Merkurologist
Forum GOD!
Because of the direction my beard grows I find that XTG with the opposite hand above the jawline works best. ATG is with the opposite hand all the way.... but that is to accommodate the way my beard is mapped.
Learning to shave with the Feather Artist Club
- Thread starter wintoid
- Start date
Merkurologist
Forum GOD!
Today was my 7th shave with the Feather Professional and see no sings that I need to change the blade yet.
Nothing too exciting to report about this shave. What I really need to do to add some excitement is to let my beard grow for a week and then put the Feather Artist Club to the test.....easier said than done!
I can't wait to test a Feather Pro Super and Schick Proline waiting for me.... but I must see the end of my journey with the Feather Professional.
Nothing too exciting to report about this shave. What I really need to do to add some excitement is to let my beard grow for a week and then put the Feather Artist Club to the test.....easier said than done!
I can't wait to test a Feather Pro Super and Schick Proline waiting for me.... but I must see the end of my journey with the Feather Professional.
Cheesepiece
Stickler
Yeah my Diane blade in my Dubl Duck just won't give up the ghost. I've a Kai Captain ready for test with either Schick p30, or Feather Pro Super, or Tokyo Canyon Co. barber blades.
I'm itching to have a crack with the new razor and especially the two new, to me, brands of AC blades, the P30 and TCC.
NeilJ
Forum GOD!
Well the Schick Proline gave up the ghost today after 34 passes. I think looking back the it was excellent for 28 then tapered off, today actually felt quite tuggy.
I started using the Artist Club SS with the intention of getting as close a shave as possible but proriortising comfort over closeness. It took me around 20 shaves to feel really at home with the AC and after that I was getting really nice 2 pass shaves comparible to what I get with my DE razor. Once my technique improved a bit more I tried a 3 pass shave and found that I could get BBS and still get no irritation, this will be what I now do all the time. My speed has developed and it doesn't really take me that much longer that using a DE. Using both hands makes it so much easier and I know don't even have to think about it.
I would like to have another go at the Feather Pro's in a week or so but will continue to use the excellent Schicks for now. I've worked out I can get 9 good 3 pass shaves out of a blade which is pretty good going. I might even just renew it every week to be sure.
The top 5 things that have helped me get to where I am with the AC are :
1. Schick Proline blades (I started off with Feather Pro's, kept getting cut and it knocked my confidence).
2. Using both hands on exactly the same parts of my face on all passes.
3. Ensuring my lather is hydrated enough, less cushion but more slickness.
4. Only using the AC and not finishing off with my DE.
5. Following Simon's excellent thread and getting other users opinions and experiences and sharing in our ups and
downs.
I really think that this will be how my daily shaving will be from now on. It is a steep learning curve if you've only shaved with DE's but if you stick with it you will reap the rewards.
Thanks to everyone who has contributed to this thread.
I started using the Artist Club SS with the intention of getting as close a shave as possible but proriortising comfort over closeness. It took me around 20 shaves to feel really at home with the AC and after that I was getting really nice 2 pass shaves comparible to what I get with my DE razor. Once my technique improved a bit more I tried a 3 pass shave and found that I could get BBS and still get no irritation, this will be what I now do all the time. My speed has developed and it doesn't really take me that much longer that using a DE. Using both hands makes it so much easier and I know don't even have to think about it.
I would like to have another go at the Feather Pro's in a week or so but will continue to use the excellent Schicks for now. I've worked out I can get 9 good 3 pass shaves out of a blade which is pretty good going. I might even just renew it every week to be sure.
The top 5 things that have helped me get to where I am with the AC are :
1. Schick Proline blades (I started off with Feather Pro's, kept getting cut and it knocked my confidence).
2. Using both hands on exactly the same parts of my face on all passes.
3. Ensuring my lather is hydrated enough, less cushion but more slickness.
4. Only using the AC and not finishing off with my DE.
5. Following Simon's excellent thread and getting other users opinions and experiences and sharing in our ups and
downs.
I really think that this will be how my daily shaving will be from now on. It is a steep learning curve if you've only shaved with DE's but if you stick with it you will reap the rewards.
Thanks to everyone who has contributed to this thread.
Last edited:
wintoid
Out of control
Great post Neil, a really good summary that will surely be useful for many people.
Cheesepiece
Stickler
The Diane blade died last night after the first pass, working the Adams apple on my less difficult side saw a patch of irritation develop as the blade began to skip and tug. Reverted to a 2nd WTG rather than my hybrid X/ATG pass then into the blade bank.
Onto the Kai now. Decisions decisions for the blade though. Feather Pro Super or Schick P30.
Onto the Kai now. Decisions decisions for the blade though. Feather Pro Super or Schick P30.
wintoid
Out of control
Either way, I'm definitely interested to hear your findings
wintoid
Out of control
Day 71 - Feather Artist Club SS with Feather Super (6)
Spurred on by @Merkurologist talking about using the non-dominant hand, I decided to try being ambidextrous for WTG and XTG (instead of just WTG normally). Hah it's like going back to square one. Strange how relaxed my hands are with familiar holds, and how tense when I'm using an unfamiliar stroke.
Yesterday's shave was with a Razorock Hawk A plate using the Super blade, and was incredibly close and very even, so today's shave started from a very even stubble. No patches as the starting point.
Uneventful, WTG/XTG/ATG but very slow on the non-dominant XTG pass. I'm not sure I did any better this time, but that's not the point. The point is that once I'm comfortable with non-dominant XTG, I will have doubled (probably slightly less) the number of possible strokes I could take on that side of my face.
Overall though, a pretty nice shave.
Spurred on by @Merkurologist talking about using the non-dominant hand, I decided to try being ambidextrous for WTG and XTG (instead of just WTG normally). Hah it's like going back to square one. Strange how relaxed my hands are with familiar holds, and how tense when I'm using an unfamiliar stroke.
Yesterday's shave was with a Razorock Hawk A plate using the Super blade, and was incredibly close and very even, so today's shave started from a very even stubble. No patches as the starting point.
Uneventful, WTG/XTG/ATG but very slow on the non-dominant XTG pass. I'm not sure I did any better this time, but that's not the point. The point is that once I'm comfortable with non-dominant XTG, I will have doubled (probably slightly less) the number of possible strokes I could take on that side of my face.
Overall though, a pretty nice shave.
Merkurologist
Forum GOD!
Feeling nervous using the opposite hand I think it's normal or it should be
What you said reminds me the first time I used the opposite hand, trying to find a more efficient way to shave XTG, using the opposite hand not only was more efficient but also more comfortable.
There's this guy that although he uses only one hand, his technique is the best I've seen. I wish I could shave XTG on my neck like he does but I can't do it.
Anyway, enjoy it
Cheesepiece
Stickler
I'm a dominant hand only shaver too. He's given me some good tips for around the lug holes and even the grip on the scales, which is very different coming from a kamisori to the Dubl Duck with scales, and the Kai I'm going to be using going forward.Feeling nervous using the opposite hand I think it's normal or it should be
What you said reminds me the first time I used the opposite hand, trying to find a more efficient way to shave XTG, using the opposite hand not only was more efficient but also more comfortable.
There's this guy that although he uses only one hand, his technique is the best I've seen. I wish I could shave XTG on my neck like he does but I can't do it.
Anyway, enjoy it
He'd a few weepers from the last pass but still very confident in his strokes, that's where I have a tendency to let shaves slide, either by losing confidence and then nicking myself by second guessing or half-arsing it. I can't imagine the alum would be too forgiving after the sort of shave he just had.
The reapplication of lather mid-pass was also interesting and his would be even thinner than mine so I wonder why. Mines a touch thicker and, early days, I'd perhaps touch up to re-wet any areas I was approaching that had dried out. I've either corrected that issue with thinner lather or simply sped up the shave, maybe a combination of both.
Anyway, good video, thank you.
Merkurologist
Forum GOD!
Yes, the lather is a bit thin but that's maybe due to the soap not being too slick, with very slick soaps I tend to have the lather a bit thicker but in general, for straight razor shaving you are looking at wetter lather.
I'd love to be able to do those 2 strokes XTG on the neck
I'm going to try to grow my neck longer first.
Merkurologist
Forum GOD!
I think I'll do the same for next shave, today the blade was pulling nor tagging but it didn't feel sharp like before. So 8 x 3 passes is not too bad maybe 7 x 3 would be better.
I'm going to try a Feather Professional Super next and see what's like.
I should get some money for father's day this weekend and I'm considering to order a DX or maybe a brush.... any of you guys have grown up kids that spoil you from time to time?
wintoid
Out of control
Day 72 - Feather Artist Club SS with Schick Proline (1)
I find the Artist Club razors to give me the most feedback from a blade, compared with SEs. The Super has a very specific feel, which I like, and the Proline also has a very specific feel, which I sort-of like. It might grow on me. It's a bit of a light saber. Definitely seems sharper than the Super to me. I understand why people say it feels smooth... there's a sort of slickness to the way it glides over my face, almost like it's been lubricated (in addition to anything from the soap). That said, I have tended to cut myself slightly more with the Proline, but I'm a bit more experienced now.
I got a nick, though. On the first WTG pass, right where my nose meets my top lip, just a tiny nick. Not sure what I did to deserve that. It was so insignificant that I didn't notice until I was preparing for pass 2. It's not sore. If I couldn't see my face, I'd never have known I was nicked. Part of me wonders why I ever go WTG there anyway, as the ATG pass is so easy (I know it's not scientific, and it's flawed, but I'm calling N-to-S WTG here, but I'm calling side-to-philtrum ATG).
Three passes today, WTG/XTG/ATG with my second attempt at being ambidextrous on the XTG pass. God it feels so awkward. I'll persevere, and I'm sure it will end up feeling natural, but it's so strange how left-handed I feel.
The end result was decent and comfortable. Perhaps not BBS but more DFS. A little bit of patchiness, probably more than from the Super shaves I was doing before. That seems to be a constant for me - comfort. Whenever I go back to other razors, I notice that they're less comfortable than the Feather experience.
I find the Artist Club razors to give me the most feedback from a blade, compared with SEs. The Super has a very specific feel, which I like, and the Proline also has a very specific feel, which I sort-of like. It might grow on me. It's a bit of a light saber. Definitely seems sharper than the Super to me. I understand why people say it feels smooth... there's a sort of slickness to the way it glides over my face, almost like it's been lubricated (in addition to anything from the soap). That said, I have tended to cut myself slightly more with the Proline, but I'm a bit more experienced now.
I got a nick, though. On the first WTG pass, right where my nose meets my top lip, just a tiny nick. Not sure what I did to deserve that. It was so insignificant that I didn't notice until I was preparing for pass 2. It's not sore. If I couldn't see my face, I'd never have known I was nicked. Part of me wonders why I ever go WTG there anyway, as the ATG pass is so easy (I know it's not scientific, and it's flawed, but I'm calling N-to-S WTG here, but I'm calling side-to-philtrum ATG).
Three passes today, WTG/XTG/ATG with my second attempt at being ambidextrous on the XTG pass. God it feels so awkward. I'll persevere, and I'm sure it will end up feeling natural, but it's so strange how left-handed I feel.
The end result was decent and comfortable. Perhaps not BBS but more DFS. A little bit of patchiness, probably more than from the Super shaves I was doing before. That seems to be a constant for me - comfort. Whenever I go back to other razors, I notice that they're less comfortable than the Feather experience.