You mentioned the OverLander and it really does have one of the best ATG passes I have ever enjoyed. Very efficient without irritation etc. Mine is the brass version and is one of my Terrific Twelve.
That's the one I have in the cart. Waiting.......Waiting..... The good LORD is teaching me patience. He has been teaching me that for a while. Patience isn't a strong suit of mine.You mentioned the OverLander and it really does have one of the best ATG passes I have ever enjoyed. Very efficient without irritation etc. Mine is the brass version and is one of my Terrific Twelve.
As my dad used to say "Patience belong in a hospital"That's the one I have in the cart. Waiting.......Waiting..... The good LORD is teaching me patience. He has been teaching me that for a while. Patience isn't a strong suit of mine.
The Yates ‘Merica razor came in today.
(I swear I didn't drop acid before posting this, I couldn't find the GIF I wanted and...)
I may start a journal one day just to see what Aaron may post in it.
(I swear I didn't drop acid before posting this, I couldn't find the GIF I wanted and...)
Shave Date 9/10/23
GRUME: 10/30
Razor: Rockwell 6c #4 plate
Blade: Dorco Platinum Red (5)
Pre-Shave: PAA Cube 2.0
Soap: Sterling Coniferous
Brush: West Coast Shaving Clear Smoke Synthetic Brush.
Post-shave: Alum Block, Thayers, PAA Mysterium Serum
Bowl: Douglas Smith Pottery Suribachi Shaving Bowl
Rating: 8.0/10 BBS Cheeks and DFS on the neck. 3 weepers.
Notes:
Sunday shave for mass. I used my newfound lathering skills with a new soap today. Same results. A fantastic lather. I wet the bowl and shook out all the moisture I could, which made it easier to spread the soap on the bottom and sides of the bowl. Yesterday I used a dry bowl due to using a Badger Hair brush, thinking I'd have too much water to start off with as the natural hair brushes will retain more water when dipped vs. the synthetic brushes. Yesterday I was unable to incorporate all the soap into the lather with the first water additions. From here on out I will wet the bowl and shake out as much water as I can. I was pushed for time so I didn't continue the water additions to see how much I could add and still have a usable lather. The lather was thicker than yesterday but not as bad as my first attempts with the PAA CK-6 base soaps. The lather did rinse out of the razor after making the passes, but it took a tad bit longer. In addition, I didn't need to loosen the razor to get it to wash out, it just needed additional rinsing time. The soap leaves a nice subtle scent, one I feel is perfect for when I serve at mass.
On to the shave, I performed the obligatory three passes with touch-up, WTG, XTG, and ATG. I didn't feel any tugging while shaving, but I did feel significantly more feedback from the blade with the #4 plate vs. the #3 plate. Did the number of shaves on the blade have something to do with the additional feedback or was it purely the more aggressive plate, I don't know. I will have to shave with a new Dorco blade and the #4 plate to find out. I did get many weepers this time. Some were noticeable after the shave despite the alum block and Thayers being used. That was a first for me as the alum and/or Thayers has always been able to close up any weepers that came up. I am still lightyears ahead of when I first shaved back in the early 2010s when I'd cut the crap out of my face on a regular basis.
The blade was binned after the shave. I don't know how many shaves I'll get out of one blade. I know that is a hot topic of debate 'round these parts. I am still on the quest to answer that question for myself as it seems to be partly based on personal preferences and the level of sensitivity of the skin.
As always the neck isn't BBS. I did get weepers on the neck this time, a first for me, in trying to chase a BBS shave with ATG passes. I have yet to find the holy grail combo to get BBS on the neck. However, I will find out when the Karve Outlander is ordered and delivered after I have completed my first GRUME just how good that razor is for ATX on the neck. Patience, that is what I need, patience.
Good football day yesterday. Bama and Texas went toe to toe yesterday with Texas coming out on top. One thing about Bama, they always swing to the end. They were in the Game just about the whole way. That defensive offsides on Bama when Texas had a 4th and 2 on Bama's side of the field put the fork in them. That one will be replayed as much as the Florida shoe toss in their loss to a down LSU in 2020. Haha, brings a smile to my face thinking about that one.
I wish everyone's Sunday to be a blessed and relaxing one. May your shaves be BBS, weeper, and nick free.
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Regardless which razor is used the blade does the cutting. Every edge on every cutting instrument will become duller or the apex becomes obtuse. Your next use requires you to apply more pressure on an obtuse edge to achieve the same results for the cut. Technique is the variable driving your success. Your muscle memory from last use now needs to be adjusted to accommodate this cut using a duller blade. The easiest way to minimize these changes is to use the blade fewer times, which will eliminate the extra technique adjustments required for the cut. Sharper blades are also more efficient and this will reduce extra passes and clean up’s required to achieve your desired results.The blade was binned after the shave. I don't know how many shaves I'll get out of one blade. I know that is a hot topic of debate 'round these parts. I am still on the quest to answer that question for myself as it seems to be partly based on personal preferences and the level of sensitivity of the skin.
Like many my neck skin being overly sensitive was a problem for many years of shaving regardless of instrument used. Observing my shave map, my neck is the first skin shaved because the blade is at its sharpest. My neck skin being the most difficult angles and ultra sensitive skin. I single use a Feather blade for each face & head shave. (I’m a weekly shaver). My muscle memory is tuned to using the sharpest blade available and only once, therefore eliminating muscle memory adjustments to accommodate the cut. My technique and muscle memory is based on these minimal adjustments. Careful skin prep is also required for my shaves. When extra clean ups are required I use a roll on pre shave oil before applying lather for the extra strokes. (a swipe of you pre shave block would enhance your results) before the lather in extra clean up strokes. All my shaves are Ultra BBS. My neck skin looks and feels wonderfully comfortable. Since my shaves are ultra close post shave skin care is the most important part of my shave. Healthy skin is the easiest skin to shave.As always the neck isn't BBS. I did get weepers on the neck this time, a first for me, in trying to chase a BBS shave with ATG passes. I have yet to find the holy grail combo to get BBS on the neck. However, I will find out when the Karve Outlander is ordered and delivered after I have completed my first GRUME just how good that razor is for ATX on the neck. Patience, that is what I need, patience.
Thanks for the kind words and the tips, they are always welcome. I am still learning Latin our priest prefers us to sing. I remember getting tips for weddings, not for funerals. And Father Latino knocked the heavy candles we had to hold in the funerals off of our belt buckles we had them rested on under our Albs. Haha.Regardless which razor is used the blade does the cutting. Every edge on every cutting instrument will become duller or the apex becomes obtuse. Your next use requires you to apply more pressure on an obtuse edge to achieve the same results for the cut. Technique is the variable driving your success. Your muscle memory from last use now needs to be adjusted to accommodate this cut using a duller blade. The easiest way to minimize these changes is to use the blade fewer times, which will eliminate the extra technique adjustments required for the cut. Sharper blades are also more efficient and this will reduce extra passes and clean up’s required to achieve your desired results.
Like many my neck skin being overly sensitive was a problem for many years of shaving regardless of instrument used. Observing my shave map, my neck is the first skin shaved because the blade is at its sharpest. My neck skin being the most difficult angles and ultra sensitive skin. I single use a Feather blade for each face & head shave. (I’m a weekly shaver). My muscle memory is tuned to using the sharpest blade available and only once, therefore eliminating muscle memory adjustments to accommodate the cut. My technique and muscle memory is based on these minimal adjustments. Careful skin prep is also required for my shaves. When extra clean ups are required I use a roll on pre shave oil before applying lather for the extra strokes. (a swipe of you pre shave block would enhance your results) before the lather in extra clean up strokes. All my shaves are Ultra BBS. My neck skin looks and feels wonderfully comfortable. Since my shaves are ultra close post shave skin care is the most important part of my shave. Healthy skin is the easiest skin to shave.
I hope some of my suggestions may be helpful to your shave. I enjoy reading your shaves, they are very entertaining and interesting. As a lad I was an alter boy (in Latin) at the Polish and the Irish churches in our hood. The Latin was difficult, the tips for weddings and funerals was spent on cigarettes.
Saint Stan’s tipped for funerals Saint Pat’s not so much. I forgot all the Latin, except for a few words and phrases.Thanks for the kind words and the tips, they are always welcome. I am still learning Latin our priest prefers us to sing. I remember getting tips for weddings, not for funerals. And Father Latino knocked the heavy candles we had to hold in the funerals off of our belt buckles we had them rested on under our Albs. Haha.
I have or had the original one somewhere. I'm not breaking the GRUME for Aqua Velva. Haha. I might pick some up next month when I go out of the GRUME in a big way. Haha.I'm trying to remember if I've ever tried the Aqua Velva Ice Sport...I don't think so.
I am curious about the Aqua Velva Original Sport. The green one.
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Same here! I usually do a 3 pass shave and more recently 3 passes and jaw line touch up. But the 2.5 pass is excellent for great results and office days alike.I conclude the 2.5 pass method a winner, when I am pushed for time or anytime I don't want irritation.
Shave Date 9/14/23
GRUME September: 14/30
Razor: Yates 'Merica
Blade: Gillette Silver Blue (4)
Pre-Shave: PAA Cube 2.0
Soap: Ariana and Evans Spartacus
Brush: Parker Badger
Post-shave: Alum Block, Thayers, PAA Mysterium Serum, Aqua Velva Ice Sport.
Bowl: Douglas Smith Pottery Suribachi Shaving Bowl
Rating: 9.4/10 BBS Cheeks and DFS on the neck. 0 weepers or nicks.
Notes:
Today was a continuation of my experiments with the Yates razor. Also a new soap and a brush I have not used in a while. My Parker brush sat idle ever since the other brushes arrived and needed a turn in the rotation. The lathering was a tad different this time, as the brush seemed to retain more of the soap than the other brushes. I had to splay out the brush early in the lathering to get all the soap incorporated into the paste which may have contributed to that. In the end, it worked out. Keep on adding water till it works.
This soap is another Creed Aventus based scent. I'm not sure if Leonidas smelt like this while holding off the Persians in the Battle of Thermopylae. Likely not. It is a fine scent nonetheless.
On to the shave. Another fine shave today. Thursdays I work the other store, which is farther from home, necessitating an earlier departure time than usual. I did compensate by starting my routine earlier. I got to thinking while I was lathering about the journals and forum post I read about shorter shaves. @Guido75 is fond of a 2.5 pass shave. After lathering the face, I loaded up the Razor with the GSB. Then I said to myself,
"Self, how about we do one pass north to south, one ATX and then touch-ups?"
Self nodded in agreement and with his hand out for the razor. Then I flashed back to the massacre a few days ago.
I said" Ahhh heck no!!""
Self said,"Wha....What do you mean?"
"You're not getting this razor after what you did the other day"
"But...But"
"No but about it, you think I'm handing you the razor today when we agreed not to go ATX the other day and you sliced and diced the face up?"
"But...But"
"Go, go watch some TV, you're not getting the razor."
Self lowers his head, heads to the living room and turns on the TV.
I start to shave. North-south passes then ATX with some clean up work. As usual, the neck is an issue. I stop shy of BBS to prevent irritation. As I'm shaving, I hear the TV blaring in the other room. I yell to Self.
"Hey Self, what are you watching?" I ask.
"I'm watching something to cheer me up, what's it to you?" Self responds.
"Ahh, the replay of the 2019LSU Championship season???"
"Yes, don't be a hater, leave me alone."
I continue my shave to the sounds of touchdowns, crowd roaring, and a Cajun from Down Da Bayou with a raspy voice say "GEAUX TIGERS!!!!" As I near the end of the shave, I started to say to myself,
"Self, this is a great combo, 'Merica razor and the Gillette Silver Blues, an all American combination."
"What???" Self yells as he pauses the Heisman Trophy speech of Joe Burrow.
"I said this is a great American combo here, 'Merica razor and GSB"
"Ahh, you know that blade was made in Russia, don't you?"
"Yes, I realize that, Gillette is still an American company so..."
Self interrupts, "Dude, the blade is made by Putin, it ain't an American combo."
"Whatever Self, go back to watching your video."
I finish up the shave in less time than usual. In addition, my face is less irritated, zero feed back from the alum block and for the most part is as smooth as ever. It does feel a tad drier than yesterday. The razor didn't seem to tug like yesterday, either. I did make sure I was conscious to not apply any additional pressure as I shaved with the razor due to the fact that this razor is one of my heavier razors. As I type this a few hours later it is still BBS mostly, I missed some areas and can feel some stubble on the jaw line. I conclude the 2.5 pass method a winner, when I am pushed for time or anytime I don't want irritation.
The scent of Spartacus is as to be expected with a Creed Aventus duplicate, additionally it has quite a bit of staying power. The Aqua Velva again faded faster than the 2020 LSU Football team, that one hurt. On the 8th day, God created whiskey just for those occasions. All in all, an excellent shave. Faster than usual, no irritation and BBS/DFS.
I wish everyone a blessed day, may your shaves be BBS, nick, and weeper free.
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Thank you for the kind words. Yes I was cracking up on your quest to get the coffee and saving all the maidens. Haha. I think I might have stumbled on something with the conversations with Self. We’ll see how far it goes. Haha.My gosh, the similarities between you and I are astounding. Our personalities are quite similar, as I was reading your post, I kept asking myself, did I write this, cause if so, I freaking believe it. HAHA! I love the way you go over your shaving experience, and you tell a story at the same time. I did that recently with a COTD post for Ethiopia Anaerobic coffee. You go on telling them stories Cajun, they are entertaining, at least for me.