And They're Off!

OK, so it's decided...I've got my Tsuyu Lineup.

The running was close...mostly because the stuff is all awesome. Really...it's like trying to decide which is better, beer or other beer. But in the end, totally irrelevant things like dates and stuff helped me decide. I mean you guys! You guys helped me out! Thanks for that. ;)

Ok, so let's meet our lineup:
On the razor front, I've got two winners--mostly out of maintenance concerns, but also because of the nature of the contest--if I were basing it purely on the weather/rusting aspect, there would only be one horse in the race and that's no fun!
First up is The Monster from Munster (not really, but close enough):
The 8/8 Henckels Friodur!



It's a beast, and we have...history...but it's undoubtedly a good shaver. And I want to be able to use it to its full potential!

The second blade was, of course, the one I had to think about--all the others are great, too, but...well...there were other concerns. So I went for The Genco Fluid Steel:



This 5/8 Half hollow American blade is a great little shaver (not THAT little, but next to the battleaxe I'm pairing it with it's downright WEE!) and it is close to my heart. But the real reason I chose it? Well, the 4th of July is coming up, and there's just a wee bit of patriotic spark in there. What can I say? Like the man said, "It's excellent and American." Just like me!

Now, I will be using some other razors, as I plan on doing some more honing and I need to test, but these will be my daily shavers for sure.

What about the lather?

Well...This was actually pretty easy. I believe Olafurson said it best when he said "Duh!". Penhaligon's in a landslide.


The reason it was so easy to decide in such a rich field of contenders ("It beat MWF? Come on!" I can hear you saying...) is the scent. Plain and simple. I keep my soaps next to my bed, and that scent wafts out over me morning and night, and I. Just. LOVE it. So here comes an English Fern Tsuyu.

My cream choice was a bit tougher, because 1.) I'm mostly a soap guy and 2.) I have only fantastic creams. I really do. They're all just lovely, and I could live with any one of them--because I don't keep any that are less than spectacular, for one reason or another.

But, in the end I had to choose, and Kodou had a good argument--what would Florena be like over the long haul?
So there it is! Florena, for the win!


Now, here's the deal with this. I am not only practicing fidelity with this. I have a real goal--I am going to focus hard-core on technique this month. Instead of testing blades and products, I'm testing myself, and my goal is true BBS. I'll start with the tough spots--my jawline, and the two patches to either side of my Adam's apple. Then I'll work on the pressure and angle to make sure that I'm eliminating hair, and NOT skin. And in the end, I hope to be getting consistent 9s or better on my daily shaves. I'll do my best to keep track of my progress here, and let you know how my goals are doing. I'll also be doing some more in-depth reviews of what I'm using, and some research into the history, mostly to satisfy my own curiosity. (BTW, I'm also doing some research on Japanese razor makers, but I'm running into some walls--if anyone has any leads, especially as pertains to straights, I'd REALLY appreciate some help!)

Now, who's with me?!

One Month of Only...

Well, I am in a bit of a quandary, and I need your help. Time for my first Reader Poll!

The Japanese rainy season, or Tsuyu in Japanese, has begun. This means two things: it is Hot and it is Wet. It doesn't actually rain that much more than usual, but the humidity is a freaking nightmare...I personally think they should call it the sweaty season rather than the rainy season, but that's probably just me.

"Well, what does this have to do with shaving", you ask? Basically, it means that I can't keep a collection of 16 straight razors in good working order--The humidity will set in and rust the edges of the razors that are not frequently used and stropped. Therefore, I've decided to oil up and put away all but TWO of my straights for the duration of the rainy season.

I'm actually looking at this as an opportunity --by focusing on one or two blades, I will be sort of reigning in as many variables as possible and really work on the shave--hitting those tough spots and bearing down to get that truly fantastic 10/10 shave.

So here's the deal. I can't figure out which razors I want to keep going. I have so many nice ones, and I love them all, so it's going to be tough to narrow it down. I've decided one--the Stainless Friodur is staying out because, well, it's stainless--much less worry about rust there. But which of my other ones? That's where you come in.

I'd like you to tell me which razor I should use for the rest of this Tsuyu (roughly a month). Just use the comments to tell me which one...and at the end of the month, I'll give a full, in depth report of the razor and my performance, including some historical research if I can get it done.

And you know what? This literally just came to me...I'm going to go all out. One razor (ok, two razors...), one soap and one cream for all of Tsuyu. Yeah, let's make it really interesting. Summer fidelity! So go ahead, use the comments to tell me which one to use and why:

Razors:
"Gold Rex"
Towa Wedge
Genco Fluid Steel
Wapi

Creams:
La Toja Classica
TBS Maca Root Cream
T&H Almond
Florena Cream

Soaps:
Penhaligon's English Fern
BlackStangAl's Homegrown
Mitchell's Wool Fat
Wilkinson Stick

OK folks, help me out here! Tell me which one, and why!

Voting closes when I feel like it's reached an end. ;)
Thanks!

In Review: Lucido Unscented Skin Conditioner

I haven't done a review of Japanese products in a while--I'm running out, to be honest--but this one deserves some words.



This skin conditioner is part of Japanese cosmetics maker Mandom's Lucido line, a line of unscented men's skin and hair care products. While not specifically an aftershave, it does recommend use after shaving, and I think it does pretty well in that regard.

It's a semi-heavy balm type of lotion, somewhere between The Shave Den and Connaught Shaving's AS Milks in consistency. As I said, it's unscented so when you sue it, the only thing you smell is kind of a plasticy, lotiony scent. Not exactly pleasing to the nos,e but not entirely off-putting, either. I'm planning to add a nice scent...when I find some good EOs.

As for the quality of the skincare, it's actually pretty good. I've used it a few times, after good shaves and bad, and it has left me feeling really soothed and good. There is a hint of menthol, which for me means that the initial application is a bit burny...not as bad as, say, an alcohol splash on razorburn, but not pleasant. Luckily, it's very mild and very short, and it fades in a few seconds.

I like the stuff, I have to say, and I'm glad of it--it's affordable and easily obtainable and with some scent manipulation it should be just about perfect!

Again, Generosity Rains Down...

You know, if I keep posting about the great stuff that happens to me, some people might think I'm boasting....Screw 'em.

So a member of a couple of the forums I post on messaged me with some questions about hones a while back. I did my best to answer him, though I am no expert, and gave him all the information I had gathered in my own research into this subject. We went back and forth for a while, exchanging emails and sharing info, and I think he felt satisfied with what I had to share. I hope so, anyway.

Well, a couple of weeks or so ago, I got another message, saying something like "I'm sending you a present because I want to. Keep an eye out for a package..."

Now, we all like presents, so of course I was excited...I didn't feel I deserved anything but then, who ever does?

Well...last weekend I got a package. I very excited opened. What did I find?

The

Holy

Freaking

Grail.






Amazing. I've not had the opportunity to shake this man's hand, or even see his face! But when I do, it will be a hand well shook, let me tell you.

It's odd for a man who doesn't believe in God to use this word, but sometimes I feel really blessed...

Anyway...yeah. Someone (He knows who he is, and if he reads this THANK YOU!!!) GAVE me Penhaligon's English Fern SHaving Soap in a wood bowl. I'm still in shock...

A Thousand and One words...

The strop is here...some pictures and words for you...


Here are the Kanayama Bothers--on the left is my older strop, the "Fine Stars". It's been a fine strop, and I've had no complaints. It's a little smooth for me, I think I'd like some more draw...

On the right, of course, is the new "Llama Brand" model 30000 strop. It's much longer, with much more effective leather space, and the leather is more even and lighter than the Fine Stars. There's more draw, and the lack of a handle is no real limpediment to use.



A close-up of the stamp at the bottom, showing the Kanayama logo. You can also get an idea of the leather's texture--it's smooth, but but not quite glossy, like the older strop was when I got it.



Here are the two stamps at the bottom, the Kanayama logo and the 30000 stamp. I have no idea if the 30000 has any meaning other than denoting the top of the Kanayama line of strops--whether it's just an internal numbering system or it refers to a certain quality of the strop itself...if anyone knows, please fill me in.


Here is the hanging tackle, a decent quality swivel and hook, with a nice clasp held with a screw, in case you need to change it around at all. There are some little details that stand out to me about this pat of the strop.

One, the leather and the linen are trimmed at exactly the same angles on the upper corner, even though the leather is wider than the linen it is still perfectly matched. The linen is also EXACTLY centered with the leather, despite that difference in widths. This attention to minor detail is something that speaks volumes about Kanoyama-san's workmanship, I think...



Here's the hand end of the Linen. That's a leather tab glued over the end. Again---perfectly centered and even, and the tab is glued out to the very edge, but there is NO glue visible. Small things, yes, that do not effect the use of the strop, but the small things are where quality lives. Anyone can cut a piece of smooth leather and make a strop. It takes someone who CARES to make a strop where every tiny, insignificant detail is right.

Now, I have stropped a couple of razors on it, and while I can't say a lot about this strop in relation to others, I can say that the leather feels good on the razors, with decent draw even with full hollows, but not sticky. The leather is supple but not easily "cupped", and it is LONG. A very good stropping stroke on this one. I am well pleased so far!

The linen is the same as the Fine Stars, a very very stiff brown fabric with a coarse grain--it seems to work well, but I've never used another linen so I can't compare, really.

I'm very, very glad I have the chance to see this stop, and use it for the rest of my life.

Strop Talk

I know, I know--two posts in one day...What's the world coming to? But I got somethin' ta SAY!

I've only briefly mentioned my strop before...It's a Japanese made Kanayama Cordovan strop. There are several things that strike me as a wee bit peculiar about this strop..the first being that there is a company in Japan that makes handmade Cordovan leather razor strops...Seriously, most barbers don't use straights, so who are they for?

But it really is a quality piece...smooth and strong, with a well-sown handle. The leather is clearly high-quality, and the hanging tackle is no junk, either. The linen side is a very coarse, stiff material--stiffer than the leather, in fact. The whole thing says "quality". And the funny thing is, this is the bottom grade of strop they make--model # 1200. They make a full range--1200, 6300, 10000, 20000 and 30000...

They sell the 6300 on Rasorpur for 99 Euros, and that is just step above the one I have here....it's "for professional use", though. The thing that excites me, and the thing that inspired this post, is what is coming in the mail soon.

1 model number 30000 Kanayama Razor Strop will soon be hanging in the shave den. Top of the freaking line, baby...

Ooooohhhh...I can't wait!

Strange New Territory...

I ventured into a new realm of wetshaving last night...(Non)Electric Ladyland!



Risking, perhaps, the land of TMI, my wife and I are in the Japanese habit of bathing together (and it is certainly common enough--people bathe with coworkers here! It's nothing kinky at all, just custom...) and so I have witnessed, with growing horror, the abominable leg shaving which comes as a result of using ridiculously complicated, over-engineered cartridge shavers. Madness. So finally last night I convinced her to let me whip up a proper lather and give her a good old fashioned wetshave.

I loaded my heirloom Tech with a Lord DE that I had lying around, got out the Kim Son Silvertip brush (thinking it might be a bit gentler than boar--she is a LADY, after all) and some of The Real Shaving Company's Sensitive cream. The cream lathered up well; it was my first use, I tried it because I thought the scent would please her--it did--and it was sensitive formula, so maybe kind of moisturizing...and I wanted to experiment with it. She quite liked the lathering--she kept saying it felt like a salon.

The shave went well; I was nervous as heck, but there were no nicks and no razorburn, and of course it was smoother and nicer than any multiblade gadget. She was so pleased, in fact, that she asked me to shave her face!

Now, here's the part where people might start to get a little wierded out. Japanese women shave their faces. It is not that they are particularly hairy, as women go, but that the hair on their faces is quite dark and kind of coarse, so it is highly visible against the paleness that most women here try to cultivate (it also grows in unusual places...like eyelids!). So, rather than constantly plucking and bleaching, they shave. It was new to me, too, but understandable once you think about it.

So, anyway, after the leg shave my wife asked me to take care of her face--and, because I love her and she tolerates WAY more than she should from me, I indulged her. Let me tell you, it was terrifying. DEs are safety razors, but they can still cut--and shaving someone else is entirely different from shaving yourself. On your own face, you can get all kinds of feedback that you don't with another's face (of course). Also, the hair was so fine I couldn't even hear it--a big source help when shaving yourself. And, of course, I was shaving thing's I'd never shaved before, like foreheads and eyelids.

But I did it, with no nicks and no irritation, and my wife was extremely pleased. So, of course, was I.

After the shave, I liberally applied some Nivea Extra Soothing AS Balm to her legs, and she used her typically moisturizers/creams/alchemical potions on her face, and everything was peachy keen.

New things, people, that's what it's all about.