Shaving notes of the MaineYooper

It's my "Shave-iversary"

The plan was to plan out my anniversary shave. And as I was getting prepared to pick the items and compose this post, I realized that I had my dates wrong! For some reason November 15 is in my head is my first traditional shave with a double edge bladed razor. And as I am working this Friday, November 15, I planned to write up the post today, save it, and add a photo and description sometime Friday. The plan included posting my description from that first shave here.

---

And that is when I found this entry:

Friday, November 13, 2015
Truefitt & Hill Unscented cream

Merkur blade
The first shave with a DE razor.  Showered, used conditioner on beard, and did not dry face with towel.
Wet the brush, applied a nickel sized amount of T&H to the bowl, and worked up a lather.  Tried to carefully shave with the grain first, and against second, rinsing between and reapplying lather. One nick and one weeper on neck.  My face was very tingly.  I know I used too many strokes, similar to cartridge shaving.  I suspect also that I applied too much pressure.  But I got a very close shave. 
Plan: Use TOBS and stick with it, to help rule out sensitivity to T&H.
Try different blade, as reading suggests Merkur can be bad for most newcomers

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At least I got the Friday part right!

What is not mentioned here is that the razor was the venerable Merkur 34C Heavy Classic (HD?) bought from Amazon. (I sold that razor later in 2016 or '17 and often wonder if I should replace it, out of nostalgia. Then I come to my senses!) It came with a single Merkur blade, which I used and then replaced with a Gillette Silver Blue for the next shave. I had also tried the Taylor of Old Bond Street Natural shave cream the day before for my last cartridge shave (Dorco Pace 6-blade razor) and like a true newbie, decided to change soaps for each shave. What I also remember is that my face stayed red hued for most of the morning. And what was I thinking, ATG on the first shave?!! Later I stopped ATG passes altogether, opting for what I called my "two and a half pass" shave, which was WTG and a prolonged, multi directional XTG pass. 

The decision making for the anniversary shave was unwittingly made this morning as I considered what I wanted to use today. No anniversary thoughts at all, just what sounded good. And as I haven't taken many photos lately, I snapped one this morning to sort of get in the groove again. And with Decemboar closing in, I am debating photo-journaling it, so again, let's get back in the swing of photographing set ups.



Schick Type I Hydro-magic
Schick (Japan) injector blade (3)
Restored Chalco C-150 (done by our own Freddiep318ti) with a Maggard Razor 20mm SHD fan badger knot (my fave!)
Canada Shaving Soap

Sylvester supplied the spring, as he was playing with it while we were trying to sleep and my wife confiscated it, putting it near my side of the vanity, and I thought Why not? include it in the photo!

It was an awesome shave, one of the best I've had recently. I need to check my Journal, but I think I say that almost every time I use the Hydro-magic, and next wonder why I don't use it more often?! So easy, efficient, and downright relaxing. I was worrying about my lather, as I didn't initially have it exactly like I wanted, but that was soon overshadowed by how good this shave was going.

And if you've made it this far, I have a little treat for you. I am a big fan of The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit books by J.R.R. Tolkien. Here is an excerpt from the first chapter of the first book: "Hobbits give presents to other people on their own birthdays. Not very expensive ones, as a rule, and not so lavishly as on this occasion; but it was not a bad system." Yes, I want to give a gift or two. I enjoy the Canada Shaving Soap very much. It is a "hard" soap. And it can be very expensive, around $55 shipped directly from the maker. I recently found two new tubs for sale on a BST and bought them with the intent of selling them for no more, shipped, than what I paid. PM me if interested. I can't be as generous as a hobbit and give it away, but I will not profit on it, other than sharing this soap with anyone who'd love to have it.

Thursday Shave


(Focused on the mug, should have done the razor or the brush, right? This almost hurts to look at!!)

Oliworks M3teorite with Mild plate
Nacet blade (2)
Sawdust Creations Cosmic with AP Pure Bliss knot
Noble Otter Bare

Nice, relaxing shave this morning before heading out to get my hair cut. Hope you all are having a good day!

It's my "Shave-iversary"

The plan was to plan out my anniversary shave. And as I was getting prepared to pick the items and compose this post, I realized that I had my dates wrong! For some reason November 15 is in my head is my first traditional shave with a double edge bladed razor. And as I am working this Friday, November 15, I planned to write up the post today, save it, and add a photo and description sometime Friday. The plan included posting my description from that first shave here.

---

And that is when I found this entry:

Friday, November 13, 2015
Truefitt & Hill Unscented cream

Merkur blade
The first shave with a DE razor.  Showered, used conditioner on beard, and did not dry face with towel.
Wet the brush, applied a nickel sized amount of T&H to the bowl, and worked up a lather.  Tried to carefully shave with the grain first, and against second, rinsing between and reapplying lather. One nick and one weeper on neck.  My face was very tingly.  I know I used too many strokes, similar to cartridge shaving.  I suspect also that I applied too much pressure.  But I got a very close shave. 
Plan: Use TOBS and stick with it, to help rule out sensitivity to T&H.
Try different blade, as reading suggests Merkur can be bad for most newcomers

---

At least I got the Friday part right!

What is not mentioned here is that the razor was the venerable Merkur 34C Heavy Classic (HD?) bought from Amazon. (I sold that razor later in 2016 or '17 and often wonder if I should replace it, out of nostalgia. Then I come to my senses!) It came with a single Merkur blade, which I used and then replaced with a Gillette Silver Blue for the next shave. I had also tried the Taylor of Old Bond Street Natural shave cream the day before for my last cartridge shave (Dorco Pace 6-blade razor) and like a true newbie, decided to change soaps for each shave. What I also remember is that my face stayed red hued for most of the morning. And what was I thinking, ATG on the first shave?!! Later I stopped ATG passes altogether, opting for what I called my "two and a half pass" shave, which was WTG and a prolonged, multi directional XTG pass. 

The decision making for the anniversary shave was unwittingly made this morning as I considered what I wanted to use today. No anniversary thoughts at all, just what sounded good. And as I haven't taken many photos lately, I snapped one this morning to sort of get in the groove again. And with Decemboar closing in, I am debating photo-journaling it, so again, let's get back in the swing of photographing set ups.



Schick Type I Hydro-magic
Schick (Japan) injector blade (3)
Restored Chalco C-150 (done by our own Freddiep318ti) with a Maggard Razor 20mm SHD fan badger knot (my fave!)
Canada Shaving Soap

Sylvester supplied the spring, as he was playing with it while we were trying to sleep and my wife confiscated it, putting it near my side of the vanity, and I thought Why not? include it in the photo!

It was an awesome shave, one of the best I've had recently. I need to check my Journal, but I think I say that almost every time I use the Hydro-magic, and next wonder why I don't use it more often?! So easy, efficient, and downright relaxing. I was worrying about my lather, as I didn't initially have it exactly like I wanted, but that was soon overshadowed by how good this shave was going.

And if you've made it this far, I have a little treat for you. I am a big fan of The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit books by J.R.R. Tolkien. Here is an excerpt from the first chapter of the first book: "Hobbits give presents to other people on their own birthdays. Not very expensive ones, as a rule, and not so lavishly as on this occasion; but it was not a bad system." Yes, I want to give a gift or two. I enjoy the Canada Shaving Soap very much. It is a "hard" soap. And it can be very expensive, around $55 shipped directly from the maker. I recently found two new tubs for sale on a BST and bought them with the intent of selling them for no more, shipped, than what I paid. PM me if interested. I can't be as generous as a hobbit and give it away, but I will not profit on it, other than sharing this soap with anyone who'd love to have it.

Awesome post Eric!  Congratulations on your Shave-iversary.  (No point to quibbling over dates. )  The pic looks great, and the gear does you proud.

Awesome post Eric!  Congratulations on your Shave-iversary.  (No point to quibbling over dates. )  The pic looks great, and the gear does you proud.

Thanks Mike! Good to hear from you, hope all is well!

Awesome post Eric!  Congratulations on your Shave-iversary.  (No point to quibbling over dates. )  The pic looks great, and the gear does you proud.

Thanks Mike! Good to hear from you, hope all is well!

Thanks back at ya Eric, and anytime you're hearing from me, all is well.