SoS: December 25, 2017 - December 31, 2017

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

 

Nice looking razor. The Single Ring is one sweet shave IMO.

Herm

 

For the end of the year I'm breaking out the 1958 (D3) Executive (replated by RazorPlate) using a GSB blade in it for the first time. Along with the WD Silvertip and the Soap Commander "Honor" soap, this should be one sweet shave.

Herm

 

Terrific picture, Guy!

 

Aw geez, story of my life, I'm always late to the party. Belated birthday wishes!!!

Herm

 

Beautiful picture, Rick!

 

Thank you, Kerry! Have a great evening!

 

Thank you Doug & Jim!

 

Good picture Herm.

Sent from my STV100-3 using Tapatalk

 

Thank Doug. First time trying Grey Flannel AS. I really enjoyed it.
Steve

 

Saturday Straights' Shave


Proraso Pre Shave
Arko
Frank Shaving Badger
Fredrick Reynolds 9/16 "Rattler"
CWR
Thayer's Lemon WH
Lucky Tiger

I started off with Proraso Pre Shave. The Arko Shaving Soap face-lathered well with the Frank Shaving Badger brush. I did two passes with the Fredrick Reynolds 9/16 and ended up with a close, comfortable shave. After a cold water rinse, I finished off with Thayer's Lemon WH and then Lucky Tiger AS. I am clean, smooth, and refreshed...

I got this razor from @HolyRollah . It is very cool looking, and it is a very smooth shaver. Thanks Kevin. I really like it.

 

Thanks Doug

Herm

 

SATURDAY'S SHAVE​

Razor - Edwin Jagger "Kelvin"
Blade - Shark Super Stainless *5th shave
Shave Brush - Scaramouche+Fandango 22mm "Ultra-Soft" Synthetic
Shave Soap - The Shave Den "Sensitive" (Unscented)
Aftershave - The Shave Den "Sensitive" (Unscented) Witch Hazel
Pre-Shave Oil - Lather & Wood Shaving Co.'s Unscented Pre-Shave Oil
Post-Shave Balm - Nicci Marie Vitamin-C Facial Serum with Hyaluronic Acid
Deodorant - Herban Cowboy "Unscented"
Fragrance - Lalique Fleur Universelle 1900 (from the Noir Premier line)

After a 2 day layoff from shaving, I will smooth things back up on Saturday morning.

 

Ruds Suds - The Dark Side (by Catie's Bubbles)
DrivenLegend Red & Black | APShaveCo Tuxedo 30mm
Ever-Ready 1912 | Delta Echo | Gem PTFE

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Ruds Suds: The Dark Side is a collaboration between Jason Rudman and Catie's Bubbles, and when I say collaboration, I mean Ruds dreamed it up and Catie's made it work. At least that's how I imagine it happened.

Haitian vetiver detractors need not apply. Much like Catie's Bubbles' 322, this fragrance epitomizes everything I like about a fragrance, and it virtually personifies darkness. The comparisons to 322 are inevitable, but where 322 slips in some trashy patchouli, The Dark Side's vetiver is mitigated by dark roasted coffee, injecting a bitterness and hatred at a level not often experienced in a shave soap. In practice, the Haitian vetiver is the first note both from the tub and when lathered. The blend is so masterfully done that the bitter black coffee insidiously comes forward before the lather is fully built. Throughout the shave it's hard to determine where the vetiver ends and the coffee begins. Then, around mid-shave, a resinous, semi-sweet note gently creeps in without overtaking the vetiver/coffee dual.

The paired splash unfolds in a similar but slightly sharper fashion. However, the drydown unveils a faintly damp green note I don't recall experiencing in the soap. While the splash has plenty of punch and staying power, I'd like to see this in an EdP or even an extrait. As it is, I can still detect the splash---particularly the semi-sweet resinous note---about 4 hours out.

The Dark Side utilizes Catie's Bubbles' Luxury Soap vegan base. I've sang the praises of this soap base performance extensively in the past, so suffice it to say it's one of my favorites.

Normally, at this time, I would recommend fans of dark fragrances scoop this up, but there were only 16 sets, all of which have been spoken for. We've seen this before, however, with Porch Drinks and others. If the demand is there, perhaps the artisan can be convinced to revisit it, but I have no idea what that entails.

 

12/30/17 Shave of the Day
Face Wash with Crabtree & Evelyn Indian Sandalwood Triple Milled Soap
Phoenix Artisan Accoutrements Lime Ginger Tea Tree Conditioning Shampoo Puck
Phoenix Artisan Accoutrements CUBE Mentholated Preshave Soap
RazoRock XXX LE Shave Soap
Stirling Soap Company 24mm x 57mm Boar Brush
Creative Flame Pottery Stoneware Shaving Scuttle
iKon X3 Slant Razor
Astra Green Superior Platinum Blade - 2nd Shave
RazoRock Alum Block
Thayers Lemon Witch Hazel Astringent with Aloe Vera Formula
RazoRock Mr. Pink After Shaving Splash
Rockwell Barbershop Post-Shave Balm
Phoenix Artisan Accoutrements Sandalwood Natural Deodorant​

 

Nice! I wish Chris would have told me about this set. I would have bought for sure.

 

I bet it comes back around.

 

Thanks Jim!

 

RECENT SHAVES






Sorry I haven't posted any shaves latley, have been sick with the flu the past few days so was unable to post. Feeling better now and all is well. Got a decent shave with L&L Harmony this evening. Was a but light on the lather since I decided to bowl lather, accidently did not use enough product. Was still a swell shave nonetheless. Finished off with Gingers Garden Maharani which has a Pachouli Inscense type of scent that paired well with the Harmony. Hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas and great shaves!

 

Decadent December!!!

December 29 - Fatboy Friday!

Razor - 1959 (E4) Gillette Fatboy (6)
Blade - (1)
Pre-shave - Stirling Mentholated Pre-Shave Soap
Soap - Tabac
Brush - 30DC LE
Post - Alum

It's Fatboy Friday! I'm running late due to some later closes at the store this weekend. This week is one our busier ones in the year so we stay open until 9pm through the weekend. We do close Sunday at 6, though, for New Year's Eve. Anyway........

Grabbed the birth year Fatboy and loaded a Sharp Star. Set on 6 which is my butter zone on this razor and whipped up a fine Tabac lather with the LE brush. Added that on top of the Stirling pre-shave soap and got a fantastic feel. The oils in the pre-shave soap are helping with skin dryness right now as well. We are in the deep freeze here and the air is bone dry. I'm itching like I have fleas. We complain about the humidity in the summer here but I'm ready for a bit of it.

Two passes, touch up, no issues or problems and a near-BBS is in the house. I'll take it! Hope you have a great weekend. I know many will probably have plans for New Year's Eve. If you're already on your way there or getting ready, stay safe and let's enjoy putting another year to bed!

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