April 22nd , SOTD (Shave 10 of the focus)
Two days’ growth
Prep: Hot Shower
Razor: Wade and Butcher 5/8 Square point (post 1890)
Strop: Oiled Red Latigo and Linen- 20 laps on linen, 30 on leather
Razor: Gillette Red Tip- B2 (1956)
DE Blade: Dorco Stainless- Stropped 30 times per edge (1st shave on blade)
Cream: Babasol Original Canned Goo
Post Shave: Cold Water Rinse, Alum Block, Regret
Aftershave: Pinaud Clubman
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Sorry for the delay, and the long post. Was traveling for work and didn’t get to post an update while on the trip. Had to give a couple of presentations, and needed to make sure I was professional and presentable. You know how you always forget one thing on a trip? This time is was my shaving soap. I had everything else. The drug store I finally found did not have any soap, or creams that could be used with a brush. I grabbed a can of my old faithful Barbasol. I used this stuff for a long time, and it worked better than other canned stuff. This is the first time I have attempted to use canned goo in over three and a half years. It didn’t go as well as planned.
The canned goo pulled all the water off my face, so when I went to shave with the straight, it was like dragging the razor across a face with no prep. I did one WTG pass with the straight, and skipped my chin. Then I grabbed the Red Tip. I made a comment in this thread about being able to get good results with a Dorco blade if I stropped it, so that’s what I had loaded. Maybe I get comfortable shaves with it on a well prepped face, but it was not comfortable on this shave. I did one ATG pass, cleaned up my chin, and called it good. I then proceeded to light my face up with an alum bar, and splash Clubman alcohol on it. My boss commented on how irritated my face looked. Sigh.
April 24th , SOTD (Shave 11 of the focus)
Two days’ growth
Prep: Hot Shower
Razor: Wade and Butcher 5/8 Square point (post 1890)
Strop: Oiled Red Latigo and Linen- 20 laps on linen, 30 on leather
Razor: Gillette Red Tip- B2 (1956)
DE Blade: Dorco Stainless- Stropped 30 times per edge (2nd shave on blade)
Soap: B&M Latha, Bowl Lathered
Brush: Tulip Wood Brush- TGN Best Badger Knot 22mm x 54mm loft
Post Shave: Cold Water Rinse, Alum Block
Aftershave: B&M Latha/ Pinaud Clubman
View attachment 67044
Back home. Have all my gear. Grabbed the Latha soap and aftershave I won in the PIF to use today, because it makes a very nice and slick lather. Working on some different grips on the straight, and think I found the one that gives me the best control. I am holding it like I hold my Feather Artist club. With the handle extended. Except for the ATG pass on the neck, where I fold the scales out of the way, and can actually get where I need to. Did two passes, N/S and S/N with only one nick on the chin. Did a third pass ATG with the Red Tip. There was almost nothing to clean up! I heard it trimming on my chin, but my neck, cheeks, and jaw were smooth! BBS 95% of my face and neck, with just a couple of DFS spots. Alum had a bit of bite, but not too bad. Splashed on the Latha aftershave. It is non-alcohol, but is soothing and works well.
Finished my shave and asked my wife to touch my face to see how smooth it is. I do this because she is annoyed by the time I spend wet shaving, and thinks me asking her to touch my face is silly. When I found that out, I made it a part of my shaving routine. She commented on the smell of the Latha, and said she much preferred the Clubman. She asked if I really needed to use the Latha stuff, since I had so many options. I think the Latha just got removed from the rotation.
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