Later On

My shaves currently center on the lather, and trying to perfect the creation, at will, of Creamy Lather™. Today, I used Klar Kabinette shaving soap, cutting off a good chunk (the brick on which the razor rests is what remains of the 1.1 lb bar, half of my 1 kg supply) and pressing it sideways into the apothecary bowl from Edwin Jagger. (I should have picked the black version, the better to see the later, but live and learn.)

I used the Tres Claveles horsehair shaving brush, since I had my first, semi-accidental success with that brush. (Semi-accident: I was deliberately using the method Zach illustrated in his video, but when I got the result he described, I had no idea what had happened. Maybe I’m spending too much time with Megs.) If you want to try this, you can (for the next several hours) order a custom horsehair brush through the Pogonotomy Forum (see here and then browse); or, alternatively, you can just order a horsehair brush from this vendor (same vendor as providing the custom brushes). You can also get a mixed horsehair-badger brush, which I have yet to try but sounds intriguing.

I followed the method Zach described: get brush soaking wet, let it drain briefly, and then attack the soap with abandon, brushing vigorously and folding the lather back into the effort, suds flying about… It’s wonderful. I even added just a little water along the way, I was having so much fun.

When I finished, I had a lather like very thick whipped cream—heavier than whipped egg whites. I applied it to my beard, and with three passes of the Feathers (razor and blade) had a perfect smooth visiage which welcomed the splash of Alt Innsbruck.

Tomorrow I’ll be using a Mühle razor that I now know is a called the “Sophist,” and comparing it with the Jagger R89. And, if I can manage it, another Creamy Lather.