March 2017 30 Day Rule/Focus Pix & Discussion

Out of focus, I had some new items arrive so I had to take them for their maiden spin.

I have always wanted to try an asymmetric kamisori and I found one cheap that is supposed to be shave ready and it has arrived.

The second one is the fault of @PickledNorthern who recently debuted a brush I had always been curious about, Kent BK12. After reading his initial review and a pm one found it's way to Korea.

This brush if huge, I mean YUGE, I was worried I would not load enough so I loaded heavily with the Cade. I am going to need a bigger scuttle or bowl for this brush. I had enough for my usually 4 passes plus I could have shaved my whole my body twice, and I am not small. More about the brush to come.

I checked the razor and the bevel looked good under magnification and was tree topping hair, I was very excited. Despite the popping hair easily the first pass was tuggy, I thought maybe the lather was not wet enough so I kept adding water. I was 1/2 way through the second pass and it was still tugging. I wanted to plow on thinking maybe it is my technique or the lather but a voice in my head told me 'remember the advice you give to new members of the dark side.' Ah yes if something does not feel right put down the razor step back and pick up a DE.

So I loaded a Rapira Sweedish Steel in my ATT H1 and had an epic shave. While this brush is beyond big it feels like a cloud on your face, what a wonderful knot. I was going to blame the purchase on Jared, but I need to thank Jared. I have a Kent BK8 and like this brush even more.


Here are two comparison shots for the brush against a huge Polo 12 that now looks normal, a BK8 that looks small in comparison and a Chubby 2 that looks puny.

 

Very good setup Keith.

 

March 19

G3 Gillette Fat Boy
Voskhod (4)
Simpson Chubby 2 Super
KMF Pomegranate Grapefruit
Thayer's Lavender witch hazel, unrefined shea butter, and Floid Vigoroso

I enjoyed a nice very early morning shave on two days of growth. Two passes and a few touch-ups later, and I'm near BBS. I'm normally 'three and out' with blades, but I tried a fourth shave on my Voskhod today since the previous shave was only a one passer. I felt some slight tug on the first pass, and the second pass was fine. It's hard to beat KMF, and the Chubby 2 had no trouble whipping up a nice, slick lather. I've found that I can even get by using KMF brushless because it is so slick. All things considered, it was a great shave, and the Voskhods are fantastic blades. They lack the sharpness of a Feather, but they sure are smooth and forgiving. I finished up with some Floid Vigoroso for a nice powdery menthol kick.

Have a blessed Sunday!

 

That was a fantastic shave story, Jim. You are building some fantastic memories with your son. I bet mom was glad with the results.

 

It's funny, Mom always seems much more impressed with his results than mine!

 

Great picture, Keith. The kamisori looks great, I hope you can get the kinks worked out.

 

March 19 SOTD:

Stirling Synthetic Brush
Beau-tanicals Clary Sage Lime SS
Schick Type E3
Stirling Unscented PSB
Florida Water

I picked up this soap at the Beaumont Farmers Market yesterday, and was looking forward to using it this morning. Unfortunately, the initial use wasn't too great. They don't have ingredients listed on the soap, so I am not sure what is in there, but the lather dissipated very quickly. I definitely need to see if I can work on this a bit, as the scent really is great. I did get a CCS with the E3, but I was really more focused on keeping irritation and cuts down with the poor lather. That at least went well, and Florida Water makes for a great way to end a shave. I hope everyone has a great day!

 

Good luck on the soap, Jim. It's a bummer when you find one that smells good but doesn't lather well.

 

Stunning Kamisori Keith. The brush is Huge.

 

Thanks, Jared. I was a little concerned when I bought it. Sometimes, these small soapers don't always make a true shave soap. I fear this may be the case here, but I will still give it another chance.

 

Yep. We all have read it a hundred times, but I am still guilty of buying them now and then if it smells good enough. So far, I am batting zero.

 

March 19, 2017​

Mongoose B2 with Triad Ti​

Feather Pro Super (8)​

Romera Olive Wood Synthetic​

Reef Point Tranquility​

Fine Lavender​

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Another week and another line up. Since the Feather Super blade is good for 2 weeks of daily shaves, I am back with the Mongoose. The brush for the week is a Romera Olive Wood Synthetic. The knot is a plisson type knot measuring 24 X 50. However with the 5mm glue bump the knot has an effective loft of 45mm. The fibers are very soft and the little brush is a lather making machine. However it splays far to easy with little to no backbone. Since the Romera is small and dries very quickly, it makes a wonderful travel brush. I will be using Reef Point Tranquility soap for the week. The scent is Lavender and Peppermint with the peppermint giving a wonderful cooling sensation during the shave. Also the scent strength is very good lasting throughout the shave.

The Romera made short work of whipping up a wonderful lather. The scent was wonderful and the lather was very slick. I could easily make touch ups without reapplying lather but just using the residual slickness of the soap. Two passes and touch ups yielded the expected near BBS shave. I finished off with a splash of Fine Lavender which paired great with the soap. Off to visit my mom for the day. I hope everyone has a fantastic Sunday.

 

Have a nice day with your Mom. Nice to have a visit on a Sunday. My dad just moved closer to us, so we can visit much more often and it isn't a trip out of town.

 

Hope you have a great day with your mom. Sounds like a nice Sunday.

 

Thank you both. Mom lives about 50 miles away which is pretty close but just a bit too far for visits during the week.

 

Day 24 of 30 days of straights

Definitely a DFS or better shave this morning. I am really picky about applying the label of "BBS", and this shave falls just short. I could have pushed it, but that always seems to bring more blood up than it reduces the whiskers. 2 small weepers today, both of which closed themselves before I finished shaving.

I switched my after the shave treatment. I am using sampsons, which I used when I first started using a DE. This stuff is my favorite. I would have started using it earlier, but I was out and needed to re-order.


DIY Pre-shave Oil
ABC
30mm High Mountain White set an extra 10mm deep
2 passes, WTG, XTG
Sampsons All Natural Aftershave Balm
6/8 Round Toe Henckel 17 1/2

 

So for how well this is going for you, do you expect to continue regularly, only occasionally, or sell them on the BST?

 

I've pretty much decided to sell, trade, or give away most of my DEs. I will stick with straights or at least an SE. Of course, I won't let go of the fatboy and the slim.

 

I would like the Duke 3, have you ever seen them in anything other then ivory or butterscotch?

Sent from my Galaxy S6 using Tapatalk

 

Razor: Supply Provision Custom 3 dot head
Blade: Chick
Brush: That Darn Rob silvertip
Soap: B&M Leviathan
Post Care: Thayers Witch Hazel
Alum
Aftershave: B&M Leviathan

My "It's good to be home" shave. After a week of shaving out of a dopp kit is was nice to have options. I went with Leviathan and I'm happy I did, I love this scent. Three passes to a BBS shave and I'm ready to take on the day. Have a great day folks!