First SE Shave
Posted: Sat Mar 10, 2012 1:42 pm
After a lot of discussion on here, I finally shaved with my new (to me) G-Bar/HFT. I was a bit hesitant as I brought it up to my face for the first time (as one should be), but I think the hesitation was all for naught as I got a decent shave. I did a very slow and technique focused, two-pass, with-the-grain shave. As a result of my cautious, non-aggressive approach, I ended up with a 'presentable' shave, though definitely not that close. However, on the plus side, I do have minimal-to-no irritation and only one very small nick on the lower chin (didn't even know it had happened).
After all the hand-wringing and research, it wasn't nearly as much drama as I had imagined (yet another example of my imagination getting the better of me). As I've mentioned elsewhere, I've been using the Bump Fighter razor for a while now, and for whatever reason, I did feel like there were some similarities with the way the SE shaved. I think the built in angle of the BF's single blade and the auditory feedback are where they share similarities. And this brought a comfortable bit of familiarity to an otherwise totally new experience.
All-in-all, I am pleased with the first shave. As I said, it was definitely not close, but given the results, it's 'one down' and much of the initial trepidation of trying something new is gone. I am sure that with additional shaves, both the technique and closeness will improve. But, perhaps more importantly for me, I guess I'll now need to see it the irritation and ingrown hair issues crop up...
I did have some trouble with shaving the upper lip/mustache area and just below the lip. I feared starting strokes on the lip itself to get to those hairs that are around it. The head of the GBar is large and it was tough to maneuver, and to know where the blade actually is in order to start strokes in that vicinity. I'm sure this will improve with familiarity due to repetition. As for the upper lip, I have read on here about going side-to-side, but as I attempted this, it just felt all wrong somehow and so I abandoned the effort. Any suggestions about how to approach these areas (below the nose, upper lip, and just below the lip)?
After all the hand-wringing and research, it wasn't nearly as much drama as I had imagined (yet another example of my imagination getting the better of me). As I've mentioned elsewhere, I've been using the Bump Fighter razor for a while now, and for whatever reason, I did feel like there were some similarities with the way the SE shaved. I think the built in angle of the BF's single blade and the auditory feedback are where they share similarities. And this brought a comfortable bit of familiarity to an otherwise totally new experience.
All-in-all, I am pleased with the first shave. As I said, it was definitely not close, but given the results, it's 'one down' and much of the initial trepidation of trying something new is gone. I am sure that with additional shaves, both the technique and closeness will improve. But, perhaps more importantly for me, I guess I'll now need to see it the irritation and ingrown hair issues crop up...
I did have some trouble with shaving the upper lip/mustache area and just below the lip. I feared starting strokes on the lip itself to get to those hairs that are around it. The head of the GBar is large and it was tough to maneuver, and to know where the blade actually is in order to start strokes in that vicinity. I'm sure this will improve with familiarity due to repetition. As for the upper lip, I have read on here about going side-to-side, but as I attempted this, it just felt all wrong somehow and so I abandoned the effort. Any suggestions about how to approach these areas (below the nose, upper lip, and just below the lip)?