SoS: February 15, 2016 - February 21, 2016

Feb. 16

Razor: Gillette Tech (copper top)
Blade: Rapira Chrom Lux (1)
Oil: Homemade
Soap: Italian Barber Primavera
Brush:VDH
AS: Nivea Balm
Deoderant: Old Spice

My 1st experience with this blade and I`m not sure about it. I`ll have to use it a bit more, did get a definite DFS, maybe a little better, depends a lot on when my 5 O` Clock comes out. Did my usual routine, cheeks 1st, then WTG all the way down. The 2nd Pass, ATG/XTG, then clean up. I really like this Italian Barber soap. I`m supposed to get a white tube of Proaso today in the mail, but don`t count on it. The more I feel my face, the more I think maybe a definite DFS +. I am satisfied, I got to spend about 30 min. all alone with my " Friends"

Bill

 

Let us know how you like the Proraso white ounce you try it Bill. Have fun!

 

SOTD 2/15/16
Menthol Monday
Prep: Hot Shower/ Dove Men's Face Scrub
Pre-Shave: PAA Ice
Soap: Soap Commander Vision
Brush: Manhandled Wood Shop 24mm Boar
Razor/ Blade: Merkur 1906/ Voskhod (2)
Astringent: Witch Hazel
Post-Shave: Soap Commander Vision Balm
Aftershave: Fine Clean Vetiver
Great Shave last night. I love the vision scent and it has a great cooling sensation. Soap worked very well and this brush is almost broken in fully. I have found that 24mm brush with a loft around 50mm is my favorite size. Just received my Whipped Dog Silvertip Badger Brush in the mail today. Fine Clean Vetiver is very mild and goes with everything. Have a great day everyone!

 

Razor: Gillette Red Tip
Blade: Personna Blue (2)
Brush: Fendrihan Silver Tip 22/49
Soap: Route 66 Sea & Citrus
A/S: Myrsol Agua Balsamica

 

SOTD
February 16, 2016
Prep: Hot Shower. Noxzema
Razor: Blackland Blackbird
Blade: Voskhod
Lather: Route 66 The Black Pearl
CK Scuttle
Brush: Semogue 610
Post: Thayers Cucumber WH.
Aftershave: Route 66 The Black Pearl
Wonderful shave. The Black Pearl is a beautiful scent, the matching balm is on point. The BB was awesome.
Never let the things you WANT
Make you forget the things you HAVE!

 

I really enjoy the Soap Commander Vision as well. I have a sample that's lasted at least 5 shaves and looks like it could go 5 more. The scent is so bright and minty. Good stuff!

 

Very pretty frosty photo Douglas, there is even some on your brush, very

 

Ginger's Garden makes some great products. Glad to hear it is working well for you!

 

Chiseled Face Cedar & Spice is a wonderful scent. I pick up a bit of smokiness in the scent, very nice blend of cedar and spice, and as you mentioned, the performance is top notch.

 

Razor: Gillette 195 Fat Boy (f1) 1960 (5) (3)
Brush: Vintage Ever-Ready 300L with TGN Silvertip 18/51
Mug: Old Spice 1985 Cobalt Blue
Cream/Soap: Route 66 Bourbon Jungle
Blade: Feather (1)
Post shave: Thayers Cucumber WH, Jack Black balm, Tommy Bahamas Martinique

The Silvertip whipped up some nice warm lather, and I like this Bourbon Jungle, it's very slick. My FB is still hard to keep in it's case, even with other great razors to chose from. My Dad used one, and I'd watch him shave on Saturday mornings, way back then. But it also is just a good handling razor, with a nice heft and heavy head, it balances just right. I can let it do all the work as it glides over my face with no pressure. Today it made quick work in 2 passes WTG XTG. A little touchup on my neck ATG on 3 and done. I had enough lather left over for another pass. The WH felt good, nice and cool. After cleanup some JB and when it dried, some Tommy Bahamas Martinique. Nice shave! Y'all have a good one!

 

This was my first shave with Prosar. It is very similar to Palmolive shaving cream but it doesn't perform as good.

 

Prosar is from Greece. It has a nice scent and lather but the performance is acceptable to me, although I agree that Palmolive is better.

 

February Focus - German blades

February 16

Razor - Merkur 23c
Blade - (1)
Brush - Vie Long 12601 The Pony
Soap - Tabac
Post - Cold rinse, Alum, The Veg

Onward to the sixth blade out of seven in our tour of Germany. By the way, has anyone seen any of the Cartel boys lately? The last I saw of them they were in a beer garden somewhere in Germany after finding these blades. If they've been mixing German beer and Russian vodka, well, they'll wake up eventually. Maybe. Or not.

The blade of the hour is the Croma Diamant, made by Feintechnik GmbH who also produce the Bolzano. So, hopes are high that this will be a great blade. It's also the blade that is being manufactured in the famous episode of How It's Made. Well, famous to us anyway. If you've never seen it it's worth a look. I like going back to it occasionally just to watch it all again.

​

I'm not sure why they show Merkur blades in the beginning then switch to Croma. Probably a sponsorship thing. Anyway, off we go to give this blade a try. It is a stainless blade with Chrome and Teflon for the coating. In the video you see them adding the chrome layer in the vacuum, then spraying the teflon on afterwards.

The Pony and Tabac for a great lather. First pass WTG and I have a word for this blade. Rough. Again, we're not talking Chinese rough, but not smooth. It didn't do a horrible job on the pass but boy I felt it working. No nicks etc. but after the first pass I find myself wincing in advance, just in case it turns totally south on me. Too many shaves with bad blades and the feeling is a warning. Second pass, XTG, is equally uncomfortable. Now, it's not so bad I can't continue, but if this was not a trial I wouldn't be using it for two more days. I have better options. Like Derby. The Croma is not the sharpest blade in the batch and even the Teflon, which I love, can't smooth it out. Needed a third pass, ATG and G-slide. My neck is now nice and red and I'm anticipating some burn from the alum. Finished the third pass with a midling DFS. Hit my face and neck with the alum and got a burn. Not as bad as I thought I would but it's there.

So, No BBS. Deduct 1/2. The roughness, or perhaps more accurately, lack of smoothness, deducts another 1/2. Alum was a bit warm. Not as bad as I thought, but the redness remains. That's another 1/2 deduction. Final score on this one today is a 3.5 I'm hoping for better tomorrow!

​

 

Todays SOTD

Georgetown Scuttle

Stirling Pre Shave Oil Unscented

Mulhe R41/ Lab Blue (1)

JR #23 Silvertip Brush
Caite's Bubbles Le Piment De La Vie

Maggard Alum Block
Fine Snakebite Aftershave

 

Awesome setup

 

SOTD: Tuesday, February 16
MWF
CH2 Synthetic
'58 Fat Boy (5)
Polsilver SI (2)
Floïd Blue

T-minus 5
MWF is hanging on like grim death..., still gets:
Fat Boy on 5 is one smooth shaver; combined with the Polsilver SI, it gets:
BBS without any nicks/weepers:
Floïd Blue has a nice, mellow tingle:
Have a great day!​

 

Monster lather Primo!

 

Thank you sir!!

 

Monday:
hot shower w/Pre de Provence Lime Zest bar soap
Dollar General Vitamin E Oil
StickSchick 3 passes
Schick (2)
BurmaShave boar
TOBS Lemon Lime / GFT Essential Oil of Limes cream in a warm bowl
Thayers Lemon w/aloe
alum
Pinaud Lime Sec edc

I had a couple of samplers to finish up that I combined for a Lemon/Lime shave. I momentarily lost focus though and had to bring out the alum block for the first time in many shaves.