So, I guess I should really begin back a few days after my intro post. Forum compatriot Celestino contacted me, and mentioned that he had a straight razor (a Greaves and Sons Wedge) which he was preparing to PIF - however if I was interested I was welcome to drop by and take it off his hands. Of course I jumped at the offer, and during our visit he was kind enough to also set me up with some soap (MJ's Pina Colada) in a fancy bowl, an alum block, and a razor in need of some TLC for when I was ready to play with honing. Of course, he also proffered some advice, which came to great use this evening. In the mean-time, I purchased a stropping kit (which Canada Post proceeded to send on a trip across the country after a hiatus in a sorting center in Alberta) and a set of ascending grades of lapping film, for when I'm ready to attempt to hone.
As I mentioned in my intro post, I have shaved with a DE straight in the past (albeit not for several years), and also had learned to prefer Williams to canned goo; and also knew of the wonders of Proraso pre-shave cream. I decided while awaiting for my strop to see more of my country than I have that I would put the MJ's soap to the test against my tried and tested Williams - using, for the time being, my Gillette Fusion. I went through a pre-shave routine involving a splash of hot water, Proraso, hot towel for two minutes, and more Proraso. I then applied the MJ's to one half of my face using the synthetic brush Celestino provided, while applying Williams to the other half using my drug-store boar brush. I utilized WTG and ATG passes only, reapplying the applicable soap between each.
I found that the MJ's did provide a much more luxurious lather, and it seemed not only slicker, but softer. This appears to have been substantiated by the absence of irritation, particularly in the neck areas. Unsurprised, I washed up the brushes, and relegated the Williams to the back of the cupboard for emergencies. A rinse, a quick wipe with the alum and a splash of witch hazel and I was happy.
My next couple of shaves followed the same pre-shave and shave routine, with the exception of whipping up both soaps - I simply stuck with the MJ's.
Today, Canada Post FINALLY delivered my stropping kit! Of course, being the father of a toddler and an infant, despite my desire to drag sharp things across my face as soon as I walked in the door, it just wasn't happening. When I finally got the toddler to sleep, I locked myself in the bathroom, and giggling like a school-girl, I prepared my toys. Sixty laps on both 0.3 and 0.1, then another 60 on each side of the leather strop, and into my pre-shave.
Tentatively, I performed the first pass, going WTG. Slowly and carefully, I trimmed down the two-day growth, stopping any time the razor seemed to slow down or when things just didn't look of feel right. I took a full twenty minutes on this pass as I figured out how to stretch my face, but as you can see I did a damn good job, if I do say so myself!
With my confidence bolstered, I decided I would attempt an XTG pass. Once again, I lathered up and went at it. Again, it took me a good twenty minutes to finished up this pass, but again I found myself with an even closer shave - although I do have to say it was a real pain trying to trim up around the goatee (you may be right yet, Celestino...). With two extremely minor little nicks at this point, I was starting to feel like I could get the hang of this.
So, I lathered up again. And very carefully, started an ATG pass. This time, I actually sped up, finishing in fifteen minutes (guess I'm getting better at the face stretching thing / finding comfortable grips). After a good rinse with hot water and a rub of the alum (still only the two bleeders!) and a splash of WH, I faceturbated for a few minutes, feeling the shave. I came out with BBS cheeks, a DFS jawline and *most* of my neck, and a SAS around the adam's apple and where the goatee meets jawline! A little bit of irritation, particularly around the neck, but nothing I can't handle (and really, nothing worse than I get with the carts and Williams).
Finished up with 30 passes on the suede, 60 on the skin and a dab of mineral oil. Repurposed a church-warden stand to hang my brush from as it dries - have to say I'm actually kind of excited that I'll have to shave again before the weekend is out!
As I mentioned in my intro post, I have shaved with a DE straight in the past (albeit not for several years), and also had learned to prefer Williams to canned goo; and also knew of the wonders of Proraso pre-shave cream. I decided while awaiting for my strop to see more of my country than I have that I would put the MJ's soap to the test against my tried and tested Williams - using, for the time being, my Gillette Fusion. I went through a pre-shave routine involving a splash of hot water, Proraso, hot towel for two minutes, and more Proraso. I then applied the MJ's to one half of my face using the synthetic brush Celestino provided, while applying Williams to the other half using my drug-store boar brush. I utilized WTG and ATG passes only, reapplying the applicable soap between each.
I found that the MJ's did provide a much more luxurious lather, and it seemed not only slicker, but softer. This appears to have been substantiated by the absence of irritation, particularly in the neck areas. Unsurprised, I washed up the brushes, and relegated the Williams to the back of the cupboard for emergencies. A rinse, a quick wipe with the alum and a splash of witch hazel and I was happy.
My next couple of shaves followed the same pre-shave and shave routine, with the exception of whipping up both soaps - I simply stuck with the MJ's.
Today, Canada Post FINALLY delivered my stropping kit! Of course, being the father of a toddler and an infant, despite my desire to drag sharp things across my face as soon as I walked in the door, it just wasn't happening. When I finally got the toddler to sleep, I locked myself in the bathroom, and giggling like a school-girl, I prepared my toys. Sixty laps on both 0.3 and 0.1, then another 60 on each side of the leather strop, and into my pre-shave.
Tentatively, I performed the first pass, going WTG. Slowly and carefully, I trimmed down the two-day growth, stopping any time the razor seemed to slow down or when things just didn't look of feel right. I took a full twenty minutes on this pass as I figured out how to stretch my face, but as you can see I did a damn good job, if I do say so myself!
With my confidence bolstered, I decided I would attempt an XTG pass. Once again, I lathered up and went at it. Again, it took me a good twenty minutes to finished up this pass, but again I found myself with an even closer shave - although I do have to say it was a real pain trying to trim up around the goatee (you may be right yet, Celestino...). With two extremely minor little nicks at this point, I was starting to feel like I could get the hang of this.
So, I lathered up again. And very carefully, started an ATG pass. This time, I actually sped up, finishing in fifteen minutes (guess I'm getting better at the face stretching thing / finding comfortable grips). After a good rinse with hot water and a rub of the alum (still only the two bleeders!) and a splash of WH, I faceturbated for a few minutes, feeling the shave. I came out with BBS cheeks, a DFS jawline and *most* of my neck, and a SAS around the adam's apple and where the goatee meets jawline! A little bit of irritation, particularly around the neck, but nothing I can't handle (and really, nothing worse than I get with the carts and Williams).
Finished up with 30 passes on the suede, 60 on the skin and a dab of mineral oil. Repurposed a church-warden stand to hang my brush from as it dries - have to say I'm actually kind of excited that I'll have to shave again before the weekend is out!
