BLACKBIRD SB vs. BLACKBIRD OC
Results-
Razors: Blackbird OC Machined
Blackbird SB Black Oxide
Blade: Feather
Brush: Simpson 58 Manchurian Badger
Cream: TOB Jermyn
AS: L'Occitan After Save Balm
Happy Thanksgiving Cadre. Hope you all had some great times with Family and Friends this past day.
Took the family out of NYC for the long weekend, up to the Catskills It's about a two-hour drive North so after getting up here it was nice to take a quick shower and shave before passing out.
When conducting my Face-Offs, there will be two rounds in a 24 hour period. The initial shave is with a few days growth to see which razor can give a better quality shave in both smoothness and closeness. The second shave will occur the next day. This second shave is to compare the capabilities of the razors use as a daily driver.
The shave will contain 2-3 passes and cleanups as necessary. In a variation of WTG, XTG, and ATG. All based on my mood of the day.
My right side poses the most significant challenges on both on my face and neck. The right side of my chin is loaded with thick, coarse hairs that grow in a more chin to ear pattern. That plus for some reason just right of my mouth area is prone to weepers. Mt Jawlines hair continues with the chin to ear pattern and is loaded with great hairs for some reason making it much harder to tackle them with standard North to South patterns. Both the jawline and chin are prone to irritation. There are about 3 directions the hair on my right neck grows, making it the harder of the two sides. All this said my left side jawline is similar to the right side — coarse grey hairs that grow almost simultaneously north-south and right to left.
Then my stashe on both sides are equally hard. An area filled with coarse, dense hairs with soft underskin.
Lastly, the area around my lips, that if not carefully tended to, is gash central. I have some hairs that almost grow out onto my lips. Close attention must is paid.
Because of this challenge, I will break my face into 4 quadrants. And use each razor on two of the quadrants. Right-Face/Left-Neck and Left-Face/Right-Neck.
Round One.
BB OC to shave: Right-Face/ Left-Neck
BB SB to shave: Left-Face/ Right-Neck
These BB's love a sharp razor.
Being on the Road rather than Home Turff, I do not like to take chances. And the safest bet I have as a sure-fire shave cream/soap is TOB Jermyn for Sensitive skin. I bowl lathered up a nice dense and cream base on the face. I will be shaving with cold water to keep irritation to a minimum.
I conducted a three pass shave: Pass one XTG 45 degree angle, Pass two XTG Face Ear-Nose and ATG on the neck. Pass three was XTG face nose-ear and XTG 45 degree angle, on the neck Don't ask me why I chose that. It was what my face was telling me. A little clean up on the neck, chin and jaw line to end it. Cold water splash and Sh!t! I forgot the alum.
A quick facetabation test and the winner was clear to feel.
The SB was mostly DFS all around, whereas the OC sides were clearly BBS all around. So much so, that I was still BBS upon waking the next morning.
Round one goes to the OC.
Thank you all for reading the rather ramblings of a man who has to much time on his hands. The Second round shave has been conducted and will be posted first thing in the morning. Happy Thanksgiving.
