September 14, 2015 SOTD 60 yo newbie’s intro to traditional shaving. (Week 18 AC*) Single-Edge SEptember Injectors and perhaps a GEM So far this month I've shaved with four different Schick injectors for the first time (Type E, G, I and J) and had very good to excellent two-pass shaves. Today I'll be trying my first shave with a PAL Adjustable injector. Morning shave Hot Shower Soap: Arko stick Brush: Omega Pro 48 Razor: PAL Adjustable Blade: Schick Injector (China) (1) Thayers Lemon & Aloe Witch Hazel After Shave: Myrsol Limon Three day growth, so I'll do a three-pass shave. First shave - WTG - Since I've never used this razor before, I chose to ride the blade flat against my skin for most of the first pass. I had almost no feedback. Actually rechecked for a blade halfway through - it was there and cutting very efficiently. Second pass - XTG - I chose to adjust the blade a few degrees from the first pass. Slightly more feedback, but pretty quiet. Good result, left me in a great position for a third pass. Third pass -ATG - used same steep angle as last pass and was rewarded with excellent shave. Next best part - little or no irritation based on AS application. With the increased blade angle going ATG, I had even more feedback but not the velcro-ripping sound I was mostly accustomed to with the Schicks. BBS in spots, but I did not chase. Looking forward to more experience with the razor first. The great first shave with the PAL makes me certain there will be many more to come! Cheers! RT *AC = After Carts
Razor: Valet Auto Strop Model "C"- 1935-40/ Gillette 1958 TV Special(7) Feather blade) Blade: Valet New Process (7) Brush: Omega 10066 Boar Soap: RazoRock Don Donato A/S: Lucky Tiger Finish one week with the Valet Auto Strop Model "C". Two passes with the Valet, and a 1958 TV Special cleanup. Learned how to use this razor and how to strop it. Have to admit I wasn't sure when I started a week ago how this would finish, but today I had a BBS shave. I don't use the BBS lightly and this may be only the second time I've used it. As the result of an earlier focus I'm now enjoying using a boar brush. These are two things I never thought I would use, a SE and a boar brush.
Fourth shave with the Rockwell 6s. Shave report here. Gear: Rockwell 6S Rapira L'Occitane Plisson Soap Commander Endurance Zirh Erase
Tuesday's Dove Men Face Wash TOBS St. James Collection Jayaruh #17b Best Badger (first shave) Schick L1 Personna SS Injector CWR, Asma Alum Block Thayers Lemon WH Aqua Velva The TOBS St. James Collection Shaving Cream face-lathered well with my Jayaruh #17b Best Badger brush. Two passes with my Schick L1 Injector razor and a Personna SS Injector 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 Aqua Velva after shave. I am clean, smooth, and refreshed...
For September 14th: Razor - Schick J3 – “Golden 500” Stainless Soap - Mentolated Vintage Willams Blade - 1960s Vintage Personna Vydax Coated Brush - TSD Russian Leather 2X Menthol It's Now Or Never (O Sole Mio) - Elvis Presley 1960 For September 15th: Razor - Schick L – “The Grip” Brush - Ever Ready C40 w/TGN 3 Band Synthetic 24/53 mm Brush Blade - 1960s Vintage Personna Vydax Coated Stainless Soap - TSD Russian Leather 2X Menthol Aquarius/Let the Sunshine In - The 5th Dimension 1969
The debut of my new Thiers Issard straight razor TOBS Sandalwood Soap with Fendrihan brush Proraso Blue aftershave balm.
Tuesday morning's action: Neutrogena Men Facial Wash Large Horsehair Barbershop Super Speed/Personna day 2 Stirling Glacial Lemon Chill SS Gold Bond Moisturizer Osage Rub AS Chabrawichi 555 Cologne I heard we're getting another warm spell here in Montreal so I'll keep up the menthol freeze for as long as possible. The Glacial Lemon Chill is rapidly becoming my new favourite of Rod's soaps. The lemony/menthol scent drives me nuts, the lather is so easy and rich as well as BONE-CHILLINGLY cold, with some of the best skincare you can possibly find in a soap. The Gold Bond is also very, very cooling - in fact, I think it's verging on being a face-freezer. The Rubby Dubby Doo is just that, and it's famous for being just that. I'm really impressed with these Personna blades - they're easily as good as the Derbys.
Its actually a balm, and I do like the stuff. not inexpensive, but the scent and skin conditioning is tops…. Heres a review I did of it in Feb 2014: Neumann Balm
The Crazy Ivan in SEptember! September 14 Razor - Feather SS Artist Club/1959 Gillette Ball End Tech Blade - (3) Brush - The Pony Vie Long 12061 Soap - TSD Lanolin Bay Rum Post - Cold Water, Alum, Clubman Third and final shave with the Tech and Vietnamese Gillette. I have to say I was a bit surprised by this blade's performance though not shocked. Gillette usually protects the integrity of the name by controlling quality so I didn't expect a Chinese experience. Definitely a workable blade that I could turn to if needed and not be terribly upset. Went with the pony today to work with the TSD Lanolin. The BoS yesterday did a fantastic job once I got the water right so I wanted to try the horse and see what it would do. Didn't shake the brush as much before lathering but noticed it was a bit dry and lackluster while loading for the first pass. Dipped the brush tips in water and went back to load and yep, that did it just like yesterday. Great lather to work with so all set to go. First pass was great, no issues, the blade is performing through the third shave, actually with a couple of extra passes on it from yesterday, as well as it did day one. I didn't notice any particular difference in feel. Result was good for the first pass as well. Went for DFS on the second pass XTG then G-slide on the neck. Got DFS and called it good. I'm noticing tonight that it feels a bit rougher than days I do the third pass but still a great result overall. Great performance by this setup. As I said, a blade I could use without any issues but it's not something I'll order in bulk with the other better (Russian) (Bic) (Kai) choices out there. Crazy Ivan spins back to SEptember in the morning to the 1914 Lather Catcher and a PAL Blue Carbon blade. Halfway through the month already!
Fatboy Tuesday SOTD Razor: Gillette Rhodium Fatboy Blade: Gillette Silver Blue (D2) Brush: Paladin PK-47 26mm Blonde Badger Bowl: Georgetown G12 Pre Shave Scrub: MRGLO Pre Shave Oil: Saponificio Varesino Fern Shave Soap: Penhaligon`s English Fern Post: Monster Alum Block Aftershave: Penhaligon`s English Fern
Tuesday 15Sep15 SOTD Gillette Fusion Flexball Proglide {D-14} Pre-Shave: Dr. Bronner's Magic Soap Pre-Shave Oil: Tiki Bar Frosted Woodlands Pre-Shave Oil Shaving Mug: VDH Luxury Mug Shaving Brush: "Oscar 11" Custom 24/48mm TGN Super Finest Black& White Resin Handle Shaving Soap: Mitchell's Wool Fat Shaving Soap After Shave Alum: Razorock Ultimate Aftershave After Shave Balm: Afta After Shave Skin Conditioner After Shave: Captain's Choice North WTG-XTG-ATG (adjusted angles for my beard)
