SoS: April 13, 2015 - April 19, 2015

13-APR-15
razor: Custom Kropp, RazoRock Little Bastone
brush: Omega 31064
soap: artisnal soap (made by a friend)
finish: Old Spice

Today was my second use of @HolyRollah 's unbelieveably generous and undeniably beautifult Custom Kropp razor. It arrived Saturday, but after I had shaved. It was so beautiful I was reluctant to open it.. but I worked through my reluctance and revealed it to my son who instantly sent a snapchat to his best bud and fellow wet shaver. (Kevin, you do fine work that appeals even to those who have never looked at straight razors. A thing of beauty is a thing of beauty indeed!)

On Sunday as well as this morning, I managed to slide the razor over my face without nicks, weepers or burn. I am following Kevin's advice and do not seek a BBS for the first few months, at least. If I can just continue without letting blood, I expect to gradually creep up on a 100% straight razor shave. One WTG pass with the Kropp left plenty of hairs behind, but knocked off a good many, too! I consider it a success. I think Today's effort may have been a little more effective than yesterday's!

Anyhoo... finished with the Little Bastone (same head as the Jaws) for another pass and some touchups. I ended with a mighty fine BBS. I am not completely sure, but I think the straight may be giving me "edge awareness" that may have passed over to the RRLB. ... or maybe it was just one of that shaves where the stars and moon aligned. Either way I am loving the straight!

Cheers, y'all!

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Mondays Shave.
This was the first time I paired a superspeed razor with a Ladas blade. What a great combination.
Used my favourite soap today for a nice refreshing menthol shave.

Razor - Superspeed
Blade - Ladas
Brush- Pilsson synthetic
Pre shave - Edwin Jagger pre shave
Lather - I Colioni
Aftershave - Williams ice blue

 

The loss of Les Paul was a heartbreaker for the music world and Rock & Roll in particular!
Also, I envy all your awesome OS mugs, they are really hard to find in the wild but I'm up to the challenge for the flea market/garage sale season. I do have a late 40's Ship Friendship mug like you had in your picture the other day, it's one of my prized possessions now! I take it yours is a 47 because it doesn't have the raised lines inside because mine does.
Beautiful NEW razor BTW!

 

Standard Razors Black
Polsilver Super Iridium
Duke 3 Best
MdC Fougere
Speick ASL

 

My first shave ever with the Schick Platinum DE. Some more musings about the shave today over here
In short, it was a good shave.

Razor: Schick Platinum DE
Blade: GSB
Brush: L'Occitane Plisson
Soap: 3P
A/S: Myrsol (it felt very apt to use "Plastic Shave" today with my near-all-plastic razor..)
On a side note: Myrsol Plastic Shave is amazing.
EdC: Zirh Ikon

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Thanks for your kind words, and thoughts. You are correct my Old Spice mug you mentioned is an Early Glass 01 yours is an 02. They're great mugs. I'm glad we have video of Les to watch.

 

True words. His namesake instrument remains a dream for many players. In fact I've never met a Les Paul that was anything less than a joy to play. My 30-year-old Standard is still my favorite, but the Paul Reed Smith is a serious contender for that title!

 

Cade Rapira Stainless and Maxwell House oh and a Gillette Parat.

 

Very nice, I'd like to get a Parat one of these days

 

SOTD 4-13-15

Razor: Muhle R89 head on a Maggard MR1 handle (2nd time using)
Blade: Platinum Lux (4)
Soap: Proraso Red tub (1st time trying)
Bowl: Shaveworks
Brush: Tweezerman
Post: Gentleman Jon Alum block

Preshave was just face wash with warm water and post shave was rinse with warm water then some cold water splashes and pat dry! Added the Alum block today!

Razor: Decided to tryout the R89 head on the MR1 handle as I have had the head around for awhile now from a trade deal. It matched up with a Platinum Lux produced a great shave. I was very impressed with the shave and combination so far. The razor does NOT seem like it is too mild.

Blade: I like this blade alot. I like it just as much as my go-to Astra SP.

Soap: This is the first time I used the Proraso Red tub stuff. I am not crazy about the scent thought as it seems a little strong for my liking and the misses dont like it either. It works good but didnt seem as protective as the Cella I used yesterday! However it is pretty good stuff!

Comments: Shave was very good, a DFS all the way and almost a BBS in most areas except for jawline and some areas on neck. No nicks but a little irritation based on the Alum block feedback but very mild though and was gone is a minute on one side in the jaw line area. Not sure it the 4th day for this blade gave me the slight irritation or that the Proraso didnt seem nearly as slick and protective as the Cella did in yesterday's shave! The blade did seem plenty sharp for being the fourth shave with it.

Please feel free to leave comments on any items used as I enjoy reading them to see what others say about the gear I am using/trying out!

Thx.

 

Sean, the first number of shaves, at least for me, were the toughest. Then I was getting frustrated at the results. My counsel to you—which is the same I received from @Stroker when I was learning—was just keep at it! The more you use it, the better you get with it (which can apply in many facets of life ). It sounds as if you are definitely off to a promising start!

 

Menthol(ish) Monday

I used a little proraso green pre-shave as a face wash prep, and the PSO (mixed by @ram57) has a little menthol kick as well. The soap was B&M Cheshire, and I almost forgot how great of a lather it produces. The Ikon 102 is a smooth razor, and I was actually able to go ATG on my neck without irritation. BBS result. Great start to the shave week. Have a good one gents.

 

Gillette Super Adjustable P-2 (1970)
with Astra S.P. blade (2),
Omega Pro 20102 boar bristle brush,
Lather-up with CRSW Bergamot and Bay,
finish with water, Witch Hazel
and Clubman Special Reserve for a DFS!

My first shave with the Gillette Super Adjustable, an easy and comfy shave, I absolutely love this razor (and it is my birth year razor ). Aces!

 

My shaving plans for Tuesday!

The "Mother of all Mega-Freezes!"

Gatsby Ice Cooling Gel Facial Wash
Large Horsehair Barbershop
Super Speed/Personna day 2
Chiseled Face Cryogen SS
Diana Sport Menthol Balm
Osage Rub AS
Santos de Cartier EdT

Actually, I don't know why I rated the Cryogen worthy of an extra symbol because the difference between that soap and the Glacials is not that big. Yes indeed, it's colder but after using the Glacial Lavender soap this morning my face felt frozen-stiff. This Cryogen soap lathers so easily, and definitely packs a menthol effect which can really shake some guys up, however it's very skin-friendly. The Diana Sport balm is just as frigid as the Rubby Dubby Doo - trust me on that. I love these Personna blades because they're very sharp, but smooth.

 

Tuesday's


Dove Men Face Wash
Kiss My Face Cool Mint moisture shave
Omega Pro 98 boar brush
Schick M2 Adjustable
Personna Stainless
CWR, Asma Alum Block
Thayers Lemon WH
Aqua Velva

The Kiss My Face Cool Mint moisture shave cream face-lathered well with my Omega Pro 98 boar Brush. Two passes with my Schick M2 Adjustable razor and a Personna Stainless blade gave me a close, comfortable shave. After a cold water rinse, alum block, and a final cold water rinse, I finished off with Thayers Lemon WH and then Aqua Velva after shave. I am clean, smooth, and refreshed...

 

Yes! Very nice razor!

 

SOTD - Monday, April 13, 2115

Shower
Prep: Peppermint PSO
Brush: B&B Essential Boar
Soap: Stirling Glacial Lemon Chill
Razor: Weber Wave
Blade: Voskhod (4)
Post: Stirling Lemon Chill WH
Aftershave: TSD Iced SubZero splash

 

April 14 Plans

Stirling Sheep facial soap
Merkur 37C slant bar razor
Feather blade (day 1)
Kent BK8 silvertip badger brush
Arko & glycerin
Two passes plus touch-ups
Alum, Thayer's Lavender witch hazel, unrefined shea butter, and Nivea Sensitive Post-Shave Balm

I used my badger brush to load Arko off the puck today for the fist time. I took the brush to my face and made a ton of lather. I had lather all over the brush, scuttle, my face, and hands! However, it was not as dense and slick as I got from using a shave stick and then face lathering with my boar brush. I'm sure the difference results from my inexperience, so I have some learning to do this week! For what it's worth, I don't notice the Arko scent now as much as I did when I started using it at the beginning of the month.

Happy Shaving!

 

Thanks and it should be used! I am glad you are enjoying it.

 

13 April

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