Learning to shave with the Feather Artist Club

[wintoid]

Day 40 - Feather Artist Club DX with Schick Proline (hybrid shave)

I'm really puzzled that this SE can get me so much closer with the same blade. There must be so much more to learn. Of course, I can't go ATG with the Feather.

I spent perhaps 10 minutes pulling faces today before shaving. The intention was to try to work out whether extreme movements of my jaw could position my skin in such a way that ATG would be possible. I formulated a plan, and headed upstairs to shave.

I went straight into it on the first pass, but fairly quickly realised that the resistance from the hairs was too strong to start with quasi-ATG, and that what seems flat when you're face-feeling isn't necessarily flat enough for the blade. So I switched to WTG, planning to come back for a second pass.

At the end of my WTG pass, I realised I must have cut myself experimenting. It IS a bank holiday weekend, but I didn't really fancy pushing it now by attempting ATG, so I switched to the SE to finish up.

Tomorrow perhaps!

 

[NeilJ]

I spent last night watching a few videos to try and improve my technique so was looking forward to today's shave. Most of my plan seemed to go out of the window as I seemed to just do what felt natural. Having said all that I had my best shave yet with regards to nicks, just one little weeper to report. 3 passes and a very comfortable DFS. I can't go ATG on my cheeks as I tend to pick up ingrowns but I managed to go ATG on neck, lower lip and moustache area. The only area I think I can get closer is my chin but I don't want to push my luck or re-open any previous nicks. I'm still over the moon with the condition of my skin, it really is a revelation. I was given some Clarins facial cleanser which I also think might have something to do with it, a top quality product although quite expensive I think. I think I'll just go with what feels natural, learn from my mistakes and figure it out for myself.

 

[wintoid]

Day 41 - Feather Artist Club DX with Schick Proline (full shave)

I had a revelation today. As the DX doesn't irritate my face, I can do a full 3 pass shave, and if I'm not happy with the result, I can finish with a 4th pass using the SE. So that's what I did. Of course, this requires more time than usual, but it's the weekend, so why not.

Three passes, WTG, XTG, WTG. My aim today was to see whether I should be going even more shallow with the DX. I made the effort to try to get it absolutely as close to my face as possible. I'm a bit frustrated with the general closeness I'm achieving, so I'm trying to work out whether I've got the angle slightly wrong.

Well going shallower really didn't help. Sure it was very comfortable, but even more patchy than it would normally be. On the bright side though, no cuts with the Proline.

I finished off with a 4th pass using the SE, and it feels good now. Not sure what I'll do tomorrow. I'm contemplating whether the SS might help me to get the angle right and help with the skin stretching. Not sure I know anyone with SS and DX who prefers the SS though.

 

[wintoid]

A question for seasoned Feather users. On a normal stroke, how many percent of the blade is in contact with your face. For me, the answer to this question is definitely 30% or less.

 

[The Gentleman]

Day 1 with my Feather Artist Club SS - Feather ProGuard blade.

The razor arrived yesterday so this morning it was time to start this new journey. Except for my upper lip I used the SS for the first pass (WTG). It felt okay and I used both hands. As I didn't wanted to cut myself the angle was a bit to shallow this first pass wasn't the most effective. Finished the shave with my Timeless 0.95 Ti SB for a perfect result.

 

[wintoid]

Day 1 with my Feather Artist Club SS - Feather ProGuard blade.

The razor arrived yesterday so this morning it was time to start this new journey. Except for my upper lip I used the SS for the first pass (WTG). It felt okay and I used both hands. As I didn't wanted to cut myself the angle was a bit to shallow this first pass wasn't the most effective. Finished the shave with my Timeless 0.95 Ti SB for a perfect result.

Woohoo another person on the journey. I'm infecting people More grist for the mill!

 

[NeilJ]

That's the great revelation for me



I wish I had that problem. I'm sure if I could find a way to go ATG, my shaves would be better.

Day 41 - Feather Artist Club DX with Schick Proline (full shave)

I had a revelation today. As the DX doesn't irritate my face, I can do a full 3 pass shave, and if I'm not happy with the result, I can finish with a 4th pass using the SE. So that's what I did. Of course, this requires more time than usual, but it's the weekend, so why not.

Three passes, WTG, XTG, WTG. My aim today was to see whether I should be going even more shallow with the DX. I made the effort to try to get it absolutely as close to my face as possible. I'm a bit frustrated with the general closeness I'm achieving, so I'm trying to work out whether I've got the angle slightly wrong.

Well going shallower really didn't help. Sure it was very comfortable, but even more patchy than it would normally be. On the bright side though, no cuts with the Proline.

I finished off with a 4th pass using the SE, and it feels good now. Not sure what I'll do tomorrow. I'm contemplating whether the SS might help me to get the angle right and help with the skin stretching. Not sure I know anyone with SS and DX who prefers the SS though.

Sounds like the Proline is suiting you Simon, great news. Funny enough last night I was reading online that many people say it is just as sharp as a professional but smoother, I may have to try some although still on my first blade, it's now done 18 passes but still feels sharp.

 

[NeilJ]

Day 1 with my Feather Artist Club SS - Feather ProGuard blade.

The razor arrived yesterday so this morning it was time to start this new journey. Except for my upper lip I used the SS for the first pass (WTG). It felt okay and I used both hands. As I didn't wanted to cut myself the angle was a bit to shallow this first pass wasn't the most effective. Finished the shave with my Timeless 0.95 Ti SB for a perfect result.

Welcome to the Artist Club Club, I bet you couldn't wait to give it a spin. I've used mine for 7 shaves now and thoroughly enjoying it although it is quite challenging. I'm determined to not use my DE until I can master the Feather, at the moment it's two steps forward, one step back.

 

[The Gentleman]

Welcome to the Artist Club Club, I bet you couldn't wait to give it a spin. I've used mine for 7 shaves now and thoroughly enjoying it although it is quite challenging. I'm determined to not use my DE until I can master the Feather, at the moment it's two steps forward, one step back.

Thanks

 

[The Gentleman]

Day 2 with my Feather Artist Club SS - Feather ProGuard blade

About the same as yesterday. First pass with the Feather. I also did the upper lip (XTG). No problems except that I don't feel like it's really cutting. Probably the angle. I'll try to be tougher tomorrow. Finished the shave with my Timeless 0.95 Ti SB.

 

[wintoid]

Day 42 - Feather Artist Club DX with Schick Proline (full shave)

We've got a bees nest. As a result, I changed my normal routine. I usually run a bath whilst I shave, which fogs up the mirror in summer, so I usually keep the little bathroom window just slightly ajar. I hate bees, so I didn't fancy that. Besides I bet my sweet-smelling soaps would attract them.

As a result, I decided to shave before running a bath. As a result, I didn't have the sound of the bath running drowning out the sound of the blade cutting my hairs.

The first thing I noticed is that the sound of hairs cutting is much more intense if I go steeper. I think I may have been too shallow prior to today. The second thing I noticed is a little irritation and one or two very small nicks, so perhaps I went too steep today, or perhaps this Proline is getting dull. The shave was better though, especially around the chin.

I went WTG/XTG/XTG. At the end of the shave, I couldn't decide whether to use the SE for a 4th pass, but eventually decided I wanted to.

 

[NeilJ]

Simon it's funny you should mention blade angle because when I felt my face this morning there was a bit of growth there so I decided to alter my approach as I think had been using a too shallow angle too which I suppose is natural as it's such a leap going from a DE.

Today's shave was much improved, no real nicks to report which is good. I only did 2 passes today but it feels pretty close nevertheless, WTG and XTG except for my chin where I did two WTG passes as I didn't want to reopen any cuts. Today was the first real day that I felt reasonably confident, it is starting to feel a bit more natural now and can use my both hands without worrying. Fortunately I'm one of those strange people who are pretty ambidextrous. I find little short strokes around the chin area using different parts of the blade and stretching the skin have been my big learning points from today, I feel like I am turning a corner. Having said all that I dropped my Feather Professional blade in the sink and don't want to risk using it again so it'll be a new blade for tomorrow.

I know some people run a new blade through a cork a couple of times prior to the first use but are there any other methods of taking the edge off a new blade as I don't have any corks to hand?

 

[wintoid]

Simon it's funny you should mention blade angle because when I felt my face this morning there was a bit of growth there so I decided to alter my approach as I think had been using a too shallow angle too which I suppose is natural as it's such a leap going from a DE.

Today's shave was much improved, no real nicks to report which is good. I only did 2 passes today but it feels pretty close nevertheless, WTG and XTG except for my chin where I did two WTG passes as I didn't want to reopen any cuts. Today was the first real day that I felt reasonably confident, it is starting to feel a bit more natural now and can use my both hands without worrying. Fortunately I'm one of those strange people who are pretty ambidextrous. I find little short strokes around the chin area using different parts of the blade and stretching the skin have been my big learning points from today, I feel like I am turning a corner. Having said all that I dropped my Feather Professional blade in the sink and don't want to risk using it again so it'll be a new blade for tomorrow.

I know some people run a new blade through a cork a couple of times prior to the first use but are there any other methods of taking the edge off a new blade as I don't have any corks to hand?

I've heard of people stropping FAC blades on their jeans, or even on the palm of their hand. Sounds too dangerous for me, so I've never tried it.

 

[NeilJ]

Ha, I'll try the jeans method Simon.

Thanks

 

[Cheesepiece]

A question for seasoned Feather users. On a normal stroke, how many percent of the blade is in contact with your face. For me, the answer to this question is definitely 30% or less.

Hard to say with any accuracy whatsoever but I was thinking about this while shaving yesterday and would suggest it depends on the area being shaven. I find my cheeks and sideburns could take upwards of 50% blade contact as I can make quite a flat and relatively straightforward to shave area.
In awkward, for me, areas such as certain parts of the neck and round the 'tache areas I would say I use less than 10% oftentimes out at the toe or heel end rather than the centre blade portion.