SoS: September 28, 2015 - October 4, 2015

My Speick stick wasn't staying in the holder anymore and it's getting too tough to hold onto so after today's shave I put the rest in a tub with some VDH luxury so I can use the rest up later. Tomorrow I'll start L'Occitober a day early

 

Tabacstag!
I went with the Futur on six again - BBS again, but with a couple small weepers on my neck where I did some touch up. Lesson learned - touch up on a lower setting.
The Futur was loud and very smooth again today - I usually could not shave with the Fatboy on 9 two days in a row. To me this means the Futur is both more efficient and comfortable than the Fatboy. I am almost ready to sell or trade all of my razors to get my own Futur!
I also tested out a new pre/post shave oil from Wet Shaving Products - this one with a scent called Matterhorn. It is a very pleasant scent, I think I detect jasmine, but I’m not great at describing these things. The oil is Jojoba, grapeseed, apricot, avocado and some others that provide a nice viscosity for application. I think it helped as a preshave, but since Tabac makes optimal lather, it is hard to tell for sure. I also used it as a post, and it went on smooth and comforting. After it absorbed, I put on a splash and got more of a sting than yesterday, but it was very short lived, and my skin is left very soft and smooth. Overall, a superb shave.
My photo is of the Futur on the only stand I have that is big enough for it - a stand made by and given to me by the same friend who loaned me the razor - JR Reyes. Thanks again, sir! In the background you may notice Atticus, our English Bulldog puppy playing in the yard.

Prep: WSP Matterhorn PSO
Soap: Tabac!
Brush: The Colonel
Razor: Merkur Futur
Blade: Voskhod (3)
AS: WSP Matterhorn oil, PAA Lime, Ginger, Tea Tree

 

Razor: Gillette 85 Super Adjustable "Black Beauty” (p2) 1970 named “The Black Pearl” (5)
Brush: Erskine Badger 1947 Birth Year
Mug: Old Spice 1985 Cobalt Blue
Cream: Jack Black cream
Blade: Feather (1)
Post shave: Thayers Cucumber WH, Jack Black Balm, Old Spice original Shulton 1973 glass cologne Stopper #3
"The Black Pearl" is out for a sail today, with a salty crew. The Badger whipped the Jack Black into a frothy lather. The Pearl is set on 5 for the first salvo against the whiskers that have invaded my face. Smooth sailing and steady as she goes with a little touchup on the right side of my neck on 3. The weight of the head on the Pearl does all the work, as it sails through the rough sea. A splash of Witch Juice, some Jack Black Balm, Jaaack......, and then some Old Spice for the wenches. Off to some uncharted waters to plunder, and pillage. Have a good one you salty dog. Arrrrrh!

 

SOTD 09.29.2015

Prep: Shower
Razor: Gillette Super Adjustable (5)
Blade: Voskhod (2)
Brush: Omega 10083
Lather: Proraso Blue Tube
Post: Cold rinse, Witch Hazel, Proraso Green AS, Proraso White ASB

Decided to give my face a break from experimenting with other blades and use something I'm more comfortable with.

 

Tuesday



Bulldog Men Sensitive face wash
1966 Gillette Adjustable ”Slim”
Rapira Swedish Super Steel (1) blade
Vie-Long Butterscotch handle with Bestshave #6 knot
RazoRock Classic shave soap (hot lather)
3 passes WTG/XTG/ATG + touch-up.
Homemade mentholated after shave splash
Decided to switch most up today, rotate in stuff I've never combined before and/or haven't used in ages.
My Slim pared well with the Swedish Supersteel, although the angle/technique is vastly different from my Weber.
I don't like my brush, the knot is too small, but I love the handle, so it's destined for a new knot, once I find a great 24mm boar.
Received the RazoRock Classic from my friend @Omelmad today. Love it - great performance and great scent! Thanks man

DFS++​

 

The Salty Dog Blues

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MdC and Plisson were perfect.

Gillette silver blue were disappointing. I got a good shave, but I got much better result before. It's weird.

First time in a long time I felt compelled to shave haha. I was a bit tired, but I'm working in a school tomorrow. I wanna look sharp!

 

Razor A: Ever-Ready SE 1914
Razor B: Gillette SS 1947 Birth Razor
Blade A: GEM (6)
Blade B: Personna Blue (1)
Brush: WDC-2 High Mountain Badger : Grandfather's restored
Soap: Captain's Choice Sandalwood
A/S: Captain's Choice Sandalwood

Early shave going out tonight. Great shave again. I find the Captain's Choice products don't build as good a lather as my TSD soaps. They are good soaps though. Good to use a Gillette SS again, it's been awhile. Been raining here today. My daughter and her family just arrived in San Diego, Calif. One of my grand daughter's is trying out for a Highland Dance scholarship. Good luck Lilah!

 

I'm happy that you like it=)

It's so unlike you to change up so many things between shaves.

 

Very nice. I'm glad you're enjoying it. I haven't seen that stand in a while...thanks for the shout out.

 

Rest assured, I am also reducing the unknowns tomorrow again. Haha.

But I'm starting to use my other razors now. This Slim I'll use at least until the blade is done. Then I'll evaluate if I like it enough to keep using it. I do miss my Weber already.

 

I'll post now for Wednesday's shave:

Neutrogena Men Facial Wash
Large Horsehair Barbershop
Super Speed/Derby day 3
Stirling Glacial Wintergreen SS
Stirling Glacial Wintergreen AS Balm
Stirling Glacial Wintergreen WH
Drakkar Noir EdT

Damn, I have to stop neglecting my favourite face-freezers and get back into them or I'll be kicked out of the Men of Menthol Association!

 

Nice lineup. Captain's Choice is one of those where I say "Should I or shouldn't I?

 

A very, very, veryyyyyy sleepy post-work Old Spice SOTD. Sorry for the video quality, I accidentally uploaded it in a lower quality, also, sorry for slurring, I was half asleep here.

Prep: Hot shower, Nivea Face Scrub, Suave Almond & Shea Butter Conditioner
Brush: Whipped Dog 24mm Silvertip
Lather: Old Spice Shaving Cream
Razor: Gillette Fusion Proglide Flexball (2)
Passes: WTG/XTG/ATG/Touch-up
Post: Cold water rinse, RazoRock Alum Stick, Ivy Club Spice Aftershave

ZzZzZzZzZzZzZzZzZzZz

 

Nice work, Justin. Nostalgia works for me, too!!

 

T&H Lavender Cream
Simpson Case Best Badger
Schick E2 (later version)
Schick (1)
Osma Alum Block
AOS After Shave Balm

I forgot the PSO so I can't compare my recently acquired later variety E2 to my earlier E2 - which is my hands-down favorite. Equally aggressive but not quite as smooth - which could simply be the missing PSO in my prep. The result was a silky smooth shave so it certainly deserves a rematch!

 

Wednesday's


Dove Men Face Wash
Arko Stick
Jayaruh #18 Silver Tip
Schick I1
Personna SS Injector
CWR, Asma Alum Block
Thayers Lemon WH
Florida Water

The Arko Stick Shave Soap face-lathered well with my Jayaruh #18 Best Badger brush. Two passes with my Schick M2 Adjustable 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 Florida Water as an after shave. I am clean, smooth, and refreshed...

 

Strike one.....

 

The Crazy Ivan in SEptember!
September 29

Razor - Edwin Jagger DE89L
Blade - (0.5)
Brush - Omega Pro 48
Soap - Arko
Post - Cold Water, Alum, The Veg

Well today was the day to go to Czechoslovakia. Crazy Ivan was packed and ready so what was there to do but go. Czech Blades makes a number of different blades including the Tiger 3H. They are the company that bought out the former Astra and Gillette plant in Czechoslovakia. Now, for accuracy sake, the picture above is actually a Tiger LH. That would be a stainless blade. The 3H is a carbon blade and is shaped like a legacy Gillette Blue with the three holes. So very retro and cool looking. Well, see for yourself.

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Reports of this blade being horrible and dangerous surfaced over the past couple of days but Ivan said he didn't care. So, who am I to argue? I just end up talking to myself anyway. It was also suggested that perhaps I should use the Rapira razor for this one. Ok, so sanity prevailed and I stayed with the EJ. Turns out it probably wouldn't have mattered. Lather provided by the Pro 48 and Arko so no issues there.

My first stroke with this blade was, what's the word I'm looking for? Oh, yeah, ATROCIOUS! Seriously this thing pulled and dragged like a dead cat on sandpaper. I actually suffered through the WTG on the right cheek and checked the result. Ummm....I could swear I just felt that blade tearing my face to shreds. No blood, no wounds but also......no real reduction in the beard. Seriously? I'm done. NO, wait........can't stop yet. Lathered that cheek again and did a second WTG pass. Felt a bit smoother, about like the difference in sandpaper or asphalt, so maybe it did some good? Felt it again......still no real sign of reduction. Ummmmm....I'm confused. Ok, let's try XTG. Wow does that sting but I still can't say it's even close to CCS on that cheek. ATG? I know, sounds crazy but I suffered through it and found that I still wasn't at CCS. I stared into the mirror and asked Ivan for help. That %@$%** crazy Russian had bugged out. Nowhere to be found. I have honestly never had a blade that felt that rough and yet couldn't reduce the beard. Actually, maybe the Flying Eagle was that bad but I'm not sure even it was a horrible as this. Ok, NOW I'm done. Grabbed the Tech with Thai Gillette and used it for a 4th shave and ended with a very nice DFS and it felt great.

I never thought I'd find a blade worse than the Flying Eagle but if the Tiger 3H isn't worse it's equally bad. And that is an honor no blade should go for. My recommendation? Stay clear of this Tiger. Very clear.

 

Wednesday Planned SOTD
Razor: Bakelite Slant
Blade: Gillette Spoiler (D3)
Brush: Rubberset 49-4 W 28mm HMB
Bowl: Doug Smith 5" Shaving Mug
Pre Shave Scrub: RazoRock GLO
Pre Shave Oil: Homemade Lavender Mint
Shave Soap: Tiki 1920's Barber Shoppe
Post: Monster Alum Block
Aftershave: RazoRock Baby Blue



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