SoS: Nov 6 - Nov 12, 2017

Barbasol Arctic Chill & Cremo Cooling
Oceans Vintage boar, Suribachi bowl
Ming Shi 2000S & Gillette Nacet blade
Alum, Barbasol Pacific Rush Aftershave

 

Very good picture with a great looking scuttle Guy.

 

Thanks very much Doc.

 

Thank you Doug!

 

Great picture, Guy! I would almost read that issue of GQ!

 

Thanks Jim!

 

today(night)'s shave
Hot water wash with a washcloth and nivea mens face wash
Hoffritz pure badger brush
Bombed Sara's Creations Loud Lavender
Merkur Futur (3.5)
Ladas (3)
Crusellas 1800 Lavanda
Fine Lavender classic after shave
Sorry for neglecting you guys (and gals). Life moves fast, sometimes simplification is in order. This evenings endeavor is as close to perfect as I could muster. The lather was exceptional. Slick,rich,and aromatic. Applied with a vintage Hoffritz. Three passes with the Futur, I'm smooth as silk and comfy to boot. A two fold finish, both of lavender. The wife approved from a room away. Drawing her in for a snuggle and a closer whiff.
Excellent results.
Hope y'all did as well, or better.

 

Tuesday's Shave


Proraso Pre Shave
Musgo Real
Jayaruh #220
Schick Adjustable
Personna
CWR
Thayer's Lemon WH
Aqua Velva

I started off with Proraso Pre Shave. The Musgo Real Shaving Soap face-lathered well with the Jayaruh #220 synthetic brush. I did two passes with the Schick Adjustable razor and Personna blade and ended up with a close, comfortable shave. After a cold water rinse, I finished off with Thayer's Lemon WH and then Aqua Velva AS. I am clean, smooth, and refreshed...

 

Ready to take on the day after this shave!

Razor - 1963 Gillette Slim Adjustable
Blade - Astra Superior Platinum
Brush - Jayaruh No. 182
Soap - RazoRock Tuscan Oud
Aftershave - RazoRock Tuscan Oud

​

 

Tuesday's Planned Shower:

bodywash-Nivea 4 Men(Energy)
deodorant soap-Dial 4 Men
shampoo-Clubman Country Club**
deodorant-Degree 4 Men(Arctic...probably should go for something warmer eventually)post-shave

**-topping it off with Clubman Styling Gel, pre-shave. A little dab'll do me(where have I seen THAT before????).

 

11/05/2017 --> SOTN

Uncle Jon's FINN McCool Tallow Soap and witch hazel/aloe a.s.

VdH boar brush & bowl. Crown King ATG Pre shave soap.

GEM Jr. - PAL Super (2)

CROWN King TWEE! cologne and balm.

 

11/07/17 Shave of the Day
Face Wash with Mineral Fusion Face Soap
Phoenix Artisan Accoutrements Sandalwood Shampoo/Conditioning Puck
Phoenix Artisan Accoutrements CUBE Mentholated Preshave Soap
Italian Barber Amici Shaving Soap
RazoRock Plissoft Monster Synthetic 26mm Brush
Creative Flame Pottery Stoneware Shaving Scuttle
Rockwell 6S Adjustable Stainless Steel Safety Razor Plate 6
Astra Green Superior Platinum Blade - 4th Shave
RazoRock Alum Stick
Homemade Lime & Rose Witch Hazel
Italian Barber Amici After Shaving Splash
NIVEA Men Sensitive Cooling Post Shave Balm
Phoenix Artisan Accoutrements Sandalwood Natural Deodorant​

 

Date: 07 November 2017 "SOTA"

Pre: - Cold Water straight from the tap
Brush: - RazoRock Plissoft Synth. 24/57mm knot
Lather: - Route 66 ~ Barbershop Hop 5x
Bowl: - Captain's Choice
Razor: - Fatip Grande Open Comb
Blade: - Gillette Nacet #1
Post: - Speick Aftershave Lotion / L'Oreal Hydra Sensitive Aftershave Balm with Birch Sap
Fragrance: - Jean Paul Gaultier Le Male

 

NOVember 6,7 SOTDs
EJ 89lbl w Nacet
TGN Synthetic
Prohibition Style
Thayers
M&L Florida Water

 

Shumate tungsteel 5/8 smiling blade
Col conk amber soap
Jayaruh 175
Nivea sensitive skin aftershave balm

 

NOVember!!!

November 6 - Qshave Focus
Razor - Qshave Futur Clone
Blade - (1)
Pre-Shave - Stirling Mentholated Pre-Shave Soap
Soap - Dirty Deeds Tobacco
Brush - Jayaruh #54
Post - Alum

So. @Keithmax goes to Phuket and leaves the Czar at home. That's ok. I'll see your Phuket and raise you Grafton. Oh, so now you're curious as to what Grafton is? Why, only the finest tourist trappy town on the Illinois side of the Mighty Mississippi along the Great Rivers Road. Yeah, match THAT with your fancy Phuket. Even had fresh catfish at the Fin Inn while I was there just to rub this kind of luxury in his FACE! Who needs Phuket now, eh? (Seriously Keith - I'm packed and ready anytime).

Anyway - tonight's shave continues the Qshave focus that has now become my month. One slight challenge is that I decided when I thought it would be a few days fill in to not use any Russian blades. Well, I'll stick with that for the month. No Russian steel will touch my face this month with this razor. So now the problem is - what non-Russians do I like enough to fill a month?! I already used my favorite, the Bic CP. Aha - I have about a dozen German Wilkinson Swords. There you go. Great blade that should work nicely for the next three days.

Qshave dialed up to 5 and the gap is getting a bit scary looking. Used the pre-shave again and Dirty Deeds soap with the JR54 for a great creamy and slick lather. Two passes ever-mindful of the need to avoid pressure and some touch up and the baby is almost in the house. I decided not to push it any further. The feel of the shave was actually very smooth and the alum is mostly silent. Can't argue with those results. I'm thinking I'm dialing up to 6 tomorrow and letting it rip! Well, hopefully not literally.

​

 

SOTD November 6, 2017
SIX BLADE Cartridge Razor DISTRACTION
RAZOR: TopCare (Dorco Pace 6 Blade Handle - SXA1000)
BLADE: TopCare 6 blade (Pace 6 Cartridges)- this blade had been used 3 times since it was put away maybe 6-7 years ago.
PREP: Hot water shower with Zest Soap, hot water rinse
BRUSH: NO - applied by hand
PRE-SHAVE: NO
SHAVE CREAM: Barbasol Sensitive Skin
POST SHAVE: Hot water rinse
AFTER SHAVE: Aqua Velva Musk
BALM: NONE

Another uneventful 2 pass BBS shave with minor touchups. This razor is efficient and predictable, if you use the right technique.
I have found that long slow strokes with relatively high, intentional pressure produces a very fine shave with this tool. BUT, you have to feel the blades.
The geometry of the cartridge is clearly designed to protect you from the blades and shield you from cuts and abrasions. Standard result would be DFS.
To get a really fine BBS from this system, you need to, in a way, defeat the design of this cartridge, by aggressively pressing it into your skin.
The bottom rubber strip squeegees and pulls your face skin taught before the 6 blades, while the top strip lubes your skin after the beard is cut.

Using this system gives me a very good, efficient shave. But there is no need to focus on meticulous detail of the shave. It is a very forgiving system.
If I lose focus or screw up, the punishment is a standard DFS shave, with no cuts, weepers, or abrasions.

I really like this handle. It has a good heft and feels substantial. It may be even heavier than the Gillette Fusion handle, and is very comfortable.
It is certainly better than the Caliber 5 disposable razor that I have also been using. The Caliber, though providing a great shave, feels like a toy.

The Barbasol Sensitive Skin cream gives excellent cushion, good glide and a wonderful scent. I enjoyed working it into my face skin. Nice.

But, given all that, something seems to be missing these past few days of cartridge shaving.
I did NOT enjoy a luxurious shave experience. I got a wonderful and efficient 5 minute BBS shave. That is a good thing... but
I am beginning to miss my more traditional shave tools. Tools that demand a level of attention to detail, or you pay the consequence.
It leads me to believe that the enjoyment of a traditional wet shave is in large part, mastering more demanding tools. Hence the STR8 razor is the pinnacle.
Of course - YMMV!

 

Thanks Steve.

 

Tuesday planned SoTD

Gem razor
Simpson keyhole brush
Jabonman Tobacco shaving soap
B&M Cologne Russe aftershave​

 

Tuesday shave

Sedef shavette
Shavemac 26mm silvertip badger

Tobs sandalwood shaving cream
Alum Block
Tobs sandalwood aftershave

Have a great day guys