It has been more than a year since I switched back to using the “old-fashioned” double-edge safety razors for my wet shave routine. Part of the reason for the return to using a double edge safety razor was monetary; razor blades are super CHEAP, especially compared to the new style cartridges. Another aspect of my switch was the return to a morning ritual from days gone by.
So today being the first day of a new year, I loaded a new Astra super-platinum blade into my Merkur 1904 before lathering up the Stirling Soap Black Cherry shave soap with my best badger hair brush.
After completing a two pass shave I rinsed my face with a warm cloth before shocking the skin with an ice cold cloth compress.
After patting dry I applied a nickel-sized dollop of the Queen Bee Apothecary after shave balm (deadwood saloon scent).
A simple shave routine that takes me back to being a little kid and out camping on the land with my grandfather.