SoS: June 8, 2015 - June 14, 2015

What a disaster!!!! I did everything the same as I'm a fairly boring shaver. Well I did change the soap to a commercial one and the first touch of the skin was disaster. So rough I thought the blade was finished. Relathered with my normal soap and as smooth as concrete so I changed to another razor, this time an injector with a new blade. Much better but now I'm a mass of red trails. Razor #3 and this time my 1924 and results were much better. No blood but only due to the fact probably none left

I think I will be resting my sliced and diced face for a couple of days after today’s effort. It may have been SAS in the areas not bleeding. It is probably not as bad as I’m making out but it was less than ideal. On a scale of 15 - 61 I'd say a 16 year old High school student shave.

Steve

 

Fridays shave
Used Saponaficio Varesino Manna scented soap today for the first time.
It smells great the lather is easy to make and feels great. Post shave is fantastic. I'm really looking forward to experimenting with this soap over the next few days and learning the best way to get the best lather from this soap.



Razor - Pils
Lather - Saponaficio Varesino Manna di Sicilia
Blade - Vokshod
Brush - Pilsson synthetic
Aftershave - Nivea moisterising aftershave balm.

 

Planned SOTD 6/13/15
Razor: PILS 101NE
Blade: Personna 74 (D02)
Brush: Rubberset 49-4 W 28mm HMB
Bowl: Doug Smith 5" Shaving Mug
Pre Shave Scrub: RazoRock GLO
Pre Shave Balm: Prep
Shave Soap: Tiki 1920’s Barber Shoppe
Post: Monster Alum Block
Aftershave: RazoRock Baby Blue



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Sorry to hear about the migraines and depression. Pain and depression are a horrible combination. I know what your going through. Just hang on in there, and just remember it's Cain versus Werdum tonight.

 

+1

 

World Tournament of Blades - Russia vs. the World!!
June 12, 2015
Prep - Hot shower and towel
Brush - Vie Long 12705
Soap - Tabac
Razor - '59 Gillette Superspeed
Van Der Hagen, which is of course the Weishi 9306
Blade - (1)
Post - Alum, Nivea Balm

The tournament continues with the World contenders. Today, the Bic Chrome Platinum from Greece which actually features polymeric, chrome platinum and Teflon coatings. It's a blade recommended to me by @Jasman and the times I've used it I was impressed. So, let's put it through the paces.

The razor of choice today was the '59 Gillette Superspeed. I didn't load it ahead of time and grabbed the razor of my desk where I've been cleaning them to take along for the shave. Loaded the Bic and looked at the razor as something didn't seem quite right.....oh......DUH.....I picked up the Weishi instead of the SS that was right beside it. Too much trouble to go back and change so what the heck. They shave similarly and the Weishi is milder. The soap/brush combo today is Tabac with the horse. Great lather and have I mentioned I love the feel of the Vie Long? Yeah, I know, you know I have.

First pass was very very very smooth and the blade really did a great job. The Bic is a sharp blade, no doubt about it but not over the top sharp like a Feather. Lathered up again (love the Tabac scent) and went XTG. Very nice result on the face and surprisingly good on my neck. Did a neck lather and pass on neck only doing my usual Gillette Slide and a bit of buffing and finished with a very nice DFS. Very enjoyable. So, here is the scoring. Sharpness....the Bic is sharp. Gotta give it a 1 because of how well it performed especially in a mild razor. It wasn't shy about cutting the beard. Smoothness....very comfortable, no drag, no pulling and it just felt great. Gotta give it a 1. Irritation...thought this might be a problem since I did do extra on the neck. Hit it with alum and........quiet, oh so quiet. Give it a 1. Finally the result....DFS for the 2. Total is a 5!

Really a great shave and the Bic has a definite shot at the title with a score like that. Now, the next time it's in play will likely be a different razor but I'm impressed and fairly confident it can give the rest of the competition a run for its money! And its first competitor tomorrow for the right to advance to the Elite Eight? The Super-Max Super Platinum. Can't wait.

 

Thank you for your kind words

 

Good weekend!
Marfin shaving brush n°151
Proraso green
Iwasaki
Vagheggi Regulatrice

 

Saturday's SOTD 13Jun15





Razor: ATT R-1 88 mm Kronos Handle
Razor Blade: Wilkinson Sword
Brush: "Old Corps"& "Oscar 11" Custom 28/65mm TGN Finest Badger F-2 Knot Resin Handle Brush
Bowl: VDH Luxury Mug Set
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: Shave Secret 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 Cat O' Nine Tails

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 the heat and humidity.
Maybe after all of these years I finally learned how to shave?



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Great looking brush.

 

Leo, your paintings are wonderful!

 

As I said before, I cannot believe the menthol power of the new Glacial soaps. The Obsidian gave me a freeze which I never experienced before, and it's almost a match for the Chiseled Face Cryogen. The Glacial Wintergreen balm and witch hazel mega-magnified that freeze. This was a shave from Paradise.

 

Sorry to hear you had a bad shave. After a shave like that it is probably a good idea to go back to bed, wait a bit and then get up and try starting your day again (minus the shave)!

 

6/13/15 - A Month of Proraso!!!

Proraso Red Sandalwood
WSP Monarch Silvertip
1921 Gillette Single-Ring
Pol-Silver Blade (6)
Clubman Pinaud

 

Saturbay
Solid shave today with Krampert's Finest Bay Rum soap and aftershave. I got a couple small weepers, but my face feels good and smooth. I did not use pre shave butter so perhaps that or the less forgiving Personna lab blue blades or maybe technique is responsible. I am in no way disappointed. My HIS XL brush felt huge after using the Colonel for most of the week.

 

MDC w/ Stirling Glacial Obsidian
Rapira Swedish
slim adjustable

3 passes this morning for a great shave. I am beginning to think that there is something in menthol soaps that hydrates the whiskers better than other soaps. I seem to get a closer shave with menthol soaps than I get with any others.

 

06/13/2015
Razor – Gillette Red & Black New Deluxe
Blade – Feather (3)
Brush – Rubberset 400 unmarked with Omega Boar
Lather – Mystic Water Lime
Post - Witch Hazel & Myrsol Limon Sample



Another great shave with the New Deluxe. I find it very similar to the New LC. Perhaps it is a touch more aggressive and for me certainly a little more efficient. Whipped a pretty decent lather of Mystic Water Lime using my 400 omega boar. Finished up with a Myrsol Limon from my sample pack. Overall a great way to start a Saturday.

 

June 13

MdC facial soap
Muhle R41 (2013)
Feather blade (day 3)
Omega Pro 98 boar brush
D.R. Harris Almond shave cream
Two passes
Alum, Thayer's Lavender witch hazel, unrefined shea butter, and Pinaud Clubman

This has been my set up all week, and the shaves have been fantastic. The R41 loaded with a Feather blade has given me some of my best DE shaves ever - near BBS with no irritation in two passes. I usually finish with Nivea Sensitive post shave balm, but I used the Clubman today. It was a nice way to end a great shave and start a beautiful Saturday.

Enjoy your weekend!