1. User
2. Aimsport

Blades that work: Iridiums, Astra SP, Feather, Corked Derbys, Crystal, Red IP Corked, Yellow 7's. No other blades.

Razors: EJ DE89L, Merkur 45, GEM 1912 Junior, Gem Damaskene, Merkur 38c, Parker 22r.

AD: Having a variety of shaving creams, soaps, etc... and going with what my face "feels" like having that morning. Moderating alcohol based aftershave (occasional). Sensing what is harder on my skin and limiting its use. Occasional use of pre shave oils, as needed. (See my signature for current rotation of creams and soaps.)

Water: ultra soft water and showering AFTER my shave which allows my unclogged pores to weep my natural face oils. Showering before hand makes my skin far too soft. (If you live anywhere near northern Delaware or Chester or Delaware county, PA, USA, I know the guy to get you soft water. PM me. He's a vendor turned friend. You will find none better.)

Razor Technique: Light touch 98% of the time and really understanding that ATG is effective only when you're actually going ATG... "Trouble spots" are typically where I forget the odd direction (or circles) that the grain goes. (Sideways under the chin?... what's up with that!) Knowing when the skin is ready for a steady well aimed ATG with more pressure on a trouble spot vs buffing it with too light a touch.

Prep: Cool or lukewarm water splashed on 3-4 times while I finish the last of my espresso, brush teeth, and soak my brush. Massaging first lather and re-lathering before first pass.

A Generous Brother: who has PIF'd me Caste Forbes Lime, the 38c, Simpson PJ3 in super, and more... ain't he rotten.

Super Secret Weapons: When my face needs a BBS shave AND a rest, Pacific Shave Oil for a PSO-only shave. No brush, clean soapless face, plenty of water and re-application of PSO and water before each pass. Using paraben-containing products only 1-2 times a week, as they puff out my face like a full-face estrogen patch.

Taking my Time and Having Fun: Which means waking up early.

Objective: An inexpensive kit anyone can source locally (in the USA) from popular stores the day you decide you want to get started wetshaving. All items are locally obtained and will help you begin well while you're doing research and then waiting for your Internet orders to arrive.

Van Der Hagen Deluxe Shave Soap (not Select or Glycerin), Wal-Mart $2

Target Shea Brush , Target $9, or VDH Boar Brush or Kit (which includes VDH Deluxe) from a local pharmacy

Bic Sensitive Disposable (the orange ones); <u>single bladed</u> disposable <$4 for a pack

Rationale: VDH Deluxe is excellent inexpensive soap. The Target Shea Brush will get a good lather going easily. The Bic Sensitive has a single blade, no swivel, and is favorably reviewed by B&B members. It is an excellent transition from multi-blade cartridges. Good kit to practice lathering with and not worry too much about the shave part.

My Quickest Technique for a Must-Have BBS

a. Fill mug with lukewarm water and drop my SOC into it.

b. Wet face thoroughly.

c. Take a swig of espresso.

d. Grab MWF, or Tabac, or Cella, or AOS Soaps, or Valobra, or DR Harris Arlington, or Irisch Moos, or Arko, or EJ Sea Buckthorn, or CF Lime... anything but my Herban Cowboy Dusk.

e. Squeeze out the SOC (I know, I know.... heresy)

f. Load brush on damp bristles keeping handle lower than hairs

g. Rewet face

h. Face lather dipping tips of SOC in water as needed to hydrate the soap in small steps, holding the handle lower than the hairs where possible so the brush gets full of rich lather. Feel lather explode inside the SOC telling me I've hit the hydration sweet spot. The explosion of lather should be unmistakable. If you're not certain, it didn't happen; you either underloaded or hydrated too rapidly past the sweet spot.

i. STOP and massage the lather with fingertips including ATG direction deeply, rubbing most on trouble spots.

j. Reapply lather without rinsing (so a lather, massage and re-lather before the first pass)

k. With lather on face
option DE. load two Iridiums. One into my EJ DE89L and one into my Merkur Bakelite
option SE. or a Treet or Pella in my 1912 fat handle or Damaskene
re-lather if that took too long... darned glue dots..

l. (IF DE, use the EJ DE89L) Do a WTG pass on right and left cheeks, then neck WTG leaving the chin and under the chin alone.

m. Re-wet latherless portions of face

n. Re-lather whole face including chin.

o. Do a XTG pass on left and right cheeks and neck

p. Do chin area WTG.

q. Rinse face & Re-lather.

r. If using my DE, switch to the Merkur Bakelite double checking that I haven't overtightened it. Do ATG pass everywhere but chin. XTG chin then relather and ATG chin.

s. Re-wet face checking for areas that may need buffing.

t. Relather any spots and take light passes around the compass of the trouble areas.

u. Rinse face completely and only after I've double checked, then rinse the brush and razor and dry the razor(s).

v. No ASB necessary. But Castle Forbes Lime ASB is nice to use every once in a while.

w. Done.