Ladies and gentlemen the main event for this evening was a shave with the theme 'of virgins and donkeys'
Stand up virgin soldiers - Ikon B1 OSS
The 40 year old virgin - Polsilver Lodz
Kevin and Perry go large - Razorock 400
The donkey King - La Savonniere Du Moulin
Donkey skin - The Bath House Spanish fig and nutmeg after shave balm
Donkey Punch - The Bath House Spanish fig and nutmeg EDC
Naked a sin
A bathroom towel, covering my belly
Some of us weep, some of us nick
Faces turn to jelly
But Next! Next!
I was just a young man
Many more like me
I looked at my naked body
My naked body looked back at me
Next! Next!
I was just a child when my innocence was lost
In my parents bathroom
A gift from my father, razor free of cost
Next! Next! Next!
A shaving virgin no more. Thank you to the late great Alex Harvey
The virgin in the pack for this evening's shave was a new Ikon B1 standard and Bulldog handle. The B1 standard is nothing new to me with it being my top dog in the pack of snarling razors kept firmly behind closed doors, but this is the first time I have had the top cap in their Proprietary B1 Coating. My other being chromed.
Is there any difference? Mmmm, possibly not, or mmmm possibly it gives a slightly slicker shave or mmmm possibly I am just fooling myself. What is nice is that the whole head matches for a change and it gives the same great evilly close shave with the same 'a fool and his skin are easily parted' feeling. Plus it is nice to have another B1 in the cabinet as I do so dearly love this razor.
The Bulldog handle on the other hand is a big miss. I was expecting something rather chunkier, but this takes me back to my early shaving days when size didn't matter as long as you could hold it in your hand. As time progresses you realise this is not necessarily the case anymore. As it is the Bulldog is a farcical little toy meant for Ken on one of his many dates with Barbie. He tries hard but just seems to miss out at the last hurdle. I suppose being genital free doesn't help. It just never gave me that confidence and control a longer heavier handle gives and by the end of the shave the new B1 head was wearing a different set of trousers in an ATT Colossus. Wonderful, this felt so much more familiar and so much more comfortable. It really rings true that handles can change the whole dynamics of a shave.
The other virgin for this evening being a new out of the packet Polsilver Lodz blade. Because I am unimaginative
The shave itself was a lot about prep. New razor, new handle and a new blade so a pre-soak in hot water just to bring it up to temperature as didn't fancy using it from cold. La Savonniere Du Moulin (contains 30% donkey) giving that perfect shaving barrier and whipped up so easily with my God of brushes. A touch of pre-shave oil (more of that prep for a new razor and blade thing) and away I went. Everything I expected and everything delivered in a wonderful manner. One tiny little weeper but more due to the bad delivery from a previous shave. Altogether one exceptionally pleasing shave and I am as smooth as Ken's bottom. He'd like to say the same about Barbie but never gets that far as I mentioned before.
To round it all off a splash of Witch Hazel and a moisturising smear of Spanish figs and nutmeg. Just in case I wasn't smelling figgy enough, throw on some of the matching EDC. I love this scent for every good reason. It may not be for everyone but worth a try if you get the opportunity. Very light, fragrantly sweet and a perfect touch for these warmer months. The only draw back being the attraction of every fly in the surrounding neighbourhood.
Obviously this is a bit belated, but first day back home, have a shave, take a photo, start to write it all up and then get lost in a bottle of wine. My wife is fantastic at making me feel great about not having to work for the next two weeks. By which time I should have sobered up again.
Have a wonderful day all you folk of this shaving community and may your shaves be every bit the equal.