Mayhem SOTD 5/9/17
Razor: MD Barber shavette with no scales
Blade: Gillette 7 ‘O Clock Black
Brush: Envy White Badger in Troth Handle
Soap: Eufros Dama de Noche
Post: Cold water, Alum, swearing, Styptic pencil, more swearing, Thayer’s Toner, more Styptic pencil
Aftershave: Jabonman Dama de Noche Balm
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Two things I would like to discuss before getting to today’s shave. Both have a direct impact on the quality of your shave, and ability to adapt to multiple razors. The first is confidence. We have said many times that in order to shave with an open bladed razor, you have to approach the shave with confidence, and not be too timid in placing the open blade on your face. If you are too timid with a straight or shavette, you will not be able to get your whiskers cut, even if you do six passes. There is a certain level of pressure and force that is needed to remove whiskers, and being too timid will prevent you from getting this. The flip side of confidence is that sometimes you approach a shave with too much confidence. Things like placing a shavette on your face with a similar pressure, angle, and force as you would do with a straight razor. I had a not so gentle reminder that shavettes and straights are two different beasts. When you boast that you can shave with anything, sometimes that’s a good reminder.
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Second thing I noticed today might not make sense to those of you who haven’t joined the Dark Side yet. We talk about balance on a razor, but I hadn’t really thought of all the ways this impacts your shave. The shavette I used today does not have scales. For some strokes, I have the scales at a 90 degree angle, and for some I have them at a 180 degree angle. The balance of the razor allows me to use a lighter stroke than I would without them. It makes the natural grip on the razor a pivot, rather than a lever. It also makes it easier to see/feel/find the angle. When the scales are at a 90 degree angle, whether using it backhand or normal, the scales give a visual cue to the angle, and help maintain the delicate changes and balance needed to have the finesse to adjust it while shaving.
So how was the shave today? In two words, “Bloody hell.” So I picked up this razor last year, and remember not really liking the one shave I had with it. Still an accurate assessment. It was sold as a stripped down shavette, to be slimmer and more maneuverable. I found it to be difficult to control. I also forgot how less forgiving a shavette is than a straight. I started my N/S WTG pass. Put the razor down on my face. “Ow, oh yeah, corners on the blade. Have to watch those. No seriously, dude, watch those.” At this point I have seven bloody spots, three weepers behind/below each ear, and a puncture wound next to my sideburn that is starting to bleed quite a bit. Just have my jaw and chin left to do on this pass. Start to go along the left jawline, and the blade chatters because I don’t have it balanced correctly, and I attempt to power through it. No blood yet, but I can see a flap of skin an inch wide along the jaw line. “Hmm, this may not be a great shave.” Start to work on the chin, and set the blade down too hard and at an angle. “Welp, that was dumb. Wow, its already bleeding. Hey, the one on my jaw is starting to bleed now.” Carefully finished the pass under my lower lip, and just stopped. This shave was done. Not quite SAS, and not going any further.
I am bloodier from this shave than all my shenanigans in the last month, heck, in the last year. Wife opens the door. Laughs at me. Closes it. I count 13 bloody spots. Three of them are bleeding a lot, and running down my face. I do a cold water rinse, and it burns in some spots. It actually closed up several of the weepers. Grabbed the alum bar. Stopped the blood on all but the cuts by my sideburn, jaw, and chin. It actually didn’t burn or sting on the bad cuts, but did everywhere else. My theory is that the blood flow prevented the alum from actually getting into the cut. Grabbed the styptic pencil, and went to work on the cuts. That stung. Gave that a few minutes to set up, while I cleaned the gear. Rinsed my face with cold water and Thayer’s. Grabbed the styptic again, and got the blood stopped. Finished getting dressed with white casts on the cuts. Carefully cleaned most of the powder off my face, applied the balm. Should have used the Veg. I look like I tangled with a tom cat, might as well smell like it.
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