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A journal of a Cajun's life wet shaving

cajunrph

cajunrph

DecemBOAR 4 of 31
Shave Date 12/4/23 Straight Razor Shave #20
Razor: Straight: Unknown "Best" Solingen 7/8
Pre-Shave: PAA The Cube 2.0
Soap: TOB Oud
Brush: Semogue 2000 Pure Bristle Bleached Boar
Post-shave: Alum block, Thayers Witch Hazel, PAA Mysterium Serum, PAA Black Shroud
Rating: 28/30 10 for Comfort, 9 for cuts and weepers (3), 9 for closeness, neck stubble, Face DFS.

Notes:

The attentive reader may notice the conspicuous lack of listing a DE and blade for today. The reason is that I did the entire shave with the straight, including inside the Goatee area. Inspired by Aaron's (@APBinNCA) post, I did a few S-N passes on the neck area. Onnnnn to the shave........

I am sticking to the Unknown "Best" for a few shaves to see how my touch-up honing is doing. Again this was a comfortable shave, but on the first pass, I did lop off a pimple that popped up unbeknownst to me on the right cheek. Despite the lopped-off pimple, that first pass on the right side yielded a very close shave for a WTG pass. The left side wasn't nearly as close as the right side. I had another weeper on the left side next to the beard while I was doing some XTG work.

XTG work is still easier on the left side. I was trying to figure out the hand and blade placement for the right side yesterday evening while watching some football. No blade in the hand, just envisioning how to hold it. Welp, that chit didn't work. I ended up holding it like a Kamisori Japanese straight, with the scales in line with the blade. Then the words of Aaron popped into my head, S-N passes were easier. So I did a S-N pass on the neck, and guess what? I did not draw any blood. In fact, I edged ever so slightly into ATG territory just above the jawline. I did quite a few S-N passes in an attempt to figure out the ear-to-chin pass on the right side. I never really got there, at one point I was pivoting the straight somewhat and getting closer to that path to clear up the jawline stubble. Additionally, at one point trying to start a pass by the right jaw joint, the straight bit me a tad. I did not see any blood, but that was a lesson to stop for the day. I was hyped up and could tell the adrenaline was flowing.

The blade is still comfortable to me, and it is wacking off whiskers. Maybe those few laps helped the edge out a bit. I am not certain, but I do feel like I am more confident with the blade than I may be with any other blade. It may be I'm more comfortable because I'm more familiar with the blade and when it will bite. It is sharp because of the smooth cheek it left after the first pass. Feeling it now it is just about BBS, which I never thought I'd get this soon. Looking in the mirror I have a tad bit of irritation as well. Not too bad but more than yesterday, the shave is much closer than yesterday.

Inspired but the confidence I had with successful S-N passes on the neck, I decided to try and trim up the interior of the goatee. Again I figured it out, not the closest but acceptable. Truth be known, that area is rarely BBS, there's normally stubble at the lip and some in the interior. Not visible unless you're close to my face, which should only be one of the furbabies or my wife. And they don't complain.

I am quite pleased with the shave today. I was looking forward to today's shave in anticipation of what I'd figure out. Now I am looking forward to tomorrow's shave to see what I can improve on. As it is now, I am getting close enough to not use the DE at all. Am I as fast with the straight as the DE? Nowhere close. I didn't time it today, but I started sooner today and it ended a tad later, but I was earlier to work than normal. I will take it. It just keeps on getting better and better.

Have a blessed Monday, and great shaves.

IMG_1903.jpeg
 
Osyri

Osyri

cajunrph said:
DecemBOAR 4 of 31
Shave Date 12/4/23 Straight Razor Shave #20
Razor: Straight: Unknown "Best" Solingen 7/8
Pre-Shave: PAA The Cube 2.0
Soap: TOB Oud
Brush: Semogue 2000 Pure Bristle Bleached Boar
Post-shave: Alum block, Thayers Witch Hazel, PAA Mysterium Serum, PAA Black Shroud
Rating: 28/30 10 for Comfort, 9 for cuts and weepers (3), 9 for closeness, neck stubble, Face DFS.

Notes:

The attentive reader may notice the conspicuous lack of listing a DE and blade for today. The reason is that I did the entire shave with the straight, including inside the Goatee area. Inspired by Aaron's (@APBinNCA) post, I did a few S-N passes on the neck area. Onnnnn to the shave........

I am sticking to the Unknown "Best" for a few shaves to see how my touch-up honing is doing. Again this was a comfortable shave, but on the first pass, I did lop off a pimple that popped up unbeknownst to me on the right cheek. Despite the lopped-off pimple, that first pass on the right side yielded a very close shave for a WTG pass. The left side wasn't nearly as close as the right side. I had another weeper on the left side next to the beard while I was doing some XTG work.

XTG work is still easier on the left side. I was trying to figure out the hand and blade placement for the right side yesterday evening while watching some football. No blade in the hand, just envisioning how to hold it. Welp, that chit didn't work. I ended up holding it like a Kamisori Japanese straight, with the scales in line with the blade. Then the words of Aaron popped into my head, S-N passes were easier. So I did a S-N pass on the neck, and guess what? I did not draw any blood. In fact, I edged ever so slightly into ATG territory just above the jawline. I did quite a few S-N passes in an attempt to figure out the ear-to-chin pass on the right side. I never really got there, at one point I was pivoting the straight somewhat and getting closer to that path to clear up the jawline stubble. Additionally, at one point trying to start a pass by the right jaw joint, the straight bit me a tad. I did not see any blood, but that was a lesson to stop for the day. I was hyped up and could tell the adrenaline was flowing.

The blade is still comfortable to me, and it is wacking off whiskers. Maybe those few laps helped the edge out a bit. I am not certain, but I do feel like I am more confident with the blade than I may be with any other blade. It may be I'm more comfortable because I'm more familiar with the blade and when it will bite. It is sharp because of the smooth cheek it left after the first pass. Feeling it now it is just about BBS, which I never thought I'd get this soon. Looking in the mirror I have a tad bit of irritation as well. Not too bad but more than yesterday, the shave is much closer than yesterday.

Inspired but the confidence I had with successful S-N passes on the neck, I decided to try and trim up the interior of the goatee. Again I figured it out, not the closest but acceptable. Truth be known, that area is rarely BBS, there's normally stubble at the lip and some in the interior. Not visible unless you're close to my face, which should only be one of the furbabies or my wife. And they don't complain.

I am quite pleased with the shave today. I was looking forward to today's shave in anticipation of what I'd figure out. Now I am looking forward to tomorrow's shave to see what I can improve on. As it is now, I am getting close enough to not use the DE at all. Am I as fast with the straight as the DE? Nowhere close. I didn't time it today, but I started sooner today and it ended a tad later, but I was earlier to work than normal. I will take it. It just keeps on getting better and better.

Have a blessed Monday, and great shaves.

View attachment 1758772
Click to expand...
This is one exciting shave to read and you had my adrenaline running when I read "got to S-N pass on your neck", I was so afraid as before that was "Words of Aaron" (I wouldn't trust him). Glad you are getting a closer shave and some areas BBS!
 
cajunrph

cajunrph

huck1680 said:
Hey, good on ya for embarking on a new venture, one which I am quite happy to not explore. If I was ever to decide to try or experiment with straights I'm pretty sure my cat would have this reaction...
View attachment 1758953
Click to expand...
True story. Saturday as I had the straight to my neck, attempting to shave without cutting myself, my dog runs in at looks at me then whimpers. I looked at her and said “Really? I have a sharp knife at my neck and now you want out?” The little arsehole wouldn’t budge from under the covers an hour earlier when I let the other dog out. I was almost at the end of the shave, trying to clean up the neck whiskers. I told her to wait. She whimpered again and growled. I put the straight down and let her little arse outside. She stayed outside till I got done with the shave. It doesn’t matter if I shut the door to the bedroom. They know how to push it open.
 
cajunrph

cajunrph

DecemBOAR 5 of 31
Shave Date 12/5/23 Straight Razor Shave #21
Razor: Straight: Unknown "Best" Solingen 7/8
Pre-Shave: PAA The Cube 2.0
Soap: PAA Vloid
Brush: Zenith 507-BC Blue Chrome Boar
Post-shave: Alum block, Thayers Witch Hazel, PAA Mysterium Serum, PAA Vloid
Rating: 28/30 9 for Comfort, 10 for cuts and weepers (3), 9 for closeness, neck stubble, Face DFS.

Notes:

21 days of straight shaving in the books. Not 3 calendar weeks as I did not use the straight for the 3 days I was in Louisiana for Thanksgiving. It twas a good save, now without further ado on to the shave.......................

Again this shave was completed entirely by the straight including inside the Goatee area. That's the one area I thought I was going to always have to use the DE, but nope. I figured it out after surviving the Arron (@APBinNCA) inspired S-N pass on the neck yesterday. Today the first WTG passes felt ever so slightly rougher than before. Just a tad. I did find myself adding more pressure as the shave continued, but I was barely removing the lather on the neck at one point. Today’s shave included some WTG passes on the face and XTG on the face and neck including the dreaded S-N on the neck. Try as I did, I never was comfortable enough to do a XTG pass ear to chin on the right-hand side. I'd put the blade in position but never got the pass started. Thinking back now, I did not stretch the area, which led to the blade sorta tugging the skin and me saying "Nope" and back to the more comfortable chin-to-ear pass. I need to reach over and stretch that skin with my left hand. As it is now on my XTG passes I don't use the hand to stretch, just puffing of the cheek and various face contortions work well enough to stretch the skin on the chin to ear passes. On both sides, the ear-to-chin pass is not comfortable to me. Stretching with the off-hand may be the key. More practice is needed.

As I prepared for the S-N pass, I held the razor like I did yesterday, scales in line with the blade, al la Kamisori straight. As I looked into the mirror raising the blade to my throat, and took a deep breath, I thought of Corey (@Osyri) and if he was in the room watching me. This is what I envisioned his face to be:

Scared The Muppets GIF

Heck, I was sorta scared myself seeing me raise the blade to my neck like I was about to cut my head off. A deep breath, chin up to stretch the neck as much as possible, spine on the neck, rotate blade towards the skin till blade touches neck, and then......, and then......, a S-N pass removed the lather like it was supposed to happen. Nary a drop of blood in sight. I must say that image of me standing there with the straight to my throat is burned into my memory. Now it is not a fearful image, but one of accomplishment. And there was no body to hide, all was well. I did a few more passes S-N on the neck not so much to remove more neck hair, but as a segway into going XTG on the face. I figured staring down the fear of S-N on the neck would help with gaining confidence going ear-to-chin on the face. Nope, but likely nope because I did not stretch the face properly. The neck was stretched before I started the pass. I almost got the diagonal pass on the left cheek I was doing with the DE razors, just shy of it. Again, the stretching part needs more work.

I am truly splitting hairs on the irritation/comfort score today. I docked a point because the blade did not feel as comfortable as days previous, also there is some slight irritation on the face. Nitpicking here, but nitpick I must, because that's how I am going to improve, by noting deficiencies and doing something to rectify them. I will do 10 laps on my 12K Naniwa tonight and see how the razor shaves tomorrow. I won't do any laps on the pasted strop so I can see with the 10 laps alone on the 12K Naniwa does. Experiments to figure this out.

It was a good shave today, not as close as the DE could get, but very acceptable. The timing worked out partly because I started earlier. The first pass with the straight took about 5-7 minutes as I was taking my time and not being rushed. Total time was about 30 minutes, not counting the stropping to start the shave. I am glad I allotted myself extra time so I wouldn't feel rushed. I do two WTG passes and then come clean up. I call it quits when I've done 2-3 clean-up attempts, or at least I try to. Some of the irritation is from the clean-up passes and my attempt to get the shave closer. As it is, I do achieve a DFS shave with just the straight. Better than any cartridge gave me, and better than when I started DE shaving. I am just 21 days into this and so far the drive is still there to figure this out. I am quite pleased with the journey so far.

Thus concludes another shave, I wish everyone a blessed Tuesday, and may all your shaves be fantastic.

IMG_1917.jpeg
 
Osyri

Osyri

Uncle John, I'm nervous every time you wrote "blade to my throat" or any mentions blade to neck, throat, etc.

I had to stop eating my lunch, hold my breath, and brave myself thru your 4th paragraph!

Thanks for the adrenaline rush this afternoon!
proxy.php

The last time I had a blade (EDC knive) on my face, I must admit I was so nervous and shaky, that I chickened out before I even apply any pressure or make any movements, so you have to understand how weak I am! One day, I hope I will grow enough cojones (CajunJohnness?) to attempt a straight!
 
Star_Wahl_Clipper_Treker

Star_Wahl_Clipper_Treker

Likes a fat handle in his hand
Osyri said:
Uncle John, I'm nervous every time you wrote "blade to my throat" or any mentions blade to neck, throat, etc.

I had to stop eating my lunch, hold my breath, and brave myself thru your 4th paragraph!

Thanks for the adrenaline rush this afternoon!
proxy.php

The last time I had a blade (EDC knive) on my face, I must admit I was so nervous and shaky, that I chickened out before I even apply any pressure or make any movements, so you have to understand how weak I am! One day, I hope I will grow enough cojones (CajunJohnness?) to attempt a straight!
Click to expand...

Corey, does the divine safety razor bring happiness to you soul, with such sweet comfortable shaves, leaving your skin a pleasant feeling of smooth glass? Well, then you do not need no straight. Enjoy the razors you have, because they alone do such a fine job, and that is a comforting thought, is it not? ;)

Let the crazy cajun take all the risk, oh yes he loves a challenge. He will be challenged, both in his resolve, to carry out his unwavering fortitude, as he hopes he don't send his one way ticket to weeper river, and also, by the financial burden he faces, with each and every straight rabbit hole of acquisition.

As long as you stay with the ever wise and divine safety razor, you shall be free from the bonds of blind straight tyranny. I know you are happy Corey, so lets keep it that way, and continue on with your Jedi training. 😁

star wars dancing GIF
 
Osyri

Osyri

Star_Wahl_Clipper_Treker said:
Corey, does the divine safety razor bring happiness to you soul, with such sweet comfortable shaves, leaving your skin a pleasant feeling of smooth glass? Well, then you do not need no straight. Enjoy the razors you have, because they alone do such a fine job, and that is a comforting thought, is it not? ;)

Let the crazy cajun take all the risk, oh yes he loves a challenge. He will be challenged, both in his resolve, to carry out his unwavering fortitude, as he hopes he don't send his one way ticket to weeper river, and also, by the financial burden he faces, with each and every straight rabbit hole of acquisition.

As long as you stay with the ever wise and divine safety razor, you shall be free from the bonds of blind straight tyranny. I know you are happy Corey, so lets keep it that way, and continue on with your Jedi training. 😁

star wars dancing GIF
Click to expand...
Will do! Uncle Chris!

I am excited to get home soon and use my BB Ti! and use the splash, alum block, mister, etc...

I must remind myself I have 6-7 packages waiting for me when I get back.

My short list of items to use right away :

BB Ti
CK6 soap (that I have forgotten I order)
Captains Choice Sandlewood and Venture (Thank you @Captain Pre-Capsize for the giveaway and allowing me to claim it even being a week late and also marking the package to be deliver to my neighbor) Much Love and Happy Holidays Captain!
A vintage blade that APB will try first and review before I even dare use it
 
Star_Wahl_Clipper_Treker

Star_Wahl_Clipper_Treker

Likes a fat handle in his hand
Osyri said:
Will do! Uncle Chris!

I am excited to get home soon and use my BB Ti! and use the splash, alum block, mister, etc...

I must remind myself I have 6-7 packages waiting for me when I get back.

My short list of items to use right away :

BB Ti
CK6 soap (that I have forgotten I order)
Captains Choice Sandlewood and Venture (Thank you @Captain Pre-Capsize for the giveaway and allowing me to claim it even being a week late and also marking the package to be deliver to my neighbor) Much Love and Happy Holidays Captain!
A vintage blade that APB will try first and review before I even dare use it
Click to expand...

I love absolutely everything you just said, Cheff's kiss perfection on your upcoming plan. The only thing I would change, is to change BB TI to BB TI Shinny. Don't ask me why, but I always enjoyed when you called Aaron's that.

Alright, continue to be awesome, cause you know you are. And remember that you enjoy a little bit of happiness everyday. So when you get home, grab all them packages, and then open them like its Christmas. 😍
 
cajunrph

cajunrph

Star_Wahl_Clipper_Treker said:
Let the crazy cajun take all the risk, oh yes he loves a challenge. He will be challenged, both in his resolve, to carry out his unwavering fortitude, as he hopes he don't send his one way ticket to weeper river, and also, by the financial burden he faces, with each and every straight rabbit hole of acquisition.
Click to expand...
No river of weepers, but this rabbit hole is deep with turns and twists.
 
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