The Straight Road - Part 72: Big News

It has been an immensely eventful week on The Straight Road. First off, I decided to give my kamisoris a workout, hoping to get the technique down a little better, my PAD has kicked in a bit, with a couple of new pipes incoming and I've also sent my Grandfather's old pipe out for restoration. Finally, SWMBO got the all-clear from the doctor and we are happily expecting our second child, due in mid to late August! So amongst all this flurry of activity, we also have three shaves and an SRP meetup in Guelph.



Saturday




The Anticipation
I'd been meaning to give the kamisori some more attention, so I figured I'd rub them on the hones again on Saturday and see how they shaved. First up was the Nagamasa tamahagane, which I paired up with my Trumper's GFT sample and my big Frank Shaving brush. A winning combination, right?



The Prep
I opted for a hot towel and hot water splash, which worked out alright. I think a full shower might have been better, but I'd already had one that morning, so the splash and towels would have to suffice.



The Lather
These little samples of shaving cream are alright, but I find that, when I take a little nugget of cream and pop it in the scuttle, it doesn't always get fully used up. Such was the case on Saturday, where I ended up struggling to have a good lather and found, at the end of the shave, a nice chunk of the cream remained unused, hidden amongst the suds. That's why I like the dip and twist method of loading creams. I'll need to try something different with these little samples to see if I can break up the cream and use all of it.



The Shave
The edge wasn't quite there. I could have done better with a bit better technique, both on the hones and on the face, but overall, I ended up smooth and there was only a minimal amount of irritation. I did have to draft the Nagakichi kamisori into service for finishing up under the chin, but I'm going to give this razor another go on the stones.



The Post
I opted for the alum this time, which definitely does have a drying effect on my face. Overall, it isn't bad, but I think I might skip it for a while, especially with the dry air. I'm getting good results from witch hazel and my aftershaves. I used the WH splash, then proceeded with some nice GFT cologne from my sampler, which is a really nice scent. Cold water does wonders, I must say.



The Verdict
It was a decent shave. Could have been better, but it also could have been much worse, so I'm not going to complain. Overall, I think the poor lather hurt me, but I also think the edge on the razor isn't where it needs to be. My honing hasn't been up to snuff lately, so I'm going to have to take some time to work on it.


Tuesday Morning




The Anticipation
Another kamisori test was in the offing for Tuesday, this time with the Yamamasa. This razor is a bit more delicate in the blade, but it is still wickedly sharp and should be respected. Morning shaves are interesting, but I do enjoy them. There's something about starting the day clean-shaven that is appealing.

The Prep
A hot shower was the order of the day, along with my Real Shaving Exfoliating Scrub, I made sure my beard was well-prepared for the shaving ritual. I gave the razor a good 50 passes on the 'roo, making sure to get the stroke right on the tricky kamisori. With the sticky 'roo, there's a tendency for the kamisori to not want to flip, so I need to be extra careful not to slice the strop. That done, it was time for some almond cream from Trumper.

The Lather
I pulled out the big Bryce C 24mm Silvertip for this one and it turned out to be a good move. I've made no secret of my love for boar brushes, but this one is a delightfully pillowy brush on the face. I'd still take one with a bit more backbone, but for whipping up a great lather with the Trumper's this one got the job done. By the time it was ready for my face, I had a meringue of almond-scented goodness that slathered on at least a half-inch thick. There was enough lather for about 4 or 5 passes, though I only went for 2. Such is my shave routine.

The Shave
This one went alright, though I did bring in the Nagakichi for some touch-ups, just to be sure. I think, with the kamisori, my technique still needs a fair bit of work. Light touch with a straight is a given, but with a kamisori you almost have to miss your face. It's like they scare the whiskers off. Still, I am now beginning to get a feel for the angles required, though the even lighter touch is still something for me to improve. Theoretically, this should make me a better straight shaver overall, so that's a plus.

The Post
I applied Trumper's Sandalwood Skin Food as my main post ingredient. Of course, the requisite cold water rinses and witch hazel splashes were involved, though I opted to once again forego the alum block, which may end up as a tool for making my fingers sticky for skin stretching. So far, I have had no adverse effects from skipping the alum, with the benefit of having my skin be less dry.

The Verdict
Another one bites the dust. I am pleased with the decision to go kamisori this week, as so far things are moving along well. This razor is a good one, despite its age and hone wear, so I am lucky to have obtained three different and very functional examples of this style of shaver.


Friday Morning




The Anticipation
There wasn't much anticipation for this shave. This morning is still a blur! After being prepared to be up at 7 AM, shave and be out the door by 8, I received a call at 6 AM that our local flight to a meeting was cancelled and we would have to take a train. This meant getting my butt up out of bed and getting ready in 45 minutes so I could catch the 7:30. I needed to shave as I hadn't done so since Tuesday, so a bit of a rush job was in order. A recipe for disaster? Let's see...

The Prep
A lightning shower with minimal beard prep was all I could afford today. I had opted for the trusty Semogue Owners Club, so I knew I'd be covered on the lather front, while the Nagakichi kamisori is my most reliable Japanese edge. So, on paper, I was in good shape. The razor was stropped, the clock was ticking...lather time!

The Lather
I got a decent lather going with the coconut shaving cream. Trumper's coconut, either the soap or the cream, will likely go on my shopping list. Good lather, lots of it and in a short time. All good things when you're shaving against the clock!

The Shave
Not a single cut. That's right! I made it through two passes and touch-ups with the kamisori without a cut, razor burn or any other irritation, all while trying to hurry. I was pretty proud of my accomplishment, especially getting the under the chin area done in record time.

The Post
A quick splash of cold water and I went straight for the Dominica Bay Rum. I'll say this: it woke me up! Even with an irritation-free shave, that stuff has the power to remind you that it is boss. The scent is great and it really makes you feel refreshed and ready for action. I finished up with Trumper's Unscented Lotion and I was out the door, ready for a full day of meetings and travel.

The Verdict
The shaves with the kamisori have been educational. It's been a week I'd rather put behind me, so overall I'm glad it's Friday (or Saturday now, I guess). Time for bed!

Educational is good, cut-free is good, weekends are good! That means it's a good day on The Straight Road!

Some of you may have noticed I picked up a new AD in the last little while. I've done some restoration on pipes and I must say, it is as addictive as straight razor restoration. Smoking a pipe is quite a relaxing experience and I am enjoying becoming reacquainted with the pastime, which even SWMBO doesn't mind so much. Anyway, it's late, my brain is fried and I am about done for the week. I'll leave you with this shot of my latest pipe work and wish you a great weekend!

Thanks for reading,

Cheers,

Jack