My Straight Shave Saga (continues...)

James,

Great post! I agree with everything you stated, and can confirm what you've posted through my own experience as well.

 

Damn, this is the best board ever. xC, you're awesome.

I might just seriously consider stropping the H out of it, and give it a second go. If that doesn't work.... they'll both be on your doorstep ASAP.

Thanks!

-greg

 

Just wanted to add that Brut rocks. Glad you joined the club.

EW

 

Chris, thanks again for the great information!

 

Shave #13:

Irisch Moos shave stick
Barber's Delight WTG/XTG/ATG/ATG
Irisch Moos aftershave
Baby oil


So... taking a page from the straightrazorplace forums, I decided to end today's shave with Baby Oil. Particularly since the Irisch Moos A/S was horribly drying, and had no moisturizing properties whatsoever. And it smelled like an old man. Bottom line: Irisch Moos aftershave sucks.

The IM stick, however, is still the best gal'dern stick I've used yet. It works fantastic, it lubes like a champ, it comes in a REAL container... it's just freaking awesome. Every other stick pales in comparison.

Also, I'm going to put my Tabac stick in the pile to "go away". They're SO not made of the same stuff. IM kicks Tabac's butt.

Seriously, dudes. If you don't own an Irisch Moos shave stick, get one. You won't regret it.

Oh, I was so, SO glad to get back to my Barber's Delight today. What a great little shave. Minor laceration under my chin (dammit) and a few seepers under the nose (big surprise) but otherwise not bad at all.

 

Thanks for the compliment. I'm standing by if you need my help.

It wasn't me. Jimbo deserves your praise for that post.

 

Really? I love it! I agree, about the scent, it reminded me of a grandfatherly type of scent....but I enjoyed it. I thought it was moisturizing, personally...akin to AV...


YMMV

if you wouldn't mind, though...please post your review in the A/S Weekly Review for IM

 

You're right...thanks Jimbo!!

 

Shave #14:

Proraso shaving cream
Barber's delight WTG/XTG/ATG x 1 only!
Proraso aftershave
...and no moisturizer!

Today was a good shave. Finally, I'm getting somewhere. The Proraso cream was its usual well-lathering, well-mannered, eucalyptus'y self this morning, lathered up by my new (giant!) Omega brush.

Shave was good. A little rough in the usual places... that's what I'm finding, I keep making the same mistakes in exactly the same areas of my face. ATG under my chin especially - there's something about this area that feels like quicksand, like the stubble somehow drags the razor in and holds on to it instead of getting cut. It sucks.

And I reopened the little nicks under my noes again... of course...

Oh well. Feels pretty darn smooth to me, especially cheeks and jawline. Neck is getting better every day.

Proraso aftershave was nice... nothing extraordinary, just... nice. Good little burn, good little scent, a little bit of menthol.

 

Shave #15:

Proraso green shaving cream
GIANT Omega brush
Wapienica 1/4 hollow 5/8 razor
Hattric Classic aftershave

WOOHOO!!! I think I've found the one, folks. After reading on straightrazorplace about the Wapienica "Wapi" Polish-army-surplus, swedish-blade 1/4 hollow (nearly a wedge) razor, I got myself one and think I'm hooked. She may be the greatest thing ever.

REASONS:
1. I can get a second identical one for my son (critically important)
2. It was cheap ($58)
3. It's got a French point instead of a square point
4. It kicks ass in a shave compared to my other two razors.

Now, that (#4) may be because the dude at ruprazor.com is the greatest honemeister ever, I don't know. But this is one sharp piece of steel!

Now, she wasn't 100% forgiving, I did have one or two of the teeeeensiest nicks, but all in all, not one complete drop of blood was spilled. And the blade is small. Almost... friendly. It wasn't trying to kill me, it was just trying to do its job.

Nice.

You can also look up my review of the Hattric if you care... what a GREAT scent! I put some on my arms so I could smell it though the day. And smell it I did. My nose has been on my arm all morning. Quiet, reserved, masculine, "dry", truly a fine piece of fragrance work. I'm seriously considering calling that nice German lady over at alpineimporters.com again (my original source) and having her ship me some of the cologne.

As an aftershave, though... it kinda sucks. Functionally, I mean.

Anyways, #15 was a great shave. My skin is a little tight from the completely-no-moisturizing Hattric, but smoooooooooooth. (well, the cheeks at least)

 

I agree, I got a wapi from our own Hoglahoo and it is a BEAUTIFUL razor. Even with them big old steel scales.

 

I've got a 200ml bottle of Hâttric that I bought when I was in Germany. The scent is very similar to Floris' JF, though the JF is stronger and longer lasting for me.

 

I've only tried the Hattric once, but IIRC, I did find it a bit drying....I guess I konw what I'm using for tomorrow's A/S!

Glad to hear it's coming together for you....I'm finally heading that way myself, too :happy088

 

Shave #16:

Musgo Real shaving cream
Giant Omega Brush (I gotta get rid of this big, stinky thing and get a REAL brush)
Wapienica straight razor
Floid Blue aftershave
My Nick Is Sealed

WOW!! Now we're talking!! Except for that STUPID, STUPID area under my nose that I keep up lacerating day after day, today's shave was GREAT. I even got 90+% of the hair under my neck.

Good chance to test my My Nick Is Sealed stick today though... PERFECT!! No white messy junk!

And the combination of Musgo Real (yay, lanolin!) and Floid Blue (yay, glycerin!) left my face feeling WONDERFUL. Hooray! Finally getting somewhere indeed!!!!

For sale:
1. Proraso aftershave
2. Hattric aftershave
3. One partially used Clubman styptic stick
4. A giant Omega brush (hahahahahaha!)

 

Shave #17:

QED Not-For-The-Faint-Hearted vetiver shave stick
Wapienica 5/8 razor
omegapd's home-made after-shave concoction (thanks, buddy!)
Pacific Nick Stick

Thoughts for the day:
1. QED makes a damn fine shaving soap! And a beautiful presentation in this stick form. If anything, the vetiver scent lasted a little TOO long (is that possible?!)

2. Love my Wapi, love my Wapi, love my Wapi. (had to say it three times)

3. Whoa! That's some serious, tear-inducing menthol in that stuff, dude.

4. I was wrong before. The Pacific Nick Stick (aka My Nik is Sealed) DOES leave white residue. And there's something odd about rolling my blood back into the tube via the roller-ball. Might have to rethink this device....

5. Shaving with a straight razor two days in a row is probably not a good idea. My neck skin had barely healed from yesterdays (admittedly awesome!) shave.


Now, what I need, is a shave stick that is lanolin-based, like the Musgo Real I loved so much yesterday. I know Wool Fat doesn't come in a stick, and I could obviously mill a puck into some kind of travel form... but that's not as cool as buying something pre-made like the Irisch Moos stick I love so much.

 

That's the reason I asked if you really liked menthol before I sent it. :happy102

No burn, though, huh?

 

hmmm...my interest is piqued...

 

Well, since you asked.... actually, it burned like a sonofagun. I'm used to the painful sting of alcohol, which dissipates almost immediately. The burn of your stuff was of the lasting, throbbing, face-melting variety.

Maybe I reacted weirdly to the witch hazel or something? Or the menthol?

Hard telling. Sadly, it didn't do for me what it does for you.

 

menthol reacts differently to different people and that stuff is super-duper menthol. I'll admit to my eyes watering if it gets too close, but I have zero burn- just a nice face freeze effect.

Sorry...

 

Shave #18:

Mitchell's Wool Fat
Wapi
Brut aftershave
Thayer's Unscented Alcohol-Free Witch Hazel.


I found the greatest shaving product ever today, and it's NOT the MWF (which was merely adequate).

Finally, a witch hazel that DOESN'T eat my face with alcohol!

Plus, this one has several other positive points going for it:
1. It doesn't smell like witch hazel (which I hate), or anything else for that matter
2. It doesn't sting. At. All.
3. It's got aloe and glycerin, and is a fantastic super-light, non-sticky, non-greasy moisturizer.

Truly the best witch-hazel product ever created!

olafurson says buy a bottle. Or two.


Re: the shave itself... my technique SUCKS. So, so frustrating some days. I
know, I know, I should learn my lesson already and give my skin a day to
heal in between shaves. Whatever, I'm on a QUEST here, and t'heck with the
consequences. Chewed up my neck pretty good, especially on the left side.
Why does my shaving hand keep forgetting what position and angle it's
supposed to be in when I go from area to area???

The MWF was, you know, OK. I had a slice of a puck available to me (thank
you, Dr. Mike!), so I literally rubbed the puck-slice on my face, then face
-lathered (which was more than adequate - excellent lather!).

And it dried out a little, just like everything else does. Needed more water
added several times mid-shave. So what, no surprises here.

And it smells fantastic, just like everybody says.

Basically, I'd say it's juuuuuuuust about as good as my Sir Irisch Moos
stick that I love, except, well... it doesn't come in a stick.

And so, this is what I think I'll do. I'll order me a ceramic bowl version
for home use to alternate with my creams (just cuz the bowl looks so kick-
ass). So far, none have booted my IM off the top of the roster for gym use.
And when they make an official MWF stick, I'll be the first in line to buy a
couple.

ps: Brut still kicks royal ass. Doubly so enhanced by the witch hazel's
moisturizing.