Since I started using a shaving oil for the finishing pass I’ve noticed an interesting phenomenon: It doesn’t seem to matter how good or bad the blade is, the finishing pass seems to “equalize” all blades and produce a pretty-much EHM (Eunuch’s Hairless Mug) shave every time. Of course, a bad blade will make the earlier passes nasty, and even result in nicks, cuts, or irritation. Today was the Russian Iridium, an O.K. blade that despite some dragging and a little razor burn, managed to pull off a solid 9.8 shave on the oil pass! The oil was the Total Shave Solution, a very good mentholated oil that leaves a cool, moist residue on the skin.