From Blades to Balance: My Recent Shaving Journey
Over the last few weeks, I’ve been deep-diving into the world of traditional wet shaving. With a growing sampler pack of DE blades and a shiny new razor, I’ve been experimenting, logging, and refining my morning ritual. Here’s a snapshot of what I’ve learned—and what’s earned a spot in my daily rotation.
The Setup: From Merkur to Rockwell
For last 6 months, my go-to razor was the Merkur 42C—a light, nimble tool that pairs well with sharper blades. But I recently upgraded to the Rockwell 6C, and it's a completely different experience.
At nearly double the weight of the Merkur, the 6C feels premium, grounded, and smooth. The ability to switch plates (I started with plate 3) adds a whole new dimension to blade testing—perfect for someone working through a sampler pack.
Blade Testing: Tiger to Treet to BIC
Here’s a snapshot of how a few blades have performed for me so far:
Tiger Superior
Verdict: Too mild. While it caused no irritation, it also struggled to remove hair effectively. Over the past six months, I’ve learned that the best shaves come from applying virtually zero pressure. Unfortunately, with that approach, this blade under performed in the Merkur 42C to the extent that I may not want to pair them ever again. I plan to revisit it later using the Rockwell 6C with plate 4 or 5 and will share an update either here or in a future post.Treet Platinum
Surprisingly good. Very smooth, no nicks or cuts, and delivered a DFS even on the third use. A keeper.BIC Chrome Platinum
First run with the Rockwell 6C—sharp, effective, and combined beautifully with the heavier razor.
Each blade behaves differently depending on the razor it’s paired with, and having both the 42C and 6C has helped me get the most out of my growing blade collection.
Creams & Pre/Post Care
I’ve recently moved on from Proraso Green pre-shave cream (due to the presence of lilial) and have been experimenting with Stirling Glacial Lemon Chill. I chose it for its menthol-heavy formula—ideal for Singapore’s hot and humid weather. Compared to my previous Proraso creams, Stirling offers better slickness and a stronger menthol hit. It’s quickly become my favorite in terms of performance.
I’ve also ordered PAA Ice Cube 2.0 pre-shave soap along with their FrostByte shave soap and aftershave—I’ll share my thoughts on those once they arrive and I’ve had a chance to try them.
My current pre-shave routine uses Proraso Red pre-shave, which has noticeably improved my skin feel and reduced nicks. Post-shave, I apply a small amount of Proraso Green lotion, followed by the Proraso Sandalwood splash (alcohol-based).
📸 Rockwell 6C Unboxing & First Shave
Here are some images of my Rockwell 6C unboxing and first shave with it:
Looking Ahead
Now that I’ve got both razors in my kit and a clearer sense of which blades work best in each, I’m no longer tempted by new razors. My focus is now on blade testing and dialing in the perfect pairings—especially using mild blades like Derby with more aggressive plates on the 6C.
This whole process has been both meditative and mechanical — a small daily ritual that’s now more rewarding than ever.