Taking time to smell the, er, lavender...
I realized earlier today that I have not been heeding my own advice lately, and have not been taking the time to really enjoy and savour my shaves. Work has been crazy, life has thrown its usual dose of distractions, etc., and the upshot was that I had not been setting aside time in order to take my time, relax, and simply enjoy. Corners have been cut: face prep hasn't been what it should be, cutting down a bit on the stropping here and there, etc... all of this meant that my shaves were ranging from OK to good, but seldom were they great. And more importantly I wasn't enjoying the process as much as I usually do. So tonight I decided to fix that.
Prep: hot shower followed by a hot towel (cold water shaving is great, but this was all about pampering. :) )
Cream: Castle Forbes Lavender whipped up in my Robert Becker scuttle using my favourite brush that I made for myself last year (30mm high mountain badger in a bocote handle)
Razor: Wade & Butcher 17/16 For Barbers Use, stropped on my Tony Miller linen and latigo
Music: a mix of old Van Morrison, Son House, and Neil Young (acoustic)
Astringent: Thayer's Aloe Vera Witch Hazel
A/S: Peary and Henson Aftershave Splash (a gift last year that I hadn't got around to trying out - nice stuff)
Time: who cares...? :)
The result: the most enjoyable shave I have had for a few months - probably since my last outdoor shave while camping last October
I thought about posting this in the Shave of the Day thread (which is another habit I want to get back into) but I thought that you guys who might be new to all this might appreciate a reminder that this is a process that can become something much more than simply removing facial hair. It can be a truly enjoyable experience, and one that you may well look forward to, if you don't already. And more importantly a reminder that everyone (even guys like me who have been using a straight for years and who genuinely find pleasure in the process) can get into a rut.
If you find that happening, the cure is a simple one: set aside a little bit of time for yourself to really enjoy the process. It will be worth it!