The Crazy Ivan in SEptember!
September 27
Razor - '59 Ball End Tech
Blade -
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(2)
Brush - Vie Long 12705 The Horse
Soap - Proraso Green Tub
Post - Cold Water, Alum, Aqua Velva Musk
It's Sunday. That means two shaves today. Head then face. Let's go to the head first, shall we? My head shave is always the same. VDH Boar brush, VDH Deluxe soap, Merkur 23c, Astra SP blade. I usually change blades after three shaves, so every three weeks. Today was shave number 3 on the blade. This shave is so automatic that it is almost thoughtless. I lather by area, shave that area, lather the next, shave the next and so on until it's all nice and smooth. I have the angles all perfectly memorized, it's simply automatic. That's why I never change anything with it. I'll play with setups and combinations with my regular shave but the head shave is a locked down shave.
The problem with a locked down shave that is that automatic is you can easily jump in without thinking about basics. For instance, when using a TTO one should always check the tightness of the doors before proceeding. Otherwise you can run into slice and dice territory. With a three piece like the Merkur 23c you don't have that issue. I did my usual quick look and inspection, lathered up after a hot towel on my head and went right to work. Right side above and around the ear first. No problem. Lathered the left side around and over the ear. Rinsed and shook the razor and set it and took a stroke.........and felt a strange sensation as the top cap and baseplate seemed to separate a bit.......leaving the blade loose.....causing it to catch.......making me say some very choice words........causing SWMBO to stick her head in the door to ask if I'd cut myself......just as the blood welled up. Yep. Sure did. Her next response? "Well why did you do that?" I don't know, love of my life, just felt like some excitement.
Once I determined it was just a small chunk I excavated on my temple and that the blood wasn't going to run much I checked the razor. The handle was loose, everything was flopping a bit and the gap it allowed was roughly a Slim or Fatboy on 16 (compares to a 4 on the Russian Ideal). I tightened everything down, checked alignment and finished without a problem. I was a bit puzzled what happened but I believe it loosened when I shook it after the right side. So, I loosened it again, barely tightened it, and gave it a good shake and sure enough....that was it. So.....back to the basics.....check tightness on a three piece prior to beginning. Duh!
As for the face? A great and problem free day with the Thai Gillette.
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