Crystals... and me....

[Sledge]

Ah... what an enlightening experience... the well rested badger brush soaking itself preparing for the labor that is to come.... the fresh scent of TOBS sandalwood shave cream lounging at the bottom of my shave bowl waiting to be ravaged... the brand new crystal DE blade just snuggled into my 38c (and no... i do not wear a bra) soon the tufts of lather are flying around the bathroom as i mix up my batch of mystery foam, my face gets a fresh layer of cream to cover it, and the razor gets a dip in the sink before its journey across my beard.....

The shave? wonderful... no skipping.... no nicks... no cuts... no seriously agitated skin... hell my face hasnt felt that clean of a shave since i dumped my fusion power... so, after all is said and done... 3 passes with a touch up or two.... and touch ups only around the sideburns, chin, and upper lip (which is a bitch no matter what i do to get to it... its just sensitive... maybe im just a wimp? who knows...) all is well at this point... i nicked a single blemish on my face, simply because it was there and i wasnt paying attention... but no real blood, and it didnt hurt... im beginning to think this crystal blade might be my solution to DE shaving ::

so i proceed to take a shower... usual routine, and as for the face... as always, irish spring twice lathered so my face has that squeaky clean feel... i leave the shower, and dump a little DR harris sandalwood A/S in my palm.... put the palms together and proceed to disperse across my newly shaved mug....



:scared002......... :angry021



i dont think ive ever had quite the sensation that gave me.... felt like i had a million cuts per square inch... my entire face burned!!! not just the usual high irritation areas, but the whole damned thing!!!! i dunno if i did something wrong, or if that blade is a wolf in sheeps clothing.... but to sum this book up in one word....


*WOW*

[TraderJoe]

Look on the bright side, at least you're still not getting the "scraping" effect.


U sure u need to be washing 2x with soap, in the shower, AFTER the shave?

Irish Spring nonetheless :confused: Thats some rough stuff dude, not sure its meant for the face.

[Sledge]

ive always used it... i look at it like this, if i have to change anything from my normal daily routine, and soften it up just to suit my DE shaving... then DE shaving couldnt possibly be a superior beast.. with the exception of fine shave soap/cream, and a good blade, i shouldnt have to change my routine... i mean they always say even with a mach that its best to shower or soften the beard before doing so... but i used to shave either straight off a cold splash in the sink and some barbasol, or straight in the shower with nothing but the water running on my face... (that kills the lube strips though, let me tell you... if you ever want to see a lube strip literally tear to pieces in one shave, shave your head in the shower.... lol)

as for the soap, i like it.... typically i use the irish spring with micro beads... but, i lather the soap in my hand and then apply to my face... the beads never go with it... but on the rest of my body, you gotta love that clean feel :) i have extremely oily skin, especially on my face... so when i get out of the shower, i like it to feel fresh, and squeaky clean... dry and supple... not greasy... i cant @!#%@$% STAND that dove soap... or any other "moisturizer" soap... i can never tell when the soap is gone! lol i always feel greasy afterwards...

[Sejanus]

I am going to echo Joe, and think that perhaps you did just went a tad too far on the face. The face is always going to be a little tender after a shave and any extra scrubbing or whatever is just going to increase the tenderness to where when you put an alchohol based AS on, it will basically be supercharged.

Just another personal reason why I liked the non-alchoholic AS, since you get the results without the pain even if you are a tad rough on the face.

[Sledge]

but heres the thing, i do the same thing every day... ive gotten a good few painless shaves... most of them have came from either a merkur blade, a derby blade, a swedish gillette blade, and once or twice... a feather... so i know my routine isnt the problem, a variable changed... something i did this time was different.. maybe the blade? but i dont know because the shave ITSELF was great...

[TraderJoe]

One thing to keep in mind is that a Double Edge blade is much, MUCH sharper than any cartridge razor, so therefore you are cutting much closer than you can with a cartridge.

So your skin will indeed more vulnerable.

I guess that if you keep with your routine of gouging your skin after the DE shave, eventually you'll get used to it.....maybe ;)

[Sledge]

i seriously doubt my facial wash post shave is the issue... simply because doing the same thing ive managed good shaves... but, what would you suggest (thats purchasable at a local store lol no more shipping!! if i never have to see another little UPS slip on my door that i have to drive 40 miles to retrieve again ill be a happy man! lol) that i wash my face with thats less harsh, but will still leave it squeaky clean? (no moisturizers or other residuals)

[Sejanus]

I use a liquid facial wash called Cetaphil. It is made for sensitive skin and is very much non-oily. It is sort of foaming but rinses perfectly. You can find it at ANY drug store.

[TraderJoe]

If they have Olivella Olive Oil Soap, that would do the trick.

If not, I can send an OO soap with the Palmolive Cream

[Sledge]

OO soap?

[TraderJoe]

OO soap?

Olive Oil Soap

[Sledge]

as for cetaphil, im not really big on bottled cream type stuff... i like hard soaps... if i could get a body soap that does what irish spring does that works for my face, id get it... believe me... lol typically, i just dont have the money, or the time, to have separate soaps, on their separate little dishes... my bathroom is small, and when i say small, i mean SMALL! a sink no bigger than a pedestal sink, toilet next to it, too close to put a roll holder on the cabinet, so the roll holder is on the wall in front of the toilet which even then is only about 2 feet from the toilet... and right next to the crapper is the shower... a small tub that sits lengthwise across the back of the bathroom... which is equivelent to the entire width of the bathroom... wish i could show you a picture... but man, if i didnt have a window in there.... id fart, and pass out...

[Mottern Man]

Irish Spring? :eek::eek::eek::eek::eek:


Someone send this man some soap.........................ISSY WHERE ARE YOU!

[Sejanus]

Irish Spring? :eek::eek::eek::eek::eek:


Someone send this man some soap.........................ISSY WHERE ARE YOU!

:rofl:rofl

Calm! It will be okay!

[Sledge]

whats wrong with irish spring? smells good, and it gets the job done... what could possibly be so bad? lol

[Sejanus]

Irish Spring was way too harsh for my skin I know, hence why I switched to Dove.

I wasn't crazy about the smell either.

[Queen of Blades]

Irish Spring is a detergent and strips your skin of it's natural oils.

Thus causing your oil glands to produce more oil, lots more, to replenish your skin.

It could actually be causing your oily skin.

[Sledge]

well, i mean ive never had a problem with my skin, with the exception of at the end of the day, or when i wake up in the morning... you know? i take 2 showers a day... and the morning is the worst usually... if i could find a soap that did the same thing as this, but with better overall effects i would use it... but the only other soap that works alright is Ivory... i just dont like the scent, and it seems like ivory soap doesnt last half as long, you know? i love irish spring... been using it since i was 12... if there is a soap that smells like it, or something similar, (the sport scent, or micro bead scent... original is good, but i like the other two best) i would use it... any suggestions?

[Queen of Blades]

2 showers a day? With Irish Spring?? :eek:

Joe is more knowledgeable on the bath soap recommendations than I.

Maybe Issy will chime in here, too.

[rick]

Sledge:

This may sound kinda harsh but its sent with love...
If you are going to ask for help here, you WILL get it.
But, heres the rub:
YOU GOTTA USE IT ;)

Do what we say, how and when we say it and then report back.
You cant come here asking for advice and then say:
"Im not gonna change anything I do"
and then be surprised when youre still having issues.

Everything you wrote about your shave today was good....right up til the point you washed your face AFTER the shave.
I dont care what type of soap you used....you can still keep your beloved Irish Spring, its OK
Dont wash your face AFTER the shave.


Follow this tomorrow and then let us know how it went:
.............................................see your thread on "Scraping"

*Prep with hot towels at sink.....shouldnt take more than a minute or 2
*Make a "pre-lather" with whatever you are using, and rub it into your beard with your fingers while making your uberLather
.....again, should take no more than a couple minutes.
SHAVE. No Against The Grain passes
WWR
CWR
AS....use the Velva :D
ASB or Moisturizer if wanted.

Try this EXACTLY and report back.
Thats an order, soldier :transport024

[jbcohen]

I have always liked Crystal blades, good consistent performer. Although my interest in crystals are tempered somewhat by ideology. Let's not go into ideology, I would perferr to keep it out of shaving. I get excellent prices on them at Badger and Blade, a $1.25 for a pack of ten I believe plus shipping which is typically $.75.

[Mottern Man]

Yes Drill Sgt!

Rick has a point, when some one says "hey doc it hurts when I do this" and the doc says "don't do that"

Well I am gong to say it, if it hurts or not working or causing problems DON'T DO IT!

"mind bottling"

You say "this" happens to me and we say try "this" then you say "no sorry not going to do it." :rofl

Come on Mikey just try the cereal.

http://www.treocentral.com/images/admin_uploaded/1161351548.gif

Not that we are experts but some things are just crazy enough to work.

[Scorpio]

Sledge:

This may sound kinda harsh but its sent with love...
If you are going to ask for help here, you WILL get it.
But, heres the rub:
YOU GOTTA USE IT ;)

Do what we say, how and when we say it and then report back.
You cant come here asking for advice and then say:
"Im not gonna change anything I do"
and then be surprised when youre still having issues.

This was a trend I noticed early in the thread.
Very well stated:D

My father always and to this day still gives me advise wether I ask for it or not. For many years I did my way (whatever I was doing) and not put to practice my father's advise. He would just sit back and grin. Things were fair until I chose to use his advise. Well, after all things did improve. I may not use every piece of advise he gives me but I am going to listen and try to see what works for me. He's 84 and a cancer survivor. I hope to be half the man he is.

If you want to improve your shaves you may want to try and change a little here and there until you find out what works. Changing nothing, well, will do just that.

We only say this because we care. ;)
In the words of a fellow bro: Can you feel the loooooooooooove!!!!!:D


Raf

[Bronco]

In the words of a fellow bro: Can you feel the loooooooooooove!!!!!:D
Raf

Translation: You can feel the loooooooooooove, just don't step in it. :D

[rick]

:signs113

[Sledge]

what i meant was, my post shave routine never gave me problems before... even with other DE brands/methods... i feel like, if my face was jacked up enough to let some soap bother it, i had to be doing something ELSE wrong, because its never been an issue before... i mean hell, the merkur blades? ill get out of the shower (using irish spring) and splash some A/S on it (of course ive had bad experiences with merks, but more good than bad) and it wont burn hardly at all... THAT is what i meant... didnt mean to offend anyone by giving you the impression of me asking for help i dont plan to use lol just, i dont think my post shave routine is the issue, and its because the fact that its varied depending on what i do/use during the shave... you know?

[Infotech]

I use Crystal blades exclusively at this point. The only place I ever feel burn is on my neck when I try to get a BBS shave around my adams apple. I figure it is because of bad angle and too much pressure. Could be the same thing with you. Maybe you were using more pressure than normal and didn't realize it.

[qhsdoitall]

You have an Alum Block around? Try this. Use the Alum Block as part of your post shave routine. It will tell you if your shave was not up to par before you throw an alcohol based A/S on. A sort of litmus test.

[Sledge]

yeah i want to get one, but i keep putting it on the back burner... nobody around here sells em, and im not payin $8 for shipping on a $9 item lol so, i guess ill have to force myself to put it in the cart next time i make a run for some cream or something lol :D

[Mottern Man]

what i meant was, my post shave routine never gave me problems before... even with other DE brands/methods... i feel like, if my face was jacked up enough to let some soap bother it, i had to be doing something ELSE wrong, because its never been an issue before... i mean hell, the merkur blades? ill get out of the shower (using irish spring) and splash some A/S on it (of course ive had bad experiences with merks, but more good than bad) and it wont burn hardly at all... THAT is what i meant... didnt mean to offend anyone by giving you the impression of me asking for help i dont plan to use lol just, i dont think my post shave routine is the issue, and its because the fact that its varied depending on what i do/use during the shave... you know?

We are just giving you ...........

Why? Because we are a buncha ::

[Sledge]

lol

[Sledge]

well, today i tried a slightly altered approach... (still used my irish spring... only because i want to see if there is a difference in the other stuff im using)

so, today... i used superlather... i used TOBS sandalwood cream, and mama bears spellbound woods glyc soap (boy did that smell like crap... for those who have considered trying that combo.... dont!) but the lather was good... anyways, so i used a red pack (i believe israeli) personna in a futur.. and i did a 3 pass shave... afterwards, i thoroughly washed my face, then used a bottle of cheap crap witch hazel... didnt sting much if at all, then i proceeded to shave my head... did the same thing, but it burned quite a bit (simply because i think i left the canned goo on too long last night, and it screwed my head up... the shave itself even hurt) so, i then took my shower... came out, put some of the THAYERS lemon witch hazel on both my face and head... burned the head, but not the face... and i did my A/S routine... my face barely burned at all, but burning is kinda welcome in small amounts when it comes to alchohol a/s... almost enjoyable :) kinda like that "listerine" feel... you know its working when it burns.. (i cant do plax, or ACT, or other non burning mouthwashes) so yeah... considering the shave itself wasnt very rough, i think the blade was what did the trick... am i really going to be this sensitive to blades? is it going to be a change from day to day on how i like that blade? (ive had good and bad shaves from swedes, derbys, merkurs, and even feathers) this is getting to be annoying lol i just wish i could find that one blade already... the testing is killing my face :rofl

[rick]

Sledge....
You gotta do SOMETHING to your whiskers BEFORE you shave.
I dont care what....
Shower, wash your face, hot towel treatment.....but DO something before.
The beard must be softened before you start to shave.

Hear me now, believe me later.............. :angry037
I'm done now.




:D

[Sledge]

lol i do wash my face pretty vigorously with hot water... dont use soap, but i wash it up... i just cant fathom doing all the work to make hot towels, and i also like to shower and clean my face after a shave... so im stuck with washing my face pre-shave... if i can find a nice soap that i dont have to send off for, ill use it...

[rick]

Thats more info than I had before ;)
At least you are washing your face with water b4 the shave.
Id say use your Irish Spring on your face.....
If you still want to shower after the shave....cool.
Just try not using soap on your face.
Use a warm water rinse and then a cold water rinse and Thatll start the sealing process.


OTOH...
The hot towel treatment really does a nice job, tho and it doesnt take more than a cuppa minutes to do. Honestly.

[Sledge]

yeah but it creates a crapload more laundry, and if it takes longer than 30 seconds from start to finish, is too long for me lol i get in the bathroom, run some hot water, soak my brush, reduce it to warm, wash my face, lather, and shave...

[Sejanus]

yeah but it creates a crapload more laundry, and if it takes longer than 30 seconds from start to finish, is too long for me lol i get in the bathroom, run some hot water, soak my brush, reduce it to warm, wash my face, lather, and shave...

Sometimes things that take more than 30 seconds are worth it :D Remember proper wet shaving is not only effective but it can be relaxing and fun. No need to rush!

[Infotech]

I use the same wash cloth for a week. If I used one every day I'd probably come up missing...

[Sledge]

lol well since im the one who does my own laundry, id have to kick my own @$$...

[Woknblues]

I have a dozen white face cloths I bought just for shaving. After a weeks rotation of using a new towel each time, (unnecessary, but I do) the 7 face cloths weigh and take up as much space as a single heavy weight t-shirt, or 3 pairs of white tube socks, hardly a lot of laundry, or fuss. Try it out. Just sit there with a hot towel on your face for a minute or two.

I won't bother to mention the Irish Spring, that has been beaten to death, but seriously, Irish Spring on the face? Yikes. Sorry, couldn't resist.

[Issy]

2 showers a day? With Irish Spring?? :eek:

Joe is more knowledgeable on the bath soap recommendations than I.

Maybe Issy will chime in here, too.
Irish spring is detergent and WILL dry you out and cause your skin to produce MORE oil. Try a real soap and in a few weeks your skin will adjust and be very happy.

Issy

[Sledge]

when you say real soap, any suggestions?

[Sejanus]

when you say real soap, any suggestions?

Issy himself makes a number of soaps that are becoming quite popular amongst members of the forum (Isaac even says they taste really good ;)). There should be a website link around on the forum somewhere.

There is also an option like Dove (which I know you have already brought up). While not as good at 100% natural traditional soaps like Issy's, they are a lot better at allowing your skin to retain what it should have.

That whole 'clean' feeling you mention is probably not actually 'clean' but rather the feeling of nothing left on your skin which isn't good. The feeling you describe of having to rinse off more is actually GOOD, since your skin is supposed to be moist and soft and such. It's a feeling you get used to and grow to love.

Same thing happens with your hair, I remember when I switched to a Shampoo that actually kept my scalp and hair moist instead of drying it out, it felt for the first few weeks that my hair was oily. I learned that it was SUPPOSED to feel that way.

[Sledge]

Issy himself makes a number of soaps that are becoming quite popular amongst members of the forum (Isaac even says they taste really good ;)). There should be a website link around on the forum somewhere.

There is also an option like Dove (which I know you have already brought up). While not as good at 100% natural traditional soaps like Issy's, they are a lot better at allowing your skin to retain what it should have.

That whole 'clean' feeling you mention is probably not actually 'clean' but rather the feeling of nothing left on your skin which isn't good. The feeling you describe of having to rinse off more is actually GOOD, since your skin is supposed to be moist and soft and such. It's a feeling you get used to and grow to love.

Same thing happens with your hair, I remember when I switched to a Shampoo that actually kept my scalp and hair moist instead of drying it out, it felt for the first few weeks that my hair was oily. I learned that it was SUPPOSED to feel that way.


anyone got a link to some of his products?

[Sledge]

nvm, got it off his sig lol

[Sejanus]

anyone got a link to some of his products?

http://theshaveden.com/issysoriginals/index.php Here is his web page, browse around!