I will translate:

You understand the interaction of the bevel and your skin. You've learned to shave with anything, provided it's sharp enough to glide.

Thursday July 6 - OK, evening July 5 before a nap before my graveyard shift

Rockwell 6s on plate #3 / Topaz Platinum ( 1 )
Supply Provision synthetic brush
Arko
Alum and TSD Lavender Aftershave Milk

Instead of shaving at the dead of midnight before starting work, I shaved a few hours early and plan to catch a nap. I cold water shaved tonight. I found the result no different for me than a warm water shave except for being pleasantly cool in the hot weather.

I went with face lathered Arko for a change up and used my SP synthetic brush because it hasn't been getting any love since the LE30DC Maple Cashmere synthetic came into my life a month ago. The SP is a perfectly capable brush, despite having a rather generic acrylic handle; the LE30DC is just more aesthetically pleasing.

My usual two passes followed by a bit of buffing on my jaw and the baby showed up. So did a bit of tingle from the alum - there's a reason I don’t usually chase a BBS with buffing. The TSD Aftershave Milk cooled it down again and is providing a bit of calming lavender aromatherapy to boot.

Glad to hear that none of the popsicle stick shavers who have reported in so far put any stains on the wood.

have you tried pulling the cheek upward, to put the jawline skin up on the flat side of your jawbone?

I do have a razor hone, but I'm going to try this one straight out of the package. (I think one of your sentences got cut off)

Cinco de Julio Shave

Razor: Häagen-Dazs/ Gillette Silver Blue
Brush Handle: B-400 The Brush by Tom
Knot: APShaveCo Tuxedo
Soap: Martin de Cadre
Post Care: Thayers Witch Hazel
Alum
Osage Rub

Well I almost missed it but I stopped on my way home from the gym and picked up some ice cream bars. Very nice shave again this year, I really like the GSB, I might have to try a shavette soon. Just two passes but a DFS. First try of this MDC scent and it's wonderful. Slight tickle from the alum but zero blood. Have a great day folks!

Actually, thinking about it, I usually stretch my skin more sideways on my face and downwards on my neck. I will have to try that upward stretch tomorrow. Thanks for the tip.

Ookay. I have firmly determined that if the tool is bad enough, there's no technique in the world that will make it work well.

Arko
Surrey/VDH boar brush
Treet Carbon (vintage)
Hong Long TTO (plastic) razor. (tried two of them - same heads, different handles)

Absolutely atrocious. It turns out that the HL razor heads don't actually bend the blade properly. They just clamp the blade, so there's just the tiniest hint of curve. Then, they add salt, in that the blade sticks out extremely far. For the insult, the center bar sticks up above the head, so you can't even ride the cap enough to just barely touch the blade.

What this means is that the blade bounces up and down like a fat turkey on a trampoline. I managed to do half of my face before being forced to stop. I then put the blade into a 40's SS, and finished the shave. That didn't give me the sheer fear factor, but it definitely wasn't a good edge - I don't know if it was age, or the abuse from the first part of the shave from the HL, but I now know what 'dragging' and 'tugging' really mean. This was the worst shave I can remember in 20 years, and that includes when I used a rotary electric after sweating and letting the sweat dry on my face.

I may try the Treet blade again, but I'll break out the razor hone and hit it a few times first.

End result. I have a clean shave, but I wouldn't call it DFS. one tiny nick, one weeper (next to each other), and the rest of my face where I used the HL feels like I just slid face first on a gravel road. Glad this is a night shave, so I get to recuperate while sleeping.

Anyone that gets one of these Hong Long TTO's? Recycle the aluminum handle (if that's the one you get), and throw the rest away.

Only one stick makes you a brave man Ben. I'm sure the blade flexed a lot not being sandwiched between to sticks. I'm impressed.

It actually wasn't that bad, I managed to wrap the staple around the end of the stick which held it good. I only had to adjust the blade once the whole shave

Woo!!!

The saying is...What's the worse that can happen . I predict you will do just fine. Chargeeeeee.

BULLY!!!!! WILLIAMS WEDNESDAY like a Boss. Fuzzy does approve.

It was an outstanding shave!!! Take a bow.

Graveyards rock..Ido the same at times. Shave early and nap a bit more.

That is beyond awesome! Best of luck to the wee lass as she travels to win it all!

Who needs two sticks. You Sir win the prize!!


So I found out I have no stapler....what is Fuzzy to do on Williams Wednesday!!!! Williams and the stivette...no surprise I am sure. This time two pass with no blood. I did not worry about a clean up. Off work tonight. The Clubman Musk is awesome with the Williams too.

That's the most expensive Cinco de Julio razor I've seen. Haagen-Dazs adds class beyond what we normally see out of this bunch!

Nice improvisation. Style points awarded from the Russian judge.

July 2017 - Time to straighten up!

July 5 CINCO DE JULIO!!!!!

Razor - Popsicle Sticks
Blade - (1)
Soap - Truefitt & Hill 1805
Brush - 30 DC LE
Post - Alum

Looks like I may be the final lemming over the edge this year. This is one of those fun shaves that helps prove our theory, that technique trumps tools. And, apparently, everyone has proven that true so far. My result was very good. Two passes and even some touch up using a fresh Voskhod for the blade. Having used the pain sticks the past several nights my technique was an easy transfer this year. Yes the blade chatters a bit but the T&H soap applied by the LE brush was plenty slick and I had no problems along the way. Very nice DFS finish and I'm ready for next year!!!!

Thanks to the brave souls (bloody fools) who joined in this year. It's traditions like this that bind us together. Whether we want to be that close or not.

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Done that! And, they are floppy. That and they are difficult to hold safely while shaving. The floppiness is definitely the harder part.

+1

Actually I may be the last, at least the last to report. I shaved this afternoon and headed out for the son's bowling league. The razor was the same one I used last year, and left sitting in an Old Spice mug in my medicine cabinet. It's a Ladas blade between pomegranate Outshine fruit bar sticks. I couldn't remember the last time I had a tetanus shot so I gave it a quick dunk in alcohol. For the soap I chose Sweeney Todd, as that seemed most appropriate. The brush was the 30 DC LE with cashmere knot. Short report is no issues 2 passes to a CCS. I grabbed my Rockwell on plate 3 with a Rockwell blade to take it to BBS. As I said before, I like to get at least 3 shaves out of a blade, so I dropped it back into the mug until next year. What's the record for most shaves on a single popcicle Kamisori?

I believe two shaves is the current record, which means you're the leader! Very nice!

It's gonna be Seis De Julio for me. Today went off the rails. My daughter's infection seems to be returning. We'd thought we were out of the woods, but two weeks after her last round of antibiotics the fever has returned. So a no-shave ensued as I had to take her to get treatment and more antibiotics. Hopefully we got on it quickly enough to prevent it from landing her back in the hospital. I have the gear to make the popsicle stick razor. I even bought myself a stapler for the occasion, but I just need to do it when my mind is in it. Worry and distraction do not mix with open blades.

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