Gentleman, a little while ago I started toying with the idea of using cold water and no mirror:
http://straightrazorpalace.com/shavi...tead-warm.html
and today, I'm pleased to say, was the day. I remember when I first tried it; the razor seemed to be jumping all over my face and it left me almost running out of the bathroom while I still had both ears attached. So I decided to start preparing and have been on and off for a couple of weeks now, namely, sitting on the couch with a blunt razor and going over different sections of my face and using cold water on second shaves and/or passes.
Well today, a national holiday here in Japan, I got up, had breakfast, stropped my usual 100 times, showered and put a little olive oil on my face in the shower. Dried off, got dressed and then lathered up. Now this may sound a little off putting but it felt quite romantic. There was no mirror in sight so I couldn't see what I was doing, just had to go on the feel - and the feelings were great: The badger, the cream, the steal, the movements, the stretching, the time, even the sounds.
Rinsed off and alumed.
The players:
olive oil
PJ1
TOBS almond
JCC Sheffield
Osma Alum
Nivea balm
Chanel Allure
One thing I'll add is I think the cold water shrinks your skin so it's a little tighter. It's also very invigorating (read: cold). Oh, and finished the shave with a fool's pass, just to tempt fate that little bit more.
Cheers
:beer2:
