March Madness
Barbasol and Barber Blade Edition
Vernal Equinox (Day 20)
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Today represents the last Shave on the prairie for a bit...and the usual two pass fun was had by all.
It's vacation time. I will be taking 8 days off from mod responsibilities and will only post a few updates and maybe some fun photos as some of the Samurai family are doing stuff for the next week.
So here's some stuff:
Samurai Travel Kit - Shavette on the road, live and without a safety net.
Parker SRX
Shark and Derby
Barbasol
Alum
Skin Bracer (TSA spray bottle)
Adidas Dynamic Pulse
The basic thoughts on March...
Shavettes are more hype than bite. If one can handle a straight, these are a breeze. However, the technique is a little different than SR, but
with practice and mastery yields the same gentle smooth shave as a straight. I've been using the barber blades as intended, and discarding after one use.
1. Barbasol is still quite serviceable as shaving lather, and yields good results when used with Barber tools. I admit it's nowhere near as "cool" as shave soap, but I feel like it's $2 well spent. It works. It's consistent. Gotta admit...looking forward to Arko April and the return of the Plisson. It's more fun than cans, but not functionally very different in my usage.
2. It's marginally apparent that Shark is a sharper blade than Derby, but not enough difference to rant about. Besides, the next shave is always a fresh edge, these blades cost seven dollars per hundred, or seven cents a piece. This has let me just zone out with a super sharp bevel daily, and two passes is pretty close to BBS, excepting the neck and jaw corners where I don't try for BBS on a daily basis. A pin drop of blood or two isn't really rare, but the shaves are usually very comfortable, alum verified as light pressure, and still smooth after six hours.
3. The Magic has taken over top place in my limited arsenal. I do months, and so rotation isn't my thing, per se. Let's just say that there will be a lot more of this razor in 2017. I am taking the Parker on the road to give it a fair test. I haven't used it enough to judge it just yet, and this is a perfect change point.
4. Everyone should listen to the record
Foxbase Alpha by Saint Etienne. Here's a link:
Cool Obscure 80s. Preferably on a sunny day with a cute little redhead, maybe on a beach, maybe on an island in the middle of nowhere...and be sure to have a healthful supply of cool beverages, and always wear your best sunglasses. It's what I'll be doing...
5. Smile more. It's Spring again. Time to begin anew. Not really shaving related, but it could be.
6. If you need to rock, children, lean on F#. It's so true. Tom Morello and Bama Samurai both endorse. This is notnshaving related either, unless you enjoy hard rock like
Bulls on Parade while holding an open blade under your jawline. I think audible razor feedback is essential to my zone, so my shaves are done in silence, stropping off the lather into a towel rather than running a faucet.
7. Kind of random, but the number of Flat Earth Conspiracy videos on Youtube is disturbing. Seriously, check it out. Mind blowing and ridiculous, yet fascinating and well done videos. Give or take a few fundamental laws of physics, but who's counting, right? Also not really shaving related.
8. Carriage bolts. More proof that Techniques Trump Tools. We have amassed an amazing collection of guys here. Let it sink in that these guys know shave technique so well that even seemingly crazy improvised tools become something approaching routine. And on top off that, they spend their time online helping others (read newbies) figure out methods to make whatever tool the newbie has on hand into a great shave. That doesn't happen much online.
Other than that...all is quiet in Colorado.
Have a great week, and make it a great Spring!
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