Thread: Righty Tighty; Lefty Loosey

Shave #21 - Mid-Autumn Festival Shave

L'Occitane Shave Soap with Some Pomelo Essential Oil
TOBS Badger Brush
J. A. Henkels 94 - 9/16" (2)
Gentlemen's Tonic AS Balm

3.5 Passes, BBS cheeks, DFS everywhere else. 3 Small weepers again. I am enjoying shaving with the Henkels - it really is a thing of beauty - but my results are a bit behind what I can do with the Dovo. I've had more weepers in the last 2 shaves than in all my straight razor shaves before. I was careful to be very light with my touch today. I have to think about what the problem might be. But, I'll get plenty of chance to practice, as I begin a regular 2 razor rotation.

I noticed while stropping that my hands were automatically using a different stropping motion on the smiley blade. Instead of my normal straight back and forth, or slight X-stroke, my hands were doing a kind of arcing stroke that I think might have been bringing the entire smile into contact with the strop during the stroke. The smile on the blade is subtle and the motion was quite subtle, but my hands were operating without input from my brain, and when I noticed, my first instinct was to stop it. Then I decided my hands are probably smarter than my brain and let them do their thing.

Happy Mid-Autumn Festival to any out there who might celebrate it.

Shave #22 - Cold & Mentholated

My wife arrived back home at 6-ish this morning, dragging me out of bed on a holiday, to help her schlepp luggage up to our apartment. The beautiful thing is, I got a bag full of shaving products, which I'll slowly roll out here. Also, some licorice, which is impossible to get here.

Proraso (Green Tubed) Shave Cream
TOBS Badger Brush
DOVO Palisander 6/8" (17)
Proraso (Green) Pre Shave Cream
Baxter of California AS Balm

So, set up another cold water shave. Truthfully the weather has cooled a bit as we have a super typhoon heading this way, so I could have chosen a hot water shave. But, I finally have the products to make a cold water shave seem colder - mentholated, Baby!

Foamed up some Proraso green shave cream, cold water prepped my beard, and commenced my normal 3.5 passes.

Results: Cheeks, mustache chin, under chin and left side of neck - BBS. Soul patch, center and right side of neck - DFS+ (can just barely feel a little stubble when gently rubbing against the grain). An excellent result, I felt very comfortable with the DOVO back in hand, yet I did manage to nick myself twice. Once while shaving W-E on my mustache and once going N-S on my neck. I didn't feel either nick, nor any warning that anything was about to go wrong. I'm wondering if the mentholated cream numbed my skin a bit too much.

After the shave, I applied some Proraso (Green) Pre Shave, and then applied the Baxter's AS over it. All these products are mentholated and my skin feels so cool. A very nice shave.

Have you no chin? Everyone getting started grouses about how much problem de-stubblizing their chin is. You ony seem to have cheeks (BBS) and a neck (DFS).

Do I read correctly you applied Proraso preshave white fluffy stuff as an after shave? Please explain.

Chin or not a Mille Fleurs would still be the perfect after shave.

Hi Mr. Moo,

Hmmm, yeah, I'm afraid I am a bit of a chinless wonder. But, I definitely find it hard to shave the chin and underside of the chin - tough stubble in a hard to reach spot - I attack it from multiple angles and go over it multiple times, and frequently end up with a smooth chin. (Sorry if I make it sound overly easy in the journal, but believe me, from this side of the razor it doesnt feel easy). For whatever reason, I find my soul patch to be the hardest place to shave,...don't think I've ever gotten it smooth, and the neck is endlessly frustrating. Likewise, the mustache has only come together for me in the last couple (DOVO) shaves. *shrug* Everyone's different I guess.

Regarding the Proraso Pre Shave, I got the idea of using it as a post shave tonic from a geofatboy video. He said that an old barber he visited used it that way. Despite the fact that my jar says "Pre Shave", the product description on Fendrihan refers to it as Pre/Post Shave:

"Suitable for use either before or after shaving, Proraso New Formula Pre-Post Shave Cream both protects the skin and relieves shaving symptoms...."

Anyway, it did feel nice post shave. YMMV.

Darren

Some of my new shaving swag from SWMBO's recent business trip to Canada.



I'm excited to try it all, except maybe the styptic pencil. Also received licorice (can't get it here) and Clamato juice. I don't understand how non-Canadians live without beer and clam - my fav.

Shave #23 - Same-Same

Proraso (Green Tube) Shave Cream
TOBS Badger Brush
J. A. Henkels 94 - 9/16" (3)
Proraso (Green) Pre Shave Cream
Baxter of California AS Balm

I kept the product the same as Shave #22, I just changed the razor to my smiling Henkels. Today was also a cold water shave and since it is Sunday night and I had time to spare, I went with a full 4-pass shave.

Before the first pass, I wet my skin and applied some hair (after shampoo) conditioner, left it on and lathered over it. This had worked really well when I did it while shaving in the shower with my Mach III. But, it failed outside the shower. My skin dried under the lather and the razor began to pull. So, I washed off that experiment and proceeded with just lather.

This shave went very well, and I didn't feel any of the awkwardness that I had been feeling before dealing with the lighter smiling blade. So, I'm very happy about that. I was able to totally enjoy the sensations of my new razor.

Not sure if it was the smile, the smaller blade, or if I was just ready, but today I managed a few things that I haven't been able to do yet. I was able to go W-E, E-W, and S-N on my chin and soul patch. Usually I end up just going N-S and few sideways strokes where I can easily reach, then finish with more N-S. So, today my soul patch is the best I've ever gotten it with a straight - not BBS, but close.

Also, I managed a bit of S-N on my mustache. Another first. This did feel a bit awkward and I was fearful of accidental rhinoplasty, but hopefully soon I'll be able to approach this stroke with confidence.

After the 4 passes were done, my neck was still not as nice as I wanted, so I relathered the neck and tried some scything strokes on the right side, and a different blade angle to attack the patch on my left side that grows up and to the right (where all the other hairs grow down and to the left).

Result: I'm pretty happy - this is the best straight razor shave I've achieved yet. A small spot on my soul patch, along with the right side of the neck are DFS +, everything else is BBS.

I'm going to have a little beer and clam. celebration.

Shave #24 - From High to High

Boy, don't shave for a few days and your thread gets dropped to page 2. Well, what can I say, I've had it all my way for much of the last month, but now I'm back at work, the wife is back home, and life just gets in the way sometimes. But, the scruff was starting to kill me, so finished work today and ran home to grab a shave.

Colonel Conk Lime Shaving Soap (Sample)
TOBS Badger Brush
DOVO Palisander 6/8" (18)
Captain's Choice Bay Rum AS Splash

God I love my DOVO, after my last shave I thought I might have to give favorite razor honors to the Henkels, but the DOVO just went ahead and surpassed the last shave.

I had a bit of time, the wife is off with friends, so I lathered up some Colonel Conk I got free with my Fendrihan purchase. The Conk has a surprisingly nice lather for such an inexpensive product and was very non-irritating, though I found the lather seemed to disappear on my face rather quickly. Then I proceed to do another 4-passer. I was thinking to do a little comparing of shave results. And the results are...

...BBS everywhere!!!

Color me shocked. I was really kind of doing a fast 4-passer, not really trying too hard to get a great shave. The DOVO seems to love it when my face is a bit scruffy. When I washed my face after the 4th pass I was surprised by how smooth things seemed. I lathered up the neck for a bit of a scything touch up pass, washed the soap off, splashed a bit of Captain's Choice on - no sting - then began to assess the shave. I really was shocked to find smooth baby bottom skin everywhere.

I'm pee my pants thrilled!!!

Next week I may begin experimenting with doing a utilitarian 2-pass shave in the morning. Then 2-3 nights a week, whenever I have the time and inclination, doing a more slow and luxurious shave that seeks a high standard result.

Shave #25 - From DFS to DFS

So decided to try a quick down-and-dirty 2-pass shave today.

Castle Forbes Pre Shave Lotion
Colonel Conk Lime Shave Soap (Sample)
TOBS Badger Brush
WISS 4/8" Ugly Duckling (4)
Alum/Styptic
Captain's Choice Bay Rum AS Splash

I did a shower prep. I had just finished a jog, so the shower served as more than shave prep. :-) Set up for another cold water shave. Lathered up the Conk. This stuff has an odd smell, kinda like lime - which is what it is meant to smell like - but not exactly like lime. I put on some Castle Forbes Pre Shave, lathered up and commenced my first (N-S) pass. It all went okay.

Then, I washed my face and lathered up for the second (S-N) pass. Here things went a little bit wrong. I was still sweating heavily from my workout, and the sweat pushed the lather up off my skin. So I lost the glide and cushion of the lather. I think it wasn't a problem on the first pass because of the Castle Forbes Pre Shave. Anyway, I ended up giving myself my first real knick when my razor stopped gliding upwards and moved laterally - maybe a 4mm cut. Not very deep and quickly taken care of with styptic.

Result: DFS everywhere. Which would be a great result for a quick 2-pass shave, if I hadn't started the shave with a DFS leftover from yesterday's awesome shave. I can note a slight improvement from where my beard was before the shave.

Splashed on the Captain's Choice Bay Rum - I really like the scent, not too heavily cloved (SWMBO agrees) - and we're off and running.

Shave #26 - DFS Maintenance

Well, I can see where my daily 2-pass shaving experiment may hit the rocks prematurely. Today is Saturday, so I had no work, but I had Chinese class mid morning. Even though class was two hours later than I normally have to get up, I did not manage to get out of bed the 15 minutes early that I needed for my shave. Had to run to my class without shaving. Did it when I got back.

We will see how it goes next week, but I can see where it might be a problem. I'm just not happy waking up.

Anyway:

Colonel Conk Lime Shaving Soap (Sample)
TOBS Badger Brush
WISS 9/16" (I finally measured it) Ugly Duckling (5)
Alum
Captain's Choice Bay Rum AS Splash

Cold water shave, 2-passes, N-S and then S-N. I started the shave DFS- and ended the shave DFS+. No nicks, no irritation - an okay shave. Quick and to the point. I've been using the WISS for these quick shaves because I'm not so anal about its maintenance. I take care of it, but already has a lot of patina, so I feel comfortable quickly washing, drying and stropping it.

On a side note, I'm really beginning to find the smell of the Conk Lime irritating.

Shave #27 - Tainted Shellfish and Straight Razors

Fell prey to some minor food poisoning and didn't want to shave for a couple days. Also, I wanted to give my skin a bit of a rest. I developed some razor bumps right where the hollow of my left cheek would be, if I weren't so fat and had hollows in my cheeks. Not sure why it developed, I'm not very prone to razor bumps at all. I'm wondering if it relates to going ATG after just a WTG pass the last 2 shaves. Not sure how this would cause the problem, but it is the only thing I can think of. Anyway, I've recovered from the tainted seafood now, plus the weather has shifted a bit to the cooler side, so did a Bay Rum themed hot towel shave.

Genuine Ogallala Bay Rum: Bay Rum, Limes & Peppercorns Shaving Soap
TOBS Badger Brush
J. A. Henkels 94 - 9/16" (4)
Alum/Styptic
Captain's Choice Bay Rum AS Splash
Sul Filo del Rasoio Controfuoco

My first time using the Ogallala soap, this stuff is amazing. Huge clouds of foam and no matter how much water I added it just converted it into lather. It will undoubtedly take a while to get the formulation right, as I now realize the lather for my first pass was much too dry. I have never seen a soap hold so much water.

I did a 4-pass shave this evening. Really just grooved on the sensation of the shave and the smell of the soap - really pleasant. End result is BBS everywhere. I made some real progress doing upward scything strokes on both the left and right sides of the neck. But, I did abuse my face a bit - the alum block really sang. I think I was spending so much time thinking about the lather that I forgot to keep my touch very light. (I still need to consciously think about lightness). Nicked my upper lip on the Fool's Pass and gave my chin a couple of small weepers. I didn't feel that the Captain's Choice was giving my skin enough relief, so I slapped on some Controfuoco, a balm that is meant to be particularly good for razor burn. It does seem to provide pretty good relief for me.