View attachment 205490
Sept 17th
Proraso PS Red
Central Texas Soaps Barbershop SS
Zenith Boar
Filarmonica 5/8 Doble Temple
Myrsol Agua De Limón
4 pass DFS. 6am shave, just getting to post. Interesting shave, definitely a version of technique trumps tools...sort of. Started out with a trial version of an artisan soap. Didn't work with my usual setup/product mix.....either my water, or the added undercoat of Proraso....and the Filarmonica was stumbling/skipping a bit much during the set down and follow through swipe. I could feel (with dry fingers) after each swipe my skin was sticky clean, no residual slick feel (not good). I managed a complete 1 pass shave just to 'make it through'. A good 8-10 minutes for that pass. No cuts or weepers. Some growth swiped away, but it was spotty.
Rinsed my face, brush and shave bowl. Switched to CTS Barbershop SS (slightly lemony to my nose). Reapplied Proraso PS Red, made a second lather and went after it as usual. Filarmonica did it's job this time, soap slick and thick. No big issues like the first pass with set down skipping or blade hopping. Nicks, cuts and/or weepers....none found. Overall DFS, and no irritation, even with 4 passes. Followed up with the Myrsol Agua De Limón. Overall, not a bad shave, just time consuming and knocked out a soap I won't purchase.
The Filarmonica is a light razor, full hollow grind and very audible. For me, that combo means lots of attention required for detailed control and pressure to make it perform (not unlike a race car). Add in a decently slick soap like CTS, and things should just work if the razor is sharp enough. Something amiss on the first pass. The Filarmonica (and every straight/kami) does get lightly stropped before/after each shave. I perform a quick 'tree topping' shave test (shown in many of gssixgun's videos) before putting a razor to work each day. Don't think this was a 'shave ready' sharpness issue. The Filly was easily tree topping hair this morning, and still was after today's shave. Tomorrow I'll do a 'rerun' with the Filarmonica....with the slickest soap/water combination I have (IMO)....just to re-evaluate/test what happened today.
Hope everyone has a Terrific Tuesday!
Click to expand...
