The Anticipation
Finally, I was going to be able to shower and shave! I had been contemplating this moment for quite some time, trying to figure out what I was going to do for my shave today. I decided to go simple. No scuttle today, no super- or über-lather. Just a boar brush, my bowl of T&H Luxury Shaving Soap and my DOVO 6/8" in Ironwood. I figured it was a good way to give the T&H its first go, as well as giving the boar brush another workout, as I think it still isn't 100% broken in. At least, my nose tells me so when the brush is wet.
The Prep
Like I said, I kept it simple. I dunked the brush in a small bowl of hot water and then dunked myself in a hot shower. I went with the Real Shaving Exfoliating Scrub today, which I find is doing well in a rotation with the creamy face wash. The RazoRock Artisan Coconut soap I have been using really makes for a nice bathing experience, combined with my bristle body brush, I emerged scrubbed and refreshed, ready to put the boar to the soap.
The Lather
I swirled the boar on the soap about ten times, then, forgoing the bowl, I went straight to a face lather. This brush really is getting nice and soft and comfortable, though I am finding it a bit small. When I get my next boar brush, I will probably go for something a bit larger, like the Semogue Owner's Club or the Omega 10049 brush, both of which are in the 24-25mm range, as opposed to the 22mm knot on my 10005. That said, for anyone looking for an entry level, inexpensive brush, the bang for buck quotient on this one is off the charts. You can pick them up at Shopper's Drug Mart in Canada for under $15 and they are worth every penny.
Face-lathering is something I do infrequently, but whenever I do it I always wonder if I shouldn't do it more often. The lather I got today was somewhat foamy, but the soft cushion it formed on my face, along with the glide it gave to the razor, were nothing short of outstanding. I am thinking I might try face-lathering with my Custom Snakewood brush, which is badger, but has a shorter loft and might do well on the face with some soap. I also have my black badger knot, which is supposed to be a bit stiffer and scritchier than silvertip or super, so that might work once I've set it in a handle. All in all, the lather I got was enough for two passes and touch-ups, a bit thin, but lubricating and moisturizing. T&H Soap is officially on the Keepers List.
The Shave
Dreamy. Smooth. Wonderful. This razor is, without a doubt, a gem. I have had some of my best shaves with this one and today was probably my best shave yet with a straight. It glided so smoothly over my face on the first pass that I had to check to make sure it was still sharp and I wasn't running the wrong side over my skin. It was that smooth. Suffice it to say that it was removing stubble with ease. The lather really helped and I wonder if the face-lathering contributed to the overall smoothness by allowing the whiskers to be softened up that much more. Wouldn't it be something if the $15 boar brush was the key to getting a nice shave? I'll have to read my previous entries in this chronicle to check how my other shaves have gone with this razor and the Omega. The second pass was just as smooth as the first, with the glide feeling almost too comfortable. This blade is the same shape as the Dovo Bismarck, which is a razor that has now been added to my shopping list. At this point, if I had to pick just one blade from my collection to use, it would be this one. Chin touch-ups went flawlessly, though I did end up with a touch of burn on the jawline from one too many touch-up passes there. I am also still getting a bit of neck irritation, despite no burn or discomfort there. I think my neck is just extra-sensitive.
The Movember Report
Not much to say here. The round point wasn't tough to maneuver around the 'stache. I'm getting much better at avoiding the growing hairs there, so at least I can say that my 5-day growth is starting to look more moustache-like.
Here's a photo of the current progress:
http://static.movember.com/uploads/2...9425c-hero.jpg
The Post
It's an easy cleanup with no scuttle or bowl to worry about. Just rinse your brush, put your soap away and you're done. The alum did its thing on my face, showing a bit of sting under the jawline where I'd overdone it. Then some Life Brand witch hazel came in to soothe things and was followed by some T&H Sandalwood ASB, whose scent is growing on me. After that, I applied some T&H Spanish Leather, which I really like, even though it doesn't necessarily make a good complement to the Sandalwood. The Dovo went for 25/50 on the SRD Premium IV and was laid to rest in a position of honour, ready for the next time it is called on.
The Verdict
As you can see from the pic of my ugly mug, the shave was smooth, despite the random red bumps on my neck. I really like the way this razor shaves so far. Out of the few that I've tried, this is by far the smoothest. I really do enjoy shaving with this razor. Not enough to buy more of them just yet, because I still want to try my vintage Sheffields, especially the W&Bs. Overall, this was just a great end to a long day. A pleasurable shave.
Nothing beats a pleasurable shave on The Straight Road.