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SOTD TUESDAY, JULY 1, 2020
My first shave for July also featured my first outing with the Feather SS Barber's razor. Both the Feather SS and DX models use AC blades. For todays shave I loaded a Feather Super blade which I also use in my AC safety razors. The weight and heft differ from the Dovo as does the seeming cutting power. I found the Feather razor to be much sharper than the Dovo. What I also really like about these two SS razors my son gifted me is that there is none of the stropping/honing type maintenance required. All I need do is drop in a fresh blade and I'm off to the races for at least five to seven shaves. So it is in essence, a no-comb (either solid or open) blade replaceable straight razor. Now the Kamisori SS that was part of the package is going up on the shelf for now. According to my son, it's the same blade holder attached to a straight handle. When he upgraded it was to the DX Kamisori. That is his preferred straight razor. I may give it a go later this month, but for now I'll be shaving my Mug with both the Feather and the Dovo. For the dome shave I have returned to my trusty Schick Krona, although the model I shaved with for 50 years wasn't the Gold Centennial Edition razor I shaved with today. I selected one of my vanishing Sharp Stars for the Krona.
The theme at TSD this month is "Shave like an Emperor". In the spirit of Imperial Shaving I'll be limiting my shave soaps (MWF, Nuavia Pannacrema Blu, and Haslinger Schafmilch) to areas formerly occupied by the Roman Empire (England, Italy, and Gaul). My justification for continuing to use my beloved Nancy Boy Shave Cream is that it's just the best shave cream on the planet and thus qualifies for the Imperial label. The brush selected, my Omega Pro48 Boar is of Italian manufacture and thus qualifies as well, besides being my favorite Boar brush. Given that this was my first run with the new-to-me Feather SS razor, I debated whether I should limit its use to a single WTG pass. It did not feel like the Dovo, but it did shave beautifully. So after that first pass I began my second ATG pass and experienced a very minor set-down error as I began my non-dominant right cheek. Since it was minor I finished the pass which resulted in a thin stream of blood trailing down the cheek. Of course, this was when dear SWMBO came breezing in, took one look at me, and sweetly inquired why a tremor-ridden person would purposely choose to shave with a non-safety razor? I just smiled and winked at her. Her response was one we're probably all familiar with, "MEN!!!" I settled for a very close DFS. Ce qui sera sera!
Shaving the noggin with the Gold Centennial Krona was like putting on an extremely comfortable pair of old shoes! It just felt right! I guess it should after 50 years of Schick Krona shaving. My body went into automatic mode. After whipping up a thick, slick Nancy Boy lather and applying it to the dome, I had at it. The shave felt surprisingly good. I remember thinking that I never was able to get as close a shave as I do now with my other razors. I don't believe it's this particular NOS model. It launched into its own version of the 'buttering toast' song as it sheared away my stubble. In fact that first pass was remarkably close. I guess I may not have focused on my technique the way I do nowadays. In those pre-retirement days I was generally prepping for a meeting or looking to complete what I then considered a daily, not-so-pleasant maintenance task. In any case, that first WTG pass pretty much obliterated yesterday's stubble. The second ATG pass consisted of nothing more than some selected buffing. As I was shaving with it I was surprised at the closeness of that first pass. I guess I've just gotten better at this shaving business. To conclude, what I ended up with was a lovely, relaxed shave which reached the DFS+++ overall. I feel cool, clean, and my scalp is velveteen!
RAZOR: Feather SS Razor (Mug), Schick Centennial Gold Krona (Noggin)
BLADE: Feather Super AC (Mug), Sharp Star DE (Noggin)
PREP: Cold water rinse
BRUSH: Omega Pro48 Boar
CREAM: Nancy Boy Signature w/ 6 drops of M-Bomb
POSTSHAVE: Cold water wash with Glyce Glycerin soap followed by Humphreys Lilac WH and Royall Lyme AS. Finished with Nancy Boy Signature Scent Cooling After-Shave Gel.
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