Williams + AQ PS Balm + AQ Ice Blue AS
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Shavette Focus 1.16.2018
Pre-shave: Hot shower & Nivea Men Sensitive Face Wash
Brush: Barburys by Sibel synthetic
Soap: Williams Mug Shaving Soap
Razor: Magic by Master Barber shavette
Blade: Derby Professional (1)
Post-shave: Dickinson's Original WH, Aqua Velva Sensitive 5 in 1 PS Balm, Aqua Velva Ice Blue Cooling AS
Out of respect for
@NCoxSTL's decision to dig out the long, neglected puck of Williams soap, I decided to go with it today as well. It was a great shave! The lather worked well, it was slick and protective. The last three times I've used this soap I've been very pleased with the results. A year ago, I didn't care much for Williams. I could get a lot of lather but it quickly disappeared soon after I applied it to the face. I still used it once in a while, and I more often molested it by combining it with another soap or cream.
Encouraged by
@wchnu's affection for Williams I used it a couple of times last week with the intention to not molest it. I may have come upon a Williams lathering procedure which works for me, at least. I keep the puck in this shave mug:
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I souse the puck in hot water for a few minutes. I empty the souse water into an old coffee mug which I use to dip the tips of the brush in as needed. I've been using this Barburys synthetic brush the last few times. I usually liked using a boar brush on soap pucks but with Williams I'm finding this synthetic is producing good lather and it goes on my face thicker (too much water on the boar bristles I believe). I do not wet the brush bristles when I initially begin whipping the soap puck (the puck is still wet), thus I start with a dry brush. If I need more water I dip the tips of the bristles in the souse water and keep whipping the puck. I get plenty of lather and just apply it to my face. In this case, I did not wet my face (there's usually enough moisture in the brush and lather), and painted the lather on the face. It went on thick and at first a little pasty. I dipped the bristle tips in the souse water and added just a little moisture. As I've been doing most of the month, I'm lathering only a section of my face at a time while I shave with the Magic. Typically, I start with the right cheek, shave... then the left cheek, shave... and then the neck.
Months ago, I think I used too much water with Williams, in the soap, in the bowl, in the brush and on my face. I produced a lot of lather, fluffy and airy, but it dissipated quickly. Here I'm soaking it initially for a few minutes, but I'm not using a lot of extra water in the brush or on my face. So the lather is a little thicker, a little pasty going on but protective. And it wasn't a lot of work. I was lathering my face within a minute after I started.
This shave felt wonderful. My cheeks are smooth to the touch. My neck not so much, but it's DFS there. The post-shave was excellent.
Happy shaves everyone!
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