Learning to shave with the Feather Artist Club

[The Gentleman]

Day 15 - Feather Artist Club SS with KAI Protouch MG

At work today (and the rest of the week), so back using the AC for only the first pass and as usual no problem, except a tiny cut on the chin. The rest of the shave with a DE for a brilliant result. It's going to take a while before I get so close shaves with a straight.

 

[NeilJ]

The irritation on my cheeks calmed down after a couple if hours last night. I'm not sure if it was the blade or my technique, I'm suspecting the later, either too aggressive an angle or going AGT on an area that I am prone to suffer from irritation if I shave too close. I would have expected more than 5 three pass shaves though to be honest.

I will use a new Schick Proline blade later and really concentrate on razor angle, lightness of touch and beard direction. My third pass has involved going from my ear to the corner of my mouth which I'm prone to irritation using a DE so will cut that out and go from mouth to ear which is far better for my skin. My neck and moustache area is superb and will carry on with my method on those areas.

I'm finding that the AC will find any flaws in your technique especially with a more aggressive blade like a Pro. With a DE you can get away with it to a certain extent. It's a fascinating hobby at times and I'm still enjoying learning how to master the AC no matter how frustrating it sometimes is.

 

[Freddiethestaffie]

Day 15 - Feather Artist Club SS with KAI Protouch MG

At work today (and the rest of the week), so back using the AC for only the first pass and as usual no problem, except a tiny cut on the chin. The rest of the shave with a DE for a brilliant result. It's going to take a while before I get so close shaves with a straight.

What angle are you using?

 

[The Gentleman]

What angle are you using?

As shallow as possible, but I don't think it's the angle, but more my confidence in some areas. When I did a full shave with the Artist Club yesterday I was totally satisfied with how smooth my face and neck was on maybe 75%. The big challenge is to get a close and smooth shave on 100% of my face and neck.

 

[Freddiethestaffie]

As shallow as possible, but I don't think it's the angle, but more my confidence in some areas. When I did a full shave with the Artist Club yesterday I was totally satisfied with how smooth my face and neck was on maybe 75%. The big challenge is to get a close and smooth shave on 100% of my face and neck.

You seem to have the angle right, just the width of the spine is about right.
The neck area is always difficult, I use the same technique as @culreach, sweep left and then sweep right.

 

[NeilJ]

Well I had a very nice comfortable close shave this evening 8.5/10. Two passes only but after today's results that's good enough for me, I think three passes was causing my irritation and blotchiness. No issues today at all. The new blade felt a lot smoother which made a huge difference although if 4-5 shaves out of a Schick Proline is going to be the norm I will have to find a more durable blade. I'm giving it the benefit of the doubt but will be monitoring this blade usage.

 

[The Gentleman]

Day 16 - Feather Artist Club SS with KAI Protouch MG

Got inspired this morning and performed two full passes with the AC, and just some quick touch ups with a DE. Overall satisfied, but on the second pass I have stop and think a lot of times. The auto pilot seems broken. It's going to take time before I can finish full shave with a straight in reasonable time.

 

[p.b]

Back on it: SS with Feather Pro Supers and MdC. It’s been three weeks since my last AC shave and this was stellar. No learning curve to re-climb and no stubble left to feel except on my chin (for some reason) but everywhere else is perfect.

 

[wintoid]

Day off for me, I wanted to see how a DE would be after all this time. Answer - pretty good!

 

[UKRob]

Day off for me, I wanted to see how a DE would be after all this time. Answer - pretty good!

When I was working I generally shaved six times a week and pretty much always with a straight. Now that I’m retired and have far more time on my hands, I find myself reaching for one of my modern SE razors. Bit of a conundrum really.

 

[Zwilling]

@wintoid is there a noticeable difference for you between the DX and the SS? I am seasoned straight shaver and thinking of packing in my DE altogether and replacing it with a Feather for those days where I fancy a factory-sharp blade or when I am travelling.

 

[The Gentleman]

Day 17 - Feather Artist Club SS with KAI Protouch MG

Like yesterday, I did a two pass shave with the Artist Club and some quick touch ups with a DE. I could have skipped the touch ups and have a decent shave, so it's getting better. The challenge right now is to get a really close shave on the chin and to learn how to attack the spots on my neck where I have to shave from right to left. But, so far I'm happy with my progress. Only 17 shaves so far.

 

[wintoid]

@wintoid is there a noticeable difference for you between the DX and the SS? I am seasoned straight shaver and thinking of packing in my DE altogether and replacing it with a Feather for those days where I fancy a factory-sharp blade or when I am travelling.

I'm still a newbie really, and I've never used a proper straight, so do take that into account with my comments.

I spot 2 things different really. The first is that the DX is noticeably heavier. The second is that when I use lateral pressure, the SS feels different on the face to the DX.

In terms of difference in the final result? I don't have any reason to recommend one over the other. It's ridiculous that I have more than one Feather really, having accumulated a Chinese SS copy, a Scotchwood SS, a plastic DX and a wood (teak?) DX... all folders. Any of those would be fine on their own. They are pretty though!

 

[wintoid]

Another day off for me. I guess one question is how well I'll remember the techniques I've learned, so I do need to take a break occasionally to investigate that. My DE shave this morning was awesome, my face practically squeaks when I rub it.

 

[NeilJ]

I skipped a day yesterday as I wanted to shave this morning.

This morning's shave was excellent, 2 passes only, WTG and XTG. I have realised that I do not need to go AGT to get a nice close shave. I even got nice and close on the chin area which is a bonus.

I think today's shave was a turning point for me, I still caught myself a couple of times but only very minor nicks. I know know which directions to shave to avoid irritation yet still get a closer shave than my Feather AS-D2. Apart from where I had caught myself there was no sting from the alum at all. I kept in my mind the video earlier in the thread where the woman is shaving the female client with an absolute feather-like touch, for me this is the secret. I'm not sure if the lather had any bearing on my shave but the consistency of the DR Harris soap really seemed to suit the AC.