A Kamisori Chronicle

[gigglemonk]

I wont be shaving today, though I really want to! My beard is barely grown in after yesterdays shave. If I pass my hand WTG on my cheeks and chin, it feel 'BBS' still. ATG i can feel it, but not much at all. Maybe Ill start applying rogaine to my face so I can shave twice daily!

 

[gigglemonk]

This blade just keeps getting better. Larrys strop makes a huge difference. I was able to do my entire beard again today. 2 passes on each cheek, upper lip, chin and neck. Neck and upper lip were the funkiest due to direction of hair growth and my noobish technique. Still a fine shave though.
Before I finished up with the DE I checked my face... Best shave ever on my cheeks. Almost BBS save for a little bit of stubble ATG. And I mean a little!


Technique is improving slower than my confidence, but its coming along. Some HAD is creeping in and I welcome it fully and without shame.

 

[gigglemonk]

No problems at all so far! No treacherous bleeders, dinged blades, nicked strops or lacerated lips. I think that most of the fear around straight shaving is simply out of lack of effort. It looks scary so few people try it out. So glad I gave it a shot. Im currently trying to recruit a few friends. Got them on the soap and brush, as for DEs or straights though, no one is biting.

Ive been wondering about stropping. Im doing 100 strokes before the shave and then 75 after the shave. Is it possible to overstrop? Even if technique is good? And with good technique, how many passes do most of us do?

 

[Kentos]

No you can't overstrop, but I settled on 40 leather prior and 10 leather after. Havent found the need for linen on a Kamisori yet.

Just had a shave with a western today, and not quite the same. Kamisoris may have ruined me forever!

 

[paco664]

great job monk....

i have been straight shaving for a long time and i still get weepers *(on the neck.. for some reason i always get gooseybumps and the razor removes the top of them quite effectively) and i guarantee myself a near "home alone" moment after every shave when i put on pinaud bay rum......

but i don't mind the pain....

 

[gigglemonk]

Well I should have waited another day to shave. I guess my growth is not fast enough, nor is my technique good enough, to shave everyday. Today my beard barely visible though ATG I could feel it and in a few places XTG as well. I decided to shave anyways. Now I have a mild razorburn and a stubbly shave. I did a single pass and removed some hair but it seems that the places on my face that were close to DFS before the shave are now just plain pi$*ed off.
I stopped after the first pass. Didnt want to tempt the gods with an XTG attempt. I dont think I was using too much pressure but Im not going to rule that out. I know that what I think and what is aren't always the same thing.
Anyways, not gonna shave tomorrow. And to cope with that Ill probably bust out my new loupe and ogle some edges. IF I dont drop a ton of cash on some Jnats!

 

[paco664]

i honed up my homemade kami tonight... slowly but surely i am correcting a fault of my original grinding....... anyway....

1k and set a beautiful bevel on it..... then to the coticule and it was looking beautiful... finished it up on the 15k welsh slate.... beautiful edge porn through the scope....

lathered up with TOBS jermyn st after a nice hot shower.... weeper on the first pass... lol.. *(mustache is where i always start) removed a little pimple... then finished WTG... 2nd pass ATG and touch ups..... it bit me 3 times *(damn thing is sharp).... but i got a DFS....

love this razor...

 

[gigglemonk]

That thing is beautiful!

 

[paco664]

That thing is beautiful!

thanks.. it took me about 1.5-2 hours to make it at work.... *(not counting tempering).....

it is becoming one of my go to razors.... but i think it was "over sharp" tonight.... i got a "placement" cut.. *(where you place it against the skin to start a pass and it just kind of bites you to say "pay attention"...)

 

[gigglemonk]

Do the shaves always get better with straights? Todays was ridiculously nice. I took the razor to the green CrOx balsa for 30 passes and then the red FeOx. Leather strop and POW!. Awesome shave! Two full passes over entire face. Felt great! Still cleaned up with the DE. Im now noticing that I am overdoing with the soap. Ive been loading a ton for a wet, slick lather. Time for more soap!

 

[gigglemonk]

First weeper! I was attempting XTG on my chin. It was surprising to see a spot of blood grow and grow but otherwise uneventful.
I noticed that for the most part my passes are very very straightforward, no scything or slicing. I did start to scythe a bit on my upper lip without planning on it. Seems to be a natural motion of my arm. I dont think I want to repeat it all too often though. I dont feel nervous about cutting myself with the straight but I do have a healthy respect for the razor and for the integrity of my skin.

 

[kg4ghn]

Only back on B&B for a few days and already I see something new I want to try that I have been happily living without...

 

[gigglemonk]

Today I was distracted during my shave, work stuff, etc, and decided after one pass to go with the DE. I wasn't paying attention and did not want to drop my razor or cut myself. I think I made the right decision though it feels like wasted time! At least Im not bleeding.
I also received my first alum block in the mail today along with a bottle of Dominica, more distractions!

 

[gigglemonk]

WOWOWOWOWOWWWWWWWWWWW! Completed my shave today without the DE!

PRE: Hot shower and applied lather in shower followed by 40 passes on the 'flawed' travel strop
SHAVE: Razorock Boston Tea Party Soap, Tweezerman
3 passes, WTG, XTG and ATG with no weepers whatsoever. The Razorock was phenomenal and it gave me enough courage to try the ATG.
POST: Dominica

Damn close to BBS, cheeks total BBS. The blade moved fine through the mustache and chin. Angles are coming a bit more natural now. ATG seemed alright, lots of practice needed though. Touched up with nothing more than old water on a few spots.

Just feels great. I have another kamisori on the way as well! Ive got some ideas for what to do once I get my second blade

 

[paco664]

congrats...

 

[gigglemonk]

Ive been using Razorocks Green Tea soap for the past few days and it really disagrees with my skin. This morning I superlathered with my favorite MWF and TOBS lavender cream. Excellent shave. Ive started to noticed with just a tad more pressure I can mow through the upper lip much more smooth. Idont want to get carried away and start putting pressure everywhere but it seems that just a bit where appropriate can facilitate a smooth stroke.

Also, with a straight it seems that less passes are necessary for DFS. One WTG, and then ATG on cheeks and XTG on chin and upper lip and done.

So into this! I have my 2nd kamisori paid for and should be shipped on Mon. If all goes well Im thinking of doing a pass around with my current kami for those who havent tried one yet.

 

[gigglemonk]

I simply dont get it... Why did I wait so long to learn a straight? Ive started going ATG on the cheeks with no issues. The neck is still a beast. Shaving with my dominant hand only makes the reach tricky on certain spots but its still going well.
Ended up with a few weepers today on my chin. I think the longer stroke through the tougher whiskers is to blame. That and my amateur status leave a lot of room for the red.

 

[beisler]

great journal giggle and good progress

 

[gigglemonk]

It seems that shaving every other day works best right now. The blade gives such a close a shave that only certain parts of my beard grow back within 24 hours. Still not BBS but no need to rush.
Today I tried Mikes Natural Shaving Soap. The lather took me a bit, needed lots of water but a great shave. I nicked myself pretty good just beneath my nose on an XTG pass. The cheap alum block I have did nothing but the Rite Aid styptic pencil cleared it right up. This is the closest to BBS so far. Im only using the omote against my skin in the traditional method so getting the proper angles for certain passes eludes me.

New kamisori is on the way!

 

[itaforte]

Great looking straight!