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An Unexpected Journey: A Newbie's Walk In Wet Shaving
- Thread starter Blade-meister
- Start date
Nice couple of shaves! Never would have thought the dental issues would have the potential to cause some serious issues. But now that I think of it, it kind of makes sense. Hope things go well for the next few months!
It's plenty strong and the scent to me smells just like the soap. In fact, if I wanted to skip mammoth painting I could just rub some of the balm on the chest hairs and that would be plenty to last all day. My only complaint about the balm is that it's got a higher alcohol content. I leave my can of the balm upside down and then shake it up before dispensing it out. It's kinda in a shaving cream can set-up but I think the button just draws it out and that there isn't any actual pressure in there. Overall, I like it, but a little will go a long ways so it lasts quite well. I pump out a squirt the size of a dime. It also works better on a face that was just rinsed and dried with a hand towel vs. waiting until your face is really dry or at least that's the way I like to apply it. Rinse-dry- balm immediately.
It's pretty scary if you get an infection in the device. They have to go in and take the whole device out, replace it with a cement piece filled with antibiotics. You then have the whole recovery process all over again with very limited mobility. You also get pumped full of antibiotics by IV. If the infection is successfully killed, then they implant a new device and the process of recovery happens again. I can't tell you how badly that would suck, not to mention the loss of time from work without pay. My work would cover another injury, but not a correction with the same injury as far as being out of work. I'd end up hobbling into work 2 days after surgery just so we could eat and pay the bills. Now mind you infections like this are not very common and usually as the result of some kind of OR contamination, but they don't take any chances with dental procedures.
I've been really struggling lately with rather to post the same shaves over and over. I use the pretty much the same equipment so I'm just not sure the value is there anymore to posting the shaves. I also wanted to see how long it would take my journal to reach the bottom and it looks like about 9 or 10 days 
I'm leaning toward just posting my shaves when I do something different or try a new razor or soap.
On the personal side of things, the healing is going well. I've been off all my meds and that makes all the aches and pains more evident, but my PT guy tells me I'm performing at the level he's seen law enforcement and military personnel perform. I'm doing my part, but I have to credit my surgeon for this and his excellent job. I've been doing more and more around the house as well as taking on little projects like putting handles on some files I purchased at my favorite junk shop before my surgery. I have a chestnut tree on my property that is fighting the blight that killed most of the chestnuts around here, but every now and then I have to cut a branch off it so I save the wood for knife handles and in this case file handles. This of course requires me to also build a shelf to hold them which requires me to fire up the forge to make a metal support going down the middle. I've also been adding buckets of water to my half wiskey barrel that I wanted to use for a quench tub in my blacksmith shop. Over the winter it dried out and I'm trying to swell it back up to hold water again. So far it's taken me a week to get it to hold just 6 1/2 inches of water. Woke up to 26 degrees here this morning !!!!!
I'm leaning toward just posting my shaves when I do something different or try a new razor or soap.On the personal side of things, the healing is going well. I've been off all my meds and that makes all the aches and pains more evident, but my PT guy tells me I'm performing at the level he's seen law enforcement and military personnel perform. I'm doing my part, but I have to credit my surgeon for this and his excellent job. I've been doing more and more around the house as well as taking on little projects like putting handles on some files I purchased at my favorite junk shop before my surgery. I have a chestnut tree on my property that is fighting the blight that killed most of the chestnuts around here, but every now and then I have to cut a branch off it so I save the wood for knife handles and in this case file handles. This of course requires me to also build a shelf to hold them which requires me to fire up the forge to make a metal support going down the middle. I've also been adding buckets of water to my half wiskey barrel that I wanted to use for a quench tub in my blacksmith shop. Over the winter it dried out and I'm trying to swell it back up to hold water again. So far it's taken me a week to get it to hold just 6 1/2 inches of water. Woke up to 26 degrees here this morning !!!!!
My shaves don't vary much either. I do more reading than posting, but it's good to stay in touch, I believe. That said, you've had a lot on your plate lately! Recovering from a total hip replacement and PT has got to be exhausting. No doubt those are the most pressing issues now. You are right when you say you've got to work hard at PT - you're only cheating yourself if you don't.
Be well.
I'm amazed that my PT said that most don't do their therapy at home and some even quit coming. For me it's a challenge every time he gives me more to do.
I'd choose being a cop, the perks are better. You eat better in a firehouse for sure though.
So I tried shaving at night last night to see how it went since many on here shave at night (those that do must be SR shavers!!) I really liked feeling that smooth going to bed and I woke up at about DFS- but by noon I was pretty scratchy and had a 5 pm shadow already. I don't think it will work with my growth rate unless I use a SR which won't happen for a while. I'd love to hear from those of you that shave at night and the reasons you do. I imagine it saves a lot of time in the morning for sure. I might get away with it by doing one pass in the morning just to touch me back up to the BBS realm.
I'd choose being a cop, the perks are better. You eat better in a firehouse for sure though.
So I tried shaving at night last night to see how it went since many on here shave at night (those that do must be SR shavers!!) I really liked feeling that smooth going to bed and I woke up at about DFS- but by noon I was pretty scratchy and had a 5 pm shadow already. I don't think it will work with my growth rate unless I use a SR which won't happen for a while. I'd love to hear from those of you that shave at night and the reasons you do. I imagine it saves a lot of time in the morning for sure. I might get away with it by doing one pass in the morning just to touch me back up to the BBS realm.
I took the same approach. And I have been out of PT for 8 months. And still do my exercises about 3 days a week at home to keep the muscle strong.
That's my plan as well Chad. Until I feel 100%, I'm going to keep doing the PT.
After a lot of thought I really am thinking the spirit of my journal is about a newbie's journey in wet shaving so I'm keeping the entries themed on me trying new techniques, or new equipment.
Today's Shave: Shave #168
Razor: Parker Variant - Graphite handle / Chinese knock-off of Feather Kamisori Style - 50/50 on each pass
Blade: Gillette Silver Blue
Brush: Eric's Lignum Vitae Hand Turned Brush Handle, 22 mm Boss Knot
Soap: WSP Black Vanille
Bowl: Red Salsa Bowl (plastic)
Pre Shave: Wash with soap in the shower . Rub raw soap on face from the puck.
Total Razor on Face Time: 11 minutes
Post Shave: Cold water rinse, Witch Hazel (Walmart Brand) face only, Cold rinse. WSP Black Vanille AS Balm on face only. Mammoth Painting.
In preparation for winning the SR in Kyle's PIF, I decided to watch some members' videos that use SR's to shave with and apply those techinques with the Kamisori I have. The Kamisori I have is just light the Feather SS and I'm guessing it's easier the shave with than a regular SR, but it will get me used to the stretching techniques I see. After a good lather and a day's growth I got started. One thing I noticed in Josh's videos is that he spends a lot more time working the lather in with his brush, so I gave that a try with some added painting.
My first pass found the Kamisori just melting through my stubble like it wasn't there. In fact I had to look to make sure my angle was correct. I only shaved downward on the cheeks to the jawline and then put the Kamisori up to finish with the DE set on 3.5. Wow! Where I used the Kamisori the pass was easily where I normally am after two passes with my DE. I normally would chalk that up to skewed thinking, but since I split the shaving pass between the two different razors the proof was right in front of me (literally!). The way Josh stretches around the corners of his mouth really helped me on this first pass and I really got that area as smooth as 3 passes with the DE. On the second pass I used the Kamisori to shave from ear to nose on the cheeks and sideways on the chin and upper/lower lips / sides of the neck (getting a little braver). I'd say I was already in the BBS range in the areas where the Kamisori was used. I went over those areas with the DE just to see how well I was doing and heard no feedback except on my neck. On the third ATG pass I chickened out and used the DE completely. When finished I got a very nice and comfortable BBS+ shave on the cheeks and mouth with BBS on the neck. I really looked like I was 13 again with how close it got me. I've said this before, but each time I step up in razor types I really understand that when I said it before it really wasn't quite true. One small nick on my neck under my ear, but that was an angle issue and I realized it a 5th of a mm into that stroke so it really didn't amount to any blood. Not bad for a first half effort. I've got a ton to learn and I'm sure some blood to give along the way.
Some observations with the Kamisori: I don't seem to get any irritation with it. I also realize what no pressure means when I use this razor as really no pressure is needed. The handle gets slick which could promote mistakes and I think the same problem will exist with a regular SR. I get a much closer shave. I actually feel more in touch with the artistic side of myself when using this razor as if I'm painting or sculpting.
On the personal side of things, I'm going back to work this week. I have an appointment with the doc and I hope he clears me to go back to work the next day. I've absolutely loved being home with my family. I also got some much needed rest and feel rested. It's been a long time since I've felt rested. I read all the books I saved and I got all the handles on the files I bought from my favorite junk shop dealer. I also made a shelf to hang them on and then aged it to match the other old stuff in my shop. The last project I finished was my half whiskey barrel that I wanted to get to hold water for use as a quenching tub for blacksmithing. When I started out it would only hold 3 or so inches of water by today I measured it and it is holding 13 inches - check, mission accomplished. I feel like I got the chance to recuperate from the surgery and a few tough years of life. It also felt good to have goals set and accomplished with projects. Rather than just sit around, I did things that I could do that corresponded with where I was at in the healing process of my hip replacement. The next challenge will be to tackle the 6 week pile of work that has stacked up on my desk while I was out. I sure do hope I have to go through the court metal detectors this week. I will have fun with it the first time
Today's Shave: Shave #168
Razor: Parker Variant - Graphite handle / Chinese knock-off of Feather Kamisori Style - 50/50 on each pass
Blade: Gillette Silver Blue
Brush: Eric's Lignum Vitae Hand Turned Brush Handle, 22 mm Boss Knot
Soap: WSP Black Vanille
Bowl: Red Salsa Bowl (plastic)
Pre Shave: Wash with soap in the shower . Rub raw soap on face from the puck.
Total Razor on Face Time: 11 minutes
Post Shave: Cold water rinse, Witch Hazel (Walmart Brand) face only, Cold rinse. WSP Black Vanille AS Balm on face only. Mammoth Painting.
In preparation for winning the SR in Kyle's PIF, I decided to watch some members' videos that use SR's to shave with and apply those techinques with the Kamisori I have. The Kamisori I have is just light the Feather SS and I'm guessing it's easier the shave with than a regular SR, but it will get me used to the stretching techniques I see. After a good lather and a day's growth I got started. One thing I noticed in Josh's videos is that he spends a lot more time working the lather in with his brush, so I gave that a try with some added painting.
My first pass found the Kamisori just melting through my stubble like it wasn't there. In fact I had to look to make sure my angle was correct. I only shaved downward on the cheeks to the jawline and then put the Kamisori up to finish with the DE set on 3.5. Wow! Where I used the Kamisori the pass was easily where I normally am after two passes with my DE. I normally would chalk that up to skewed thinking, but since I split the shaving pass between the two different razors the proof was right in front of me (literally!). The way Josh stretches around the corners of his mouth really helped me on this first pass and I really got that area as smooth as 3 passes with the DE. On the second pass I used the Kamisori to shave from ear to nose on the cheeks and sideways on the chin and upper/lower lips / sides of the neck (getting a little braver). I'd say I was already in the BBS range in the areas where the Kamisori was used. I went over those areas with the DE just to see how well I was doing and heard no feedback except on my neck. On the third ATG pass I chickened out and used the DE completely. When finished I got a very nice and comfortable BBS+ shave on the cheeks and mouth with BBS on the neck. I really looked like I was 13 again with how close it got me. I've said this before, but each time I step up in razor types I really understand that when I said it before it really wasn't quite true. One small nick on my neck under my ear, but that was an angle issue and I realized it a 5th of a mm into that stroke so it really didn't amount to any blood. Not bad for a first half effort. I've got a ton to learn and I'm sure some blood to give along the way.
Some observations with the Kamisori: I don't seem to get any irritation with it. I also realize what no pressure means when I use this razor as really no pressure is needed. The handle gets slick which could promote mistakes and I think the same problem will exist with a regular SR. I get a much closer shave. I actually feel more in touch with the artistic side of myself when using this razor as if I'm painting or sculpting.
On the personal side of things, I'm going back to work this week. I have an appointment with the doc and I hope he clears me to go back to work the next day. I've absolutely loved being home with my family. I also got some much needed rest and feel rested. It's been a long time since I've felt rested. I read all the books I saved and I got all the handles on the files I bought from my favorite junk shop dealer. I also made a shelf to hang them on and then aged it to match the other old stuff in my shop. The last project I finished was my half whiskey barrel that I wanted to get to hold water for use as a quenching tub for blacksmithing. When I started out it would only hold 3 or so inches of water by today I measured it and it is holding 13 inches - check, mission accomplished. I feel like I got the chance to recuperate from the surgery and a few tough years of life. It also felt good to have goals set and accomplished with projects. Rather than just sit around, I did things that I could do that corresponded with where I was at in the healing process of my hip replacement. The next challenge will be to tackle the 6 week pile of work that has stacked up on my desk while I was out. I sure do hope I have to go through the court metal detectors this week. I will have fun with it the first time
I think I'm a long way from conquering the open blades Chris, but at least I can work on getting that notch on my man card some day if KY Dave will put the notch on there I'll be stalking all of the SR TSC videos out there to see what I can learn. I'm thinking it will be a weekend treat until I get proficient with it enough to incorporate it in my busy morning schedule. I will say, the shave is so superior when compared to a DE that you just can't ignore it.
I'll be stalking all of the SR TSC videos out there to see what I can learn. I'm thinking it will be a weekend treat until I get proficient with it enough to incorporate it in my busy morning schedule. I will say, the shave is so superior when compared to a DE that you just can't ignore it.
I don't EVEN want to know anything about this.at least I can work on getting that notch on my man card some day if KY Dave will put the notch on there
Dave in KY
Shave Newbie
I still have no idea how I got this responsibility but I quit. Here is your card back. Lol
I think you got the title of holder of the man cards because you once asked for mine back when I admitted to using a Venus cart
Soooo, I figured you must be the keeper of the man cards if you can ask for them back when we do something unmanly. It's all fun.