SoS: January 25, 2016 - January 31, 2016

BLACKBIRD/HEMPEL/DORCO
ROD NEEP DREADNOUGHT 26MM XS SILVER TIP
SAPONIFICIO VARESINO FELCE AROMATICA
COLD RIVER SOAP WORKS REPLENISH/NOURISH
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Friday:
hot shower w/Murray & Lanman Pacholi bar soap
ShaveSecret PSO
Maggard MR4 2 passes
Big Ben Super Stainless (3)
Semogue boar and then an Omega boar
Body Prescriptions cream in a warm bowl and eventually just smeared all over
Thayer's unscented w/aloe
Geoffrey Beene A/S

I was in the Dollar Store earlier this week and noticed several jars of shaving cream (only $1 each, of course) so I opened one up and took a whiff. It didn't smell too awful and the directions said to apply using a brush so I brought a jar home to try. The consistency is about the same as thin hand lotion so this morning I scooped a good lump of it out and put it in my bowl and soaked the bowl in warm water while I showered. After my shower I took my brush and attempted to make lather but only filled my brush with cream. Thinking maybe the mix was too dry, I added a bit of water and ended up with something like thin milk. At this point I had nothing to lose (except my dollar) so I added another glob of cream and covered my face with the wet runny mess and did my first pass. For the second pass I grabbed my tube of Cremo and added a good squirt to try and rescue the mess but it didn't help. I put aside the first brush and grabbed a dry one. More cream in the bowl, all over the sink, running down my chest, and a second pass.
Amazingly I ended up with a very good shave from the MR4 paired with the Big Ben but the cream is going in the trash unless I decide to use it as hand lotion. So if you happen to be in the Dollar Store...

 

My goodness @Number six your photo should adorn a magazine cover. Just stunning sir!

 

I'm very glad that you like it. Have a great day!

 

FRIDAY
My second shave using this Wade & Butcher 6/8 wedge— a smooth, silent whisker-killer.
Stirling menthol-laced 'piney' soap applied with the jumbo Stirling synthetic brush. Great shave with a Fine 'Snake Bite' finish!
Have a super Friday, all!

 

Don`t worry, I`m 80 and have had MANY disappointing days, yet I`m still kicking around and having fun. The thing is, your going to have many more good ones than bad ones, believe me!

Best wishes, Bill

 

Looking at your avatar, USPS delivery vehicles sure are much improved down in Texas. How do you like the Dragon's Blood? I like the performance and the aroma of Reef Point version of Dragon's Blood.

 

Very beautiful and professional!

 

Whats your take on the Dorco Prime blades ?

 

This is the 5th cheapskate day,

Razor: Gillette Tech
Blade: Personna blue (5)...2nd on this edge
Soap/lather: Equate can
Oil: Secret Shave

Samo, Samo, as the last 2, These BBSes and DF+es are getting to be routine (I`m so sad). My 5 O'clock shadow didn`t show up until the middle of last night`s GOP debate, for awhile I thought I wouldn`t have enough whiskers to shave this morning, but I was wrong, there were enough to get a DF+. The routine I use is almost always the same (during this cheapskate test). Tomorrow is the last day, I will try some pictures and a more in depth report.

Bill

 

Mystic Waters Sandalwood Rose
Art of Shaving Silvertip
Ikon OSS/Weber Bulldog
Gillette Silver Blue
Swiss Pitralon
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Thor's day: Day 16 of my second round of blade testing

Prep: Hot Shower, Nivea Moisturizing Face Wash
Brush: @Jayaruh #33 Horsehair
Lather: Ginger's Garden Jasmine Oakmoss with clay and mango butter
Razor: RazoRock Bamboozled RAKE OC
Blade: Croma Diamant (1)
Passes: WTG, XTG, XTG (1, 2, 3)
Post: Cold water rinse, Bloc Osma alum, Thayer's Witch Hazel pad, Ginger's Garden Jasmine Oakmoss aftershave splash
Cologne: Xeryus by Givenchy

Still having trouble making stable lather with the horsehair. This time I started with a nearly dry brush and added water as I went; the lather was disappearing by the time I got to the goatee area for each pass. The Croma provided a lot of feedback, and a bit of irritation, possibly due to the lather issues (hopefully not because I'm developing a sensitivity to oakmoss). No bloodshed, but my face felt irritated, even with a DFS.

 

Well, its the only soap I have used so far. I do have some VDH, but only used that early on. I love the scent, though! So far the performance seems great, but I don't have anything to compare. USPS is delivering some new ones this weekend.

I'm in Colorado, and she is very fast! Love track days!

 

The Shave Shop / Ginger's Garden / Acqua di Florida
Vulfix 660S Medium Super Badger via @BigCabDaddy
Gillette FatBoy @4 w/ Feather New Hi-Stainless blade
Aqua Velva Classic Ice Blue Cooling After Shave

As much as I enjoy a cream, vegan, or glycerin soap, tallow does it for me every time. I'm glad I swapped that old Gillette Slim with Glenn for my first badger brush. It's certainly different from boar and has satisfied my curiosity. One day I'll run out of Feather blades forcing me to try the other half dozen blades I've accumulated. Menthol in that AS is great, I'll remember to pair it with C.O.Bigelow next time.

 

What a lovely photo of exceptional gear @Gabe

 

We made a good trade then as I'm happy with the SS! I still owe you a message on my impressions which will be forthcoming come February and the end of my 30 day focus on Old Types. I did sneak in one shave though and that was great.

 

Classy setup.

 

I am using my other horse hair brush this week. I find it works best as a face-lathering brush, at least for me. I am using some samples of Geo. F. Trumper this week, and boy does it lather easily.

 

Thank you!
Notice its both text and imagery!

 

Yes very meticulous and nice!