SoS: February 2, 2015 - February 8, 2015

Discussion in 'Shower or Shave of the Day' started by crackstar, Feb 1, 2015.

  1. Stroker

    Stroker Well-Known Member

    SOTD Wednesday 2-4-2015

    Gillette NEW OC w/Wilkinson Sword
    Noxema
    Classic Brand Jasmine SS
    GP Scuttle
    Omega Boar
    Dickinson's WH
    GB Body Lotion
    Brut

    I'm really lovin' these Wilkinson Sword Blades. I've had them in the drawer for a long time and haven't really used them until recently. My favorites are the Crystals and Astra SP's but, these Wilkinson Swords are right up there to complete the blade triumvirate. :cool:

    Shave Photo 218SM.jpg
     
    Ryan B, lindyhopper66, moz68 and 30 others like this.
  2. MoAllen

    MoAllen King of Unscented

    Celestino,

    Very interesting setting for your SOTD photo! I know I have seen that bridge before, so I had to look at the Google map. Is it the Highway 1 bridge over Vancouver Harbor? Last year my wife and I rode the Trans Canada train out of Vancouver, and we spent some time waiting and moving slowly on the tracks along the harbor. We went under that bridge.

    Nice photo!
     
    Bama Samurai, celestino, Llyr and 3 others like this.
  3. clint64

    clint64 Blind Squirrel

    Thank you @MoAllen
     
  4. Mr. Droid

    Mr. Droid Well-Known Member

    SoTD for Wednesday February 4, or, from Russia with love shaving supplies.

    Pre- Clove balsam PSO
    Soap- Arko
    Brush- Blondie
    Razor- Iskara
    Blade- Voskhod x2
    Rinse- Osage
    Aftershave- Colorado Sage
    Lotion- Kiehl's
    Cologne- Colorado Sage

    [​IMG]

    Yesterday I got an excellent shave with a Russian Voskhod blade. Much better than I recall getting previously. So I decided to try it again. Today however, I decided to change up the razor. Yesterday I used my 'NEW' style Otto Roth, which is one of my top ten DE razors. In my opinion, it is perfectly balance in terms of both aggression/mildness and actual physical balance. In other words, feels great in the hand, works great on the face. So today I thought I would introduce a randomizer. I decided to use one of my plastic Russian DEs. Don't get me wrong, these razors work well. But the construction is 95% plastic, they are exceptionally light. So technique becomes very important. You cannot rely on the weight of the razor to provide your pressure. You must have the ability to finesse your blade into the proper pressure and angle. This in my opinion makes the physical aspects of the blade come to the forefront, and is a great way to test a blade. YMMV.
    This particular razor, believe it or not, is based on a design by schick. While the Schick is a short lived obscurity, the design took on new life in the Soviet Union, where razors of this type were sold under a multitude of different brand names and color combinations. I know they were also sold under various names in Turkey. I am unaware if they are the same Russian made razors rebranded, or a domestic product. I do not own a Turkish one. But if you happen to have one that you are sick of, I will happily give it a new home. Anyhow, this version of the razor is an Iskara. It only has metal doors, everything else is plastic. Sometimes they will have a metal TTO knob as well, but it doesn't bring much to the table in terms of function. The plastic is good quality. Fairly hard and it feels sort of fibery, like an industrial plastic. The first thing that leaps to mind is the plastic spools that an all weather extension cord might have... that makes sense I hope?
    I lathered using my workhorse boar, Blondie, and trusty ol' Arko. You can't beat it when you need unquestionable performance. Say what you will about the scent, the stuff works great. So with those tools I got a fantastic lather and got down to business. The verdict? A+. I got a great, smooth, fast, BBS shave in two passes, neck included. I don't know what it is about the Voskhod that gives me such good results on my neck, but it makes me happy. So there it is. I had these blades written off as mediocre, but I am definitely rethinking that. With improved technique, I am often getting different results than I did the first time I used certain blades. I guess I now need to test out some Astra SPs, as I felt they were a similar, but slightly better version of the Voskhod.
    Lastly, my aftershave/cologne combo for the day is Colorado Sage. I love this stuff. It is originally from the 70s, but I got a full vintage bottle in a large lot of aftershave I bought. When I looked it up to try and find more AS, or the cologne, I was dismayed to find that it was very collectable and quite expensive. So I decided I would occasionally search it up, and patiently wait for a good deal to come along. Imagine my surprise when, in the course of some non-related research, I find that it is currently being manufactured! For a scant $12 a bottle! I actually got up from my chair, and did a small victory dance. The catch is that it is unadvertised, hidden on a website not linked from the parent company, Bonne Bell's website. Basically the internet equivalent of hiding product in a dank corner of the basement of a retail store. But I found it, and I ordered it. It came fast, so that was good. It doesn't smell exactly like my vintage bottle, but it is very, very close. And frankly, as opposed to most reformulations, I find the slight change to be for the better. So that is also good. The scent is probably exactly what you expect of something called Colorado Sage from the 70s. A nice crisp, green, woody fragrance. Subtle, but with the vintage masculine punch that is characteristic of fragrance from that time. As I said earlier, I love this stuff. And at $12 for a 4oz bottle, you can't go wrong.
     
    Ryan B, lindyhopper66, moz68 and 28 others like this.
  5. Slow Joe

    Slow Joe Relishing his obsession

    Wednesdays shave

    A nice shave today

    Razor - Slim
    Blade - Feather
    Lather - Martin De Candre fougere
    Brush - L'occitane Plisson Synthetic
    Aftershave - Nivea moisturising balm
    Pinaud Clubman Musk
    [​IMG]
     
    Ryan B, lindyhopper66, moz68 and 29 others like this.
  6. celestino

    celestino Friendly Neighborhood Wetshaver

    Thanks, Mike and it is one of two bridges that traverse the Burrard Inlet (Vancouver Harbour) and it is called Second Narrow's/Ironworker's Memorial Bridge. :)
     
    Llyr, grump, Bama Samurai and 2 others like this.
  7. Herm2502

    Herm2502 off to elf practice

    Happy Anniversary! :bounce017:
    How many?
     
    Llyr, SRNewb, RaZorBurn123 and 2 others like this.
  8. Herm2502

    Herm2502 off to elf practice

    SOTD personal blade research update:

    I know when it comes to blades YMMV. I've been "researching" different blades lately to see if I can find something to replace the Astra SP's I've been using. Don't get me wrong, the Astra's are sharp, but I always nick myself. So, I tried the Rapira Lux Platinum before and found it 'rough' with a NEW, but very nice with a Slim. Yesterday and today I've used a Rapira Swedish Stainless (with the Slim) and it's been a scratchy, patchy, nasty shave. To top it off it's only 3 o'clock and I need a shave already! :angry017: I'm already done with this blade.

    Besides faceturbating is no fun if it hurts your hand! :D
     
    Ryan B, Llyr, Jasman and 16 others like this.
  9. Darkbulb

    Darkbulb Cookie Hoarder

    A great shave.

    Razor: Gillette Flair Tip Rocket
    Blade: Astra SP
    Soap: Nancy Boy sample
    Brush: L'Occitane Plisson
    Aftershave: Provence Sante
    Splash: The Veg


    [​IMG]
     
    Ryan B, lindyhopper66, moz68 and 29 others like this.
  10. david of central florida

    david of central florida Rhubarb Rubber

    happy anniversary @poppi
    hope you and the missus have a joyous day
     
    Llyr, SRNewb, RaZorBurn123 and 4 others like this.
  11. Sevenbark

    Sevenbark Well-Known Member

    Soap: Scraps of three different triple milled soaps, actually forgot what's in there.
    Brush: Three Band D01
    Razor: Gillette English Parat
    Blade: Gillette Silver Blue
    After shave: Old Spice Shulton

    2015 02 04.jpg
     
  12. Darkbulb

    Darkbulb Cookie Hoarder

    That's a great looking Parat. Nice!
     
    Sevenbark, Llyr, Herm2502 and 4 others like this.
  13. Seabs

    Seabs Well-Known Member

    SOTD 2-4-15
    Seems like I can't stick with one setup more than a few days - newbie-itus? First time I used used my old style Gillette with a Merkur blade and was left with lots of burn and nicks. Took a few weeks off from it but wanted to see if one of my new blades from the sampler pack would make a difference. Knowing that this open comb was an aggressive little beast probably helped as well. I loaded with a Derby blade and what a difference!
    Pre: shower and Noxzema face wash
    Preshave: AoS Lavender (slicker is better with the aggro "beast!"
    Cream: Proraso Green
    Razor: Gillette Old Style open comb
    Blade: Derby
    Post: TSD Traditional Scent with Menthol Milk
    3 passes: wtg, xtg (ear to nose), atg plus mild clean up

    Very nice and comfortable shave - not sure this will be an everyday shaver, but it's in the rotation! Glad to experience what difference a blade can make in the same razor.[​IMG]
     
    Last edited: Feb 4, 2015
  14. Darkbulb

    Darkbulb Cookie Hoarder


    Thanks for posting the info on that razor. It has a very unique look.
     
    Llyr, crackstar, Bama Samurai and 2 others like this.
  15. poppi

    poppi Well-Known Member

    Thanks, indeed we will. It just keeps getting better
     
    Sevenbark, vwp528, Llyr and 2 others like this.
  16. poppi

    poppi Well-Known Member

    47 wonderful years. BTW, we married as babies
     
    Sevenbark, vwp528, Llyr and 6 others like this.
  17. grump

    grump Well-Known Member

    Wednesday 4 Feb 2015 Shave

    RAZOR: Muhle R41/Sabi t2 handle
    BLADE: Crystal aka Blue IP
    BRUSH: Restored Erskine/TGN finest fan
    SOAP: Arko shave stick
    AS: Witch hazel​

    A great shave again but after using this yesterday only 1 pass atg and touch-up was necessary.

    Side note: The Sabi t2 handle is most likely the same as the Matador Toro Mastiff - Corto

    [​IMG]
     
  18. Bama Samurai

    Bama Samurai with Laser-like Focus

    Sweet tip!
     
    vwp528, Llyr, RaZorBurn123 and 2 others like this.
  19. grump

    grump Well-Known Member

    Love your photo's, I feel like I am taking a tour with your razor and brush. Very enjoyable!
     
    vwp528, Llyr, wristwatchb and 6 others like this.
  20. Omelmad

    Omelmad My printer email address is..........

    The slim is great!
     
    Slow Joe, vwp528, Llyr and 5 others like this.

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