Striving for a Consistent Shave......

I have to agree with @Paul L about the Men-U brush.
I also had one of them.
It was one of the most limp-wristed brushes it has ever been my displeasure to use.
A cheap Yaqi synthetic beats it easily (but then Yaqi are quite a good brush).
You want a good lather (and save the world wildlife too) then get a Yaqi 26mm Rainbow Pony knot.
I have 6 brushes (all Yaqi now) and the Rainbow pony knot is a beauty.
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/32909569541.html?spm=2114.12010612.8148356.49.76fe4431tBQdOs
 
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Routine:

Face Shave:

Razor: Merkur Slant 37C - Closed Comb, Short Handle.
Blade: FOURTH Shave Gilette Silver Blue.
Soap: Taylors of Old Bond Street Shaving Cream
Lemon & Lime
Brush: men - u Barbiere White.

One days stubble.....
I just couldn't wait to shave!
This shave @ 11.30pm

Method:
Preperation, shave & cleanup, all as before.
Bowl used with brush this time round.

Results (Physical Assesment as always by Wifey):-
Testing Method & Implement:- Her usual......
Her: "Not quite as good as 'yesterdays' shave!"
Me: "Yep."

Results (Physical Assesment by Self):-
Yes, as least as good as the third shave...

Overall Shaving Experience:-

I used a shave bowl to whip up the ToOBS
shaving cream in for this shave.
Better, but needs finessing.

But:-
This time round, the blade definately
dragged; shave was quite good, but uncomfortable.
It needed more passes, but no blood!

Five shaves from this blade?
I think I'll swap it for a fresh one this time round.
But next blade, I' see how many I can get out of it,
now my method & shaves are improving!

Comments:- Will carry on carrying on!

TTFN
Bill
I'm pleased to see you are getting more use out of your blades now, I bet your Dad is as pleased as I am! Well done, you're making some real progress, carry on! :)


Paul.
 
I have to agree with @Paul L about the Men-U brush.
I also had one of them.
It was one of the most limp-wristed brushes it has ever been my displeasure to use.
A cheap Yaqi synthetic beats it easily (but then Yaqi are quite a good brush).
You want a good lather (and save the world wildlife too) then get a Yaqi 26mm Rainbow Pony knot.
I have 6 brushes (all Yaqi now) and the Rainbow pony knot is a beauty.
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/32909569541.html?spm=2114.12010612.8148356.49.76fe4431tBQdOs
Been looking at the Yaqi Rainbow. Hadn't realised there so many different kinds of fibre, knots, densitys or brush sizes. The Rainbow looks fun, and I'd prefer a synthetic brush. It's on my order next list! Thanks.
 
Been looking at the Yaqi Rainbow. Hadn't realised there so many different kinds of fibre, knots, densitys or brush sizes. The Rainbow looks fun, and I'd prefer a synthetic brush. It's on my order next list! Thanks.

Body Shop brush for £5 will see you right - YaqI would be an upgrade though

Give cold water shaves a go - your skin will thank you for it
 
My Lessons (Bloodily) Learnt.
Point by Point.

• I start by soaking my brush in hot water.
I do this in the insulated metal mug that has
my Arko soap squished into the bottom of it.
• Wash face with soap & rinse with hot water.
I scrub those bristles!
• Squeeze excess water off the brush gently.
Don't shake it dry. Prepare the soap; whip it up.
• Work it into face with the brush for 1-2 minutes.
• Leave the soap on for 5 minutes. Go do summat else.
• Adjust the lather if needed; prepare the razor:
I rinse & tighten it after yesterday's cleaning.
• Shave with the grain; short strokes, rinsing blade
thoroughly as needed - no face pulling on this pass.
• When rinsing the razor & blade, I've found that letting
the water wash down the comb & blade lengthways
visibly blows more hair out of & off of the razorblade
than it does letting the water hit the razor 'comb on'.
• Re-lather; adjust wetness & consistency of lather if needed.
• Second pass, this time shaving against the grain......
Pulling those faces as I shave! Gurning!
Pull the skin taught where needed.
• Pat face with water; my third shaving pass if needed.
• Rinse face, apply deadly alum or just pat dry!
• Cleaning & storing my razor & blade:
Dissasemble razor, put blade to one side, clean & dry razor.
Take the blade & 'strop' it in a little liquid soap
on the palm of my hand, rinsing in hot water
then drying it thouroughly.
The angle seems to be important; too shallow a strop
results in a rougher feeling shave next time.
I want it scraping across the edge of my palm;
Rinse & dry it then oil the cutting edges;
I reassemble it with oiled blade in.

Blades & Razors Used:

Merkur short handled slant.
w/ Gillette Silver Blue - Face shave only
Eight Shaves from the one blade.
A little more 'drag' on the 6th shave.
Starts to give a slightly less clean shave on 7th.
More so on 8th, but wifey says it's still a 'good' one

Merkur short handled comb.
w/ Astra Platinum - Head shave only.
Seven shaves from the one blade.
A little more drag on the 4th shave.
Starts to give a slightly less clean shave on 5th.
More so on 6th, but wifey says it's 'okay'.

New blades for next week, I think.
Could get more shaves out of those blades -
- and compared to the slashing and dismembering
shaves I was giving myself beforehand -
they would be relatively smooth going, good ones!
But perhaps just not quite clean enough.

Also going to try a different bar soap to wash my face,
and start using the ToOBS shaving cream, just to see.
Still using men-u brush; I don't want to change too
many variables at this point - still learning!
 
My Lessons (Bloodily) Learnt.
Point by Point.

• I start by soaking my brush in hot water.
I do this in the insulated metal mug that has
my Arko soap squished into the bottom of it.
• Wash face with soap & rinse with hot water.
I scrub those bristles!
• Squeeze excess water off the brush gently.
Don't shake it dry. Prepare the soap; whip it up.
• Work it into face with the brush for 1-2 minutes.
• Leave the soap on for 5 minutes. Go do summat else.
• Adjust the lather if needed; prepare the razor:
I rinse & tighten it after yesterday's cleaning.
• Shave with the grain; short strokes, rinsing blade
thoroughly as needed - no face pulling on this pass.
• When rinsing the razor & blade, I've found that letting
the water wash down the comb & blade lengthways
visibly blows more hair out of & off of the razorblade
than it does letting the water hit the razor 'comb on'.
• Re-lather; adjust wetness & consistency of lather if needed.
• Second pass, this time shaving against the grain......
Pulling those faces as I shave! Gurning!
Pull the skin taught where needed.
• Pat face with water; my third shaving pass if needed.
• Rinse face, apply deadly alum or just pat dry!
• Cleaning & storing my razor & blade:
Dissasemble razor, put blade to one side, clean & dry razor.
Take the blade & 'strop' it in a little liquid soap
on the palm of my hand, rinsing in hot water
then drying it thouroughly.
The angle seems to be important; too shallow a strop
results in a rougher feeling shave next time.
I want it scraping across the edge of my palm;
Rinse & dry it then oil the cutting edges;
I reassemble it with oiled blade in.

Blades & Razors Used:

Merkur short handled slant.
w/ Gillette Silver Blue - Face shave only
Eight Shaves from the one blade.
A little more 'drag' on the 6th shave.
Starts to give a slightly less clean shave on 7th.
More so on 8th, but wifey says it's still a 'good' one

Merkur short handled comb.
w/ Astra Platinum - Head shave only.
Seven shaves from the one blade.
A little more drag on the 4th shave.
Starts to give a slightly less clean shave on 5th.
More so on 6th, but wifey says it's 'okay'.

New blades for next week, I think.
Could get more shaves out of those blades -
- and compared to the slashing and dismembering
shaves I was giving myself beforehand -
they would be relatively smooth going, good ones!
But perhaps just not quite clean enough.

Also going to try a different bar soap to wash my face,
and start using the ToOBS shaving cream, just to see.
Still using men-u brush; I don't want to change too
many variables at this point - still learning!

Stropping the blade won't do anything to improve your shaves, Bill.
Blades are cheap, so 2-4 shaves per blade is the norm.
Keep it simple, and the penny will drop. . .
 
Okay; I'll bite! A cold shave? Cold?
Me & cold water don't usually get along.... I
Brrrrrrrrr......!
What's your method.... Not - cold - water!?


Easy peasy, Bill

Stay away from the hot tap. . . . .

Cold water to wet your brush
Cold water to wet your face
Cold water tm rinse lather from the razor
Cold water tm rinse between passes
Plenty of cold water for final rinse

Trust me, your skin will thank you for it
 
I second the Tabac. The scent is not for everyone, but it performs flawlessly. I also like Palmolive shave stick if you prefer face lathering.
for the past couple of shaves I used glycerine bar soap as preshave and also added few drops in my bowl before lathering to build up a lather. Excellent slickness. The lather wasn't voluminous and puffy, but the slickness is out of this world. I use straights and it was probably some of the best sock lather I had to date...
 
Easy peasy, Bill
Stay away from the hot tap. . . . .
Okay. My cold water shave............
..........was quite a reasonable one!

Washed, soaped, rinsed, lathered
& shaved, all with cold water.
Arko soap w/ Blue Sword Platinum blade.
Not gonna lie: the cold was uncomfortable.
But the result was, according to wifey,
'Very Good'! Don't know if it will become
a regular thing with me, but I'll certainly
give ita 7 day trial run!
Held the razor under the hot tap a few times
Mildly confused as to why the blade remained unrinsed.
 
My improved shave kit:

Yaqi 30mm Monster Tuxedo Knot
Barber Pole Shaving Brush R1734

Shaving mug 1100ml / 12cm diameter.
Arko Shaving Soap.

Merkur 37c Short Handle Slant.
Gillette Silver Blue (4th shave).

Cold water shaves.....
Brrrrrrr.......
.......but I'm having better shaves!
 

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