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SOTD FRIDAY MORNING, JANUARY 29, 2021
This morning’s mug and dome shaves featured the Diamond Hayashi Nichiri Tokusen (DHNT) 6/8 and my long neglected Valet Auto Strop VC4. The VC4 represents the tenth and final Auto Strop model in the line, and to Henry Gaisman, it’s architect, the culmination of 42 years of incremental improvements and the only safety bar design. Although a bit steam punk looking, it is without doubt one of my best dome shavers. When loaded with a freshly stropped Feather FAS-10 carbon steel blade, there is no superior head shaver. In fact I would class this morning’s shave kit as truly “epic” in the pure ‘Keithmaxian’ sense of the term.
For example, I’m developing a real affection for the A&E Shaving Butter/Post-Shave Serum combo in use over the last four shaves. My mug and noggin have never felt better. Although marketed as unscented, there is a slight flowery ‘frou-frou’ scent which rapidly dissipates in use. For you young fellers who enjoy scented soaps, this probably isn’t for you. But for those of us with 65 or more solar rotations under our belts, the skin tone benefits are dramatic and obvious. Complementing the entire kit is my MrEE knurled aluminum handled shave brush. It feels great in hand, and it’s hybrid knot easily handles both bowl and face lathers for dome and mug respectively.
Today’s sunny 22°F morning was the perfect time for a classic ice water shave. After my hot shower, the icy bowl lather felt great as I applied it to the dome. The Valet Auto Strop VC4 is a very well-balanced safety razor, and its freshly stropped carbon steel blade obliterated my dome stubble in two ATG passes with the Traveling Wilburys’ “Handle with Care” playing in the background leaving a delightfully soft, velveteen noggin surface in its wake. The icy lather definitely woke me up, and set the stage for what turned out to be a great three pass Japanese silver steel mug shave with the DHNT 6/8. There really isn’t anything better than a great dolphin smooth shave to set the tone for the rest of the day! Enjoy your morning and/or evening whisker reduction efforts, my shave brothers and sisters.
RAZOR: Diamond Hayashi Nichiri Tokusen 6/8 (Mug), Valet Auto Strop VC4 (Dome)
BLADE: Feather FAS-10
PREP: Cold water rinse followed by a scrub with Argan Oil
BRUSH: MrEE Knurled Aluminum Handle Hybrid Knot #007
CREAM/CROAP: A&E Shaving Butter
POSTSHAVE: Cold water wash with brush squeezings followed by a rinse with Humphreys Lilac WH. Finished with A&E Post-Shave Serum.
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