30 Day Rule/Focus; December 2023. All Are Welcome!

thank you so much Barry,,you and yours as well.

 

Dec 30 SOTA

Good afternoon.

Shavette Shave #518
Dovo
Gillette Wilkinson Sword 1/2 DE Blade (1)
JR #290 Cashmere Brush
Pedro Fiasco's Limoncello SS and AS
Stirling Alum Block
Modessa Witch Hazel
Beard Growth: 24 hrs



This is my last shavette shave of 2023 so I went with my favorite one. I know that I placed a new blade in it yesterday, but I am still counting it as use 1 because I only did one pass with it yesterday. I did 2 passes today so this blade now has 3 passes on it and that counts as use #1.
I went with the Limoncello because it's just a nice scent and like the lather. This soap can take on water. Here's my lather:



I achieved an error-free BBS shave for this session. The alum gave me some feedback on the left side of my neck. Witch hazel was applied and the matching aftershave was splashed on my neck and face. Tomorrow will be a DE shave to end the month because I am due for a headshave. I haven't decided what the setup will be for the final shave of 2023 because I have 24 hrs to decide. Take care.

 

She really is a beautiful razor and that you enjoyed your maiden shave with it, Gary!

 

Really beautiful setup Joe…

Is that a typo, or did you really pay $290 for the brush? I treated myself to a nice brush for January, but not nearly $300 nice lol…

 

Thanks Scott. It's a typo and it should be #290 and I corrected it. I would never spend over 100 dollars for a brush. My C-Mon Super HD Brush was 90 dollars and my JR# Silvertip Badger was 75 dollars. My Semogue OC Super Badger had a 40% sale discount for 57 dollars. Catie's Bubble's Tuxedo Brush was 32 dollars. Hembree Brush was $24. rest of my brushes were 15 dollars and under except my MrEE brushes because I didn't pay for those 2 brushes. Evan blessed me with the Tuxedo knot with the golden handle and an anonymous member purchased the blue Limited Edition with the cashmere knot. I won the JR#290 because I participated in a TSD Raffle. So I have 12 brushes that totaled just under 320 dollars and that is an average of $28 dollars per brush.

 

thank you Joe.definitely a big boy razor..worth every penny.

 

fine shave and pic Joe.there's that famous lather.lovely stuff.

 

Thanks Gary! I do enjoy bowl lathering. Limoncello is the bomb!

 

Thanks Joe, no complaints so far

Another fascinating set up Barry. Nice write up. Cool eye candy, esp. that oud bottle

The Eclectic British Bird Man strikes again!

 

Breath-taking

Nah, just kidding

What I meant to say was: drool-worthy

(All of these

)

 

Thanks Scott, too bad about the allergies but there are so many other products out there

I have sample of the Sterling BR, so will be interested in using it soon

Re: Kai, see below

 

31 Dec 2023, wow nearly 2024 already

Lengthy post, blame Scott, he had to ask! Lol!

24 hours

Prep = Cold Water Prep and shave, Tabac in a tube as Pre shave, seems like it will never end

Soap / Cream = Stirling Black Cherry, a few more shaves left in this tub. Since counting I have had 20+ shaves from this sample pot
Brush = Omega 10049
Bowl = Goodfellas smile
Razor = ’47 Aristocrat
Blade = Kai (2)
Passes = 3 + were needed (interesting for 1 day’s growth)
Post = CWR, Alum, CWR, left over lather to the face, CWR, Thayer’s, Stirling Bay Rum.
Scent = Bulgari Man Wood Essence, light application to the pulse points
Damage = none

Score = 9+ / 10
Comments = Another successful outing with the Aristocrat. I have been keeping things fairly consistent over the last few weeks, that has certainly helped with technique. Not overthinking things anymore***. Success but no joy, the shave felt rough

@SDK Scott: You asked for it! >>> this is only my 2nd use of the Kai, same set up for each outing. Yesterday on 2 days’ growth felt fine, but not as smooth as some of my other blades e.g. the Bic and the Gillette Platinum. I was hoping things would smooth out a bit today, but no such luck, of course it could just be because this was 24 hrs growth on an already close shave from yesterday, or maybe just me. Either way I felt the blade was more “threatening” that is the only way I can describe it. I did need 3 passes whereas lately I have only been needing two, so that says something, but I am not sure what. I have rinsed the blade and put it back on the magnet and will decide later if I give it another outing or bin it

Cynical thought: Hmmmmmm…… if there is no print on the Kai blade how do we know this was not outsourced and not made where where we think it was? (We see so much packaging these days that says, “designed in Australia” or “packaged in Australia” and in very small print, if we look hard and long enough, it says where it was really made…no guesses here). Hopefully I am wrong; either way I got a great shave

Fair thought: maybe the Kai and the Aristocrat are not the best match? Gillette Tech maybe? I have 99 more so will get a good chance to get used to these

For later: Sometime in the future it might be fun testing this back to back with say a Feather using two identical or similar razors. I do have 2 Slims but from memory they felt different but that was in my early days of wet shaving. I could use my Techs even though they are not identical. I could use the Rocket and the Rocket HD because they are pretty close, and ask my wife to load the razors, one with the Feather one with the Kai so I don’t know which is which and see how things turn out. I could. Maybe I shall. But even then it would be very subjective

***See! there I go overthinking things again, it’s a weakness

In the meantime: just happy to Carry On Shaving and happy to come away clean, refreshed and undamaged each time

Have a great day one and all and a safe run up to the New Year’s Eve countdown

If the neighbours and the local fireworks permit we will be going to bed on time as usual

 

That's the way to end 2023 with a super shave and a well-written post. Have a Happy New Year!

 

Lastly,

Here's wishing one and all a safe and Blessed 2024, with many an error-free and satisfying shave

 

Thanks Joe, appreciate your support and maintaining this thread

Happy New Year Joe.

 

thank you so much Chris..i will say as pretty as it looks,more importantly,it is a fantastic shaver.

 

awesome shave and pic Chris..the Kai blade is known to be a smidge wider than other blades,it giving razors like techs (neutral blade exposure) a bit more blade feel.the 1947 aristocrat is a fine shaver in it's own merit and doesn't require such a blade imo.

 

Great report Chris. My Kai’s are unmarked as well, so they are most likely the real thing. I’ve never shaved with an Aristocrat so I can’t comment on that particular razor, but trying them in a Tech might be a good second step. They are sharp blades and slightly wider than other brands. You are a newer shaver, and that, along with the comment about them feeling threatening has me thinking you might like them in a milder razor…

 

Thanks Chris .