I usually shower-shaved back in my cart days. Can't say I enjoyed it much; it was just something I had to do.
The Shaving Cadre
Welcome to The Shaving Cadre, a forum dedicated to gentlemanly discourse about wet shaving and other topics of common interests. Membership is always free so register today and join in the fun
An Unexpected Journey: A Newbie's Walk In Wet Shaving
- Thread starter Blade-meister
- Start date
I usually shower-shaved back in my cart days. Can't say I enjoyed it much; it was just something I had to do.
I love the brush Eric! I really like the small knot size. It performs well looks awesome. I opened my shaving den yesterday and the other brushes ganged up and had him cornered. I had to save him from getting bullied for looking so good and being the new daily driver
I definitely enjoy shaving at the sink more, but shower shaves save me a lot of time for some reason so they are in the arsenal of shaves just in case I need it.
2 pass shave this morning and it was feeling like a Bay Rum morning.
Today's Shave: Shave #108
Razor: Parker Variant - Graphite handle
Blade: Gillette Silver Blue
Brush: Eric's Lignum Vitae Hand Turned Brush Handle, 22 mm Boss Knot
Soap: Mystic Water Bay Rum
Bowl: Red Salsa Bowl (plastic)
Pre Shave: Wash with soap in the shower . Rub raw soap on face from the puck.
Total Razor on Face Time: 11 minutes
Post Shave: Cold water rinse, Witch Hazel (Walmart Brand) face only, Cold rinse. Every Man Jack AS balm to the face only. Mammoth Painting.
I put in a new blade in my razor and got to working up a lather. After going back for seconds on the soap, I got a nice lather. I did my usual for a 2 pass shave. If you've been following my journal you are familiar with it. After 2 passes and a brief clean-up, I have DFS/DFS+ shave this morning. A little irritation on the center part of my left cheek that was from yesterday. I may have to really look at this area and do some beard mapping. I consistently get a tiny bit of redness in the same two spots on my cheeks so I'm thinking the growth there is doing something weird. It feels ATG in that tiny spot no matter which way I attack it, hence the redness.
This morning on the clean-up I decided to experiment a bit with just witch hazel on the neck. I struggle with shirt neck line irritation and it only started when I started wet shaving. With the carts I had no issues in this area unless I wore a wool sweater or something weird like that, but, I never put anything on my neck back then either. My theory is that the balms make the hair that's shaved stand up straight somehow which makes them catch on my collar and cause it to be irritated. So far, the neck feels great so I'm hoping this will be one of those discoveries that helps me solve my own personal wet shaving puzzle. That's really my only goal with wet shaving is to solve my shaving puzzle and deliver a consistent, irritation free, BBS shave every morning.
Today's Shave: Shave #108
Razor: Parker Variant - Graphite handle
Blade: Gillette Silver Blue
Brush: Eric's Lignum Vitae Hand Turned Brush Handle, 22 mm Boss Knot
Soap: Mystic Water Bay Rum
Bowl: Red Salsa Bowl (plastic)
Pre Shave: Wash with soap in the shower . Rub raw soap on face from the puck.
Total Razor on Face Time: 11 minutes
Post Shave: Cold water rinse, Witch Hazel (Walmart Brand) face only, Cold rinse. Every Man Jack AS balm to the face only. Mammoth Painting.
I put in a new blade in my razor and got to working up a lather. After going back for seconds on the soap, I got a nice lather. I did my usual for a 2 pass shave. If you've been following my journal you are familiar with it. After 2 passes and a brief clean-up, I have DFS/DFS+ shave this morning. A little irritation on the center part of my left cheek that was from yesterday. I may have to really look at this area and do some beard mapping. I consistently get a tiny bit of redness in the same two spots on my cheeks so I'm thinking the growth there is doing something weird. It feels ATG in that tiny spot no matter which way I attack it, hence the redness.
This morning on the clean-up I decided to experiment a bit with just witch hazel on the neck. I struggle with shirt neck line irritation and it only started when I started wet shaving. With the carts I had no issues in this area unless I wore a wool sweater or something weird like that, but, I never put anything on my neck back then either. My theory is that the balms make the hair that's shaved stand up straight somehow which makes them catch on my collar and cause it to be irritated. So far, the neck feels great so I'm hoping this will be one of those discoveries that helps me solve my own personal wet shaving puzzle. That's really my only goal with wet shaving is to solve my shaving puzzle and deliver a consistent, irritation free, BBS shave every morning.
Oh, that's all. This guy just wants the holy grail fellas!!! ?
Oh, that's all. This guy just wants the holy grail fellas!!!
I shoot high hoping to get something close
Dave in KY
Shave Newbie
Reminds me of what us NY residents have to go through to get a handgun license.
I love the brush Eric! I really like the small knot size. It performs well looks awesome. I opened my shaving den yesterday and the other brushes ganged up and had him cornered. I had to save him from getting bullied for looking so good and being the new daily driverThis will sound stupid but who is WSP? I'd love to order another puck of it just to have in reserve and try out some others.
Not stupid at all. WSP stands for Wet Shaving Products. They have two lines of soap, vegan and tallow. The vegan is a pretty fair approximation of Martin de Candre, though I prefer the tallow, which is called Formula T. The name of that soap under WSP's label is Black Amber Vanille. They have a lot of really great scents, including a few Creed clones.
Awesome, thanks Eric. I'll have to save my monthly spending money and get some soaps from there.
This morning was a great morning. My new pair of Rocky boots arrived yesterday so I'm going to be walking in comfort. Some times it's the little things in life that bring us joy.
Today's Shave: Shave #109
Razor: Parker Variant - Graphite handle
Blade: Gillette Silver Blue
Brush: Eric's Lignum Vitae Hand Turned Brush Handle, 22 mm Boss Knot
Soap: Chamber's Black
Bowl: Red Salsa Bowl (plastic)
Pre Shave: Wash with soap in the shower . Rub raw soap on face from the puck.
Total Razor on Face Time: 16 minutes
Post Shave: Cold water rinse, Witch Hazel (Walmart Brand) face only, Cold rinse. Chamb
er's Black AS balm to the face only. Mammoth Painting.
This morning I wanted to experiment a little more with the razor. I got my usual lather from this soap, and set the razor at 3.5 for a 3 pass shave. I really worked in the soap as I applied my lather and if it seemed a little dry I'd dip the tip of my brush in the water and get it a little bit slicker.
The first WTG pass was very nice. I really paid attention to those areas on my cheeks that have been having a problem. I tried hooking at an angle toward 4 o'clock when I hit those cheek areas. I think this helped, but it is tough to tell. The second XTG/ATG pass was beautiful as well. I did some clean-up along this pass with my usual J hooking along the jaw line and neck. My final pass was the usual ATG/XTG pass. For clean-up, I tried something different. I set the razor at 1.5 and did a lot of blade buffing with absolutely no pressure. This got great results with little noticeable irritation. Much of my clean-up in the past was at the 2.5 setting which I think may have been causing the irritation issues. BBS+ everywhere.
As you may recall, I've stopped using any post shave products on my neck. Yesterday my neck felt great all day and no irritation or redness. I think that was the issue, but there's only one way to know. I used to wear this 5.11 shirt without issues when I cart shaved, but ever since I started wet shaving it was a no go. Today I sported this shirt to see what happens. If it doesn't cause issues today, I'll know I've figured this problem out.
Today's Shave: Shave #109
Razor: Parker Variant - Graphite handle
Blade: Gillette Silver Blue
Brush: Eric's Lignum Vitae Hand Turned Brush Handle, 22 mm Boss Knot
Soap: Chamber's Black
Bowl: Red Salsa Bowl (plastic)
Pre Shave: Wash with soap in the shower . Rub raw soap on face from the puck.
Total Razor on Face Time: 16 minutes
Post Shave: Cold water rinse, Witch Hazel (Walmart Brand) face only, Cold rinse. Chamb
er's Black AS balm to the face only. Mammoth Painting.
This morning I wanted to experiment a little more with the razor. I got my usual lather from this soap, and set the razor at 3.5 for a 3 pass shave. I really worked in the soap as I applied my lather and if it seemed a little dry I'd dip the tip of my brush in the water and get it a little bit slicker.
The first WTG pass was very nice. I really paid attention to those areas on my cheeks that have been having a problem. I tried hooking at an angle toward 4 o'clock when I hit those cheek areas. I think this helped, but it is tough to tell. The second XTG/ATG pass was beautiful as well. I did some clean-up along this pass with my usual J hooking along the jaw line and neck. My final pass was the usual ATG/XTG pass. For clean-up, I tried something different. I set the razor at 1.5 and did a lot of blade buffing with absolutely no pressure. This got great results with little noticeable irritation. Much of my clean-up in the past was at the 2.5 setting which I think may have been causing the irritation issues. BBS+ everywhere.
As you may recall, I've stopped using any post shave products on my neck. Yesterday my neck felt great all day and no irritation or redness. I think that was the issue, but there's only one way to know. I used to wear this 5.11 shirt without issues when I cart shaved, but ever since I started wet shaving it was a no go. Today I sported this shirt to see what happens. If it doesn't cause issues today, I'll know I've figured this problem out.
Rocky boots!
Hope the neck situation worked out today.
5.11 happens to be founded from my hometown, Modesto, CA. They have some decent stuff, if a bit over priced. Small world!
I really enjoy the 5.11 pants. I wear them to work and I'm going on 6 years for some of them. 3 of those 6 years saw heavy use and they are just starting to wear out. They are overpriced and their footwear is not very good, but shirts & pants from them are super.
Funny on the Rocky gif
Update on the neck (yeah, yeah, I know you were all just waiting on the edges of your seats for an update
) - it's irritation free and feels great. I think I solved this little part of the shaving puzzle. The aftershave feel from the soap still has the neck feel good too.
Wow, nobody missed me
I was on kiddie duty Friday - Sunday so I did shave but just didn't have time to jump on here and do the journals. Here we go......
Today's Shave: Shave #110 & #111
Razor: Parker Variant - Graphite handle
Blade: Gillette Silver Blue
Brush: Eric's Lignum Vitae Hand Turned Brush Handle, 22 mm Boss Knot
Soap: Mystic Water Lavender Lime
Bowl: Red Salsa Bowl (plastic)
Pre Shave: Wash with soap in the shower . Rub raw soap on face from the puck.
Total Razor on Face Time: 9 minutes
Post Shave: Cold water rinse, Witch Hazel (Walmart Brand) face only, Cold rinse. Every Man Jack AS balm to the face only. Mammoth Painting.
I got up before the kiddies just so I could get a moment to fit in a decent shave. I worked up a great lather and really worked it into my face. I set the razor at 3.3 and got right o a nice 2 pass shave. WTG pass was great. XTG/ATG second pass was good too. I shifted the razor down to 1.5 and did some clean-up including J hooking at the jaw line and blade buffing. I'm really enjoying the blade buffing at such a low setting. Whenever I tried it previously with the razor set more aggressively it always caused some irritation somewhere. At 1.5 I feel I can almost do it endlessly (no way I'm going to test that!
). Overall both shaves were in the DFS+ realm with BBS areas on the face.
Today's Shave: Shave #110 & #111
Razor: Parker Variant - Graphite handle
Blade: Gillette Silver Blue
Brush: Eric's Lignum Vitae Hand Turned Brush Handle, 22 mm Boss Knot
Soap: Mystic Water Lavender Lime
Bowl: Red Salsa Bowl (plastic)
Pre Shave: Wash with soap in the shower . Rub raw soap on face from the puck.
Total Razor on Face Time: 9 minutes
Post Shave: Cold water rinse, Witch Hazel (Walmart Brand) face only, Cold rinse. Every Man Jack AS balm to the face only. Mammoth Painting.
I got up before the kiddies just so I could get a moment to fit in a decent shave. I worked up a great lather and really worked it into my face. I set the razor at 3.3 and got right o a nice 2 pass shave. WTG pass was great. XTG/ATG second pass was good too. I shifted the razor down to 1.5 and did some clean-up including J hooking at the jaw line and blade buffing. I'm really enjoying the blade buffing at such a low setting. Whenever I tried it previously with the razor set more aggressively it always caused some irritation somewhere. At 1.5 I feel I can almost do it endlessly (no way I'm going to test that!
Today's Shave: Shave #112
Razor: Parker Variant - Graphite handle
Blade: Gillette Silver Blue
Brush: Eric's Lignum Vitae Hand Tur
ned Brush Handle, 22 mm Boss Knot
Soap: Chamber's Black
Bowl: Red Salsa Bowl (plastic)
Pre Shave: Wash with soap in the shower . Rub raw soap on face from the puck.
Total Razor on Face Time: 14 minutes
Post Shave: Cold water rinse, Witch Hazel (Walmart Brand) face only, Cold rinse. Chamber's Black AS balm to the face only. Mammoth Painting.
Today was the day I picked up my wife at the airport, so I was looking to do a really great 3 pass shave with her favorite scented soap and balm. I worked up a great lather. slipped in a new blade and got right to the shave. I set the razor at 3.5 for the first WTG pass. As always with a new G SB blade, it felt great on the first WTG pass. Second XTG/ATG was pure Heaven. Third ATG/XTG pass was great so I went right to the clean-up. I continued to do a lot of blade buffing in the clean-up and my face is liking it when the razor is set at 1.5. BBS / BBS+ everywhere.
Razor: Parker Variant - Graphite handle
Blade: Gillette Silver Blue
Brush: Eric's Lignum Vitae Hand Tur
ned Brush Handle, 22 mm Boss Knot
Soap: Chamber's Black
Bowl: Red Salsa Bowl (plastic)
Pre Shave: Wash with soap in the shower . Rub raw soap on face from the puck.
Total Razor on Face Time: 14 minutes
Post Shave: Cold water rinse, Witch Hazel (Walmart Brand) face only, Cold rinse. Chamber's Black AS balm to the face only. Mammoth Painting.
Today was the day I picked up my wife at the airport, so I was looking to do a really great 3 pass shave with her favorite scented soap and balm. I worked up a great lather. slipped in a new blade and got right to the shave. I set the razor at 3.5 for the first WTG pass. As always with a new G SB blade, it felt great on the first WTG pass. Second XTG/ATG was pure Heaven. Third ATG/XTG pass was great so I went right to the clean-up. I continued to do a lot of blade buffing in the clean-up and my face is liking it when the razor is set at 1.5. BBS / BBS+ everywhere.
Today's Shave: Shave #113
Razor: Parker Variant - Graphite handle
Blade: Gillette Silver Blue
Brush: Eric's Lignum Vitae Hand Tur
ned Brush Handle, 22 mm Boss Knot
Soap: Aces & Eights
Bowl: Red Salsa Bowl (plastic)
Pre Shave: Wash with soap in the shower . Rub raw soap on face from the puck.
Total Razor on Face Time: 8 minutes
Post Shave: Cold water rinse, Witch Hazel (Walmart Brand) face only, Cold rinse. Every Man Jack AS balm to the face only. Mammoth Painting.
It was a late night last nigh, so I set the alarm to sleep in and decided on a 2 pass shower shave. The Aces & Eights soap really does well in the shower environment, so a good lather was worked up. I did take the time to work the lather in, but this really had to be my newbie version of a speed shave. I set the razor at 3.2 for the first WTG pass and it was ok. I've really grown to dislike the shower shave, but it is a means to and end so to speak. Second pass was ATG/XTG. I did some clean-up, but not as much because I've learned that I can get irritation in the shower if I spend too much time cleaning up. Over all, not a stellar shave, but a solid DFS everywhere.
Razor: Parker Variant - Graphite handle
Blade: Gillette Silver Blue
Brush: Eric's Lignum Vitae Hand Tur
ned Brush Handle, 22 mm Boss Knot
Soap: Aces & Eights
Bowl: Red Salsa Bowl (plastic)
Pre Shave: Wash with soap in the shower . Rub raw soap on face from the puck.
Total Razor on Face Time: 8 minutes
Post Shave: Cold water rinse, Witch Hazel (Walmart Brand) face only, Cold rinse. Every Man Jack AS balm to the face only. Mammoth Painting.
It was a late night last nigh, so I set the alarm to sleep in and decided on a 2 pass shower shave. The Aces & Eights soap really does well in the shower environment, so a good lather was worked up. I did take the time to work the lather in, but this really had to be my newbie version of a speed shave. I set the razor at 3.2 for the first WTG pass and it was ok. I've really grown to dislike the shower shave, but it is a means to and end so to speak. Second pass was ATG/XTG. I did some clean-up, but not as much because I've learned that I can get irritation in the shower if I spend too much time cleaning up. Over all, not a stellar shave, but a solid DFS everywhere.