First shave with the Fatip Grande: Fattip Grande Astra Platinum Omega S-Brush Italian Barber 'Acquatico' A/S1: Witch Hazel w/ EOs A/S2: Vintage Old Spice Very nice First time shave with this set up. Face lathered and did a three pass shave. Two passes N->S and one pass Ear->Chin (XTG). No weepers, nicks or issues. Very nice shave indeed. The brush and soap were add-ons for the $20 deal on the Fatip. Brush is HUGE. Much bigger than my Kent Synthetic. I had a little issue loading the brush, but I think that was because the soap was not level from the filling of the container. The brush is very no-nonsense. I like that it is a bit stiffer than my Kent in the backbone department. I went with this brush, even though it is a 'budget' brush and a step down so to speak, looking for more backbone, and I think it could even have a bit more for my liking. Tips are soft, but I was hoping for more scritch. Acquatico performed fine, light on the scenting, but nice enough. As the soap wears in I think the loading issue will a thing of the past. I'll be revisiting these three Italian cousins often if today's results are an indication of future outcomes. More here on the Fatip Grande: http://theshaveden.com/forums/threa...t-shaves-gentlemen.41254/page-86#post-1030572
Friday: Prep: Hot shower, Nivea Face Wash Brush: Fine Angelhair Synthetic Lather: Shaver Heaven Fresh Ginger croap Razor: RazoRock Bamboozled RAKE OC Blade: Bolzano Superinox (4) Passes: WTG, XTG, XTG (7, 8, 9) Post: Cold water rinse, Thayer's WH pad, Myrsol Metilsol AS splash Cologne: Gaiac by M. Micallef First real go with the Angelhair brush and the Fresh Ginger croap. The brush is very soft with plenty of backbone, and no scritch. Because both it and the Fresh Ginger are essentially new to me, I don't yet have the water ratio down, which impacted lather quality; the scent is very herbaceous and fresh, pairing well with the Metilsol due to both having eucalyptus and thyme notes. The blade was starting to show its age, which - paired with an imperfect lathering technique - made the shave a bit less smooth than I would want, but there were no nicks, weepers, or hot spots. DFS results, overall.
I'm actually glad the razor works well for you! Trying new stuff is fun, I mean look I'm enjoying an injector now and next week I plan on trying out my Gem Art Deco SE. Who cares what a razor looks like or what gender it was made for if it works nicely for your purposes. Enjoy my friend!
I'm looking to get a Stirling or two soon...Barbershop and Sharp Dressed Man look good to be for beginners. I like how they have scents for each season, and some for all year.
An early post for a bone-chillingly cold Saturday morning fun-filled shave! Here we go: Neutrogena Men Facial Wash Razorock Plissoft 26 mm Monster Junjie/Astra day 6 Stirling Glacial Lemon Chill SS Lucky Tiger AS Cream Fine Snake Bite AS Chabrawichi 555 Cologne I'm ecstatic because my Glacial order from Rod cleared customs and is now at our local post office should it should be delivered to me Monday if all goes well. In the meantime I'll enjoy the Lemon Chill soap with its awesome lemony scent and its mega-freeze, along with such perfect lather and brilliant post-shave care. I LOVE the Lucky Tiger a/s cream's cooling, moisturizing, and soothing feeling which protects against dryness or irritation. The Snake Bite's menthol power definitely tops that from the Rubby Dubby Doo although not by very much!
I agree Paul, reading the scent descriptions on those and the reviews they sound fantastic. Scores of reviewers can't all be wrong.
I'm happy your order will soon be there Jeff! Great shaves for you and more material for your beautifully worded post which we all enjoy so much.
I haven't found a Stirling scent I don't like. Of all I have tried, the Ben Franklin is my favorite, but the Barber Shop is also very nice. I got some of the Gatlinburg when it first came out, and it quickly grew on me, too. I really like the Frozen Tundra soap scent, too.
Their Bay Rum is also very good. It is heavy on the cinnamon oil, so it can burn a bit when first applied, but I really like that. Some mornings, I just want that burn.
