Awesome photo, gear and shave, Gary! Those Goodwills have such a cool head design--very unique. Good to hear it shaves as nicely as it looks
Thanks, Tim! It is frustrating, but progress is progress. Getting a VBBS is effortless with any of the 17 safety razors in my regular rotation. Achieving proficiency is what my goal is. When I am able to get a decent DFS, with a straight, I’ll be pleased. My problem is that I really am addicted to VBBS shaves, which is why I know I’ll never be a full-time open edge shaver.
Joe, I did enjoy the new hold, but in all honesty don’t believe I’ll ever be able to achieve the level of closeness I get from my AC, Shake Sharp or Auto Strop razors. But I am keeping an open mind.
The scales on my Focus R21 popped a rivet early in the game, so I opted to use it kamisori style--I, personally, prefer it to the traditional straight razor design.
Awesome shave and report, Andrew--that Odin brush is amazing! Ought to set up a meeting with Blair's @b1hart straight razor, Frigga
June 27--Just the Basics June Gear Razor: Utopia Care Shavette Blade: Astra SS (1) Brush: JOmegan boar Soap: Stirling Texas on Fire (prepared and chilled with ice water) Menthol: Stirling Frost Drops AS: Pinaud Citrus Musk (1 Frost Drop added) Balm: Stirling Glacial Unscented The Shave Bowl lather today. The only problem the bowl gives me is that if I’m not careful, I’ll over agitate the lather, and it will fluff up on me. I wasn’t careful. The good news is Stirling soaps can handle a ton of water, so if you catch the fluffing early, you can add a bit of water and knock the fluff down and continue to generate a yogurty lather with some very light, non-agitating brush strokes. I gave it a whirl, and... boomshanka! No more fluffiness. Thought I’d try another XTG/XTG 2 pass shave. The brand new Astra SS blade made this seem like a great idea on paper, and mostly it was. BUT, there are parts of my goat zone that really resist shaving, and a WTG pass is probably the most effective way to take those areas down. Ironically, I have to do less touching up along the goat zone when I do a WTG 1st pass than I do for an XTG 1st pass. Now I know, and knowing is half the way to not being stupid anymore… or something like that. May you ever bask in the happy glow of Saturday!
Thanks Tim! I wholeheartedly recommend Satsuma. Although it is a summer scent, it can be used year round. I like the Stirling Spice, Christmas Eve, Bay Rum, Piacenza before it lost its scent and Sandalwood. I like the 2019 BoS (Tsuka), but I think it has been discontinued. The soaps that haven't tried that interest me are Pumpkin Spice, Barbershop, Pineapple Chill and possibly Obsidian.
Look at it this way! Now you have another relaximg alternative that you never had before! I believe that you will get a VBBS or how I label it as an IBSS++. Remember, you are doing something that you deemed impossible and look how far you have come in a short time. You have an indelible spirit that does not quit despite all odds! Like I have said earlier, you are developing a skill that 99% of men would never try and you are doing it in a very creative and unorthodox way that makes it so much better. Who knows! You might meet someone with the same affliction that always wanted to try straight shaving and you can share your experience with that person. The same holds true if you met someone who didn't have it, but was afraid to try. You can inspire them to try because you can tell them that if you can do it with Parkinson's, then anyone can. I think there is more to your shave journey than meets the eye to open yourself to other reasonsble possibilities.
