New Favorite Shaving Tools, Products, Processes.

 I've been minding my own business these past months, when I was not writing blog articles. My business included my daily shaves, of course.

But I've continued to try varying processes and products. As a result I've reached some new conclusions, identified new favorites.

My New Shaving Process

I've gotten closer to mainstream preferences in these past months. This includes my shaving preparations.

These days I have on hand a small, empty, plastic yogurt container, a plastic scuttle (from Phoenix Artisan Accoutrements -- it's unbreakable and I really like this product!), a shave cream or soap (more about that later), and a washcloth.

I take the yogurt cup, scuttle, and wash cloth into the kitchen. I first wet the wash cloth and heat it for 30 seconds in the microwave oven. While that is heating, I moisten my whiskers with cool tap water, and I fill up the yogurt cup and scuttle with tap water.

When the wash cloth is warm, put the filled cup and scuttle in the microwave for 90 seconds. While that is heating, I use the warm, wet wash cloth to further wet, warm, and, thereby, soften my whiskers.

When the cup and scuttle are warm, it's back into the bathroom for the shave. There I dip my shaving brush into the yogurt cup of warm water, make lather, and apply it to my whiskers.

What Kind of Lather?

I obviously haven't tried all shave soaps on the market. However, I have a jar of shave soap from Phoenix Artisan Accoutrements that is my current favorite; it's called Pareidolia artisan shave soap. My wife likes the residual scent on my skin, and I love the rich creamy texture of the lather. It is the finest that I have tried, and it has allowed me to be more flexible in my razor and blade choices.

I have also tried the Cremo brand shave cream, which I initially didn't like because they recommended applying with one's hands. Yuk! A greasy mess, in my opinion. However, some time ago I put a dollop of Cremo into my scuttle and used my brush to make a lather (of sorts), applying it to my face with the shave brush.

Now this was a process that I could endorse.

Both Pareidolia and Cremo provide me with superior shaving lubrication. I prefer the soap, which results in a more water-friendly clean up, but both provide me with superior shaves.

New Favorite Razor

My latest favorite razor, my go-to razor most mornings, is the venerable Lord LP1822L -- the three-piece design with the L.6 razor head and the long aluminum handle.

This razor was slightly too aggressive for my use as an every-day razor, but with the updated process and my favored shave lathers, I find this instrument to be just right.

My shaves have been going so smoothly (pun intended) that I find I can use just about any brand blade from my vast inventory (except for Chinese blades) and get a smooth, comfortable shave.

The Actual Shave Process

All the preceding processes and products have changed my actual shave as well. I now generally perform the common three-pass shave: with grain, across grain, and against grain. On some days I do a second against-grain pass for an extra-smooth shave.

That's it for today. Come back again soon. I have some ideas for upcoming posts that you may find interesting and enlightening.