Holyzeus
Forum GOD!
But if you fell off and cracked a couple of ribs you would give it a while.
I have real world experience of the above too!
Learning to shave with the Feather Artist Club
- Thread starter wintoid
- Start date
I have real world experience of the above too!
wintoid
Out of control
Day 25 - Feather Artist Club DX with Kai Protouch MG guarded
Back to the guarded blades. I was keen that I would continue learning today, so after some thought (and lots of reading), I decided the best next strategy was to try to improve my skin stretching. The aim was for as many strokes as possible to be supplemented by stretching, even when it felt awkward.
I didn't notice until afterwards, but the shave took probably twice as long as normal. It's definitely the best shave I've had with the DX, regardless of blade. So today I learned that I should invest more effort in stretching. Long term, I can't afford for shaves to take twice as long, but hopefully I will get quicker as I learn my new skills!
WTG/XTG/WTG but I also worked out a new position that is pseudo-ATG for one of my tricky bits, so that was a real bonus also. No cuts, and super-comfortable as always with this razor. I can do better with a DE, but I can't do more comfortable. That's one of the things that keeps me coming back!
Back to the guarded blades. I was keen that I would continue learning today, so after some thought (and lots of reading), I decided the best next strategy was to try to improve my skin stretching. The aim was for as many strokes as possible to be supplemented by stretching, even when it felt awkward.
I didn't notice until afterwards, but the shave took probably twice as long as normal. It's definitely the best shave I've had with the DX, regardless of blade. So today I learned that I should invest more effort in stretching. Long term, I can't afford for shaves to take twice as long, but hopefully I will get quicker as I learn my new skills!
WTG/XTG/WTG but I also worked out a new position that is pseudo-ATG for one of my tricky bits, so that was a real bonus also. No cuts, and super-comfortable as always with this razor. I can do better with a DE, but I can't do more comfortable. That's one of the things that keeps me coming back!
wintoid
Out of control
Day 26 - Feather Artist Club DX with Kai Protouch MG guarded
Yesterday's shave was so good. Today's was bound to be a letdown. I couldn't really afford to take quite so long this morning, but I did try to do more skin stretching than normal. WTG/XTG/XTG and very comfortable indeed.
A pattern is emerging of the parts of my face that don't get shaved so well. I think I will need to make a concerted effort to refine my stretch/angle/direction of shave in those locations. I almost need to take that picture everyone uses for mapping beard growth, and rate my shave for each of the areas, so I can focus on improving the bits which are less satisfactory.
One thing I learned today is that I have a hollow in the lower left part of my neck. I have the same hollow in the lower right part of my neck, but I've never noticed it because I always crane my neck the opposite way. Copying the technique from one side to the other was helpful!
Yesterday's shave was so good. Today's was bound to be a letdown. I couldn't really afford to take quite so long this morning, but I did try to do more skin stretching than normal. WTG/XTG/XTG and very comfortable indeed.
A pattern is emerging of the parts of my face that don't get shaved so well. I think I will need to make a concerted effort to refine my stretch/angle/direction of shave in those locations. I almost need to take that picture everyone uses for mapping beard growth, and rate my shave for each of the areas, so I can focus on improving the bits which are less satisfactory.
One thing I learned today is that I have a hollow in the lower left part of my neck. I have the same hollow in the lower right part of my neck, but I've never noticed it because I always crane my neck the opposite way. Copying the technique from one side to the other was helpful!
p.b
Forum GOD!
After a few weeks of success first with a Proguard, then a Pro and then finally with a Super I thought I'd switch brands and try the Schick Prolines. Prolines are my AC of choice in all my AC razors (Cobra, Vector, General, Mongoose when I had one) and I agree with the general consensus that it's as sharp but smoother than the Feather Pro, so I was looking forward to the shave even if it might be a step down in blade exposure Vs. the Supers.
I had to check I'd seated the blade properly - it was that sharp and rough! I was more scared / tentative than with the Super. We shall see how it goes tomorrow morning's shave goes, maybe it's smoothed out, if not I might have to trial that blade in a Vector to make sure it's not a dud one. A few little cuts where I'd simply laid the blade against my face to start and drew blood. It felt properly sharp and dangerous - not what I was expecting.
I had to check I'd seated the blade properly - it was that sharp and rough! I was more scared / tentative than with the Super. We shall see how it goes tomorrow morning's shave goes, maybe it's smoothed out, if not I might have to trial that blade in a Vector to make sure it's not a dud one. A few little cuts where I'd simply laid the blade against my face to start and drew blood. It felt properly sharp and dangerous - not what I was expecting.
I just got one about a week ago. Opened it up and admired it. Beautiful!
However I was in the emergency room last week from slicing my finger with a super sharp Japanese Gyuto.
Wife saw a lot of blood and stitches ( she's a nurse instructor) and doesn't want to see any more blood at this time. Emergency Rooms are scary at this times
So I decided to wait to use it AFTER the pandemic.
However I was in the emergency room last week from slicing my finger with a super sharp Japanese Gyuto.
Wife saw a lot of blood and stitches ( she's a nurse instructor) and doesn't want to see any more blood at this time. Emergency Rooms are scary at this times
So I decided to wait to use it AFTER the pandemic.
wintoid
Out of control
Day 27 - Feather Artist Club DX with Feather Super Pro
Given Paul's issues with the Proline, I thought I should crack out a Feather Super today as a test. In the early days of SE shaving, I remember finding that the Super was a more comfortable blade for me than the Pro. Obviously, it has more exposure, so I was a bit wary.
I also planned to try the 14 stroke shave as per this image...
Well the 14 stroke shave was not for me. Stroke 2 and 8 are beyond me. Strokes 11 and 14 are not what I'm used to, and I didn't feel I wanted to do those (I go North to South for both). I also didn't dare do strokes 3 and 6 with a Super, but I might revisit that tomorrow, so I just went North To South.
I had a very nice 3 pass shave with the Super. No nicks. Reasonably close. Due to the attempts I made to follow the 14 stroke shave, I couldn't really say whether my shave was WTG or XTG et cetera. I won't be going back to the 14 stroke shave for now.
Given Paul's issues with the Proline, I thought I should crack out a Feather Super today as a test. In the early days of SE shaving, I remember finding that the Super was a more comfortable blade for me than the Pro. Obviously, it has more exposure, so I was a bit wary.
I also planned to try the 14 stroke shave as per this image...
Well the 14 stroke shave was not for me. Stroke 2 and 8 are beyond me. Strokes 11 and 14 are not what I'm used to, and I didn't feel I wanted to do those (I go North to South for both). I also didn't dare do strokes 3 and 6 with a Super, but I might revisit that tomorrow, so I just went North To South.
I had a very nice 3 pass shave with the Super. No nicks. Reasonably close. Due to the attempts I made to follow the 14 stroke shave, I couldn't really say whether my shave was WTG or XTG et cetera. I won't be going back to the 14 stroke shave for now.
wintoid
Out of control
Thanks for the support! I'm never quite sure whether I'm just talking to myself, apart from the wonderful help I've had from those far more knowledgeable than myself on this thread. It's good to hear that other people find it interesting, and that it might even tempt a few people to have a go
Cheesepiece
Stickler
I'm still following with great interest. I'm hoping to learn vicariously through your exploits. I am particularly heartened that the learning curve I went through which felt insurmountable also seems to feel the same for you at times. Having not much experience of different types of Ac blades I also find this aspect of your journey quite enlightening.
I haven't shaved in a number of days so I'm just spectating via this thread at the moment but my return to shaving will be with my Dubl Duck shavette which was only dug out after this thread inspired me.
As with most aspect of wet shaving, I can achieve a more than satisfactory shave using these types of razor now but I still feel there is lots I can learn and blade variables I am yet to explore.
I haven't shaved in a number of days so I'm just spectating via this thread at the moment but my return to shaving will be with my Dubl Duck shavette which was only dug out after this thread inspired me.
As with most aspect of wet shaving, I can achieve a more than satisfactory shave using these types of razor now but I still feel there is lots I can learn and blade variables I am yet to explore.
wintoid
Out of control
Thanks, I really appreciate your reply!
Definitely not talking to yourself. Been following with interest. I have 3 AC shavers and can get really good shaves from them.
My main razor is a Kai Excelia non folding. I found a Feather Super works really well in it.
I have even managed to learn how to use both hands.
My shave is:
First Pass:
Left hand, left side, north to south.
Right hand, right side, north to south
Second Pass:
Left hand, right side, south to north
Right hand, left side, south to north
Then tidy up around the goatee with my left hand (I'm a leftie)
From that, cheeks are bbs. The problem areas are my neck where it grows at 45 degree angles so I need an extra 0.5 pass.
That is usually
right hand, left side at 45 degrees north to south and
left hand right side a 45 degrees north to south
My main razor is a Kai Excelia non folding. I found a Feather Super works really well in it.
I have even managed to learn how to use both hands.
My shave is:
First Pass:
Left hand, left side, north to south.
Right hand, right side, north to south
Second Pass:
Left hand, right side, south to north
Right hand, left side, south to north
Then tidy up around the goatee with my left hand (I'm a leftie)
From that, cheeks are bbs. The problem areas are my neck where it grows at 45 degree angles so I need an extra 0.5 pass.
That is usually
right hand, left side at 45 degrees north to south and
left hand right side a 45 degrees north to south
wintoid
Out of control
Cool, thanks for your response!
I use both hands for the north to south strokes, but I use only my dominant hand for south to north strokes. I don't know why. South to north feels much more scary than north to south, and the angle is far shallower just naturally.
The pass I really need is on the neck an east-to-west, but it's not possible to work it out. I can almost do a 45-ish degree south to north, which helps a bit, but not enough to be as close as a DE.