SoS: January 11, 2016 - January 17, 2016

Thanks man

 

Friday's


Dove Men Face Wash
Proraso Green Shaving Soap
Jayaruh #37 Synthetic
Valet Auto Strop
GEM modified
CWR, Asma Alum Block
Thayers Rose Petal WH
Aqua Velva Ice Blue

I decided to go ahead and use my new to me Valet Auto Strop razor for the first time. It was a highly successful shave.

The Proraso Green Shaving Soap face-lathered well with my Jayaruh #37 Synthetic brush. Two passes with my Valet Auto Strop razor and a GEM modified blade gave me a close, comfortable shave. Being the first shave with this razor and blade, I went slowly, but I quickly found the sweet spot. After a cold water rinse, alum block, and a final cold water rinse, I finished off with Thayers Rose Petal WH and then Aqua Velva Ice Blue after shave. I am clean, smooth, and refreshed...

 

Thank you Clint.

 

I also have an older version of Proraso Green soap!

 

SOTD 1/13/16
Prep: Hot Shower/ Nivea Original Moisturizing face wash
Pre-Shave: PAA Ice Pre-Shave Soap
Soap: Barrister & Mann Latha Limon
Brush: Semogue OC Badger
Razor/ Blade: Merkur 37c Slant/ Personna Lab Blue (2)
Astringent: Alum
Post-Shave: Soap Commander Integrity Balm
Aftershave Splash: Fine L'orange Noire

Great shave last night! I decided to try the 37c slant 2 days in a row to really test the smoothness. It performed fantastically! VERY close shave, but no irritation whatsoever. My most aggressive razor previous to the 37c slant was a Muhle R41 hybrid and I could never use that two days in a row. The 37c isn't more aggressive, but it is a more efficient cutter. It cuts the hair fast and is still incredibly smooth. I am very impressed and have gotten my closest shaves ever with this razor. Who knows, now this may be my daily shaver (now I'm stuck between 4). B&M Latha Limon scent opened up nicely and preformed fantastically. Great lather, extremely slick, and incredible post-shave. First time using the Semogue OC Badger and it worked great. Whipped up a great lather, but was much softer than a boar but it is so dense it still had good backbone. I'll continue breaking it in and see how it is once fully broken in. Hope you all had great shaves, too!

 

January 15

Gillette Flare Tip Super Speed (Z3)
Feather (2)
Rudy Vey Shavemac two-band silver tip badger
XPEC unscented
Two passes plus touch-ups
Thayer's Lavender witch hazel, unrefined shea butter, and Alt Innsbruck

 

SHAVE OF the day


Razor: Gillette ball end tech
Blade: Gillette nacet
Brush: RazoRock plissoft
Soap: Chiseled Face Sherlock
Post: Sherlock aftershave
Balm: Gillette cooling lotion


2 pass shave today with Sherlock. This is a scent I didn't care for at first but has grown to be a scent I love. Very unique lemon-dirt-leather type of scent. Finished the shave off with the matching aftershave. Hope everyone had a great shave!

 

SOTD January 15, 2016

Prep: Warm shower
Blade: Gillette Silver Blue (1)
Razor: Wet Shave Club 3-piece
Brush: Omega 10049 boar
Lather: Arko
Post: Witch hazel splash, Nivea sensitive balm
WTG, XTG (neck and jaw only)

This combination produced a really nice CCS this morning. Two elements of this setup were new for me - the GSB blade and the Omega brush. I have used Arko in the past several times but today it worked very well.

The Omega brush is enormous compared to my other brushes! It whipped up a huge amount of lather from the Arko in the shaving mug. I then face lathered and produced one of the best lathering experiences I've ever had. Tons and tons of lather. I could have probably done ten passes for what was in the brush.

The GSB blade seemed really smooth and efficient. I've been using Rapira mostly of late, and have tried some Personna lab blues. The Gillette blade felt really good.

All in all a nice experience this morning. I hope you all have a tremendous Friday!!

 

@PLAla your shave mug is

 

Thursday, Jan. 14, 2016 - Evening shave
Neutrogena FW
3 hot towels
Proraso Preshave
RazoRock Plissoft
EJ89 w/Gillette Silver Blue (3)
W, X1, X2, touch up
Cold rinse, cold towel, witch hazel, Stetson After Shave with Aloe (lotion), Stetson Cooling Moisture After Shave
GES

SWMBO noticed the scent as soon as she hugged me.

 

Thank you!

 

Your blue-handled brush continues to stun me! I love the color - really striking.

 

Thank you, Perry. I appreciate the kind words. I don't change my set up often, and I assumed by now that everyone would be tired of seeing it.

It's the nicest brush that I own. Blue is my favorite color, and the Shavemac knot is fantastic. It has soft tips and a ton of backbone. <Enabling: ON> I'm sure Rudy Vey (http://www.ultimatependesigns.com/) will set you up with something similar if you're interested. <Enabling: OFF>

 

I think I found the issue with the Valet and this morning shave.

Tonight I was taking the blade out of the razor before storing away and I noticed that the blade didn't look right. This morning when I was stropping away, I had some of the black leather flake off and was on both sides of the blade so I removed the blade to wipe clean and place back in the razor to start my shave. Apparently in the process I didn't pay attention to the orientation of the blade as the words VALET should match up with VALET on the Blade holder and in this case they did not, the blade was switched around. So now a lesson learned and I do plan on using the Valet again on Sunday so I will see if my theory is correct.

 

TGIF Planned SOTD



Razor: Gem Damaskeene
Blade Gem PTFE SS (D5)
Brush: RR Chubby 28mm Extra Silvertip Badger
Bowl: Yoresh Scuttle
Pre Shave Scrub: MRGLO
Pre Shave Oil: AOS Sandalwood
Shave Soap: Beaver WoodWright Davy Jones
Post: Monster Alum Block
Aftershave: WSO Vanillawood
​

 

I am almost to the bottom of it. I have about 70+ shaves out of it. I may have 20 shaves left in it. With near 20 soaps and creams, it has lasted me three years.

 

Someday, I will find the time for the Auto Strop. Good luck Guy.

 

Razor: Pensan OC&CC
Blade: Zaza (1)
Soap: Arko
Brush: Vie-long White Horse Hair
AS: Fa Spicy Black

 

Not just too strong, it's downright nauseating, makes you want to