Thread: Righty Tighty; Lefty Loosey

Shave #158 - A Little Slice

Proraso Green Pre/Post Shave
Proraso Green Shave Cream
Semogue 2012
DOVO Palisander 6/8" (2)
Hulk's Smash
Baxter of California AS Balm

I did a 3-passer today, with no extra touch ups on the neck, beyond the 3 passes. I'm my pretty normal BBS/DFS combi pack. Basically satisfied, but I did get a bit inattentive for a moment and gave myself a small slice under the lower lip. Still a nice shave.

Shave #159 - Hot Weather Shaving

Well, it is that time of year where I stand in my shaving cubbyhole sweating buckets trying to shave. No matter what I do, this has a diletory effect on my shave. The sweat raises the lather up off my skin. I try my best to find ways not to be sweaty, but often it's unavoidable - such was today.

QCS Vostok Shave Cream
Semogue 2012
WISS Ugly Duckling 9/16" (6)
Hulk's Smash

I spent much of the afternoon outside and then came in and had a shower. I decided not to waste this bit of beard prep, and to grab a refreshing afternoon shave as well. As you might surmise, I've been cold water shaving for awhile now. The Vostok and cold water did combine to refresh, but I might have been better served to give my body a few hours to cool down before trying to shave. By the time I finished my second pass, sweat was an issue. Since the Vostok leaves a lot of residual slickness, I was able to complete my 2 on the face, 3 on the neck shave and get a decent BBS/DFS+. In fact, I think if I hadn't been sweaty it might have been a 2.5 pass overall BBS.

I capped the shave off with my homemade hot weather toner/aftershave (Hulk's Smash), and my face feels good. I chose not to add a balm. On sweaty days it is often undesirable to grease things up. I may put on an AS balm just before bed.

Most mothers give birth to a child: mine gave birth to a legend. It hasn't always been easy for her, there have been many trials and tribulations. (I have a brother). But, she has always dealt with everything with love and caring. Happy Mother's Day to her and all the other mothers.

Shave #160 - Still Too Sharp

After 4 shaves in the DE, I slipped the Feather into my shavette.

QCS Vostok Shave Cream
TOBS Badger Brush
Don Jae Chopper + Feather (5)
Alum
Captain's Choice Bay Rum
C&E West Indian Lime AS Balm

And, as soon as I touched the blade to my skin, right under the nose, I cut myself. Actually, I cut myself quite a bit; under the nose, on the chin, on the cheek and a couple weepers on the neck. Sharp!!! On the good side, my normal 2 passes, with an extra one on the neck, finds me with an all over BBS shave. The alum had no complaints, except where I had cut myself. Clearly I could get another couple shaves off each side of the Feather, after it is finished in the DE. But, that was a kind of harrowing shave, and maybe I'm not a fan. It makes me wonder what it would be like to put a fresh Feather in the shavette.

Those feather blades man... they are like shaving with a light sabre.... just awesome sharp! I love reading these updates from you dude, keep 'em coming!

Thanks for the encouragement JMueller, it is always appreciated. Yes those Feathers sure are sharp! I have to say that in my Edwin Jagger, with its relatively mild head, I never totally appreciated how sharp they are. But, in the shavette (with about 3mm of blade sticking out and no safety bar) they are appreciably scary sharp.

Shave #160.1 - A Less Hair Raising Shave

Proraso Green Shave Cream
Semogue 2012
Edwin Jagger DE89L + Feather (2)
Thayers Extra Cool Witch Hazel
Gentlemen's Tonic AS Balm

This was just a nice easy shave. I did 3 passes on the face and 4 passes on the neck. I'm BBS with the exception of a very fine strip under my chin that I missed somehow. It was relaxing, with none of the thrills and potential spills of my last shave.

Shave #160.2 - Post-Op Shave

Well, was back in the hospital for some more (relatively) minor surgery. The surgery was on my back/shoulder region, so I'm not sure when I'll feel comfortable raising my arms over my head for a straight razor shave...

QCS Vostok Croap + C&E West Indian Lime Shave Cream
TOBS Badger Brush
Edwin Jagger DE89L + Feather (3)
Alum
Captain's Choice Bay Rum
C&E West Indian Lime AS Balm

This was an awesome shave. The über lather created with the Vostok and C&E was simply amazing, great wads of peaky lather. Surprisingly the scents worked well together, providing a mentholated Jamaican feel.

I did 3 passes on the face and four on the neck. My skin is super smooth and comfortable. Total BBS.

Have a nice weekend all.

Shave #160.3 - Jamaican Winter

I still don't have full mobility in my arms, so...

QCS Vostok Croap + C&E West Indian Lime Shave Cream
Semogue 2012
Edwin Jagger DE89L + Feather (4)
Hulk's Smash

I'm really digging this über lather. The face feel, slickness and piles of foam are a joy. My normal 3 on the face, 4 on the neck, BBS. Just great!

Shave #160.4 - Still DEing

The wounds are healing, but I'm still all stitched up, so...

RazoRock Bay Rum Shave Soap
TOBS Badger Brush
Edwin Jagger DE89L + Feather (5)
Alum
Captain's Choice Bay Rum
Gentlemen's Tonic AS Balm

This blade's sharpness dropped off. The shave was slightly more irritating and the results are ever so slightly off standard. I'm BBS on the face and DFS++ on the neck, with a couple of weepers that the alum dealt with. Still a very satisfactory shave, just noticeably a touch off.

On a side note, I've caught myself gazing, longingly, at finishing stones (JNATS) online. I wonder how long it will take my vague yearning to develop into something. Maybe next time I go to Kyoto....

Shave #161 - Couldn't Hold Back Any Longer

I've had a Geo Wostenholm & Son razor laying around in a drawer gathering dust for awhile. I picked it up cheap at an antique store the last time I was in Canada. There was something about the feeling of the blade and the way it was ground that I really liked, so I decided to send it to someone (Doc226) to be refurbished. He cleaned it up, put new scales (bone) on it and gave it a Jnat edge (my request).

I got it back from Alfredo about 4 days ago, and not shaving with it has been driving me nuts. Finally I couldn't take it anymore - stitches be damned - I went ahead and shaved with my newly refurbished Geo.





RazoRock Bay Rum Shave Soap
Semogue 2012
Geo Wostenholm & Son IXL 5/8" (1)
Alum
Captain's Choice Bay Rum

I did my pretty standard 2 passes on the face and 3 on the neck. The result is very good, BBS on the face, and DFS+ on the neck. I did miss a little spot under the chin - my fault, not the blade's.

My general impressions on the first use of this blade are very positive. I think it looks great and is a joy to hold in the hand and put to the face. Ultimately, for me, a lot of the joy of straight razor shaving comes from the aesthetics. The Jnat edge is very nice. I will need to spend more time using this edge to decide how much I really like it, but initial impressions are positive. It is sharp and smooth, without feeling like I am in constant danger of cutting myself. I was a bit worried about the square point. This was my first real experience using a square toed razor, but it went fine and didn't feel like there was a continual threat of jabbing myself.

Here is some gratuitous razor porn - enjoy Doc226's handiwork.

Shave #162 - Sweatin' to the Oldies

RazoRock Bay Rum Shave Soap
TOBS Badger Brush
Geo Wostenholm & Son IXL 5/8" (2)
Alum
Hulk's Smash
L'Occitane Cedre & Oranger AS Balm

I'm in love, and the object of my affection is an octogenarian. I love this razor. There's no rational reason - it's just the way it feels when we're together. When it's right, you just know.

As you can tell, I'm enjoying my new [to me] Geo Wostenholm & Son razor. In all honesty, today's shave could have been better. Not a problem with the razor, but rather an environmental issue. I was sweating up a storm in my shave cubby, and that has a very negative affect on my shave. I was floating the lather on a layer of sweat. I would call today's shave an overall DFS. Definitely a fine enough result for a 2.5-passer, but normally I would get a bit better result. Still I've got a giant smile on my face - that's what spending time with the one you love does for a man.