SOS: September 2018 | Page 68

TestDepth · Sep 25, 2018

BaylorGator said: ↑

That is brilliant! Out of curiosity, how do you compare the shaving experience to a full size blade?
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Thanks Randy! I have made and used razors that are shorter, but this length 1.75” is about the shortest I like to go to keep it enjoyable.
Any smaller and you really can’t hold it like a normal straight. I like to do the WTG pass by putting the scales straight out like a non-folding Kamisori - keeps the razor from trying to rotate the tip into your cheek.
But it is different, which makes it fun!
Tom.

Dansco · Sep 25, 2018

ram57 said: ↑

Just a simple black 16" PVC background
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It's very good, thanks!

brit · Sep 25, 2018

120inna55 said: ↑

Lather Bros. | Imperial
Kent V8
The New Improved Schick Injector Razor | Personna 74

I've been a fan of Lather Bros. for a couple years now. Initially, it was their art that attracted me to the brand. It's always excelled due in no small part to the fact that one member of the creative team is a professional artist and art director by trade. Regardless of their eye-catching labels, I've seen their product improve from just average to one that's competitive with the likes of Stirling and Viking. Providing superb quality lather that comes easily, the base's density has never been a problem, but now the slickness, both initial and residual, is on par with what I expect from luxury soaps. Post-shave is also quite good, though not yet approaching that of the upper echelon of artisan soaps. It's just a well rounded product that's no longer just a pretty face.

I don't typically reach for balms unless a matching splash option is not available. I'm also not inclined to used both balm and splash with the same shave. I did try out this balm, but I essentially used it as a post-shower moisturizer the day before this shave and not as a post-shave. Like Lather Bros.' other balms, this is quite thick and I would call it a paste. Based on prior experience, if you dispense the product via the intended method through the flip-top lid, over time the repetitive squeezing of the bottle will ultimately mar the label. I don't intend to use the balm much, but when I do, I'll remove the lid and dab some of the product into my palm. If they're going to keep this consistency, a small tub may be a more appropriate vessel. I have considered adding a little alcohol-free witch hazel to the product to thin it a bit, but as it is, as long as it's applied to damp skin, it soaks in quickly and without greasy residue. The balm ingredients do alter the native fragrance a bit with a slightly chemical overtone, but this burns off quickly.

Their current alcohol-based, mentholated splashes are quite good with immediate soothing and a delayed, gentle cooling. It's difficult to assess the effectiveness of the splash because the soap's base does a good job in moisturizing the skin. There is some slight oiliness detected for approximately 15 minutes after application, but that quickly subsides in favor of soft silky feel. I cannot speak to the longevity of this particular fragrance because I followed it with the EdT. A word of caution with regard to the Imperial splash bottle. The black material that wraps the neck of the bottle is not waterproof (or splash proof). When it gets wet, the black paint gets all over everything. It cleaned up easily enough, but if you can't avoid getting it wet, just remove it.

Lather Bros. recently teamed up with a local beer maker to produce 100 numbered sets (soap, splash, and balm) incorporating their raspberry bourbon beer. To round out the fragrance, the artisan added notes of leather, tobacco, and lavender. They also offered an EdT that can be purchased separately. I felt that was a nice touch to keep the core set's price point attainable for those who weren't interested in an EdT. A likely compromise, however is that the sets come with both the splash and balm without an option to customize. Given the limited nature of the product, I completely understand this decision.

The fragrance of Imperial is quite unique. It opens with a very forward leather note that remains realistic throughout. Trailing behind and blending superbly with the leather comes the warm toasty and malty hops. I cannot overstate how well these notes go together. I didn't expect to pick up on the raspberry component given the soap is made with a beer that contains a raspberry note. I'd assumed the degrees of separation would simply cause it to be lost among the other dominant notes. To my surprise, raspberry is quite evident right in the middle of the shave. I feel the sweetness of the tobacco boosts its presence, and again, is so well blended that I cannot identify where the raspberry ends and the tobacco begins. Lavender is no where to be found until the second pass. At which point, it quite abruptly shows up, and for a brief moment, overtakes the leather, before bowing out on the final pass. The splash actually opens with a slightly artificial and bitter lavender that I attribute to the therapeutic ingredients. Again, this is brief, and is replaced with the leather note. I delayed application of the EdT for about 30 minutes to confirm the splash indeed complements the soap.

Speaking of the EdT, I'm quite pleased with it. It doesn't have the prominence of the warm beer notes, but the beautifully crafted leather, tobacco/raspberry, and lavender accord takes my mind off it anyway. Despite its EdT concentration, I could still detect the leather with faint tobacco out to 9 hours. While the Imperial fragrance is quite unique, it is in the same realm of Phoenix Artisan Accoutrements' "Tombstone", Storybook Soapworks' "Shaken", and The Club's "El Gaucho".

Lather Bros. is no rookie when it comes to limited offerings that showcase pop culture, and more specifically comic book movies, which is obviously my weakness. However, to my knowledge, this is the first collaboration I've seen them do, and it is quite well executed both in terms of presentation and performance. I applaud the artisan for keeping the presentation box low-key and offering the EdT as a separate add-on, both of which contributed to the set's attainability. It's limitation to 100 sets notwithstanding, Imperial is at a price point that's within reach for many.
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awesome....

jmudrick · Sep 25, 2018

Game Changer vs Tek II. Both great smooth shavers. Harder to keep the right angle with the Tek II on the back of my head, but it's even more comfortable than the GC, and doesn't trail that far behind in terms of efficiency. Chinese Wilkinsons.

Linuxguile · Sep 25, 2018

jmudrick said: ↑

Game Changer vs Tek II. Both great smooth shavers. Harder to keep the right angle with the Tek II on the back of my head, but it's even more comfortable than the GC, and doesn't trail that far behind in terms of efficiency. Chinese Wilkinsons.
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The Tek II looks great on the TI Halo too!

jmudrick · Sep 25, 2018

Linuxguile said: ↑

The Tek II looks great on the TI Halo too!
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Balances well too. Such a good razor!

poppi · Sep 25, 2018

Schick J1 razor
Personna blade
Maison Lambert Silver Tip brush
Fume Shave Soap
Osage Rub/Witch Hazel w/aloe
Clubman Reserve Whiskey Woods A/S

Nice shave and my face is happy. I'm really liking the Maison Lambert brush. It's really big but soft as a cloud and makes a great lather. Now go enjoy your day folks

Linuxguile · Sep 25, 2018

jmudrick said: ↑

Balances well too. Such a good razor!
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Enabler! I just picked up the rose gold Baili branded version.

jmudrick · Sep 25, 2018

For the price they go for everyone should be so enabled.

Linuxguile said: ↑

Enabler! I just picked up the rose gold Baili branded version.
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Douglas Carey · Sep 25, 2018

TestDepth said: ↑

Great set up & picture Doug! Huge fan of Cocobolo for razor scales and brushes... beautiful wood.
Tom
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Tom.

blondblue · Sep 25, 2018

Wednesday's Plan:

prep-Nivea 4 Men Bodywash(Energy)in shower
shave-Barbasol Original
razor-Gillette Sensor Deux Pivot + DisposeABLE
A.S.-Aqua Velva Classic Ice Blue

DaltonGang · Sep 25, 2018

Today's shave was with a great shaving Russian Razor. I had a very very smooth and noisy 2 pass shave, that left me BDBS. These Ruskies are made for using, and are made of some of the best steel I've encountered. Wickedly sharp and smooth.

Razor- Russian. "EKSTRA" ZTV 1956
Brush- Omega 10098 Boar
Soap- Arko/Sandalwood scented
Aftershave- Avon Spicy. Triple Crown Decanter.

Primotenore · Sep 25, 2018

Paul Turner said: ↑

Wednesday's Plan:

prep-Nivea 4 Men Bodywash(Energy)in shower
shave-Barbasol Original
razor-Gillette Sensor Deux Pivot + DisposeABLE
A.S.-Aqua Velva Classic Ice Blue
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I expected you to use your new Tobacco soap Paul.

Douglas Carey · Sep 25, 2018

Primotenore said: ↑

Tuesday, September 25

Myrsol Don Carlos 1972~~Vie-Long Silvertip Beehive~~1941 Gillette Ranger Tech~~Personna 74 (6)~~YSL Pour Homme
Have a great day!
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Is today your birthday Primo?

blondblue · Sep 25, 2018

Primotenore said: ↑

I expected you to use your new Tobacco soap Paul.
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Oh, there'll be plenty of time for that, Joseph. Just a few days of unseasonable warmth ahead. Did yours arrive yet?

ram57 · Sep 25, 2018

Wednesday SOTD

Razor: Karve E
Blade: Wilkinson Sword UK (D6)
Brush: Romera Rustic Chubby 26mm Manchurian
Bowl: Creek Road Pottery 5½”
Pre-Shave Scrub: MRGO Lime
Pre-Shave Balm: Grooming Dept Unscented V35
Shave Soap: Tallow + Steel Kyoto
Post: Monster Block Alum
Aftershave: Tallow + Steel Kyoto

Smooth Steve · Sep 25, 2018

120inna55 said: ↑

It's just an f-type. I just polished it. To keep this color, I wipe it down with a polish cloth about once per week. It's just copper (not gold). If you let it tarnish and patina, it turns almost maroon like any copper. In other words, you've probably seen this razor frequently, but you're just not used to seeing it polished.
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I said it before Matt but your Type F is sweet. I have been keeping my eye open but they are not easy to come by. I guess patience is a virtue as my mom would always say.
Steve

Smooth Steve · Sep 25, 2018

ram57 said: ↑

Wednesday SOTD

Razor: Karve E
Blade: Wilkinson Sword UK (D6)
Brush: Romera Rustic Chubby 26mm Manchurian
Bowl: Creek Road Pottery 5½”
Pre-Shave Scrub: MRGO Lime
Pre-Shave Balm: Grooming Dept Unscented V35
Shave Soap: Tallow + Steel Kyoto
Post: Monster Block Alum
Aftershave: Tallow + Steel Kyoto

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Cool pic and effect Guy. Nice with the Kyoto.
Steve

Smooth Steve · Sep 25, 2018

09/26/18 Shave of the Day
Face Wash with The Sudsy Soapery Sandalwood and Citrus with Charcoal and Cocoa Soap
Phoenix Artisan Accoutrements Boomtown Bay Rum Shampoo & Conditioner Puck
Phoenix Artisan Accoutrements CUBE Mentholated Preshave Soap
Noble Otter Soap Co. Flying Hide Shave Soap
RazoRock 400 Butterscotch 24 x 57mm Synthetic Noir Plissoft Brush
Creative Flame Pottery Stoneware Shaving Scuttle
The Phoenix Starling SE GEM Type Razor, Anodized Aluminum with Yellow “B” Base Plate
Personna GEM SE Super Stainless Steel Blade - 1st Shave
RazoRock Alum Block
Thayers Cucumber Witch Hazel Toner
The Sudsy Soapery 100% All Natural Cola Creamy Aftershave Balm
Phoenix Artisan Accoutrements Boomtown Bay Rum Natural Deodorant - Sport Formula

ram57 · Sep 25, 2018

Smooth Steve said: ↑

Cool pic and effect Guy. Nice with the Kyoto.
Steve
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Thanks Steve!