SoS: February 9, 2015 - February 15, 2015

Nice Gillette Goodwill! I have not seen one like that. Do you have any history on it? USA or Canada and the year. Can't tell from the photo if it is built on an "OLD" or "NEW".

 

I gotta start taking more photos of my shave gear to post! I get so jealous of some of the cool brushes you all have. But I figure 4 razors, a dozen or so different blade types, 10 plus soaps and creams, its a good start.

Today's shave:
Prep: Hot shower/Noxzema face wash
Pre-shave:Stirling Menthol Preshave oil
Soap: Stirling Frozen Tundra Soap (ATF!)
Razor: Gillette Fat Handle Tech (Jan Newbie Give-away gift!)
Blade: Gillette 7 o'clock (yellow)
Passes: 3 plus clean up
Post: cold water, Stirling black ice witch hazel w/ aloe and Stirling Post-Shave Balm (barber shop)

I have to say, I'm in love with Stirling products. Wet shaving has changed the way I think about personal grooming, but Stirling has raised the bar for me to another level. Hot water in the tin with soap while I showered. Made loading so much easier. Love the chill from the Frozen Tundra and have yet to nick myself with their soaps (knock on wood!)

I keep reaching to rub my cheeks and neck to feel the bbs.

 

I like the shot. Nice set up!

 

Shave of the day

Pre- Hot shower, Bulldog Original face wash
Geo F. Trumpers Sandalwood Hair and body wash

Soap/cream- CELLA

Brush- Whipped dog 24mm silvertip

Razor- Merkur 37c

Blade- Astra SP

Post- Cold water rinse, Aqua Velva Ice blue aftershave lotion and Nivea original aftershave balm

First time using CELLA. Very easy to lather and smells very nice. I love the marzipan/almond scent. My whipped dog generated tons of lather. It was a little different to load because of the small diameter of the tub. But it's no problem.

It's only my second shave with the Merkur 37c. And well, let's say I haven't mastered it yet =P no irritation today but I don't feel I got close enough. Plus I nicked a small bump. No styptic needed.

I need more practice =) I'll of course master it.

 

From what I understand the slants take a little more getting use to and seem a little more on the aggressive side. I never used one so I could be wrong but that is what read!

 

I have a 37c and I was somewhat intimidated by its looks. Unfounded. It's a little different, but you just have to go with no pressure and you will do fine. It is a good razor; nothing to be afraid of.

 

SOTD - Thursday, February 12, 2015

Hot shower
Prep: Homemade PSO
Brush: Simpsons Duke 3
Soap: Catie's Bubbles Spanish Holiday
Razor: Weber PH Wave
Blade: Astra SP (3)
Aftershave: Floid SE Mentolado Vigoroso

 

Here are my shaving plans for Friday morning:

Neutrogena Men Facial Wash
Large Horsehair Barbershop
Super Speed/SuperMax Blue day 5
Stirling Glacial Lavender SS
Gold Bond Moisturizer
Alcolado Glacial Menthol Splash
Dolce & Gabbana EdT

Despite another arctic cold front moving in here I'm still going to shave with a delightful soap which feels like arctic air on one's face. I think the Lavender has become my favourite of all the Glacial soap line - in fact, Rod created it after I suggested that he should do so, and I knew I'd enjoy it but I never thought I'd love it this much. I still can't get over how nicely-scented it is and how easily it lathers for me now. I also am still freaked out over how good the Gold Bond's post-shave feeling is and how cooling it is. The Alcolado Glacial has nothing to do with Stirling Glacial, but it still gives lots of POWERFUL menthol goodness. My shave this morning was awesome - let's see how I do tomorrow!

 

February 12 (day 11)

MR GLO
Feather Artist Club razor
Feather Professional blade (day 5)
RV Shaving handle with a 24/46 mm Shavemac Two-band Silvertip knot
Art of Shaving Sandalwood cream
Two passes
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, and I've had what I consider to be four good shaves in a row. I "cheated" and shaved yesterday with my Merkur 37C Slant Bar razor, but I returned to my Feather Artist Club razor today. The 37C, in comparison to the Artist Club, gives me a closer, more comfortable, and almost effortless shave. I'm looking forward to using my 37C for the month of March.

I hope everyone is having a great week.

 

Today’s Shave: DFS two pass. Pre De Provence smells much better than Arko. It performs about as good. It just takes longer to get the lather where it needs to be. Getting closer on finding the right settings on the 195 – when and where to use them. Today was a good day, no alum bite and no styptic.

• Growth: 1
• Prep: Shower; Corn Huskers Lotion
• Lather: Pre De Provence
• Brush: Semogue Owner’s Club
• Razor: 1960 Gillette Fat Boy
• Blade: Gillette Silver Blue (3)
• Post: Alum; Aqua Velva Ice Blue

 

It's a Canadian save as a new. I forget the model. I'll look it up

 

SOTD 2-12-15

Hot Shower and Prep -Neutrogena Men Invigorating Face Wash
Razor Merkur 34c
Blade Ladas (1) - First day out with Ladas - I am really liking this blade - very sharp but no irritation. I was not impressed with the Voskhod
Brush - Parker Best Badger
Lather - TOBS Sandalwood
Post - Warm water rinse, Maggard Razor Alum, wait 30 seconds then cool water rinse, & Neutrogena Razor Defense post shave lotion.

This was the first time I used the Ladas blade - Did a two pass and only needed a few touch ups for a great work day shave.

 

I have not used their soaps but I was PIFed the Violet cream - It produces some of the thickets lather I have used so far. But as always ymmmv

 

That razor is so much on my RAD list. I'm still a bit apprehensive, but it just looks so cool!

 

SOTD: Thurs. 2/12

Razor: Gillette Slim ('65) (9 WTG, 5 ATG)
Blade: Gillette 7 O'Clock SharpEdge (Yellow)
Brush: WD Silvertip
Soap: Maggard London Barbershop
AS: Barbasol Pacific Rush




The bowl was a gift from my wife from a thrift store after I dropped a bowl I was using previously (been posted here before). Nothing fancy, but it works just fine. I like the Maggard's London Barbershop, it has a really nice scent that my wife said made her all 'hot and bothered'. (Note to self: Need to order LOTS of that stuff! )

If you've read my posts earlier, I've spent the last few weeks using the Slim to test different blades (all 3 Rapira's, 3 different 7 O'clocks) after mostly using Astra SP's. The reason is that I've found that I almost always nick myself with the Astras. While the Slim is not one of my favorite razors, it gave me a consistent "test bed". After all this "testing" I'm convinced that I've done nothing but confuse myself. Guess I need more testing..

 

Happy Anniversary!!!

 

Friday's


Nivea Men's Face Wash
ARKO Extra Performance
Jayaruh WC2 Synthetic
Gillette Fat Handle Tech
Personna Stainless
CWR, Asma Alum Block
Thayers Lemon WH
FD Old Spice AS

The ARKO Extra Performance Shaving Cream face-lathered well with my Jayaruh WC2 Synthetic Brush. Two passes with my Gillette Fat Handle Tech and a Personna Stainless Blade gave me a close, comfortable shave. 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...

 

XII February MMXV Shave

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Prep : Cold water
Razor : Valet Auto Strop
Blade : Not marked
Brush : VDH
Soap : VDH
Bowl : VDH
Post : Old Spice

Thought I would give the Gillette's a day off and tried the Valet Auto Strop. Not bad at all. Did the lather up different also. Rich lather out of the VDH bowl. I now see why some use two bowls.