Thank you! I plan to give it one more chance down the road a while, but it will definitely not spend time in my razors if I get another shave like today's.
The Astra SP lasted me 3 shaves. Other blades like a supermax would not get past 2. The Gillette Silver Blues I manage to get 5-6 before tossing. So it really is YMMV
Excellent shave! The Mongoose is making us perfectionistas. My daily work mornings were 35 years worth of one pass DFSs. Ha ha! I kept a Norelco Cordless in my Dodge Van for Emergency Clean Ups. BBS shaves were reserved for Date Night and they still are, but at a much higher standard... around 99.9%. Mr. Fine has a winner with Platinum.
It is easier for me to hit high standards quickly with the Mongoose than any of my other razors. My goal each morning is for a boot camp level shave that would please a DI. I don't quite make that goal often but come close a lot. I really enjoy using the MdC soap for sure. While I like the original scent very much, the Fougere is just a whole other level. If I had to pick just one soap, it would be MdC Fougere for sure. Fine sure hit a home run with Platinum for sure. It just pairs well with everything.
I forgot to add...at some point over the last few months I've made a switch from daily alum, to witch hazel. I find that I still get enough astringency for weepers, etc, but also a much better skin conditioning - which may be helping to keep razor bumps away as well. YMMV - but I'm very glad I made the switch, my skin feels great with daily witch hazel.
YMMV indeed. For me, I use both alum and witch hazel, followed by my aftershave. The combo of the three of them seems to be the sweet spot for me, as far as how my face feels after a shave.
I agree! TSD 2x Iced Barber Shoppe is . The Prairie is cooling faster than the Desert. Even the slight change can be felt here. It is a welcome change. How Do You Spell Relief???
September 17, 2015 So far during Single Edge SEptember I've experienced razors I’ve never used before: six different Schick injectors (Type C1, C3, E, G, I and J) one PAL Adjustable. I’m somewhat embarrassed to say, but if I’m going to make it through SE September and all my SEs, I will need to shave with 7 more razors - all Gems - in 14 days! (and I never, ever thought I’d say this, but I remind myself more and more of @NCoxSTL …with his 30 razors in 30 days with 30 different blades! I swear, most of these are lot purchases or second-hand store discoveries. I don’t have RAD, really, I don’t. Really!!!) I’m going to try to progress through the Gems from mild though the aggressiveness spectrum, because yes, I am a wimp. Morning shave Hot Shower Soap: Arko stick Brush: Omega Pro 48 Razor: 1950s Gem Featherweight Blade: GEM PTFE (1) Thayers Lemon & Aloe Witch Hazel After Shave: Myrsol Limon Two-pass shave and unfortunately in a bit of a rush for work. Very nice shave, skin was left clean and smooth all the way around. I just used the flat razor head against my skin and off I went. A bit too quickly as there was much more irritation in the end than I’m used to. But I get to do it again tomorrow! Cheers! RT
You obviously haven't seen my mug shot. I usually go 3 - 4 shaves on a DE blade as well. I have gotten 7 out of a Rapira PL when trying to see how long I could, though.
September 16th - week three focus Heljestrand, "No 24" Razor: C. V. Heljestrand, "No 24" 5/8 Quarter Hollow Strop: drygulch horse hide strop Brush: WSP Silvertip Badge Bowl: KO shave mug Preshave oil: AoS Lavender Oil Soap: AoS Lavender Cream Post shave: cold water, alum, AoS Lavender post shave balm Growth: 1.5 days Shave 10 Running short on time so I went to a cream I knew I could quickly get a consistent, thick, slick lather. AoS Lavender Cream fit the bill. Only did one pass with the straight but it did 95% of the work. Merkur Derby finished the job off nicely. 1st - WTG: N/S on face and neck 2nd - XTG: E/W face w/Merkur Clean up - ATG/XTG: w/ Merkur Progress DE with Derby (2 shaves) Cheers, Eric
Razor A: Ever-Ready 1914 WW1 SE Razor B: Gillette Black Handle Flare Tip P1 1970 Blade A: Gem Blue Star SE (3) Blade B: Feather (3) Brush: WDC-5 Boar w/ Green Handle, Whipped Dog Knot. Soap: TSD Iced TSD Signature A/S: Fine L'Orange Day 17 Good shave this evening. Iced TSD Signature is a great shave soap. Two passes with the Ever-Ready and a cleanup with the Flare Tip. Still not that good with the Ever-Ready around the chin. It will come though. Fine L'Orange is a good A/S. The brush still needs some work.
I'm going to use TSD iced Barber Shop tomorrow for the first time. Got my TSD soap order today. Hope the A/S is here tomorrow.
September 17 Focus Shave 14 I changed the order of my passes. I added an extra XTG and it seemed to results in a little bit closer shave. The new passes is now number 3 and it is a milder pass than the prior 3rd pass. The shave was DFS and when I applied the alum there was no irritation. A success but still not near BBS territory. Not my closest SR shave but the least irritation ever. Proraso Pre Shave SMN shaving cream M&F blonde badger silver tip Dove Bismark 2 PRC hanging strop Alum block to keep my fingers dry Razor Rock Tight Buns AS Speick ASB Creed Green Irish Tweed