So I've managed to spend the majority of my night reading about razors and getting to know my friend Silent Sam* a little better.

It must have been a combination of the two, but I started to look forward to my morning shave (it's been a few days). I decided on my 8/8 Friodur, it's not my best shaver but with a little work it could be. I've read most of the threads I care to, and the music that I've got playing is sounding pretty good so it seems to be a perfect time to bring that razor up to snuff.

Now this blade is already mowing though my arm and leg hair with no problem, but for some reason the shave just isnt there. I busted out the blade and my TM pasted paddle strop. Not long after I noticed a difference in stropping, just what I was looking for. But where's the proof?

In the shave.
No prep, no soap, I just dive into it face first. And you know what? It turned out not too bad. Sure it pulled like a bastard, and I'm not BBS after single WTG and ATG passes (I normally get BBS after only one pass ATG), but it's at least as good as I got from the old Mach3. Now I'm not totally out of it, I only did my cheeks and man am I going to look like a tool in the morning, but I think I've learned the value of proper prep as well as what the difference should feel like.

Some of you are no doubt wondering about razor burn, and really it's more of a tingle. I attribute this to my honing skills since it couldnt possibly have anything to do with Sam, though he did lend me the courage to shave mirror-less.

We'll see if I feel any different about it in the morning.

*my long time favourite brand of Vodka.