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CBLindsay's brain droppings

I admit I am getting less interested in changing up razors every day. When I’m enjoying a razor I am more likely to stick with it a while. I Am less concerned with choosing an aftershave, I have a lot of good colognes to use. My penhaligon collection is quite significant as is my Zoology sample library. ...Not all penhaligon is wonderful.
 
I really need to try the Weck with the guard in sometime. It sounds almost like a cheat lol.
 
CBLindsay said:
I admit I am getting less interested in changing up razors every day. When I’m enjoying a razor I am more likely to stick with it a while. I Am less concerned with choosing an aftershave, I have a lot of good colognes to use. My penhaligon collection is quite significant as is my Zoology sample library. ...Not all penhaligon is wonderful.
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ok which one crumudgeon, LOL
 
HandleBarberDave said:
ok which one crumudgeon, LOL
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I have most of the Anthology series, most in EdT. They are ok but pail in comparison to Sartorial and Elixer. I got my wife the daffodil one and she really likes it, smells just like daffodils. Then I have pretty much all the Zoology line in the large sample size. His newer stuff is pretty nice, they are still very intense and out there but they can be enjoyable when the temp is right. Moth and Camel are a couple of the better new ones. ...my wife doesn’t always appreciate my wearing the more rugged ones (elephant and rhino). I got her humming bird and nightingale but she doesn’t wear them much.
 
CBLindsay said:
I have most of the Anthology series, most in EdT. They are ok but pail in comparison to Sartorial and Elixer. I got my wife the daffodil one and she really likes it, smells just like daffodils. Then I have pretty much all the Zoology line in the large sample size. His newer stuff is pretty nice, they are still very intense and out there but they can be enjoyable when the temp is right. Moth and Camel are a couple of the better new ones. ...my wife doesn’t always appreciate my wearing the more rugged ones (elephant and rhino). I got her humming bird and nightingale but she doesn’t wear them much.
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I will agree on that point. did you ever try Bat?
 
Dave in KY said:
That's the one that has me curious since you mentioned Banana
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It has been a favorite of the Zoologist Fandom, but like all Zoo'z it is one for the daring. I am still on the fence

Top Notes: Banana, Soft Fruits, Damp Earth
Heart Notes: Fig, Tropical Fruits, Mineral Notes, Myrrh, Resins, Vegetal Roots
Base Notes: Furry Musks*, Leather*, Vetiver, Sandalwood, Tonka
 
Monday 4/8/19
Straight Shave # 986

TSC Anniversary Brush
CBL Decadent Chocolate
Klas Tornblom 9/16"
Burberry Brit

Still closing in on the lofty goal of 1000 straight shaves, only 2 weeks of shaves left to go. I have a camping trip planned in the near future so I may not reach the goal in the next 2 weeks but I should get there by months end. I can certainly say with all confidence that as I approach 1000 straight shaves I am very proficient at the task. I am not saying I have perfect technique BUT my technique is not a handicap to the process. If i had one piece of advice it would be to "just do it", don't worry about perfect technique, perfect prep or lather, perfect stretching or perfect order of passes...just worry about doing it over and over again. Pain is a great motivator, avoiding pain and blood shed is the one thing that will help make you better at the task. I still injure myself now and then but the injuries are getting less and less frequent ...and most are the result of mindlessness or a poor quality edge. There are definitely better lathers but rarely does a lather fail SO wildly that it is the cause of a bad shave.

I guess I should answer one burning question (the one that nobody has ever asked or really cares about) "do i use a straight razor because it's "cool" or do I use it because its better/best?" Good question nobody, the answer is simple. Once I learned to use the blade with any repeatable proficiency I found the results consistently better than I was achieving with a DE. The Straight razor is fast and efficient AND it yields results that are more comfortable and longer lasting than most any other tool. The Feather system single edge razors and schick injector are also pretty solid performers relative to a standard DE.

What is the least desirable part of using a straight razor? If you ask my wife its the "swoosh, swish, swoosh, swish" of the strop...she hates that sound with an intensity like no other. As a result I do all of my stropping the evening before I shave and only do enough stropping on cotton post shave to thoroughly clean and dry the edge. Stropping for a shave takes only a minute or two so stropping is definitely NOT a reason to avoid straight razors. The most time consuming and problematic part of using a straight is the honing. If I only had one blade at my disposal I would be retouching/refreshing at least monthly and probably doing a more complete hone once or twice a year. As it is now, i own more than enough blades that I have already honed I could do another 1000 shaves and not need to hone. Still, finding a blade lacking the desired keenness is probably the worst part about using a straight. ...But when I have the spare time I don't mind honing an edge to perfection.
 
Good Read Chris and very well put, Congrats on the 1000. Funny I remember when we all started this crazy straight Razor journey.
 
Interesting discussion with yourself regarding the straight razor. I find that I've come full circle and decided that I actually prefer the DE now. I get a consistently closer, and most importantly, comfortable shave with the DE (especially the Merkur Progress). Plus, it's much quicker for me. But I still use a straight every now and then as an indulgence. I do, however, still enjoy the honing aspect.
 
cmh737 said:
Interesting discussion with yourself regarding the straight razor. I find that I've come full circle and decided that I actually prefer the DE now. I get a consistently closer, and most importantly, comfortable shave with the DE (especially the Merkur Progress). Plus, it's much quicker for me. But I still use a straight every now and then as an indulgence. I do, however, still enjoy the honing aspect.
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When the blade is dialed in I can hammer out a 3 pass BBS (or close enough) in about 7 minutes. This morning I used The weck sextoblade and it was super smooth and fast. I was lathered, shaved and rinsed in 7 minutes. If not a straight I think the injector is my second favorite along with the feather blade general.
 
I have faith that you'll swing to full Injector-mode somewhere down the road ('cause you're not normal..... just like me 🤪)
 
Every time I read one of your posts Chris, I tell myself that this is the day I will pull out the straights and really start the journey. I have three straights ready to go! But I never follow through. Maybe this weekend is the time! Some really nice thoughts Chris and I look forward to your celebratory 1,000th shave!
 
dangerousdon said:
Every time I read one of your posts Chris, I tell myself that this is the day I will pull out the straights and really start the journey. I have three straights ready to go! But I never follow through. Maybe this weekend is the time! Some really nice thoughts Chris and I look forward to your celebratory 1,000th shave!
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Do it!
 
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