SoS: March 23, 2015 - March 29, 2015

Friday 27th March



Warm shower
Hot towel
Mike's Barbershop scuttle lathered
Finest Badger brush made by myself
Gillette Red Tip Superspeed (Made in England)
Gillette 7 O'Clock Blue SP (2)
Cold rinse
Thayers Superhazel
Aqua Velva Musk aftershave

 

March 26, 2015: Last nights shave

Pre- Face wash with warm water, Pacific PSO
Brush Soak- Sriracha Mug of Doom™
Razor- Ikon 102 Slant
Blade- Personna (3)
Soap- Dr. Jon's "Classic"
Brush- Omega boar
Post- Cold water rinse, Osma Alum, Thayers Witch Hazel
Aftershave- The Cool Fix balm

Two and a half passes :WTG , XTG, cleanup w/ a little ATG

Got to use my new Omega 10066 that I got in the PIF from @RaZorBurn123! Defunked after three days of off and on soaking
and drying. Caught a tiny whiff of wet dog last night. Just wasn't sure if it was the brush, or my actual wet dogs that I had to
rush to bring in as the bottom fell out. Much better brush than my VDH that's been in rotation.

 

SoTD for Friday, March 27, or rolling with the random.

Pre- BBC oil
Soap- vintage Williams
Brush- Semogue SOC
Razor- Gem Micromatic Clog Pruf
Blade- vintage (1994) super stainless
Rinse- Osage
Aftershave- Fine Vetiver
Balm- Kiehl's
Cologne- Penguin by Munsingwear



Today was a gym day. And I am increasingly convinced that my trainer wants me to die. But once again, I survived, and even had the energy for a shave afterwards. But because fatigue creates real physical effects, I forgot to select a razor for the day. At this point, I keep most of my razors in a showcase in the living room, not in my den. So I found myself post shower, wondering what to do. Barring a damp trip through the house, I would have to select from what is still in the den. This is not problematic if I want a DE razor. Many of them live permanently in the den... But almost all my SEs live in the showcase. And today, like most days, I wanted an SE. After a quick search, I was thrilled to discover a Micromatic case in my pile of band razors. A Clog Pruf, one of my all time favorites. So, with my randomized razor, I got down to business.
The blade is one of the many vintage Gem blades I have acquired in my hunt for my favourite Super Stainless types. These are from 1994. And while they do not have the words 'Super Stainless' printed on them like the earlier kind, they are truly excellent blades. Today was the maiden voyage of a brand new blade, and it was like shaving with a laser. No resistance, no irritation, just crazy smooth. Man, I love single edge shaving!
I know I have mentioned this many, many times, but every time I use vintage Williams soap, I am blown away. This stuff is just so good! Lathers like a beast, and is shockingly high quality. I guess people tried harder back when every man was a potential sale, and shaving soap was a staple on store shelves. That, or age actually endows soap with magic properties...because almost every vintage soap I have tried, has been in the 'quite good/excellent' bracket. I cannot say the same about modern soaps.
The SOC brush continues to be a favorite. This guy is getting better as it breaks in. It makes it pretty rewarding to use... But I have read that it is prudent to skip days using it in order for the brush to dry completely. So I try to be mindful of that, and keep it rotating. I just have to keep telling myself it will be worth it. It will be worth it. It will be worth it.
So that is all that is worth mentioning. All in all, a great shave to start my busy weekend work schedule. Can't ask for anything more when you have a shave that actually makes your spirit soar. That is in fact, as good as it gets.

 

That is a really cool bowl. I mostly use metal lather bowls, but I have been thinking about getting something textured like yours.

 

I like it a lot. My only problem is that the way the lip curves back, and the tight inside dimensions make it hard to not knock your brush against the sides while you're working the lather. I just have to pay attention
to make sure I don't annihilate the edges of my brush handle.

 

I agree with you regarding the inward curve of the lip. Mine actually has a bigger curve than yours and I have only hit the side of the lip just once in five uses but with my big inward slope I have an issue with the soap building up underneath the lip and have to use the brush to scoop it out and paint the bottom of the bowl. Whips up lather in no time so I am looking for a another bowl but with a lesser degree of inward curve.

 

Gillette 1947 SS, Mint Birth Razor
Jack's Shave Soap
Grandfather's Black Badger 20/65
Wilkinson Sword Black
Knock Shave Bowl
Captain's Choice Bay Rum
Shave at 1730h.

 

27mar15
Oh. My. Gosh!

Old spice mug with VDH soap
TGN Pure badger
Merkur 34c HD
Astra SP(2)
Cold rinse/ C&E Indian sandlewood

My first ever soap shave. I had more lather than I'd ever need after about 30 sec. I think I lost more lather over the side and than what stayed in the cup/brush. Transfered nice and thick on my face with my questionable brush. I did not need to reload the brush at all...the lather was never ending. Found out soap is 10x easier to rinse out between passes and clean up at the end. My face was slick and smooth at the end with the cold water rinse. Actually made it hard to go back and do touchups. Only one small weeper next to my ear(my fault), and no stinging at all!

I've only been using creams for the ease and lack of needing "extra hardware". I believe soap will be for home shaves and I'll save the creams for travel...naa, I'll still use creams at home too.

 

Great Picture

 

See I told you your pictures would get better. Great photo, great looking set up.

 

I agree 100%, I also like third pass it just makes me feel good too. How do you like the TSD Coconut Soap?

 

Excellent flick!!

 

Yep, nice setup. I also like the bowl.

 

Glad you had a nice experience with your firsT soap =)

 

Prep was a warm water soak.
I lathered up with Col Conk's Almond Soap, using a Vulfix pure badger brush. For a bowl, I am reusing an old Geo F Trump wooden dish.

My razor is my EJ DE87 with an Astra Platinum blade (last day for this blade, it's the 3rd shave and I started feeling the tug).

Went WTG, then ATG, and finished with some buffing under the chin.

Finished with a cold water rinse, Alum block, and applied some Art of Shaving after shave lotion in Ocean Kelp.

 

Razor: Gillette New LC Bar Handle 1930s
Brush: Fuller Amber Badger 1920s -1940s
Mug: Old Spice (early glass Mug 01) 1947 first glass mug Birth Year
Cream: Castle Forbes cedarwood & sandalwood cream
Blade: Feather (1)
Post shave: Thayers Cucumber WH, Jack Black Balm, Old Spice original Shulton 1956 glass AS Stopper #3
First shave for me with the Gillette New LC, and going in I will take it slow. Loaded a new Feather blade, and checked the alignment. Looks good and I'm liking the longer comb just by looking at it. The Fuller brush whipped up a thick warm lather in the OS Mug as it was sitting on a wash cloth, for padding, in the sink that was filled with hot water. First pass was very close, and the razor sang a nice tune to let me know how it was going. Very nice two pass shave with some touchup. I was tempted to chase the baby but backed away from the sink. Warm water rinse and pat dry. Some WH and after cleanup some JB Balm. Then some of my oldest Old Spice. Very nice razor, great feedback and I can get into some spots on my neck with only a little buffing. I like the large heavy handle, and it cleans up easier than my adjustables. Thanks to all of your SOTD pictures and comments, I just landed a very nice razor. Nice start for the weekend. That razor is a smooth operator.

 

Nice setup with a mug. Another excellent tune...

 

Thank you! I could listen to Sade all night.

 

It makes a nice slick lather, smells nice and I think it will last a long time. Joanna's soaps are a really good value.

 

Placed an order for some.