Would one of you who speaks French explain what's happening from 1:13 to 1:35, (before he starts shaving)? Thanks.
YouTube - Record du rasage au coupe choux
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Would one of you who speaks French explain what's happening from 1:13 to 1:35, (before he starts shaving)? Thanks.
YouTube - Record du rasage au coupe choux
That looks like an alum block to me...never seen it used as a preshave before, though.
Interesting. I've noticed when I nick myself and have to apply styptic between the first pass and the second, it seems to kill my lather. We'll have to see what the French speaking shavers say. :)Quote:
Originally Posted by JimR
I saw this same video today. People on YouTube say they look like Robert Downey Jr. and Paul McCartney, and I agree with them.
Waaaay to much fiddling around with the edge. How many times does he "test' the edge with his thumb? Wipes it with his shirt? Leave the edge alone!
hey
I'm the man behind him
So yes it's a alum block.
He is the only one i know who use it before the shave.
Works on him :banghead:
I'm amazed... Tossing around the razor like that, feeling up the blade like it was his girlfriend.. Then using alum pre-shave!?
Gentlemen:
Yes, that has to be alum block before the shave — his friend has established that. I have never seen alum used in such a way, but what does that mean?
I find the video well done and quite instructive, for it sketches yet another variation in straight razor shaving.
I can't figure out playing with the blade before the shave, though. Then again, maybe that's part of the gentleman's ritual, I don't know, and that he has his reason for it.
What matters is his method and technique work for him. So it should be. There are no rules. To each his own.
Well done, sir.
Regards,
Obie
Thanks Fabien. I was just wondering why. What is the perceived benefit of using it this way?Quote:
Originally Posted by Fabien
Your friend does a nice job. If alum works for him, great. :rofl2:Quote:
Originally Posted by Fabien
I think it would stiffen the whiskers and provide more "grip" for the razor edge. I have been thinking about trying this in combination with the cold water shave.Quote:
Originally Posted by mbaglio100
The alum help for having a straigh hair of beard, easyer to shave.
That's the idea of my friend.
Indeed he has his own shaving way.
The alum will close the pores and maybe make the hair stand up more. I might have to try it and see what happens.Quote:
Originally Posted by Fabien
Holy mother... That guy knows his way round' his face with a straight... :tameshigiri:
I couldn't agree more! That pass around his chin was awe inspriring. I'd use an alum block pre-shave if I thought it would make a razor flow like that across my face. Well done. And how about that against the grain follow up with no lather?Quote:
Originally Posted by boyyoyo
I wouldn't have to get up 20 minutes early of I could shave like that!
He's great with a straight that's for sure. I am not one to rush a shave but he rivals Willi Peter's video on you tube. I think it's posted in the video section here too. He's the guy in Switzerland who strops, lathers and shaves two passes in under 4 minutes.
I agree that the alum is probably getting the skin and whiskers taught and straight which would help(assuming)with a more efficient shave.Sort of like how cold water shaving works.I am going to try this.:hmmm:
Hey, I haven't seen you around in a awhile..I thought you dropped off..Good to see you still here..:rock:Quote:
Originally Posted by LawsonStone
I tried this last night and the first round of lather disappeared on contact. So I loaded the brush and applied a second coat using a more painting motion and the lather stayed.Quote:
Originally Posted by mbaglio100
Need to try it a few more times to see if I notice a big difference.
What does he have hanging on the alum block? Is that a leather strap? Does it go through the block or is it just wrapped around the base?
Thank you,
--Shoki
The alum block is commonly used as an astringent to cleanse pores after a shave. I'm willing to bet that most of us shave a freshly washed, clean face. The alum block pre-shave would likely serve to cleanse pores on an unwashed face, so as to prevent breakouts from trapped oils. Just a possibility, as it appears that he didn't wash his face before shaving.
What I find most impressive is the amount of touch-ups with just water. I would be tempted to relather after seeing just one or two rough spots!
Also notice how the toilet tissue doesn't shred at all when he wipes his face. Now that's BBS!
I also have played around briefly this week with the alum preshave. Not because of the video but because I got my first alum block and just wanted to play. On the plus side, I like the effect and it seems to really tighten the skin and prep the beard nicely. On the negative side, it does seem to kill lather on contact and Monday morning when I applied a Speick shavestick directly to the alum scrubbed face (without a cold water rinse) I immediately noticed a strong ammonia like smell. The lather was totally shut off on contact but a cold water rinse seemed to rinse enough of the alum off to make for a serviceable shave. It's really too early to pass judgement and like the rest, I'll be experimenting with this further.
Regarding the video, this guy clearly has done this a time or two his moves are incredible. If audible feeback from the razor is any indication, that razor could not have been even a little sharper. To the gentleman in the video, I can only add "Well played my friend" or "Bien joué mon ami"
Play with it, lather up shave and clean up in under 7 minutes?! I'm impressed. Thought he did a good job of it actully.
I need to go splash cold water on my face and put AS balm on - I got razor burn from just watching that shave...:banghead:
(XTG, ATG and touchup with no lather :dropjaw:)
Just had to watch this again.Very impressed with this fellows technique.I did try the Pre alum treatment,but didn't like it.Killed my lather instantly and almost messed up my brush.To each his own in that respect.But I am still very impressed by his skill.Gives me inspiration every time I watch it.Well played sir ! I do a little wetshaving myself without lather after the initial session.It does help me touch up and find the rough spots better and I get no burn.You just gotta go very light and nimble is all.;)
Today shaved and as pre-shave alum. Lather disappears right after you bring it on your face.
As soon as the brush touches the bowl disappears the Lather in the bowl.
I rinse brush and made new Lather, and shaved me.
It works for the best man in France, but does not work for me.
He's saying this is my cabbage cutter.