I have to be up early tomorrow (leading a convoy of small cars through the Peak District's tiniest roads), so if I'm to try something new it'll be tonight.
Heart pounding with anticipation and fear.
Feather Artist Club RG folding straight
Feather Pro-Guard blade (1)
New Forest High Mountain Badger
Taylor's Lemon and Lime cream, face lathered
Bulldog ASB
The plan was one pass, just down. That went really well. So I did a second pass, up on the neck and ATG (right to left) on my face, since up on my face seemed to want to catch and dig. Then a third pass, diagonally in an ATGish direction (again left) on my neck and up on my face. Then my bottom lip (I have a goatee and shave just the lower lip) - this was the hardest part, perhaps not surprisingly.
I would class the result as DFS+/BBS-. I thought it was completely blood-free, but a tissue to the rinsed face revealed a tiny spot on that difficult lower lip. My neck would not mark a tissue, which I hardly ever manage with a DE. It's not quite as close on my neck as a DE shave, but cleaner in terms of skin quality.
The whole thing seemed - after the first terrifying half-pass with each hand - startlingly friendly. I ended up using my left hand for some of my right side close to my nose and vice versa so I could see and to get around my nose. I also, as my confidence grew, found myself turning the razor so that my little and third fingers were closest to the blade for some areas.
I couldn't go fully sideways on my neck simply because there isn't room - the metal part of the razor is too long to fit. I need to try to think of another way to get in there for a totally clean shave (which I have on my face).
I am very very happy with my first ever straight shave. And, of course, I feel manly, puissant and victorious
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