niccodeamus
The Principle of the Perfect Shave
Strobist Stuff:
EX430II low right with stofen filter 1/8th
EX580II high left with snoot 1\8th
triggered STE2
shot after dark (because it took too long to set up) in the garden, under a child wielding a hose, in front of a black screen
So....the perfect shave. I have been theorising about this for some time. I suspect shaving, and the way an individual shaves is, like as not, similar to religion. the technique is a hand-me-down. More than likely, as a child, you watched your father in front of the bathroom mirror, scrapping away before work, or you read somewhere, in some lifestyle mag, the best way to shave. the method seems to be with the grain or against the grain, up or down, and they are both "the best".
So, for what its worth, here is my method for the best wet shave, derived from experimentation. I would never suggest it cannot be bettered, and welcome suggestions and improvements.
First off, shave in the shower. The function of all the lathering with expensive foams and soaps is to soften the bristles. water and time does this, so the shower is ideal and saves some effort. The other function of the foam is lubrication. This does work, but so does a bar of soap. The next thing is the blade. The blade companies have gone too far in their quintuple blade heads "for the best shave yet". two blades is just fine, with plenty of clearance between the blades so they wash out easily. The next thing, and possibly the most important, is never keep your current blade on the razor handle. Keep it in the box. The reason for this is not technical or clever, it merely increases the odds of your partner not using it, and every fellow knows what a leg does to a blade. So keep an old blade on the razor (she (or indeed he) will not notice) and the one you use in the box. This rule might not apply if you live alone, but you can never be sure.
Next, after all the normal shower procedures, soap the old chin, foam, whatever, and shave down, with the grain. You don't have to be too fussy or particular here, just run the blade downwards from nose to neck, cheek to jowl, then after a quick rub over with your soapy paw, shave the other way, neck to nose etc. This knocks off all the sharp bits and leaves the (IMHO) the best possible result. It takes no longer, blades last longer (you can get away with using a blunter blade) and you have a much more kissable chin, than the method you use now.
What could be better?
Well, a better shave could be better, so I invite you, in the spirit of scientific investigation, to test and improve.
The Principle of the Perfect Shave
Strobist Stuff:
EX430II low right with stofen filter 1/8th
EX580II high left with snoot 1\8th
triggered STE2
shot after dark (because it took too long to set up) in the garden, under a child wielding a hose, in front of a black screen
So....the perfect shave. I have been theorising about this for some time. I suspect shaving, and the way an individual shaves is, like as not, similar to religion. the technique is a hand-me-down. More than likely, as a child, you watched your father in front of the bathroom mirror, scrapping away before work, or you read somewhere, in some lifestyle mag, the best way to shave. the method seems to be with the grain or against the grain, up or down, and they are both "the best".
So, for what its worth, here is my method for the best wet shave, derived from experimentation. I would never suggest it cannot be bettered, and welcome suggestions and improvements.
First off, shave in the shower. The function of all the lathering with expensive foams and soaps is to soften the bristles. water and time does this, so the shower is ideal and saves some effort. The other function of the foam is lubrication. This does work, but so does a bar of soap. The next thing is the blade. The blade companies have gone too far in their quintuple blade heads "for the best shave yet". two blades is just fine, with plenty of clearance between the blades so they wash out easily. The next thing, and possibly the most important, is never keep your current blade on the razor handle. Keep it in the box. The reason for this is not technical or clever, it merely increases the odds of your partner not using it, and every fellow knows what a leg does to a blade. So keep an old blade on the razor (she (or indeed he) will not notice) and the one you use in the box. This rule might not apply if you live alone, but you can never be sure.
Next, after all the normal shower procedures, soap the old chin, foam, whatever, and shave down, with the grain. You don't have to be too fussy or particular here, just run the blade downwards from nose to neck, cheek to jowl, then after a quick rub over with your soapy paw, shave the other way, neck to nose etc. This knocks off all the sharp bits and leaves the (IMHO) the best possible result. It takes no longer, blades last longer (you can get away with using a blunter blade) and you have a much more kissable chin, than the method you use now.
What could be better?
Well, a better shave could be better, so I invite you, in the spirit of scientific investigation, to test and improve.