French Louis Hoe Razor..
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Another shot..
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Three Shaving Pass Routine..
Hot Water prep & massage with Coconut Oil
French Louis Hoe Razor
NOS Heljestrand hollow ground blade x 2
Semogue Boar Brush
Erasmic Shaving Soap (added Argan oil)
Organic Aloe Vera Gel
LOGONA Mann Aftershave Balm (From Germany)
I had a shave today with my French Louis Hoe Razor with a Heljestrand hollow ground blade ...I will just refer to it as a Wedge blade for the purposes of this write up here although I have been informed that its technically a hollow ground..I found the Louis to be a bit more aggressive than the L "Essor that I used the other day...The Louis sits somewhere between the Wilkinson Empire & the L" Essor in terms of aggression...It was just about as smooth as the L" Essor I reckon...I was immediately struck by how sharp the Wedge blade was today...Perhaps my stropping is getting better & or the blade is settling in from being new & unused...Might be a combination of both...
I am stropping the Blade x 50 on each side before & after that I shave with it...This was recommended to me from an Old Timer from the USA...This routine seems to be working well for me...It doesn't take as long as one might think..Its like a Ritual & I am enjoying it...Its very rewarding to shave with a blade that you have sharpened yourself...I have came to realize that all this fuss that can be made over the weight of a razor/handles, soaps and angles and whatnot just pales into insignificance when you are going down the Wedge blade Rabbit Hole...There are just more thing to get on with that are far more technical...Just the way it is for me...I was thinking today that the Old Gents from the Past would have a field day about some of the Scientific discussions in Forums..
That said..I need to find a Slicker Soap here & I am not willing to stick a Tallow Soap on my face..It was almost all Tallow based soaps that were getting used during the Epoch of these Old Razors..I have something coming from India that just might be the stuff for the job...
This is just a get on with Rabbit Hole through Trial & Error..I am getting more confident with my shaves with these Wedge blades...They are Nothing to be Frightened of that's for sure...What I have in my hands is essentially a Short Hollow Ground blade like a Straight...I am so glad that I have experienced a Straight Razor shave here because there are some similarities in the Feel of them at least...Its so easy to have a serious accident with these blades when handling them...They are Evil Sharp & Rigid & have the Capacity to give you a really Bad Day...
I done x 2 WTG passes with a slide technique & a Final ATG pass...I have noticed that the stubble in the sink it a lot more finer than a shave with Modern blades...These old blades are the Epitome of Whisker Reduction that's for sure...I have shaved with the Louis with a Modern Gem blade..Here is the thing...I have found that the Louis will offer a closer BBS result with the Gem blade...That said ...The journey is not as enjoyable & or smooth with a Modern Gem blade...Its not like for like or up for comparison I don't think..But hey...Its early days & maybe I will end up with an all over BBS result with the Wedge blade as my stropping skills improves ...
I ended up with a DFS result today...The L " Essor seemed to shave that bit closer but there is so many variables going on here...I Damn Fine Shave today & which I really enjoyed...Good Karma..
Billy...

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