Muddy's Meanderings

[Clay S]

Judging Your SR Shaves!
Yesterday was the first time I have finished a shave with a DE that I started with a SR since Muddy's Meanderings; Which was the only other time since I started complete, two pass shaves. I received very little tactile or audible feedback with the DE razor. So while it was a solid DFS shave before the DE, if was extremely close to a BBS at that time.

I had been getting discouraged by no apparent improvement lately with my SR. I think now that I had been improving, just in very small, incremental steps. You might try occasionally following up a SR shave while learning with a DE pass, not to get a better shave, but to judge your improvement. If you don't get feedback from your razor . . .

 

[Clay S]

Monday Menthol Madness, Madness, Madness, Madness

2019/01/21 Shave:
Prep - Noxzema, Hot towel*, lather, Hot towel*, Proraso Green Pre-Shave
Razor - 1912 GEM, PAL Super (4)
Soap - Proraso Green
Brush - Zenith B25
Post - Hot Towel*, Alum, Thayer's Medicated, Sea Breeze, Blade for Men(CVS) Arctic Blue
Passes - 1, Steep ATG w/Buffing
Result - BBS

*Hot Towel Scented with lemon, patchouli, and cinnamon oils, unfortunately, didn't think about Menthol 'til after prep

How steep? Handle almost parallel to plane of face.

 

[Clay S]

Straight Razor Shave #36
2019/01/22 Shave:

Prep - Noxzema, lather, Hot towel*, Proraso Green Pre-Shave, Hot towel*
Razor - Gold Dollar 66 (Curtesy of @valthun)
Soap - Stubble Buster's Game
Brush - Zenith B25
Post - Cold Towel*, Alum, Hot Towel*, Thayer's Cucumber Witch Hazel, Sea Breeze Sensitive, Nivea Sensitive ASB
Passes - 2 WTG, ATG mostly
Result - CCS, several nicks, noticed after had moved to new area, so relatively sharp.
Moustache balm - Duke Cannon's Best Damn Beard Balm

*Hot Towel Scented with lemon, patchouli, and cinnamon oils.

Valthun, did you cherry pick the GDs so they'd be easy for the newbies to hone? I managed to get a passable edge in short order, using very bad form and methods. (I can be impatient )

 

[valthun]

Nope, they were shipped from Hong Kong via the bay. I had three to give away. I am glad you got a useable edge so quick.

 

[Clay S]

Nope, they were shipped from Hong Kong via the bay. I had three to give away. I am glad you got a useable edge so quick.

Never looked closely at you avatar before, What type of tangs(I think) are those?

 

[Clay S]

2019/01/20 Shave:

Prep - Shower, Noxzema, Hot towel*, lather, Hot towel*
Razor - New LC, Personna (4)
Soap - Wild West Shaving Company's Pinkerton
Brush - Vie-Long 12601
Post - Hot Towel*, Alum, Thayer's Cucumber Witch Hazel, Sea Breeze Sensitive, Pinaud Clubman Special Reserve
Passes - 2 Steep ATG w/Buffing
Result - BBS

*Hot Towel Scented with sandalwood, lemon, patchouli, and cinnamon oils

 

[Clay S]

Straight Razor Shave #37
2019/01/24 Shave:

Prep - Noxzema, Hot towel*, lather, Hot towel*, Proraso Green Pre-Shave
Razor - Gold Dollar 66
Soap - Stubble Buster's Game
Brush - Zenith B25
Post - Alum, Hot Towel*, Thayer's Cucumber Witch Hazel, Sea Breeze Sensitive, Pinaud Clubman Special Reserve
Passes - 2 WTG, ATG mostly
Result - CCS

*Hot Towel Scented with lemon, patchouli, and cinnamon oils.

Honed the GD using a progression of lapping films. 9, 3, 1, and .3 microns. Shave was harsh, as expected. After shaving, did multiple laps on the balsam strops.

 

[Clay S]

Straight Razor Shave #38
2019/01/25 Shave:

Prep - Noxzema, Hot towel*, lather, Hot towel*, DIY Pre-Shave
Razor - Gold Dollar 66
Soap - Pinaud Clubman Shave Soap
Brush - Zenith B25
Post - Alum, Hot Towel*, Thayer's Cucumber Witch Hazel, Sea Breeze Sensitive, Pinaud Clubman Musk
Passes - 2 WTG, ATG mostly
Result - CCS

*Hot Towel Scented with lemon, patchouli, and cinnamon oils.

 

[valthun]

Never looked closely at you avatar before, What type of tangs(I think) are those?

I can't remember, it was from a trip to Hawaii I took in either 06 or 08. I was really getting a shot of the turtle and liked the tangs swimming along with him.

 

[Clay S]

019/01/26 Shave:
Prep - Noxzema, Hot towel*, lather, Hot towel*, DIY Pre-Shave
Razor - 1912 GEM, GEM SS (1)
Soap - Stubble Buster's Game
Brush - Zenith B25
Post - Hot Towel*, Alum, Thayer's Medicated, Sea Breeze Sensitive, Nivea Sensitive
Passes - 1, Steep ATG w/Buffing
Result - DFS

*Hot Towel Scented with lemon, eucalyptus, and menthol.

 

[AimlessWanderer]

Your shaves are a heck of a lot more "involved" than mine, Clay. Are all those pre and post shave steps actually necessary for you, or do you just enjoy doing them?

Today, I washed the face with a moisturising bar soap, lathered up, three passes, and no post shave felt necessary, so I didn't bother.

 

[Clay S]

Your shaves are a heck of a lot more "involved" than mine, Clay. Are all those pre and post shave steps actually necessary for you, or do you just enjoy doing them?

Today, I washed the face with a moisturising bar soap, lathered up, three passes, and no post shave felt necessary, so I didn't bother.

People have commented that my skin has been looking better, but the post is mostly me liking the various scents. WH, followed by either AS or ASB should suffice, which used to be my post.

The prep I think is needed, I shower at the gym, so the hot towels hydrate my beard. I could just wet it for 3 minutes, but why not enjoy the wait. The pre-shave? I was doing 2, 3 pass shaves every day while learning to shave with DEs using this method of prepping. While I don't think it helps the shave actually, I do think it helps my skin to both minimize damage and recover quickly. A few days I actually did 3 - 3 pass shaves during a day if I got new kit that just couldn't wait 'til morning.

 

[Clay S]

019/01/27 Shave:
Prep - Noxzema, Hot towel*, lather, Hot towel*, DIY Pre-Shave
Razor - Maggard Slant, Personna(5), 1912 GEM, GEM SS(2)
Soap - Stubble Buster's Game
Brush - Zenith B25
Post - Hot Towel*, Alum, Thayer's Cucumber, Sea Breeze Sensitive, Nivea Sensitive
Passes - 2 - WTG, ATG
Result - BBS

*Unscented

 

[Clay S]

Monday Menthol Madness, Madness, Madness, Madness, Madness

2019/01/21 Shave:
Prep - Noxzema, Hot towel*, lather, Hot towel*, Proraso Green Pre-Shave
Razor - Gold Dollar 66, Blue Diamond S.R.Droescher #106, Pearlduck Dubl Duck Special No. 1
Soap - Proraso Green
Brush - Zenith B25
Post - Hot Towel*, Alum, Thayer's Medicated, Sea Breeze, Blade for Men(CVS) Arctic Blue
Passes - 3 - WTG, WTG, ATG
Result - DFS

* Menthol Scented

Did to compare sharpness. Gold Dollar needs more work.

 

[Clay S]

019/01/29 Shave:
Prep - Shower, Noxzema, Hot towel*, lather, Hot towel*, DIY Pre-Shave
Razor - New LC, Personna(5), 1912 GEM, GEM SS(2)
Soap - Stubble Buster's Game
Brush - Zenith B25
Post - Hot Towel*, Alum, Thayer's Cucumber, Sea Breeze Sensitive, Nivea Sensitive
Passes - 2 - WTG, ATG
Result - BBS

*Unscented

 

[Clay S]

Monday Menthol Madness, Madness, Madness, Madness, Madness

2019/02/04 Shave:
Prep - Noxzema, Hot towel*, lather, Hot towel*, Proraso Green Pre-Shave
Razor - New LC, Personna(6)
Soap - Proraso Green
Brush - Zenith B25
Post - Hot Towel*, Alum, Thayer's Medicated, Sea Breeze, Blade for Men(CVS) Arctic Blue
Passes - 2 - WTG, ATG
Result - BBS

* Unscented Scented

Quick effortless shave

 

[MilkCrate]

What?! Unscented?

 

[Clay S]

2019/02/05 Shave:
Prep - Noxzema, Hot towel*, lather**, Hot towel*,DIY Oil Pre-Shave
Razor - Gem 1912, Gem SS(5)
Soap - Stubble Buster's Game
Brush - @Graydog Pro 10098***
Post - Hot Towel*, Alum, Thayer's Cucumber, Sea Breeze, Pinaud Clubman Musk
Passes - 1 ATG buffing
Result - BBS

* Unscented
** using

*** using

What?! Unscented?

No. "* Unscented Scented". Wasn't quite awake me thinks.

 

[Clay S]

Straight Razor Shave #40
2019/01/25 Shave:

Prep - Noxzema, Hot towel, Lather*, Hot towel, DIY Pre-Shave Oil
Razor - Blue Diamond S.R.Droescher #106, Pearlduck Dubl Duck Special No. 1
Soap - Stubble Buster's Game
Brush - Graydog Olivewood/Black Palm knotted w/ Omega Pro 10098
Post - Alum, Thayer's Cucumber Witch Hazel, Hot Towel, Sea Breeze Sensitive, Pinaud Clubman Whiskey Woods
Passes - 2 WTG, ATG mostly
Result - DFS

*Graydog Black Palm knotted w/ Stirling Boar Brush

 

[Clay S]

Spearmint, Spearmint, Spearmint, Spearmint, Spearmint,

2019/02/07 Shave:
Prep - Noxzema, Hot towel*, Noxzema, Hot towel**, lather, Hot towel**, Proraso Green Pre-Shave
Razor - New LC, Personna(7)
Soap - Pacific Shave Company's Caffeinated
Brush - Graydog Olivewood/Black Palm knotted w/ Omega Pro 10098
Post - Alum, Thayer's Medicated, Hot Towel**, Sea Breeze, Thayer's Medicated
Passes - 2 - WTG, ATG steep buffing
Result - BBS

* Unscented
** Scented with Spearmint and Eucalyptus EO - After a false start, decided to make it a more pleasant morning