OCtober 2016 30 Day Rule/Focus Pix & Discussion

Astra SP is the bang-for-buck undisputed champion of DE blades.

 

Tequila Trumps Techniques

 

Razor: Gillette OC
Blade: Personna Platinum (5)
Brush: El Druida Red Heart Chakte Kok/African Blackwood 2 Band Badger.
Soap: Eufros Tierra Humeda
Aftershave: Myrsol F./Extra

Another near BBS with these products.


I have to hit the road for a few days. I'll be back Sunday. Here is my travel kit.

 

Beautiful setting, Doug, for your SOTD photo. Safe travels!

 

October 13

Gillette New LC
Feather blade (3)
Kent BK4 brush
Tabac shave stick
Thayer's Lavender witch hazel, unrefined shea butter, and Fine Platinum aftershave

I stayed with the same setup and two-pass routine for an automatic near-BBS shave today. I hope everyone had a fantastic day!

It's back to work for me next week.

 

Thank you Charlie. I appreciate your kind thoughts.

 

Tequila has a way of coming back around on me. I think I'll stick to the Vodka. Hmmmmm. Vodka Validates Victory...VVV. No?

 

That is a true statement. Yet even I don't think about the Astra SP except for head shaves. Don't know why it flies under the radar.

 

Neal, how does the Astra SP compare to a Feather on the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd shaves? Have you ever run across a 'bum' new blade? That's the one other blade I've considered trying just for fun and maybe for science. Reviews on the Astras are nearly always positive, and they're less than half the cost of Feathers.

And I assume Astras are covered by the Fight Song?

 

Doug

You are killing me with your pictures right now. What a beautiful landscape you have going on right now.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

Astras are indeed covered by the Fight Song. They're from St. Pete. I think they are honestly one of the smoothest and sharpest out there. Think Feather but without that harshness that it can bring. I've typically used them on head shaves for three weeks in a row, so that's a lot of territory to cover and a lot of growth to cut as well compared to daily face shaves. The price on them has always been a bargain and they are one of the blades I could go "minimalist" with if I decided to. I've never run into a bad one yet.

As far as comparing to Voskhod (and grab something or sit down quick) I will say I probably prefer Voskhod over Astra by the slightest of margins and mainly because, to be honest, Astras are almost too smooth. There's usually very little if any awareness of the blade and I like having that in the Voskhod. That's for the Superior Platinum, just to be clear. I haven't tried the Super Stainless one yet.

 

Thanks very much Charlie.

 

Thanks Tom. We are getting frost tonight. Weather is cooling down.

 

It sells at a price point that precludes fanboy-ism

It compares favorably over 4-5 days, and it is a smoother blade though very marginally less sharp than Murica's finest blades.

 

Thanks Neal. This is a very helpful comparison, and it tempts me to try the Astra SP's. Are Astras and Voskhods made in the same facility?

 

Yo!

 

No. Astras are out of the Gillette plant in St. Pete. Voskhods are from Moscow - Mostochlegmash.

 

Astra SP's to me are like generic GSB's, they feel very similar for the first couple of shaves and then the Astra starts to deteriorate while the GSB has better longevity.What are your top 5 DE's? I have a whole grip of Astras, if you'd like to try a few shoot me a pm with your addy. I prefer sharper blades over smoothness, here is my top 5.

1. GSB
2. Rapira PL
3. Astra SP
4. Wilkinson Sword Classic (German)
5. Gillette 7'O Clock Super Platinum

I have way too many honorable mentions that I like, but those are my dream team.

Sent from my Galaxy S6 using Tapatalk

 

This was the hardest pass for me to figure out. To shave the right side hold the razor in your right hand and the bend your wrist towards the inside of your arm so the razor is now upside down. Reach over your head with your left hand, open your jaw and pull the skin up. Now you can shave from the ear to the middle. Switch hands for the left side.

 

Day 2 Tabac with a Rudy Vey-Shavemac D01 flat top knot and a Vorpal straight.

Tabac did not disappoint again producing a wet slick lather. This is small brush for a 4 passes shave, since I face lathered today I had to go back to the puck twice. 4 passes and no irritation and a nice BBS.

Irritation A+ Closeness A Smoothness A+ Sharpness A