Thread: Righty Tighty; Lefty Loosey

Shave 212,3 - Surprisingly Nice

I did a shave with a Voshkod blade a while back, was deeply unimpressed, but decided to try again...

Razor Seifen Shave Soap
TOBS Badger Brush
Edwin Jagger DE89L + Voshkod (1)
Krampert's Finest

My first use of a Voshkod was a pretty tugging, pully, affair, if memory serves. But, today it was nice. It was smooth and sharp.



Anyway, in 3.5 passes I'm DFS++. No irritation.

Shave #213 - American Politics...Fun

I've been watching some of the American election coverage. Of course, I have some opinions, which I'll keep to myself. But, I have to say, when it comes to entertainment value, the American election is in a league of its own. Kudos.

QCS Vostok Shave Soap + C&E West Indian Lime Shave Cream
Semogue 2012
DOVO Palisander 6/8" (10/5)
PAA CaD
Gentlemen's Tonic AS Balm

I had a few days of whiskers to go through, but my 2.5 passer got the job done admirably. I'm just slightly shy of BBS. Very good for 2 passes, plus a bit of clean up on the neck.

Shave #213.1 - From Russia with Love

The maid was here on Monday, and when she cleans my shave nook, sometimes she cleans my razor, if I haven't removed it from sight. I forgot to hide it this week, and rather than risk shaving with a blade that's been dulled by whatever cleaning products, I slipped in a new Voshkod blade.

QCS Vostok Shave Soap + C&E West Indian Lime Shave Cream
Semogue 2012
Edwin Jagger DE89L + Voshkod (1)
Krampert's Finest

This is more how I remembered the Voshkods being. The WTG pass was pleasant, XTG was more tuggy and ATG was unacceptably tuggy. There was an unusual amount of hair requiring cleaning up on my final half pass. In the end I'm DFS++, but slightly irritated. I'm not totally sure if that is down to the blade, as summer has landed, it is hot as sin here, and I shaved after a post-bike ride shower. So, I had a goodly layer of sweat pushing up the lather.

Shave #213.2 - Better

I gave the Voshkod another roll.

Tabac Shave Soap
Semogue 2012
Edwin Jagger DE89L + Voshkod (2)
Thayer's Extra Cool Witchhazel
Captain's Choice Bay Rum
Gentlemen's Tonic AS Balm

I thought the shave would suck, being the second shave off a blade that underperformed, but it was decent. I guess last time my problems were down to either poor prep, or excessive sweatiness.

Today was a pretty nice 3.5 passer resulting in a DFS++ shave.

Shave #213.3 - I Never Do That

My wife and I got up around 5am this morning, to meet her mother and take her on the high speed rail to the south of Taiwan. It was almost time to go, and my wife asked me to shave, as we were going to be meeting some of her family that we very rarely see. So I had like 5 minutes before we had to head out to meet the train.

C&E West Indian Lime Shave Cream
TOBS Badger Brush
Edwin Jagger DE89L + Voshkod (3)
PAA CaD

I did a super fast 1-passer. I'm not sure, but I think since this whole shave adventure began, I haven't done a 1-passer. In my multi-blade days I only did single pass shaves, I'd never heard of anything else, but since heading down this path,mi don't think I've done less than 2 passes.

I was SAS. With might light colored hair, I tend to quickly reach a SAS. But, of course, the feeling is pretty stubbly.

Shave #213.4 - Burning Up the Blade

Well, the maid is coming tomorrow, so I wanted to use up the blade in my DE. As I alluded to earlier, I don't know what she does, but she's hell on an edge.

QCS Vostok Soap + C&E West Indian Lime Shave Cream
TOBS Badger Brush
Edwin Jagger DE89L + Voshkod (4)
Kramperts Finest Frostbite

I did a full 3.5 passer and the Voshkod felt fine. I'm a comfortable DFS+. Can't complain, maybe I gave these blades short shrift earlier.

I'll be straight razor shaving more regularly for the next third of a year at least as my schedule eases up through the summer months. If you've been waiting patiently for more on target content, my apologies. Things should improve imminently.

Shave #214 - It Was a Slice

Catie's Bubbles LPV Shave Soap
Semogue 2012
DOVO Palisander 6/8" (10/6)
Pinaud Clubman
Gentlemen's Tonic AS Balm
Styptic Pencil

Well, this was not my best effort in a couple regards. First, as the final line of my list of ingredients indicates, I cut myself. Actually I gave myself a reasonably good slice under the nose as I was going from ear-to-nose. And, the shave is not super close, more in the SAS/CCS realm. I'm not sure why my results were dodgier than usual, as I was shaving everything felt like it was going well...the results just didn't come. I'm thinking it could relate to climate.,I was out in the heat and humidity just before shaving. It has an effect.

It's about to get really humid up here (but probably not as bad as Taiwan), have you tried a cold water/frozen washcloth to cool off before a shave?

Hi dinnermint,

Yep, I usually use a cloth soaked in cold water, sometimes I even freeze it, but my skin is smart. Its not fooled by a brief deep freeze, it just keeps sweating into the ice. But, definitely cold shaving is the only way for me to get through much of the year.

Today was better, despite the sweatiness:

QCS Vostok Shave Soap + C&E West Indian Lime Shave Cream
TOBS Badger Brush
Edwin Jagger DE89L + Feather (1)
Kramperts Finest Frostbite

A smooth and easy BBS. I sometimes wonder why I fart around with other blades in the Edwin Jagger. For my skin, the Feather + Edwin Jagger combo seems almost unbeatable.

Shave #214.2 - Done

Just submitted the last of my grading. I'm whacked.

Cathie's Bubbles LPV Shave Soap
Semogue 2012
Edwin Jagger DE89L + Feather(2)
Thayers Witchhazel
PAA CaD

My skin feels lovely, but I'm too done in to enjoy it. Off to bed.