Luc shaving journal

[Grips]

What do you use to grind the heel ? Dremel ? Is there special technique ?

[Luc]

What do you use to grind the heel ? Dremel ? Is there special technique ?

I think it can be done with a dremel but the risk is high. I plan to use a wheel instead.

[Grips]

Thanks Luc.

[Luc]

I'm slowly approaching the 1000 shaves...

I decided to post today as I've been using the Pashana Original Aftershave, I'm almost half way already. I want to mainly talk about the aftershave since it's the product that bothered me a bit for the past few weeks...

I used the usual today:

• Rudy Vey Custom based on Simpson Chubby 1 (24mm x 48mm) in faux horn. Knotted in Finest
• 6/8 - Fontenille
• Kanayama Strop Model #30,000
• Palmolive Fiji Shaving Stick
• Pashana Original Aftershave

Now, what happened? The Pashana is a good AS but I find the scent very strong. The feeling that I get after I apply that AS is oily and sticky. I tried adding a few drops of water to see if it would be better, not too much. This week, I got a parcel from Well.ca with a few bottles of Thayer's Witch Hazel. So, I mixed the two and voilà! What was a high burning sensation went down to mild or nothing. The scent was cut by half (I use half/half) and the oily and sticky feeling is gone.

I did not mix the bottle of Pashana with the Thayer but it makes me wonder if it wouldn't be better that way. So far, I'm not that crazy about the scent either. I mean, it doesn't smell bad, it's just not my type of scent. I like the Proraso, Pinaud Clubman, Skin Bracer and Booster (that one, a bit more even). So, I will keep on trying that one but I'm not sure if I will finish the bottle. I will review it when I consider it done, that's for sure!

[noahpictures]

Great idea mixing it with witch hazel.

[Luc]

I lowered the mixture for 75% Pashana and 25% Witch Hazel. It works fairly well!

I got 3 razors to hone this week-end, I'm up to 21, 22 and 22 shaves with them. Seems to be the average.

[Grips]

I lowered the mixture for 75% Pashana and 25% Witch Hazel. It works fairly well!

I got 3 razors to hone this week-end, I'm up to 21, 22 and 22 shaves with them. Seems to be the average.

What is your routine between honings, if you don't mind me asking ? Other than the leather strop; what do you use (CrOx, diamond paste), on what (balsa, felt, linen, etc.) and how often ?

Just wondering how you're able to go that many shaves between honings. I'm getting better, but would like to be able to get those kind of numbers before a touch-up.

Thanks

[Luc]

What is your routine between honings, if you don't mind me asking ? Other than the leather strop; what do you use (CrOx, diamond paste), on what (balsa, felt, linen, etc.) and how often ?

Just wondering how you're able to go that many shaves between honings. I'm getting better, but would like to be able to get those kind of numbers before a touch-up.

Thanks

I use a Kanayama Strop Model #30,000. I do 30 laps on the linen and 60 on leather between each shave. My routine is that I shave, dry the razor and when I get back home at night, I strop it. I then put it away, take the next one and so on. When I hone, I lap my Maruichi Japanese finishing stone on a Diamond plate (Atoma 1.2K). Not all my straights need the same amount of laps, I had some that needed 5 laps (no kidding) and others that are 50 laps.

Other than that, I do not have any thing else.

I count the shave number every time I use a straight so that's how I know I'm up to those numbers.

[Grips]

Thanks again Luc.

[Luc]

This is not my first honing session. I usually do 2-3 straights at the time. I ended up honing 4 today. There's another one that required a bit of honing.

What I used, Atoma 1.2k (DMT plate), Maruichi Japanese finishing stone, Paper to keep my mess to a minimum, rag to wipe the straights, a bit of water, a 60x microscope and the 4 straights.

Overall, I would say it took me around 30 minutes for the touch-ups. I just need to strop them now and try them. I will strop them as per the honing ritual. 30 laps on linen, 20 laps on cowhide, 20 laps on Roo and 20 laps on the kanayama.

That's all for today!

[Luc]

Shave number 1000 is coming fast and I think it's a big milestone! Looking back at all that I learn since shave 1, it's a great journey!

Today, it was shave #961.

I went contrary to my previous habits and did not try the straights I freshly honed, I continued with my rotation. I got a straight that will need honing this week end (). I was up to 19 shaves with it and I got 2 ingrowns out of it. The pulling sensation was there but I thought, what could happen?

So, a bit of Witch Hazel and it will get better soon!

Other than that, I'm trying to finish my Proraso shave soap (old formula) so I can make some room for the new one. It's going slowly but that's all right.

[Doc226]

1000 shaves, very cool, that is quite a milestone.

[Luc]

New shave today as the fan in the bathroom did not work, I ended up shaving without a mirror. Well, that was, making the lather, actual shave and post shave (preparing the field, shaving and see the mess I did after).

I have to give a big nod to those who cannot use their glasses while shaving or have any issues with their vision. That was not easy and I only did it once... It was way down the line. I can't imagine how difficult it can be on day 1!

So, window open, fan to the max, the lights where on right above the mirror to get rid of that humidity but it went away when I was done.

All I could see what a big, undefined, giant head!

I did my normal shave with my Albert Bellefontaine which has a square point (). I had some lather flying a bit as when I facelather, I can see where it can go wrong and I can catch it with the brush before it starts flying. The shave itself was all right, well, it was the usually DFS near BBS shave. No nicks or cuts.

It's summer time here and I did not have any mentholated products. I really missed them this morning (either the soap or Aftershave...).

I had the Pashana Original Aftershave and a new shaving cream named Kaloderma (from Germany). It was pretty good stuff but I think I will save it for the winter!

I applied a bit of Skin Bracer Original when I was done, it was much better after that!

[Luc]

The big day is around the corner, I will need to grab a picture of that SOTD.

The shave today was perfect. I'm almost done using my tub or Proraso (old formula) which will give me some room for a new tub of Proraso (new formula this time). The Mennen Skin bracer original is a great AS and perfect for the current weather.

I used my Rugby straight razor today. What an excellent shaver, not issues with it, no cuts, nicks or anything. Just a BBS shave. I'm up to 13 shaves with that straight alone and it's a keeper!

Stay tuned for shave 1000...

[Mike H]

Luc, did you notice a continuous improvement in your straight razor shaves, or were there jumps in improvement after periods of stability. Say you tried something slightly different and notice big improvement? If the later, could you share some of your findings?

[Luc]

Luc, did you notice a continuous improvement in your straight razor shaves, or were there jumps in improvement after periods of stability. Say you tried something slightly different and notice big improvement? If the later, could you share some of your findings?

Sure. I would say that my shaves started to be stable after 70-80 shaves. It wasn't perfect at that stage but it was starting to look like what a straight shave was supposed to. Then, the shaves improved but slowly, very slowly. Like anyone, I had bad days and I had very good days.

I still cut and nick myself sometimes but I would say that, right now, compared to, let say when I was around shave 200, it's less frequent. I now get a better feeling of the blade, after so many shaves, and it gives me a better idea if it's going to well or not. I also know where my weakness is during the shave. As an example, I still have the Sheffield slide (guillotine or scythe motion) on my neck during my 3rd pass. I know that if I do shenanigans during that pass, if my lather isn't up to par, if X happen, I will cut myself. I think that spot had the most nicks.

In the end, the thing that I realised was that changing the shave soap very often caused more damages. I mean, don't get me wrong, I love trying a new product and have many many different products in my den. However, I made 2 observations about it:

1. Changing those product everyday seem to affect how I produce my lather. Maybe because the water is hard here and I'm having issues with new products. I eventually work them without filtered water but it can take a few bowls of lather... If I change product each day, I need to readjust myself every day (product vs. water).
2. If I leave a product on the shelf for so long, it seem to dry and loose a lot of moisture. When I use that product, it's a bit more difficult to get the excellent lather that I need to shave. If I use a product every day, I don't get that issue. Maybe I should soak the puck instead of putting a tablespoon of hot water? I could try that but using the same soap every day makes that problem go away. Funny as I do not have this issue with shaving creams...

I find that face lathering made a difference as it "prep" my face for the shave. Having a proper shaped shaving brush to face lather helps to make the lather more quickly. If I would use my previous brush (that I still own) made for bowl lathering, it still makes lather, it takes a bit more time, that's all.

Finally, the aftershave. Now, this point is my favourite as I do not own as many aftershaves as I would like at the moment but I will get there. I need to use more soaps to make room for those AS bottles. The aftershave conclude the shave and finding the right AS for your skin type should be your primary objective. I used Nivea balm for years (over 10 years) and it always left my face greasy. I didn't like it one bit. I then tried a splash one day after reading that if you have normal or greasy skin, a splash should work on your face. I mean, alcohol in AS is good for me? Sure, it works wonders! I never went back to a balm from that point.

Like any product, not all AS splash are good. I'm working my way to this world, one bottle at the time. I'm starting to get my seasonal AS aligned.

What's seems to be happening now is that I still try new products but not as often as before. I made a list of what I want to try and that's it. I want to keep some regulars in my rotation but the enthusiast of going for a different product every day went down. The way I enjoy my shaves did not!

[Luc]

Just 1 shave away from 1000 straight shaves. I will prepare the shave with something different for tomorrow, I think I got the perfect items for it.

I made some superlather today with some Proraso green tub (old formula, almost gone) and some Kaloderma Shaving Cream with Camomile. The lather was great and that shave cream is pretty nice. It's available at well.ca for not too much monies.

I used my Sir Irisch Moos aftershave and I must say, I think I was a bit disappointed in it. A bit like Pashana Original Aftershave, I get a strong scent coming from the AS and my skin feels a bit rough still. If I compare to an Aftershave with glycerin, as an example, those work better for my skin.

[Mike H]

Congratulations on your next shave...

[Luc]

The big day is today. Shave #1000. I selected a few items that were special for me and others that just happened to be there.


The gear

• 6/8 - Albert Bellefontaine Straight Razor - Montréal, Made in France - I happened to get this straight razor for shave #1000. I originally bought this one while I was in Australia. It was made in France, sold to me from Montreal and I brought it back in Montreal when I moved. I still need to visit the cemetery to see M. Bellefontaine's tombstone...
• Rudy Vey Custom based on Simpson Chubby 1 (24mm x 48mm) in faux horn. Knotted in Finest - I had this one made last year as I wanted something that was awesome for face lathering. I wasn't disappointed in it!
• Vintage Australian made Palmolive - I found this shave stick when I bought a traveling kit in Australia. The stick was in one of the shave stick container. I cleaned it and it's one of those that I would qualify as "They don't make them like that anymore"!
• Pinaud Clubman Original - A long time ago, Phil sent me some Pinaud Clubman and a few other AS down under as I couldn't source them easily. SWMBO loved it and I thought it worked great! Now, it's quite easy to get so I already bought a bottle!

The shave
How did it go? Very well, no nick, cuts or anything like it. It was shave #6 for the straight razor, I honed it not too long ago. The lather was very easy to make and I got the exact consistency of Greek yogurt. I don't always get that exact consistency with all my products. Normally, the lather works great but when I get that consistency, it's like having an extra cherry on the sundae! The aftershave was simply fantastic, I need to decant it in a glass bottle. I got a few Tabasco bottles that are empty (57ml). Those are a bit small but I can still go for a few weeks without refilling them.

[Tkocloser]

Congratulations on 1000 Luc!! Amazing! Thanks for setting an example of shaving excellence and knowledge philanthropy worth following. My hat is off to you sir, and my bow is down to 90 degrees. Bravo! Bravo!