December 2016 30 Day Rule/Focus Pix & Discussion

December 13 - decadently experimenting

Schick E2 injector / blade Personna (?) (shaves 5+(?))
Muhle blacktip synthetic Rytmoish brush
Cella soap (newly opened tub)
Alum, no Thayers Witch Hazel
Crown Shaving Co. After Shave Tonic (sample)

The E2 is reputedly the most aggressive Schick injector. My standard wetshaver used to be a J3 Golden 500 Hydromagic, which is much milder. The couple times I tried the E2, it was much harsher and I got razorburn, weepers and even a nick or two.

Tonight, the E2 definitely felt harsher than the Supply Provision SE injector I used for the last couple days, but it gave me a very good shave with absolutely no irritation. The alum was dead quiet.

I attribute the difference to my spending November working with a single DE on riding the cap with light pressure, skin stretching, and also on improving my lathers. That has all clearly transferred to using the injectors too.

I think I parked a Personna blade in the razor back in September-October, but I also have cartridges of vintage Schicks and Pals going. And I know it had a few shaves on it, but don't remember exactly how many either. Anyway, it was sharp enough and did the job.

I liked the Cella. The marzipan smell is pleasant and fades quickly after use. My synthetic brush whipped up a good bowl lather using very little product, and the protection was good enough to shave with the E2. It's a good thing I like the Cella, because I think a tub will last me for a lot of shaves.

I'm not stuck on the Crown Shaving Co After Shave Tonic though. I got a free sample with an order from Fendrihan and wanted to like it as it is made by a Toronto company and I like finding Canadian products to use. Both the tonic and the company's shaving cream have good reviews. However, I found both the scent and the performance lacking.

The scent is described as "barbershop with notes of tobacco, leather, bay rum and barber's talc." To me, it overwhelmingly smells like "northern forest fire". Not something I want in my nostrils for any length of time. In fact, I ended up washing again after half an hour to get rid of the smell. (The scent did have good staying power.)

I didn't use my Thayers Witch Hazel tonight because the tonic is described as having a "healthy dose" of witch hazel in it. Maybe so. The skin feel isn't bad. But it was less soothing than straight Thayers Witch Hazel, less invigorating than Clubman VI, and less soothing and moisturizing than the Supply Provision tonic I tried yesterday -- at twice the price of the SP tonic and eight times the cost of the other two. I won't be buying the Crown Shaving Co tonic - or even asking for it again as a sample with a Fendrihan order.

 

+ @bscarpenter
There's a bunch of reviews and photos over here

 

How was the show? I always enjoyed Brian Setzer.

 

December 14, 2016
ATT Calypso R1
Feather
Zenith B02 Boar
Nuavia Blu
Witch Hazel

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Everything just clicked and worked well together. The Zenith B02 boar whipped up the Nuavia Blu soap into a wonderful slick lather with the splendid scent adding so much to the shave. The Calypso R1 delivered an effortless near BBS. Overall a fantastic shave. I hope everyone has a great Wednesday.

 

Tabac has a tobacco classic barbershop scent that would probably pair very well with clubman special reserve if you like it.

 

The razor is a beauty Neal.

 

Excellent Wednesday setup up amigo. Have a good hump day. Funny, my wife and I have always had a different interpretation of the words, "hump day."

 

Mark, I love that brush. The D7 is one of my all time favorite styles, and yours right there looks, beautiful.

 

Hope it was good. Setzer rocks! Christmas tour type thing?

 

Wow, this place is amazing as are you Charlie.

 

Good picture! What is your opinion of the Tuxedo knot?

 

Great looking set up and beautiful picture, Clint!

 

That sounds like my wife and I!

 

In the tub I think it does kind of smell like your great aunt's closet. In a good way.

The scents mellow when it is lathered, and it is great.

 

December 14 SOTD:

Stirling Synthetic the
La Toja Shave Stick
Gillette Black Beauty
Stirling Unscented PSB
Clubman AS

Shave number 3 with the Black Beauty, and it was a nice easy going shave. I ended with a DFS on two passes. I find that the length of the handle is very comfortable for me. Also, the weight of this razor seems to be between the Fatboy and Slim. I am not sure if this is just a perception due to balance of the razor or if it is actually between the two, but it does seem split them to me. I will have to look at head geometry of the three razors, as they do seem to differ from each other. Either way, they all shave nicely. I hope everyone has a great day!

 

Nice photo. I like the head cover for your razor.

 

SOTD 12/14/16
Razor: Filarmonica Medallin Taurino 14
Strop: Drygulch Leatherworks Horsehide/ linen
Brush: Dubl Duck M2 with Omega boar
Soap: Beaver Woodwright Phillip's Fougere
Post: Cold Water, Alum, Thayer's Lavender witch hazel
Aftershave: Beaver Woodwright Phillip's Fougere

Decadent December continues. First use of this beautiful beast of a razor. Just got it back from @gssixgun and it was finished with a Japanese Natural stone. Edge was buttery smooth. This thing just mowed through the whiskers. The weight was perfect, but I have to get used to this size razor. At 1 inch wide, it's not as nimble as some of my 5/8 razors. Beaver Woodwright software in a sweet Fougere scent performed well. Three passes an a little touch up, and I am BBS on my face, jawline, and chin. Neck is a high grade DFS. Very happy with this shave.

 

Thank you. The credit for the head cover goes to @Drygulch. It works perfectly to protect the razor and my dopp kit when I have to pack every thing.

 

Beautiful razor, Adam. You are going to make NB17 hard for me.

 

Last night....



Snuck in a second shave last night, and it was great. Using the shavette is kind of like riding a bike, and this one is really nice to ride. Didn't really need a third pass, considering it was my second shave of the day, but I need the practice, so I spent a little extra time on my neck. Could easily call it a DFS except for my stupid little adam's apple valleys. N to S, S to N, SE to NW, vice versa, I cannot get the hair off of it. Oh well, tomorrow is another shave.

First shave with the L and L Marshland, and it was so-so, guessing from no fault of the soap, but user error. It is slick, not sure how thirsty it is tho, and that is definitely my preference. The scent was spot on to the name. I loved it, and it reminds me on being outdoors on the summer. I could see it being a bit controversial, because it does kind of smell like a peat bog. But like they smell in the spring, before the heat starts to make it dank. Recommend a sample before a full tub purchase.

Have a good day, everyone.