Thread: Have You Seen the Light?

Okay, up front, I've gotta admit, for months before I got serious about straights, I was dubious about all the claims that str8 shaving gives smoother shaves than all other methods, thinking, "Yeah, those guys have all drunk the kool-aid" (a phenomenon you have to admit is common to these types of forums). Well, tonight I think I had my first sip.

I gave my Fili Doble Temple 12 that my family got me for Father's Day (when I jumped off the deep end, eschewing all other forms of shaving other than the occasional touch-up with the DE) about 10 laps on CrOx'd linen, 50 on colored newsprint, another 40/50 on plain linen and the 3" latigo, and had a hot bath (hard work-out today).

I whipped up a nice batch of lather with Palmolive Moisturizing Deluxe (one of my cheap favorites along with Arko Commando and Godrej Menthol Mist), and after a couple of steam towels, worked it in good with the brush. Then I gave it 3 passes: WTG, ATG, XTG, with a hot rinse and re-lathering in between each. Cold water rinse.

Long story short, I'm sitting here watching Cuckoo's Nest on Netflix, and I can't stop rubbing my face-I mean, it really IS baby's butt smooth, like the face of a hairless child! Mind you, it's a tiny bit raspy when I rub ATG on the left side of my neck, but I don't think I've EVER had such a smooth shave.

Incidentally, this was really the 1st shave where "I wasn't driving." You know how you get into your car, then 20 minutes later you find yourself at work, with no memory of how you got there, just sort of on auto-pilot? It was a little like that, just good stretching, light buffing and scything strokes, a little more attention on the problem areas, and clean as a whistle!

Like Jake in The Blues Brothers in James Brown's church, I have now seen the light! Excuse me now while I line up for more kool-aid. Aaron

It's not the best timing to see the light though. I hear Filarmonicas on ebay are moon bound.

Stop rubbing your face, it's called faceturbating and can lead to some very unpleasant effects! If the neighbors catch you doing this the word will be all over town, people will no longer associate with you, children will use your name as a curse word and dogs will bite you.

Originally Posted by nun2sharp

Stop rubbing your face, it's called faceturbating and can lead to some very unpleasant effects! If the neighbors catch you doing this the word will be all over town, people will no longer associate with you, children will use your name as a curse word and dogs will bite you.

You know what they say: if you keep rubbing it it will become hairy

i too have seen the light with my artist club.. so much infact that i have to limit myself to a single pass or else i won't be able to shave for a few days.. and i need my daily fix.

I too have seen it brother. I think my wife thinks I have joined a cult. Although she did say to me the other day that she absolutely loves how smooth I am now.

I could not believe it and you want to tell the whole world too. Now I must admit I did not think that I would become obsessed as I am immune to any sort of collecting behaviour. I have purchased a Belgian yellow stone, and it is the only stone I use, a thick slurry using a slurry stone its like 1000 grit, less like 8000 and non its like 10,000 my razors are soo sharp its not an exact science and I have lifted the back and blunted the edge but I get there. Anyway I am so impressed with this (what is essentially a stone) that my wife said the other day she watched me sitting in the conservatory, apparently just lovingly looking at this stone, every so often touching it, she said she had to interrupt me as she thought I might kiss it!

Enjoy, its great on the other side!

I've definately seen the light!

And I keep seeing more of it every time I go onto eBay. Theres light everywhere if you look for it..!

Yep, I really enjoy every element of this hobby!

Glad you're enjoying the shaves!

You know you are mainstream when your family gives you a Fili Doble Temple 12 for Father's Day.

I got the same thing this year with seafoam green scales - and to back Gugi, it is the most expensive razor vintage razor in my rotation. It even cost more than my Duble Duck Golden Edge. Both came from ebay.

I know what you mean about seeing the light. It is not every shave, but there are certainly days where my face feels like I am 12 years old again - amazing!

Thanks for all the feedback, fellas. Nun2sharp and Ryan82-"Face-turbation"-that's a new one on me, but maybe not so farfetched. As I say often, I don't have hobbies, I have obsessions. So Hoopei, though I don't hone YET (got a serious stropping monkey on my back, though, so sooner or later I'll have to up the dosage!)I can identify with you sitting around staring at your Belgian hone. I often open up my nicer-smelling sample creams to sniff, and in the past have really fallen hard for a couple of fine firearms or guitars. Ever sniff the soundbox of a new wooden acoustic guitar?

Gugi and Alembic-I think I got lucky on my Fili. I got it from the SRP classifieds from ccgnet (Chris, I think) for a great price: $125 for what seems to be their basic model (looks a lot like my son's Dovo 5/8", in fact). I saw it and knew I had to have it; so far it's an awesome shaver, and has been a blast to learn on. I look at the classifieds here every day, and am sometimes stunned at the great deals to be had! I will start collecting as soon as my finances improve a bit (should be soon!).

Regards-Aaron