SOTD Tuesday 3-4-2014

11/16 C-Mon Special, Full Hollow, Spike Point
Proraso PSC
Salter Wild Rose SC
GT G4 Scuttle
Lijun Finest Badger
Dickinson's Witch Hazel
Nivea Replenishing ASB
Pinaud Clubman Special Reserve ASL

My "almost forgot I had this" item for this morning is the Salter's Wild Rose SC. I have had this tub of Salters for well over four years; long enough for the "Cream" to solidify into almost a soft bar of soap. It is a great shaving cream and the scent is heavenly. Every time I use this product I say "I need to use this more often" and put it back in the drawer where it is again lost for another 3 - 4 months before it is noticed!

Tuesday

Prep: CeraVe facial cleanser
Soap: Mystic Water unscented
Brush: Oscar11 boar
Razor: iKon ShaveCraft
Blade: Gillette SharpEdge yellow
After: cold rinse, CeraVe lotion

Razor: 2011 Muhle R41 w Bulldog Handle
Blade: Personna Medical (D2)
Brush: Semouge 830
Bowl: Dirty Bird 1.5 Scuttle
Pre Shave Soap: MRGLO Lime Basil
Pre Shave Oil: Homemade Lime & Spearmint
Shave Soap: TOBS Sandalwood
Post: Monster Alum Block
Aftershave: HBG Sandalwood
​

I must have missed and update for theme week as I did not see March 3rd listed and March 10th is" I forgot I had that" week. Any way on Sunday night while digging under the sink cabinet, I came across the Frozen Tundra used yesterday and this tub of TOBS Sandalwood that I have not used in almost two years. I really dig the scent of Sandalwood but found out using this soap irritated the heck out of my face. I decided to give it another try and if need be add some TOBS Jermyn Street to reduce irritation. Didn't need the Jermyn Street as I believe using PSO helped reduce the irritation greatly but some irritation remains. I started using PSO just before Halloween and for me has been a great addition. Have had no weepers since then, closer shaves and now possibly my solution for EO/FO based soaps/creams that irritate me. Dragons Blood also is an irritant for me and will have to pull out the Prairie Creations DdC Dragons Blood to test my theory.

Thanks, it's a TGN Super Finest. I like this knot alot, soft and dense.

3/4/14

Hot shower
Nivea menthol face wash
Merkur Progress (4)
Voskhod (3)
Semogue 750
RazoRock San Valentine
Cold rinse
Alum
Cold rinse
Dickinson WH
AV Ice Blue w/menthol
Arko Cool aftershave cream
If it ain't broken, don't try to fix it! Progress and Voskhod perfect! AV Ice Blue and Arko Cool. Cold! Great shave! The wife and I have a day together. Chinese takeout for lunch.

Palmira soap with two drops of peppermint oil
Semogue 2000
Fatip grande
Astra SP (1)
Pitralon Classic

It's been a time since I took on the shaving bowl and the 2000, and it was worth it. I maybe over did it with the peppermint oil, my face felt like I was rubbing it with snow when I rinsed it with cold water. A rea wake me up. Nothing better than a quick shower and a long relaxing shave after a hard days work

Razor: GEM Junior
Blade: TP GEM
Brush: Omega 10810
Lather: Synergy Cavendish

Best shave I've gotten with the mild Junior. near BBS (a first with the JR) and according to Pinaud ZERO irritation. Absolutely no burn. Im going to follow GD's advice and shave nothing with the Junior for 30 days to master it. Not sure about the Synergy- its scented but doesnt burn me like most other scented soaps. Excellent performance and moisturization.

Sweet to be back home, cheers all

SOTD 3/4/14

http://nicksandweepers.wordpress.com/2014/03/04/sotd-3414/



Prep: hot shower, Nivea face scrub
Razor: WSP “el grande”
Blade: Gillette Silver Blue
Soap: Coates Lime
Brush: Vie Long 14831m
Post: Thayers Rose With Hazel, 100% Shea Butter

In wet shaving the unsaid rule is to only change on variable at a time. Be it soap, razor, blade or brush. That way you can notice what difference is made by one variable. That said I threw this rule to the wind and tried a completely new setup. I had never used this razor, blade, brush or soap before. I thought if I was going to break the rule I’d go all out!

I figured out the problem with it though. I have no idea what made this one of the best shaves I have ever had!

I had heard a lot about the famed Gillette Silver Blue (GSB) on all the forums so picked up ten to try them out. I was skeptical after the first couple swipes due to some tugging but it very quickly smoothed out to one of the smoothest sharpest shaves I’ve gotten from a blade.

I recently picked up the “el grande” from Wet Shaving Products on a forum and was equally excited to try it. This handle is huge! I guess with a name like el grande it’s to be expected. It felt very nice in my relatively large hand. The balance was great too needing very little effort. The finish on this razor isn’t amazing but for $25 you can’t beat it. I’ve seen a worse finish out of a merkur than this one though so it’s not bad just slightly wrinkled in one spot.. Overall this razor is worth way more than it’s asking price!

Coates is an interesting cream. It gets a lot of play on all the forums but I have never been super impressed. I’m not sure what ingredient it is but I always catch a dirt undertone in the scent. This happened with my lavender and now the lime. Good performance otherwise taking a little more work than others to lather.

The Vie Long brush is absolutely gorgeous and fits perfectly in my hand. The hair on it had quite a bit of backbone and a bit more scritch than a badger. Overall it preformed excellent! I’m excited to try this one with some of my hard soaps.

While I did break the cardinal rule it really worked out for me this time. Now I have to try these out individually to get a real feel for them but they all start out high in my list!

You are well past your 30 days so splurge!

SOTD - 3/4/2014

Face Wash - Triumph & Disaster
Preshave - Village Barber Shave Oil (used as preshave)
Brush - Thater 23mm 2 band Silvertip Fan
Razor - Bizmarck 5/8 (etched with: F. Everard Southampton Agent)
Soap - Speick
Astringent - RazoRock Alum
Aftershave - Village Barber Aftershave Balm​

Tonite

Pre: Wash face and use OS Pre-Shave Scrub
Razor: Parker 99R
Blade: Lord Platinum Class
Soap: VDH
Brush: Omega Pro Boar
Post: OS After Shave

Hot shower
Cremo Face Wash
Turkish #6 Brush
'62 Gillette Slim set on 6 for the first pass, 3 for the second pass.
Synergy Cavendish sample
Myrsol Metilsol

Tonight's shave was DFS and a great pleasure. I have to get some Synergy soap soon. This left a great first impression.

Tuesday morning -


Prep - Noxzema & hot towel
Lather - Mitchell's Wool Fat & suribachi
Brush - Omega 40033
Razor - Gillette Single Ring
Blade - Feather (9)

2 pass
Warm water rinse & cold water splash
Alum block & Witch-hazel AS

3/4/2014
RazoRock SLAB Razor
Personna Lab
Vie-Long 2013 Beehive Horse/Badger Mix
Pre-Shave Oil
Baywood Premium Shave Soap
Bay Rum Aftershave Balm

So for me shaving is my "me" time. It has been suffering a bit lately as with 2 young children and being very busy I haven't been able to necessarily take my time and relax as much as I would like my last few shaves. The shaves themselves have been great, but not the whole shave experience. Well tonight was different. My wife took over with the kids, I was able to take my time, relax, put on some Stanley Jordan (jazz guitarist), and really, really enjoy my shave! I prepped with a warm water face wash and then some Pre-Shave Oil. While the PSO did its thing I set about lathering, my brush was already soaking. Whipped up some lather and applied. I really enjoy the Baywood scent. I love my new Vie-Long Badger/Horse Combo. It is working its way right to the top of my rotation. Had a fantastic 3 pass shave. With, across and against the grain. The RR SLAB is a nice razor for me. Very well suited on the aggressiveness scale for my liking. Finished shave with a cold water rinse, Patted face, applied some Bay Rum ASB. Checked out my results. Very fine shave. Turned off Stanley Jordan and went about my night feeling very relaxed and refreshed. I needed a shave like this one! I hope you all had a great shave today! ​

Wednesday

Prep: Hot Shower-Stirling Bath Soap
Soap: Tiki Bar-Set Sail (Vegan)
Razor: ’66 Gillette Slim on “6”
Blade: Rapira Platinum Lux (1)
Brush: Omega 10066 Boar 24mmx54mm
Aftershave: Clubman

WTG-XTG-ATG (adjusted angle for my beard a bit)

2nd shave with the new Tiki Bar in the Set Sail scent. This was also my first shave with the Rapira Platinum Lux blade. I already like the Rapira Swedish SS and Voskhod. I am going to narrow these three down to one to order 100 of. The first go with the Lux was excellent: smooth, close, nick free. The Tiki Set Sail did very well again, this time bowl lathering. I finished up with Clubman today.

Bob

Fantastic shave
Today I used GreenShave Eucalyptus for the second time, and I have to say I'm impressed. My Burma Shave boar easily whipped slick protective lather. This soap is soft and creamy, and full of Shea butter. The SC101 sang through the lather without any burn or weepers. My face feels extremely smooth and comfortable as I enjoy BBS on my face and DFS+ on my neck. I did not need any aftershave as my face feels moisturized and ready to go. The scent is of the soap is subtle and pleasing green tea with eucalyptus.

I'm becoming more impressed with this boar brush. I did not think much of it when my sister gave it to me. I don't know when my Dad used it last, but he passed away eight years ago, so it sat unused at least that long, and it smelled pretty bad. After cleaning it and making many test lathers, it no longer smells and it softening up nicely. It makes lather easily and feels good on my face.

Prep: warm face wash with Jack Black All over wash
Soap: GreenShave Eucalyptus
Brush: C40
Razor: iKon Shavecraft 101
Blade: Gillette 7 o'clock yellow (3)

​

Dove Men's Face Wash
Col. Conk Amber Shave Soap
Parker Black Badger
Gillette Super Speed '47
Shark Super Stainless (5)
CWR
Thayers Cucumber WH
Aqua Velva Ice Blue

Today is the 45th anniversary of my return to the US from the Republic of Vietnam. It is good to be home.

Today, I face lathered the Col. Conk Amber Shave Soap with the Parker black badger brush. I made two passes and touch ups on the neck with the Gillette Super Speed and Shark Super Stainless blade that left me with a near BBS shave. After a cold water rinse, I finished off with Thayers Cucumber WH and Aqua Velva Ice Blue. I am clean, smooth, and refreshed...

Wednesday:

L'Oreal Men Expert Facial Wash
Large Horsehair Barbershop
Super Speed/Rapira day 3
Proraso White SS
Thayers Witch Hazel
Floid Classic AS
Dolce & Gabbana EdT

It's been quite a while since I used my Proraso White soap and I'm glad I used it this morning. It gave me fantastic lather and a nice cooling sensation with perfect skincare. The witch hazel and the Floid Classic aftershave were both a great finish to a splendid shave. No doubt about it - for me the Rapiras are the best blades.