Sotd - Sunday 26/11 -
Razor - ER Streamline (on loan)
blade - ER Corrux vintage (1)
brush - Semogue 1305
soap - Wickham Citrus Musk
post - witch hazel
a/s - Wickham Citrus Musk
balm - Aloe Vera gel
scent - Dior Eau Sauvage.
Result - pretty much everything a shave should be - and pretty much nothing a Sunday shave should be.
I was up most of the night listening to the Ashes - and predictably - was running late in cleaning up four day's growth before going out for lunch. Was this anytime to be using a new to me razor for the first time? What's the worst that can happen? I thought that I had got to grips with razors of this type, although not this particular model. So - no time for a mimsy - just get straight to it. Lather up, and with the first stroke I realised that this razor is a serious proposition - for something that small it's very heavy, I suspect it may be made out of plutonium. Perfectly balanced - very assertive - you could feel the blade on your face. Probably the loudest razor I have used - audible feedback is a good thing in my book. Total concentration required. I made myself slow down for fear of accidentally hacking my nose off - it's so efficient that two passes were all that were required. Gave myself a tiny graze under the nose on the upward pass but nothing cold water couldn't sort. In my - granted - limited experience of vintage single edges - I can see already why the Streamline enjoys its reputation - for me - more assertive than my MM OC and not that much below the Cobra. Getting away with rushing was helped no end by the slickness of the Wickham 1912 soap - for a non-tallow formulation it's pretty remarkable - I'd forgotten just how lovely the scent was in this version. Matching splash - a bit of balm - and some Sauvage to seal the deal. I really look forward to using this razor again - in a more relaxed way next time. Enjoy your shaves one and all - yours - I.
My very great thanks to K.
@Boru62 for his generous offer to lend me this razor. I'm very grateful.