A New 1-2 Punch: Slant-Weishi

Today I took my two-rriffic shave using the Merkur 37C slant-bar razor for the first pass, and then using the Weishi 9306-F for the finishing pass.

Today's opening act: the fearsome Merkur 37C slant- bar razor.

Despite the capability of the 37C, today's shave wasn't much different than previous days: comfortable, close, no wounds. It was, perhaps, a little less close on my lower neck, where I was probably extra careful on the first pass.

In sum, however, I think I've found the optimal formula for a great shave on my mug, which is the following:

• A moderate (not mild, but certainly not uber aggressive) razor for the first pass
• First pass made primarily with grain (vertical strokes keep things simple but still largely with grain)
• A very mild razor -- the Weishi 9306-F being my best option -- as a finishing razor for the second pas
• Second pass primarily against grain: strokes still largely vertical, but in the opposite direction from the first pass
• Touch-up strokes with the finishing razor as necessary after the second pass

After the shave, I now routinely include stropping my dry blade on my lightly-oiled palm as part of my blade care. I believe this definitely aids in significantly increasing blade longevity as well as likely increasing blade comfort over the life of the blade.

Today was my 18th shave with the Personna red-label blade, and there's still no apparent impending end in view. This blade longevity harkens back to the claims made by Gillette with their original razor-and-blade offering, which suggested exceptional functional longevity of their blades.

Happy shaving! (Mine certainly was.)

Hump Day Stats and Comments

Key Stats This Morning:

• Number of passes in today's shave: 2 (WG, AG -- I now routinely skip the XG pass)
• Number of razors used in today's shave: 2 (Slim Adjustable, Weishi 9306-F)
• Setting on the Slim for 1st pass: 4 (up from 3 in previous shaves)
• Number of shaves on today's blade: 17 (seventeen shaves, still going strong!!!!)
• Amount of irritation in today's shave: zero
• Number of wounds in today's shave: 1 small under-chin weeper after 1st pass (no treatment needed)

The two-pass shave process, with grain then against grain -- using different razors for each pass, continues to be two-rriffic. Using my Gillette Slim Adjustable for just the first, with-grain pass has transformed that from a shoe-box closet lurker to a daily shaver. In so doing, I have rediscovered the possibilities of the one-pass standard shave.

Using the Slim -- today set on four (out of nine) -- I got a good standard shave (that is, one with-grain pass) that could have stood pat as a one and done. The techniques I now routinely use to optimize my passes (both first and second) include the following:

• Anti-raking shaving pattern
• Oblique strokes with some J-hooking where oblique strokes aren't feasible
• Shaving strokes that are short and slow

The Weishi 9306-F razor, which was another in-the-closet, dust-collecting, potential paper weight due to its extremely mild shaving character, has become a prized finishing razor. The 9306 (and its other-branded twins -- which for sure includes the Dorco razor) allows the second pass to be against grain with little risk of injury but still shaves close enough as a finishing razor to get near baby smooth.

The other issue that is worthy of repeated commentary is the longevity of my blade. The post-shave palm stropping using a thin swipe of shave oil applied to my palm as a blade lubricant and sealant is taking me into blade-durability realms where I've never gone before.

I am enjoying both the process and the outcome of my shaves as never before. I hope you are too.

Happy shaving!