Formula for my most comfortable shave yet!

First I turn on the Wes Montgomery for some mood (will try Chet Baker tomorrow)!

The Shave:

1. Lather up with Tabac Shaving Soap and let sit while I strop
2. Strop C-Mon 7/8 Blackie 25 times with webbed SRD Strop and 50 times on SRD Horse Bridle IV
3. Get in a hot shower
4. Massage in the Tabac
5. Rinse with hot water and hold hot palms to my face for about a minute
6. Out of the shower
7. Lather up with Tabac
8. WTG, XTG, ATG with C-Mon 7/8 Blackie
9. Rinse with cold water
10. Alum bloc rub over face....no burning at all! Not a single nick anywhere!
11. Rinse with cold water
12. Thayer's Witch Hazel rub over face
13. Blow dryer on cool over face....paradise!

The shave is not quite BBS around the chin area, but close. Pretty much BBS everywhere else. More importantly, not a hint of razor burn or irritation. The shave angle for the Blackie is not quite as steep as my other razors. I keep the blade nearly flat to my face on all passes and it doesn't pull, tug, or cause any irritation.

I'm getting my formula right! If I keep loving this Blackie, I may try to acquire a 7 day set of them....Would probably take 10 years!

I do have a source for an original blue/green Escher hone, that is like new! Will be interesting how that works with Blackie.

The only thing I would change is the prelathering before a shower as you'll lose the benefit of the prelather if you wash it all off in the shower, and then you end up starting all over again. Try #3 (shower) first, followed by #1 (prelather), then #2 (strop), rinse & relather and then shave. I think you'll like the result.

My dear carazor:

Chet Baker's sultry trumpet and smokey voice is the best cushion for the soul.

As for the Tabac before the shower, I must concur with my friend Ryan. A kind face soap or cream is plenty for the shower. Save the pleasure of Tabac's lather for the blade.

Regards,

Obie

+1 on Ryan's suggestion about the lather. If you rinse it all off in the shower, you are losing some of its beard softening benefits.

BTW...Try some George Benson or Fareed Haque to set the mood the next time you shave. Both are excellent jazz guitarists.

Well, I was thinking about doing the whole sequence backwards!

You do know that we are all just a little envious that you found a NOS C-Mon Blackie and a 7/8s at that. You are one lucky dog. From your pictures, it is an absolutely gorgeous razor. If you are going to build a 7-day set, you will need some deep pockets, LOL.

I am glad that it shaves as nice as looks! It does deserve a nice shave regimen like you have listed.

Happy Shaving!
:D