In the superlather a couple of shaves ago, I mentioned how that lather engorged the brush, and I became curious to what degree that was due to the shaving cream. So this morning I decided to use the shaving cream by itself to see what obtained. I picked Mr Pomp for the experiment, and indeed the same sort of “full-capacity” lather ensued. I can also get that sort of lather from a (good) shaving soap, but it just jumps out of the brush with shaving cream.
My RazoRock German 37 slant did a marvellous job on the two-day stubble. Sharpologist has a review now of the Rex Supply Konsul Adjustable Slant Razor in which other reviews are quoted, and this caught my eye:
I wasn’t sure exactly how to shave with a slant, so I didn’t change anything consciously in my technique compared to the Ambassador. Giving it every chance, Personna blade, Jack Black’s Beard Lube with each pass, SW’s Carmilla (a soft, cushiony, voluminous-lathering soap in my hands), with a dab of Nivea’s shaving gel for an uberlather, shaving scuttle and my favorite Shavemac brush, followed by SW’s aftershave. Three-pass shave – WTG, XTG, ATG. At first I wanted to accommodate the slant by changing the angles, but just went with my normal stroke. The results were surprising. I suppose I expected a shave like the Ambassador, but it was actually one of the most comfortable – if not the – of any DE razor I have used. Ever. My shocked face. You almost literally cannot feel the blade moving through whiskers. As a caveat, one shave with one soap, but I’ll change up the combos with further use, and it’s definitely a keeper in the stable. I don’t know how every other slant works, but Wow.” [Link]
As I emphasize in the Guide, you use a slant exactly as though it were a conventional razor, and let the slanted blade do the work. Trying to angle the handle to undo the slant is not the right approach. Pull the razor in the direction the handle points, and the slant will do the rest.
Three passes left my face perfectly smooth and the brush still full of the rich lather this shaving cream provides. A rinse — face, razor, and brush — and after drying my face, a good splash of Tabac, and the job is done: the week begun on a high note.
The tea this morning is another unblended varietal, like the two previous teas I mentioned (Assam Golden Tippy and Ceylon Kenilworth). Today the tea is Murchie’s Keemun Extra Superior:
Smooth, incredibly well-rounded flavour with fruity undertones, light briskness and a sweet finish. The Anhui province of China is home of the original tea gardens. The soil and climate conditions create teas that are naturally lower in caffeine than other fully fermented teas. Keemun teas are known for their complex characters and are often referred to as the “Burgundy of Teas”.