BBS.

[Milton Man]

OMG! That is really a bloodbath. I had to read your post three or four times to make sure you really said that the massacre was cause by your cartrige razor! Gah!

Keep at the straight, and if you need more help on "corking" your blade, just ask!

Keep us posted, and keep the blood on the inside!

Mark

[OLD_SCHOOL]

I actually write this late as I wasn't going to have a shave today after yesterdays match with the cartridge, however after seeing a post by Randy (RTaylor61) I decided to PM him and ask just how exactly it is that you get a lather that doesn't collapse . I just couldn't wait to test his method so had a shave at 8pm. I used Honeybee brand Vanilla Sandalwood, which I love the scent of that but it has a hell drying effect on my skin, so I think that will be going to the bottom of the pile. I was actually going to use WMF but I fear that it will hold up to its reputation of being the best, so then I may not want to shave with any other soap.
I only did one pass today, using only my feather, that cartridge . Anyway I sliced off a pimple that must have been getting ready to surface, I hadn't seen it and thought I had actually screwed up my angle for a second and had really done a huge gash coz the blood was of a larger amount than usual, running down my face, so I finished the pass, and went to clean up. The only mark is a small round hole which must have been a pimple, so I thought I had better not push my luck.
It was a good shave, my chin however is a problem when using the feather, I think actually my chin is too small, so I might just have to ask permission to grow a goatee again.

The scent of that soap is still lingering nearly 2hrs later and I like it very much. Might gave to see if anyone else makes vanilla sandalwood.

[gugi]

Man, lots of happening here
Oi, that cartridge thing looked scary - I thought you were replicating Joel's experience with the feather... I can't believe a cartridge can do this - what kind of skin do you have? Sorry to hear about the bad brummel experience - seems like an allergic reaction to something in it. I haven't tried that one yet, it sure has a strange smell and takes a special mood for it. Actually I've been using just one soap (sandalwood) and every now and then a lavender cream. I think I'm at the stage where I'm trying to get consistency and predictability on my lathering, so that when I try something else I can actually make a meaningful comparison. Right now things are still so unpredictable, basically because I'm still learning how to handle the straight properly...

i've used honeybee's bath soap only and it is really moisturizing everyday i'm looking at the decreasing bar with an increasing sadness...

Anyways, that's your shaving journal - sorry for digressing.... Keep writing - it's interesting to me and i'm sure it will be to newbies as well. at some point you may want to join the main one - SOTD

enjoy

[OLD_SCHOOL]

No shave today, got a bit of acne popping up so don't want any bleeders like yesterday. Think I shall try out the Williams mug soap tomorrow.

Originally Posted by gugi

Man, lots of happening here
Oi, that cartridge thing looked scary - I thought you were replicating Joel's experience with the feather... I can't believe a cartridge can do this - what kind of skin do you have? Sorry to hear about the bad brummel experience - seems like an allergic reaction to something in it.
Anyways, that's your shaving journal - sorry for digressing.... Keep writing - it's interesting to me and i'm sure it will be to newbies as well. at some point you may want to join the main one - SOTD

enjoy

No I saw his pics and I only have looked like his pics once. That was the result of a Gillette sensor excel, makes no difference if I use mock3 I occasionally looked like that after a shave but normally trying to squeeze a few extra shaves out of a blade, not after only one shave. Maybe it was a bad blade in the batch. 7/10 times my jawline looked like that with a cartridge, I was letting it become a part of my shaving routine, you know just accept it and move on type thing. Not so sure its my skin or the way my beard grows eh, on my neck its the only consistent place the hair all grows to the right. On my face though its like a spiral effect all the hairs grow in every direction.

Yeah I saw SOTD but everyone was talking about all their different Gucci products "Today I used my custom razor from so and so, my silver tip badger that has a 50mm knot, I used a Tony Miller strop after I used a yellow coticole, AOS sandalwood etc etc" and I feel too embarrassed to say "Hey I use this soap, a boars hair brush that was probably equivalent to USD2.50 and a feather A/C.

Yes the first part in quote marks is my jealousy, I wish I could say I use all those cool things. So I just hide in my own wee thread and I guess give you all some entertainment.