SoS: February 2, 2015 - February 8, 2015

Thanks, I use my cell phone. (Galaxy s5)

 

Today’s Shave: DFS/BBS three pass shave with some irritation and lather issues.

• Growth: 2 days
• Prep: Shower; Corn Huskers Lotion
• Lather: Ogallala Bay Rum, Limes, and Peppercorns – This was my first time trying this brand of soap out. I attempted to use it exactly as I use an Arko stick to face lather. It did not perform anywhere close to Arko. If Arko is an unheralded, but All-Pro, NFL interior lineman then Ogallala is a JV backup kicker. I had to end up putting Arko on top of the Ogallala to get something good enough to shave with. Scent is fantastic. @Hodge and anyone else with experience using Ogallala: Do you have any pointers you can share?
• Brush: SOC Boar – The tips are beginning to soften up. This combined with a stiff backbone is making it a great brush.
• Razor: Birth year Super Speed – The goal this week is to get a closer shave on the chin and upper lip. This razor is definitely more aggressive than the Weishi. My tough areas are much closer to BBS than any shave with the Weishi. However, it left irritation on my neck. Going forward this week I need to ease up on the pressure more.
• Blade: Voskhod (1) – The first pass was a bit rough which surprised me. I will put some of the blame on the lather issues and some on thick two day growth (I am becoming a bit of a Wookie). But, it seemed like it wasn't sharp enough. Passes two and three were back to nice smooth Voshkod.
• Post: Alum; Pinaud Clubman I called an audible here and went with Dove Sensitive Balm. There was too much drama in this shave to risk adding fuel to the fire.

Have a great weekend everyone. Weather is perfect out here in the desert! 77° and mostly sunny.

 

Sunday's


Nivea Men's Face Wash
ARKO Stick
Jayaruh WC3 Pure Badger
J.M. Schmid & Son Str8
Gillette Fat Handle Tech
Personna Stainless
CWR, Asma Alum Block
Thayers Lemon WH
FD Old Spice AS

The ARKO Stick face-lathered well with my Jayaruh WC3 Pure Badger Brush. This was the first shave with this brush. It did a good job though a little scritchy. I used my J.M. Schmid & Son Str8 on my cheeks and neck, and used my Gillette Fat Handle Tech and a Personna Stainless Blade to finish up a close, comfortable shave in two passes. After a cold water rinse, alum block, and a final cold water rinse, I finished off with Thayers Lemon WH and then FD Old Spice after shave. I am clean, smooth, and refreshed...

I was going to just shave my cheeks with the str8, but I got adventurous and went for the neck and upper lip as well. I decided to forego the chin; just too round. Anyhow, I suffered no nicks or cuts. The FHT did a great job of finishing up.

 

Bay Rum, Limes, and Peppercorns is my favorite scent from Ogallala but unfortunately cant help with face lathering as I bowl lather and no issues with whipping up a lather from a bowl. Hopefully someone will chime in with pointers on face lathering Ogallala soaps.

 

Focused February
SOTD 7 February 2015

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Dad's Schick Revere Handle Injector
Chinese Schick
L'occitane Plisson Synthetic
Proraso Eucalyptus Tub
Today's Great Cheap AS™ Is Stetson Cool Moisture!

I love this setup. Great shaves every time! Had I tried this razor first...I might not have ever bought any more. That good. Happy Saturday!

More fun with a focus!

Come check out the fun:
FEB 2015 30 Day Rule/30 Day Focus Pic and Discussion Thread

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Here is what I did (first time using the shave stick) :
Dampened face with warm water
Rubbed the stick over entire shave area of my face (no indication this stuff will lather at this point)
Took brush from that was soaking in hot water, let it drip excess water and went to town face lathering.
Resulted into very thick paste like lather almost immediately
Brush retained enough for a couple more passes easily

 

SOTD - Saturday, February 7, 2015

Hot shower
Prep: Homemade PSO
Brush: WD Silvertip
Soap: WSP Rustic Mahogany
Razor: Weber PH bulldog
Blade: Polsilver SI (5)
Aftershave: Clubman Special Reserve

 

Jim, I'm confused. I've seen this before in other SOTD posts. Why 2 razors?

 

I am new to str8 shaving. I don't want to let unnecessary blood, so I do the cheeks with the str8 and finish all the rest with the FHT. I am just not confident enough for a full shave with a str8 yet.

 

A sound strategy—one that i followed when I ventured down the 'straight & narrow ' path last year. I was using the DE for about 3 months in conjunction with the SR.

 

Dampened face with warm water

• Check

Rubbed the stick over entire shave area of my face (no indication this stuff will lather at this point)

• Check - correct, no indication for me either

Took brush from that was soaking in hot water, let it drip excess water and went to town face lathering.

• I was using a boar brush so I actually think it was too wet. I am going to try to start with a slightly damp synthetic tomorrow and add water as needed.

Resulted into very thick paste like lather almost immediately

• Mine was water thin until I added Arko.

Brush retained enough for a couple more passes easily

• Brush had nothing to start with lol.

Thanks for the reply. I'll keeping tinkering until I get it corrected. Hopefully the brush change will be all that is needed.

 

Sorry wasn't very clear...the brush held enough lathered soap created from the face lathering to last a couple passes. I was using a high mtn badger brush that holds water but not gobs of it.

Im gonna try it with my omega boar next to see how it compares....I might even do it right now. lol

 

Plans for February 8 (day 8)

MR GLO
Feather Artist Club razor
Feather Professional blade (day 2)
Two-band silvertip
Art of Shaving Sandalwood cream
Two pass plus touch-ups except for cheeks
Alum, Thayer's Lavender witch hazel, & unrefined shea butter

My February goal is a close and comfortable two- or three-pass shave with this set up. My shaves have been good when I take my time. I hope for a relaxing Sunday morning shave with great results! I expect the Feather Pro blade to be a little smoother on day two.

Have a blessed Sunday!

 

SUNDAY
Evening shave for Tomorrow
Early, early rise on Sunday morn, so I opted for a more leisurely-paced shave tonight.
A smooth, creamy lather shave using the Valobra with the C-MON. I'm trying some 'new' techniques with the SR (new direction and upstroke), and I've managed to get near BBS with no blood…so far!

Have a blessed Sunday, everyone!

 

Thanks, Guy!

 

Lovely outdoor pic, Phil! That is a nice camera you have on your phone!

 

Thank you Celestino. I Love your contrasting blues!

These next few shots were inspired by you. I went for a walk through the park this morning and took my razor and brush along for some shots.

 

Sunday's SOTD 02/08/15

Razor: iKon Deluxe OC
Blade: SuperMax SP Tiger (10)
Brush: Simpson P8 24mm Best Badger
Bowl: Buffalo Horn 5” Lather Bowl
Pre Shave Scrub: SPAtopia Dead Sea Scrub
Pre Shave Oil: Saponificio Varesino Fern
Shave Soap: Saponificio Varesino Fern
Post: Monster Alum Block
Aftershave: Saponificio Varesino Fern

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SOTD
8 Feb 2015

Muhle R41/T2 handle
Crystal
Klenzo
Arko SS
Witch Hazel

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There are 8 million shaves in the Naked Shave Cave...This has been one of them....

I hadn't slept in two days, but I knew this Case would be cracked very late tonight....No time to sleep....Just time to grab a quick shave and head back down to the waterfront.......

Late Saturday Shave-Noir:
Hot Whisker Rinse
Williams Mug Soap-cake
Omega 10029
WTG-ATG: 1952 Gillette Black Tip Super Speed, Steel Handle/Astra sp d2
ATG touch-up: 1914 Ever Ready/GEM Stainless d6
1. Palm full of Clubman Original AS Splashed
2. Palm of Clubman Original & Special Reserve AS Splashed
Lock & Co. Sandown Trilby
1960 S&W Model 10 Heavy Barrel/158gr. FMJ

2 passes with my Black Tip Super Speed actually surprised me with what a great DFS resulted. I haven't used a DE in a while and this combo was very impressive....But whats that sound?....Do I hear a baby off in the distance....I...I....I can't seem to resist....I had to grabbed my ER Little Lather Catcher and look for that baby....Boom, too easy....Baby's Bottom found instantly and still irritation free....
The above AS Coctail is so great feeling and refreshing...It also smells great, classic barbershop scent, powdery, and the SR adds the best touch of leather that I've ever found. Better than Colognes that cost 20 times more...I did a back to back test with Creed English Leather...I thought it was no contest. The SR simply smells like real leather, period ;^)) And the cocktail of Original Clubman and Special Reserve.....Splashed, Not Stirred.....,is fantastic....

I'm now ready for whatever this night has in store....