p.b
Forum GOD!
Yep - I get this now.
Learning to shave with the Feather Artist Club
- Thread starter wintoid
- Start date
wintoid
Out of control
Day 19.5 and 20
OK I was a naughty boy and sneaked in 2 shaves within 24 hours. This thing is so comfortable, so why not.
Day 19.5 - Feather Artist Club SS with Schick Proline
I wanted to try the Proline. I've used it in other compatible razors, but not in the Feather. Historically, my opinion of the Proline is that it's probably a step up on the other unguarded blades, but there's not much in it. This time, I found that it was a very easy 3-pass shave WTG/XTG/XTG in my Feather SS, and I was brave enough to shave under the nose with it, which went off without a hitch. Impressive. This could ultimately be my route out from guarded blades.
Day 20 - Feather Artist Club DX with Kai Protouch MG guarded
Back to old faithful. I think I can declare that I'm able to shave with this thing. There are definitely improvements to be made, and I think I still have learning to do before I cast off the training wheels. The side of my dominant hand is getting pretty good now. The other side needs some work (which is weird because with a DE, I find the non-dominant side easier). I think I'm going to have to work harder on the XTG on the non-dominant side.
My thought for the day is that I'm typically arriving for work (at my desk downstairs) about 10 minutes late. I could blame that on a build-up of isolation laziness, but I think I'm just a little slower with the Feather than with a DE. Once isolation is cancelled, I wonder whether I will be able to spare that extra 10 minutes in the morning. I can imagine the Feather might get relegated to weekend duties.
OK I was a naughty boy and sneaked in 2 shaves within 24 hours. This thing is so comfortable, so why not.
Day 19.5 - Feather Artist Club SS with Schick Proline
I wanted to try the Proline. I've used it in other compatible razors, but not in the Feather. Historically, my opinion of the Proline is that it's probably a step up on the other unguarded blades, but there's not much in it. This time, I found that it was a very easy 3-pass shave WTG/XTG/XTG in my Feather SS, and I was brave enough to shave under the nose with it, which went off without a hitch. Impressive. This could ultimately be my route out from guarded blades.
Day 20 - Feather Artist Club DX with Kai Protouch MG guarded
Back to old faithful. I think I can declare that I'm able to shave with this thing. There are definitely improvements to be made, and I think I still have learning to do before I cast off the training wheels. The side of my dominant hand is getting pretty good now. The other side needs some work (which is weird because with a DE, I find the non-dominant side easier). I think I'm going to have to work harder on the XTG on the non-dominant side.
My thought for the day is that I'm typically arriving for work (at my desk downstairs) about 10 minutes late. I could blame that on a build-up of isolation laziness, but I think I'm just a little slower with the Feather than with a DE. Once isolation is cancelled, I wonder whether I will be able to spare that extra 10 minutes in the morning. I can imagine the Feather might get relegated to weekend duties.
wintoid
Out of control
Under normal circumstances, I wake at 4:30 am to go to work, which means I already have to go to bed before the rest of the family.
wintoid
Out of control
Day 21 - Feather Artist Club SS with Schick Proline
Disaster! I wanted to see how I'd do with an unguarded blade shaving on a full day of stubble. During the first pass, which was WTG, and should have been trivial, I cut myself. I think what happened was that I was dealing with the stubble on the front side of my chin and I paused with the blade on my skin. Little slice, lots of red lather.
I abandoned the SS and completed my shave with a Gillette Red Tip English Superspeed. Needless to say, the DE shave was phenomenally close, and really showed up the Artist Club. I'll lick my wounds (literally) and return tomorrow to fight another day.
Mmmm but that Red Tip!
Disaster! I wanted to see how I'd do with an unguarded blade shaving on a full day of stubble. During the first pass, which was WTG, and should have been trivial, I cut myself. I think what happened was that I was dealing with the stubble on the front side of my chin and I paused with the blade on my skin. Little slice, lots of red lather.
I abandoned the SS and completed my shave with a Gillette Red Tip English Superspeed. Needless to say, the DE shave was phenomenally close, and really showed up the Artist Club. I'll lick my wounds (literally) and return tomorrow to fight another day.
Mmmm but that Red Tip!
Cheesepiece
Stickler
Variety is always good and when you're on something of an exclusive run of only using one razor or type of razor you may find yourself yearning to change it up. Maybe that's only natural and maybe a fling with another type of razor will allow you to return to the AC with a renewed vigour.
wintoid
Out of control
Day 22 - Feather Artist Club DX with Schick Proline
It occurred to me that some people feel there's a difference between the DX and the SS in terms of angle, so perhaps I should choose one for a while. I decided that for a while, I will stick with the DX, as that gets me closest to the straight experience, or so they say.
I also figured that choosing the guarded blades at this point would be chickening out. Of course, I am learning not to be too bold, but I'm trying to judge the correct amount of bravery. Not obvious I guess.
So I shaved with the DX and the Proline today. I left my chin to the Red Tip because I don't want to aggravate the cut, and also left the moustache area because... well... a DX with an unguarded blade might be too much. Three passes WTG/XTG/WTG.
My observation is that the Prolines don't tug, and the DX is a bit heavier, so the motion through the bristles feels much less like an effort. I'm thinking this is what I need to focus on. The shave wasn't particularly good, but no cuts or irritation.
It occurred to me that some people feel there's a difference between the DX and the SS in terms of angle, so perhaps I should choose one for a while. I decided that for a while, I will stick with the DX, as that gets me closest to the straight experience, or so they say.
I also figured that choosing the guarded blades at this point would be chickening out. Of course, I am learning not to be too bold, but I'm trying to judge the correct amount of bravery. Not obvious I guess.
So I shaved with the DX and the Proline today. I left my chin to the Red Tip because I don't want to aggravate the cut, and also left the moustache area because... well... a DX with an unguarded blade might be too much. Three passes WTG/XTG/WTG.
My observation is that the Prolines don't tug, and the DX is a bit heavier, so the motion through the bristles feels much less like an effort. I'm thinking this is what I need to focus on. The shave wasn't particularly good, but no cuts or irritation.
UKRob
Forum GOD!
That would be my recommended combination. I’ve used the Proline blades exclusively since I first tried them a few years ago. I don’t know why, but Feathers in particular seem to give me a rougher shave until they’ve been used four or five times - yet other people swear by them. So, horses for courses I guess. I just never got used to guarded blades anyway, but maybe that was because I used straights before using the Feather razor.
wintoid
Out of control
Thanks, it's reassuring that I might be on the right track
wintoid
Out of control
Day 23 - Feather Artist Club DX with Schick Proline
Not bad. I think I might be starting to see what's possible. Certainly some parts of my face/neck have had a very creditable shave.
I switched from the Signature soaps I've been using for the last month or so to what I consider my best soap, which is Wholly Kaw Entropy Man (Siero). I went as wet as I dared with the lather, which was pretty bloomin wet. Very slippy. Objectively, I would have thought it was slippier than the Signature but slightly less protective.
I went WTG/XTG/WTG and a teeny bit of cleanup. Moustache and chin were entirely WTG. I got the tiniest nick in my philtrum, which I have no idea how it happened, and wasn't aware of, but it stopped bleeding within seconds by itself.
Just to agree with myself, the magic seems to be that the DX is heavier and the Prolines tug less.
Not bad. I think I might be starting to see what's possible. Certainly some parts of my face/neck have had a very creditable shave.
I switched from the Signature soaps I've been using for the last month or so to what I consider my best soap, which is Wholly Kaw Entropy Man (Siero). I went as wet as I dared with the lather, which was pretty bloomin wet. Very slippy. Objectively, I would have thought it was slippier than the Signature but slightly less protective.
I went WTG/XTG/WTG and a teeny bit of cleanup. Moustache and chin were entirely WTG. I got the tiniest nick in my philtrum, which I have no idea how it happened, and wasn't aware of, but it stopped bleeding within seconds by itself.
Just to agree with myself, the magic seems to be that the DX is heavier and the Prolines tug less.
wintoid
Out of control
Day 24 - Feather Artist Club DX with Schick Proline
A cut today. Under the nose. I think I need to backpedal a little, yet again. I managed WTG and XTG before cutting under the nose, so I literally stopped at 2 passes, which is unusual for me.
I think I'm going to go back to guarded blades. The problem is that cutting myself makes a big impact on me, and makes me want to learn from the experience. How would the same stroke have felt if I was using a guarded blade? Would I have noticed?
A cut today. Under the nose. I think I need to backpedal a little, yet again. I managed WTG and XTG before cutting under the nose, so I literally stopped at 2 passes, which is unusual for me.
I think I'm going to go back to guarded blades. The problem is that cutting myself makes a big impact on me, and makes me want to learn from the experience. How would the same stroke have felt if I was using a guarded blade? Would I have noticed?
wintoid
Out of control
I totally get where you're coming from, but I've been thinking about this, and I really think I need to recover for a bit. I've got little wounds healing on both cheeks, and one on my chin, and now one under my nose. There comes a point where you have to ease off, and let things heal. I still enjoy the DX with a guarded blade, it's just not as close as I would like. Hopefully I'm still learning muscle memory using a Proguard or Protouch MG.