SoS: June 8, 2015 - June 14, 2015

World Tournament of Blades - Russia vs. the World!!
June 11, 2015
Prep - Hot shower and towel
Brush - Omega Pro 48
Soap - MWF
Razor - Razo Rock TTO
Blade - (1)
Post - Alum, Nivea Balm

Well after yesterday's surprising bad performance by the Kai we go to India for a challenger. The Super-Max Platinum by Vidyut Metallics. This is a platinum I like, as the Indian plats seem better for me than the St. Petersburg blades. Still the Pro 48 and the Fat so here we go.

Got a GREAT lather out of the MWF today. Best so far as I soaked the puck a bit longer and shook the brush a couple of extra times. Really got the brush loaded and the face lather was magnificent. Yep, thanks to @Bama Samurai I have a new top three soap if not number one! Had the Super Max loaded in the RRTTO and off we went. First observation, this is not a level 1 sharp blade. It's nice, it gets it done, but it's no Kai on sharpness which may not be a bad thing with this razor. First pass was a bit rough, not horribly so but enough to take a notch off for smoothness but it felt good as far as irritation went. Lathered again and went XTG. About as smooth as the first pass but I picked up a nick on my left jawline. That doesn't help. Neck was beginning to feel a bit rough after the pass so I did a quick cleanup on a couple of areas and stopped. Yes, ladies and gentlemen, I actually STOPPED BEFORE doing any more damage. I had already decided that the sharpness was a 2. Again, sharp, but not on the same level as some. But, definitely up there. Smoothness....this one stumped me a bit but I decided due to the nick I had to dock it a point. It would have been a 2 but it became a 3. Irritation? This one surprised me because I felt it was going to be horrible. Nope, not so. Actually a very quiet alum pass. Even the nick wasn't too bad by the time I hit it with cold water. So, a 2. The finish? This one was tough. In fact, I was again happy I had little time to post so I could have the day to think about it and check it. I thought CCS at first given how it originally felt. After it settled a bit, though I decided it was better than that and by the feel of it tonight it had to be a DFS, if only slightly. I docked the nick onto the smoothness and not the finish, just to be clear. DFS is a 2.

Total - 9.

The winner of the round is the SUPER-MAX PLATINUM!!!

Am I surprised, yes. However, after yesterday not as much as I would have been. The Kai really under performed. Now, I think part of the blame falls on me for poor choice of razor for the matchup. However, I can't put it all on that as there wasn't a huge difference. A one point win is as close as it gets so both blades suffered the effects of my choice to an extent.

New round tomorrow. We go to Greece with the Bic Chrome Platinum. It's opponent, the Indian Super-Max Super Platinum. It's two great cuisines and cultures battling it out for the right to battle the SM Platinum.
Bring your friends...get here anyway you can as we move on to the next round.

​

 

SOTD 06.11.2015
June Open Comb Focus

Prep: Hot shower
Razor: Gillette New SC
Blade: Voskhod
Brush: Omega 10083 Boar Brush
Lather: TBS Maca Root Shave Cream
Post: Cold rinse, Alum, Witch hazel, Proraso Green

 

Planned SOTD 12 May 2015

30 Day Rule with a Cadet OC!



Have a great Friday!
​

 

I do think you are experiencing the interplay between razor head geometry and blade. I am seeing it in my Rule this month as well. Derby Green is a no-go for me in the mild DE razors I have, but it actually does really well in the aggressive Cadet. Glad you're digging the soap!

 

At least four guys used chrome handled Omega boar brushes today!

 

Casual - and simple - Friday. Grabbed for my Wickham Spice Trade from the bottom of the pile. Having prepped with Proraso pre the last few days, with great success, I opted to go for the face wash alone, today. Proraso really does make a difference; bit of a sting in the cheeks post shave today. But as always, there may be confounding factors, such as e.g. a blade that could (should?) have been changed, not getting the water ratio right with Wickham etc.

Merkur 37c
Simpsons Colonel
Wickham Super Smooth Spice Trade.

 

SOTD 11Jun15
Thursday






Razor: ATT M-1 76 mm Atlas Handle
Razor Blade: Wilkinson Sword
Brush: "Oscar11" Custom 24/48mm TGN Super Finest Black & White Resin Handle
Bowl: Arletta's Mug I {Daughter's White Coffee Mug}
Shower: Dr. Bronner's Magic Soap Tea Tree Liquid Soap
Shampoo: Neutrogena T/Gel Therapeutic Shampoo - Extra Strength
Pre-Shave Face Wash: Neutrogena Men Invigorating Face Wash
Pre-Shave Oil: Pacific Shaving Co. All Natural Shaving Oil
Shave Soap: Route 66 Bay Rum
Post Shave: RazoRock Alum Block
Post Shave: Jack Black Post Shave Cooling Gel
Aftershave: Captain's Choice North

WTG-XTG-ATG (adjusted angles for my beard)

What worked well yesterday worked good today. I got a BBS/DFS with "No Nicks or Weepers"
I am using a new shaving soap that is new to me. It seems to be very good. Has a great slickness to it.
I almost do not need to use any pre-shave oil with it. The only reason I am using the post shave cooling gel is because of thereat and humidity.
Maybe after all of these years I finally learned how to shave?

 

Gillette Sensor Excel Razor (2004),
with Gillette Sensor cartridge (1),
Edwin Jagger STF XL brush,
Lather-up with Tabac,
finish with water, Witch Hazel
and Pinaud Clubman

 

I haven't seen this much on the SOTD, how is the lather? =)

 

SOTD
June 12, 2015
Prep: Hot Shower. Axe Shield Face Wash
Razor: iKon Shavecraft 101
Blade: Polsilver Super Iridium
Brush: Omega S
Lather: Stirling Executive Man
Post: Alum. Thayers Cucumber WH. Gold Bond Ultimate
Aftershave: Stirling Executive Man
Very early morning shave. This Omega S has no problems whipping up a nice lather. Stirling Executive Man is a great smelling soap, super slick! Gold Bold is going to be a permanent product in my den.
A better tomorrow. Takes your best today!

 

June 12 SOTD:

Homemade PS Oil
Vie-long Horsehair Brush
Kiss My Face Lavender SC
Gillette Ball end tech
Stirling Unscented PSB
TOBS Sandalwood AS

 

What is the gold bond? Balm?=)

 

Great shave today - the Super Speed/Derby combo did the job like a couple of champs. The Frozen Tundra soap felt almost as cold as a Glacial - how about that!

 

I'm curious to find out how your experiment worked!

 

Ferox Fatboy Friday
Another great shave with Ferox and the Fatboy. The Colonel whipped up deliciously scented grapefruit pepper lather that set up my stubble to face its fate. The Fatboy removed it cleanly and comfortably with just a little weeper on my lower neck that closed with a cold water rinse. I finished up with PAA Gondolier, still one of my favorite scents and best performing aftershaves. We often write about our problem areas, but does anyone have an area that seems to be Kevlar in its resistance to the blade? Mine is my right cheek - I think I could shave it dry with a broken bottle and get BBS. My other cheek and neck are more prone to irritation.
Prep: Mickey Lee Lime
Soap: B&M Ferox
Brush: The Colonel
Razor: Gillette Fatboy 9/7/7
Blade: Voskhod
AS: PAA Gondolier

 

June 12 2015 SOTD

Prep: Shower…then hot facecloth followed by homemade Rose EO pre-shave oil
Soap: Fendrihan Unscented soap
Razor: Fendrihan DE
Blade: Feather
Brush: Parker 100% Pure Badger
Aftershave: Hot facecloth followed by Lavender Witch Hazel
Aftershave balm: Shea Butter

After a few days of using shave creams from a tube with the consistency of hand lotion (with no lather) this morning I was itching to grab my brush and whip up some suds in a mug. And as I painted the thick lather on my cheeks I realized that brewing up a batch of lather is one of life’s little pleasures...and the best part of shaving. Great shave. Nothing beats it…

Enjoy your day gents...its Friday...

 

@Omelmad: Wickham is a very soft soap with a somewhat airy-looking texture. It provides great, slick and lasting lather, but I wasn't that lucky today and the post-shave feel wasn't up to standards either. It's been a while since I used it last, however, having dug into mostly harder soap samples lately. I'll have to give the poor boy another go tomorrow just to get things right. Will report back again!

 

NDC SS / Astra sp

SOC

Reef Point barbershop

Razorock Baby Blue

 

Friday 12 June 2015



Kamisori Taro, 6/8​

Kamisori razors are fascinating. They are excellent in giving a deep and close shave, something you can sometimes get in just a pass or two. I have many in my collection and this Taro is one of those I like quite a lot. A splash of my Thyrrenus aftershave, cool and refreshing with his balsamic fragrance, a perfect touch giving a good relief to today's heat.​

• Pre-Shave: RazorGuy Pre-Shave Oil
• Soap: Arko
• Brush: Plisson Badger
• Bowl: Old Barber Bowl
• Strop: Mastro Livi Loom Strop and Hand Palm
• Razor: Kamisori Taro, 6/8
• Post-Shave: Alum Block
• Post-Shave: Umbrian Extravirgin Olive Oil
• After Shave: RazorGuy Thyrrenus

 

• Pre-Shave: Hot face wash
• Soap: Stirling Gin & Tonic
• Brush: VDH
• Razor: Microtouch
• Blade: Lord
• Post-Shave: Witch Hazel
• After Shave: Lucky Tiger
• After-After Shave: A small amount of Aloe Vera