Has this ever happened to you?

[Riff Raff]

Have you ever had an instance where you didn't change anything at all; performed the same pre-shave, you used the same soap/cream, used a blade you have used before, same razor, etc. and you got a glorious shave that is set apart from the rest?

I don't know what it is. The planets must have aligned just right. Maybe it was the gravitational pull of the International Space Station being overhead last night. Maybe it was the Creator looking down and smiling at me. I can't answer. I just know that occaisionally, I will have a fantastic shave without doing anything different.

Well today was that day. I hope you all have days like this. My SOTD consisted of:

Proraso Pre-shave
Tabac
Simpson Commode XL3
Personna Lab Blue Blade
EJ DE89L
Jeris Osage Rub
Tabac AS

Yeah, it was that damn good!

 

[Rockminer]

I know exactly what you're talking about. I had the exact same experience and was so dumbfounded by it, that I also started a thread. I used the exact same setup and was even on the fourth shave of a blade.

I don't know what was different in our perfect shaves, but I wish there was a way to quantify it. I feel like it's a variable I could control, if I knew what it was.

 

[Riff Raff]

Well I am glad I am not alone. It was the third shave on my blade as well. Weird. But in a very, very good way!

 

[Taborcarn]

It must be the atmospheric pressure combined with the celestial alignment.

 

[TheVez2]

You changed something, you just didn't realize it.

Every day you use the same blade, it is different than it was the day before. Each blade has a sweet spot. I know for me, the first two shaves on a blade are kind of rough, then next few shaves are the best I get out of the blade, because it has mellowed out a bit.

You also probably changed your technique. Can you guarantee that you used the exact same angle and pressure form one day to the next? No, it varies. Muscle memory only gets you so far in a shave. Some days we hit it dead-on, sometimes we slightly miss.

 

[keithmax]

It's the moon phase, I'm sure that's why it happened to me.

 

[Riff Raff]

You changed something, you just didn't realize it.

Every day you use the same blade, it is different than it was the day before. Each blade has a sweet spot. I know for me, the first two shaves on a blade are kind of rough, then next few shaves are the best I get out of the blade, because it has mellowed out a bit.

You also probably changed your technique. Can you guarantee that you used the exact same angle and pressure form one day to the next? No, it varies. Muscle memory only gets you so far in a shave. Some days we hit it dead-on, sometimes we slightly miss.

That makes perfect sense. Well said and logical.




I personally think it has something to do with magic though.

 

[Niles]

You changed something, you just didn't realize it.

You also probably changed your technique. Can you guarantee that you used the exact same angle and pressure form one day to the next? No, it varies. Muscle memory only gets you so far in a shave. Some days we hit it dead-on, sometimes we slightly miss.

+1. My thought is that your technique just happened to be spot on this time.

 

[DirtDiver]

I wish I knew what it was too... I have had amazing shaves and horrible ones using the same set up... apparently, your individual mileage my vary on the same road in the same vehicle as well... YIMMVOTSRITSV just doesnt have as good a ring to it though

 

[Riff Raff]

I wish I knew what it was too... I have had amazing shaves and horrible ones using the same set up... apparently, your individual mileage my vary on the same road in the same vehicle as well... YIMMVOTSRITSV just doesnt have as good a ring to it though

hahaha Well said Chris.

 

[fsturnz]

To paraphrase a famoud bard: there are more things in heaven and earth that are dreamt of in your philosophies!

Relax and marvel at your accomplishment, for tomorrow may be the worst shave of your life. That's the curse, but also the beauty of what we do. Every shave is a new experience...else it would get pretty boring!

 

[Riff Raff]

Relax and marvel at your accomplishment, for tomorrow may be the worst shave of your life.

Well aren't you just a ray of fricken sunshine!

 

[Rockminer]

I would tend to agree with most of you that it was perfect technique, however, in my specific case, I was able to feel that my shave was epic while it was happening. I decided to change my technique by changing the angle of the razor to see if it would influence my shave. It didn't have any effect on it whatsoever.

My perfect shave wasn't night and day from what I get now, but it was different enough to take notice of. The only way I can describe it is, it was like I was in a dream. I had no pull, tug or irritation, ZERO. In fact, it felt like I didn't even shave.

I still don't know what was different about this shave, but blade angle didn't have any effect.

 

[jzuzphreek]

I tend to agree with Riff Raff...

Magic.

 

[DirtDiver]

I was once able to achieve ZERO irritation, even going completely ATG on my upper lip with a wilkinson in my fatboy... have yet to replicate

 

[smalltank]

well to be honest..with my straight razors they were all the most consistent regardless of the cream/soap I used..but with DE's a different "event" almost everytime..some supersmooth...others like playing that game "connect the blood spots"...

 

[pmaster]

I've had bad shaves that I think could be attributed to my skin being particularly dry on certain days. I think a really good one is probably when my skin is just right for shaving, and my technique goes down perfectly...

 

[u2u]

I go out of my way to change something or even everything from day to day. I range from straights of many sizes to shavettes to occasionally DEs. I enjoy the variety and never get use to a given recipe. What amazes me is I can get a run of several days near perfect then flip to a mediocre shave. My guess is some days you are on and some days you are so off you don't realize it. Lot of fine motor skill in shaving. Too much or too little of near anything can have an effect. More coffee usually helps for me.

 

[_MementoMori_]

Sometimes I give myself such a rocking shave that I feel like it should've cost money.

 

[Brooksie967]

Yep, definitely happens! Not sure if it's from something I ate the night before or how well I slept, no idea but when it happens it's AMAZING! Just had one this morning, honed a razor for a friend, a 9/8 WB For barbers use and finished it on my JNAT and BAAAAAAAAAAAMALAMADINGDONG incredible shave (minus the sliced ear lol).