09/06/2022
Growth: Two day beard.
Prep: Warm shower: Stirling Sheep bar soap
Pre: Washed face with Stirling Glacial unscented pre-shave soap then reapplied before lathering.
Brush: RV 25 mm STF
Lather : Razorock XXX Italian shaving soap
Blade: Kai Captain Titan Mild (D3)
Razor: Razorock Hawk V3
Base Plate: 'A'
Handle: Razorock Barber Pole
Post: unscented Stirling witch hazel and Trumpers skin food (sandalwood)
Did a two pass shave. The 'A' plate did fine on my cheeks and was probably a little more efficient on my neck. Maybe my lather was too slick or something as my mustache and chin area resisted most attempts at shaving. I think I went a little too heavy on the pre-shave soap on those areas. The 'A' plate was less efficient than the standard plate in those two areas. I even added in XTG passes in both directions across my chin with not very much reduction in stubble (there was some reduction). The mustache area had more stubble than I would like as well even adding the regular diagonal passes. Maybe this razor needs sharper blades. Maybe I needed a different angle. Maybe I was too tired to be shaving this evening (was up late the night before and did not get a lot of sleep) but I really wanted to try out this base plate.
I wanted to keep with the SE flavor of the month and I first contemplated pulling out the Feather AC "SR" kamisori to finish things off but it was a late night shave and I didn't think I had the concentration left in me for that. Instead, I pulled out my V1 Parker adjustable injector with the Chinese Schick blade and did a LOT of blade buffing in the mustache and chin area. I buffed in all directions on my chin (including ATG which I never do). I eventually got things to a SAS+ level but it took a lot of work as the lather was so slick. That is what is making me think my lather needed adjusting.
So I would not consider the 'A' plate to be aggressive with the Kai Captain Titan Mild no matter what the IB web site says. I have read the warnings of
@Hogie on the blade feel for the OC plate and the need to ride the cap for it, but I think the OC might get the nod for the next shave unless I rethink my lather/shave.
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