SoS: December 15, 2014 - December 21, 2014

Congratulations @Boojum1 ! I understand grandchildren are much more likable than children? Do tell us the truth!

 

Bet you could cut down a tree with that razor! Wow!

 

Congrats, Boojum!

 

As a Grandpa, I can tell you it is better. You can send them home when you are tired.... , and you are not responsible for all the disciplining. It is expected that you spoil the grandkids a bit more.... All in All, a great deal better than parenting.

 

I have stopped changing my soap every day and have been using the soaps in my rotation for 4 or 5 days in a row. This has helped me gain a deeper appreciation of that particular soap.

Provence Sante
Slim Adjustable
Ladas blade

3 passes and very smooth.

 

SoTD for Wed, Dec 17, or, I've been busy.

This shave is following an unfortunate pattern. The ' I forgot to post' pattern. As always, my long and busy work week transitioned into two short days off. My commitment to relaxation is such, that a few weeks running now, I forget to post my SoTD for Wednesday. There have been different reasons why the post doesn't happen...but the bottom line is that it isn't happening. I will try to do better. Usually I post the pic for the forgotten day and call it good. This one I am going to ramble a bit.

Pre- homemade clove and balsam fir pso
Soap- TSD grey vetiver
Brush- Centaur
Razor- Gillette New
Blade- Voskhod
Rinse- Osage
Aftershave- Brut
Lotion- Every Man Jack
Cologne- TSD Brut type



I try not to do too much reviewing of items once the day has passed, because at that point, afterthought and reflection can take the place of pure experience based feedback. There's nothing wrong with that in general, but I feel that an 'of the day' post must be based on that day's feelings. But- there's a few first time things in this day's shave that bear mention. The brush is a vintage Centaur. I forgot I owned it. I got one of those folding shave kits in a big lot and haven't thought about it since the day it arrived. I looked in it a few days ago and was surprised to find a mint condition brush! I put it in the rotation, and was a bit let down. My big boars are really changing my brush preferences. This one was just too small and weedy. It looks great, but the action was just too weak. The upside was the soap. TSD Grey Vetiver. I received the soap as part of a Hanukkah gift from my girlfriend. The soap is fantastic lanolin based loveliness. So happy I finally got her gift, now I can finally start ordering TSD soaps! And based on this one, it should be a worthwhile pursuit.
What can I say about the Gillette New that you haven't already heard? Nothing new really. It is a great razor. In my mind, near prefect. Looks great, shaves great... a beautiful design. So good that it is still being knocked off to this day. This is my first use of the much loved Voskhod blade. It is a good blade, but I really expected it to be magic based on the hype out there. To get a good read on it, I need to use a few more, in a few more razors, but frankly, right now, I would put this blade on par with an Astra sp (which I love). So not bad, just not what I was expecting.
My last new item I used was a cologne sample from TSD. Brut type is the fragrance. I now have several TSD cologne samples, and I have to say, they are great. I don't know if I got lucky with my picks, but every single one smells amazing. The cologne itself appears to be oil based, so the scent lasts a long while. For the quality and price, you actually get a decent amount. And the little atomizing bottle makes it last. These have to be one of the best men's fragrance deals around. I will be indulging myself with many more of these also.

 

I'm feeling the LOVE! Thank you all. The Shave Den is truly wonderful community of supportive and caring members headed in the same direction. As we Oldsters used to say "RIDE ON!!!"
This place rocks.

 

SoTD for Thursday, Dec 18, or, (shaking fist in air) Proooobaaaaaak!!



Pre- Mango/Lime pso
Soap- Badger Man Care
Brush- Certifyd
Razor- Probak
Blade- Treet
Rinse- Osage
Aftershave- vintage Old Spice
Lotion- Kiehl's Close Shaver Squadron
Cologne- TSD Egyptian Spice

I am keeping this one basic, as my tardy SoTD post ended up running long. The Badger soap... It is soap. Not bad, not good. But it did the job. This seems to be part of the new generation of mediocre kitschy product designed to coast on the wet shaving popularity wave. I know that sounds harsh, but this is a soap puck that can only be selling at its price point based on the label and the retailers carrying it. I will try it again, but I thought that this was a very basic soap. The type I would expect to pay a couple bucks for... but not $12. Maybe I am just spoiled on artisan and vintage soaps.
The blade today was Treet Dura Sharp. I loved it. This is the second Treet blade I have sampled lately and both were fantastic. Treet is swiftly moving up on my list. I don't hear the name brought up much, but I will be ordering some more.
The star of today's shave is the razor. A Probak. Totally unused, in its box, with its insidious blades. This came up on eBay as a buy it now, and I happily snapped it up. It had been listed for only about 30 minutes, but I could not resist, I didn't even debate. If you do not know why this razor is so interesting, do yourself a huge favor and read about it in the King C. Gillette biography (out of print, but available for a couple bucks online). It is a riveting story of backstabbing, corporate espionage and the ultimate merger of Gillette and the Auto strop company... which broke Gillette's heart. So, not the rarest razor, but to me, one of the coolest and most interesting. I am thrilled to own it.

 

Dec 18 SOTD
NO picture, sadly; my laptop's in for repair.

Prep: shower

Pre-shave: Proraso green pre-shave and Cromwell & Cruthers

Brush: omega 10066

Soap: mike's Rose and Cedar

Razor: gillette slim on 7/8 w/Personna platinum blade.

Post: The Rub and a little Vaseline.

 

Thor's Day:

Prep: Hot shower, Healthy Accents Daily Renewal cleanser, TSD Jasmine Sambac Preshave balm
Brush: Beeline Boar
Soap: Stirling Bay Rum
Razor: FaTip Piccolo Nickel
Blade: Bolzano Superinox (3)
Passes: WTG, XTG (6, 7)
Post: Cold water rinse, Bloc Osma Alum, Dickinson's WH, Captain's Choice Cat o' Nine Tails AS splash
Cologne: Gigember Estragone by Dr. Vranjes

Twice as much product to get a decent lather from the Stirling, as from my preferred soaps. The Bolzano was starting to age a little noticeably by the XTG pass, as well, so a DFS was all I went for. I was surprised to find that the Cat o' Nine Tails actually provided a good amount of heat this AM, which contrasts to how it normally feels on my face (vaguely, pleasantly warm). Starting tomorrow, I'll be in the Seattle area for two weeks, so my setup will be fixed - barring a visit from Santa - as Shower, Preshave Balm, Simpsons 56, One-X, 41c, Bic, Aveeno.

 

Congratulations to you and the family!

 

Mike, you are still very kind! Also, Linux is the best OS there is, in my opinion, but I find Gimp a bit too complicated for me! I prefer the simplicity of 'gthump'! I am still a Luddite, at heart, and I would love to still use film, but I don't see its practical purpose, any longer.

 

Thanks Mike!

 

SOTD

 

First shave with my Ranger Tech '41.
It was as good as rumored!

Razor: Gillette Ranger Tech '41
Blade: Astra SP
Brush: SOC Boar
Soap: Stirling Tea Tree
A/S: The Veg
EdC: Tabac

 

Set the slim up to 4 and I am getting much smoother and closer shaves.

Razor - Slim
Blade - Wilkinson Sword
Brush - Whipped Dog 22mm Silvertip
Lather - Tabac
Aftershave - Williams Ice blue

 

Nice shave. I have mine on 5 nowadays. Before it was 3

 

This morning 12-18 - My Thickest Lather yet and it was purple!

Prep - Hot shower with Nivea Men Sensitive Skin face wash and Wm. Neumann & Co. Peppermint Leaf Soap for the other areas
Soap - Geo F. Trumper's Violet Shave Cream
Razor - Gillette Ball End Tech
Blade - Astra SP (5)
Post - Neutrogena Razor Defense Post Shave Lotion

 

Way easier than parenting and more fun!

 

lolllllll I love parenting - our daughter's da BOMB!!!!!