Very nice setup today, Doug. I bet your Bride is looking for her bowl.

Paul, why don't you join us this month for the Decadent December focus? Anything goes this month, and we now have clearance from Headquarters to complement Shenanigans with Tomfoolery. You can help me keep an eye on the troublemakers.

I have few rules I follow in life but there is one I follow: if I am in a hurry I put the straight razor (especially pain sticks) down, step away and pick up a DE.

You can't go wrong with cookies. Never.

Technically, yes, but it's normally thought of in terms of the Russian use of it in describing the "decadence" of America. Too much luxury which creates declining morals and resolve. At least that's the definition I'm aiming for.

Keith =

Wiser words have rarely been spoken.

Decadent December!!

December 1


Razor - Soviet Mladost 2
Blade - (1)
Soap - Mitchell's Wool Fat
Brush - Wolf Whiskers Custom Silvertip
Post - Alum, Nivea

What a great start to the month here. Already 9 pages in on the first day and some of the gear has been fantastic. I've seen some great brushes, awesome soaps, razors on a caliber rarely seen and lots of other nice stuff. Some great focuses started today as well and this should be a fantastic month. For my entry....I'm going with my favorite blades this month.....Russian all the way, and my two best and favorite soaps, Mitchell's Wool Fat and Tabac, and my usual brushes as I consider them all decadent....even the nine dollar Omega 10066. One of the best brushes out there. However, I'm tempering all of that goodness with two Russian razors. First up, the Mladost 2.

This is actually more accurately called a Soviet razor due it being made in Bulgaria, or so it would seem. Perhaps Yugoslavia. Hard to pin it down. Of course, back in the day, that was all Soviet territory. It's a TTO razor and appears to be adjustable at first glance but isn't. In typical Soviet style the engineering is, shall we say, a bit lacking. Nice heft, nice finish, not bad quality other than the sticky mechanism that makes it nearly impossible to align the blade evenly and seems to produce two different gaps, one on each side. And, it barely bends the blade so that sets up a different angle of attack as well. I've used it a couple of times and wasn't impressed, but this month will give it a chance to see if technique can tame this thing.

The Voskhod blade is unbeatable. Finest blade made no matter who calls that Poppycock. No marlarky in that statement either! Great lather and feel for the Fat and it was as slick as I wanted to help this razor out.

First pass was NOISY. I mean as in velcro ripping in your ear.....as long as you find and hold the angle. But, with that kind of audible feedback, it's easy to stay on angle. No issues with drag, tugging or any of that which means the Voskhod is able to do its thing with this razor. Second XTG pass provided the same audible feedback and further reduction without a problem. Third pass ATG and some Slides felt a bit risky on the slide move, but finished with no blood. My face feels good as well. So the alum.......well, let's say there were a number of hot spots that sprang up quickly. Clearly some irritation going.

The finish? And here is a surprise. I had SWMBO double check it because I thought I might be caught up in the whole decadence thing....but it's a true BBS. Wow! Didn't see that coming. I'll take it to start the month. I didn't think I'd see that at all with this razor. I should probably thank the boys in Moscow who make the blade.

Keep it coming! This month is one for the books!

​

It always seems to start this way.

hug?

"Be good, or be good at it."

Decadent December 2016 - Day 1



Today, in keeping with the spirit of self indulgence, I selected my finest blade, and top soap (scent versus performance), and decided to do the leisurely actual straight razor route. After using shavettes for quite a while, this razor handled like a sports car. Adjusted for a two spine-width angle and was rewarded with two silky smooth passes for the DFS. I did feel a bit of irritation during the alum on the neck, but that's surely just a pressure adjustment coming over from shavette. Dynamic pulse for variety, and a successful day one in the books. If you're newly converted to traditional stuff, check out Route 66. Ralf Aust is another name to remember. This was the setup I used to learn straight razor, and today verified that as a good choice. It's 23:15, getting chilly out on the prairie, winter is about to get cranked up. Other than that...all is quiet in Colorado.

Have a fantastic Friday!

So.........I know I promised a month of the pain stick but I guess the world had other plans. A quick drop from slippery hands before I could even start my shave rendered the CJB broken and defeated. On the other hand I have a Feather SS coming from Mrs. Claus for Christmas so all hope is not loss for "Dismemberment in December"

On to todays shave....




Mongoose/Feather Super Pro (1)
Whipped Dog 30MM High Mountain Badger
Tabac Shave Soap
Thayers
Fine American Blend

Simply perfection. 3 easy passes yielded an effortless BBS. Hope everyone is having a great Monday.

Lose $50 on a handle, save $976 in ER fees. You're up $926 in Decadent December. Nice work!

Welcome back!

Turning Pintos into Mustangs, y'all.

At least the CJB hit the floor and didn't take any parts of you with it. Trust me, I know it's possible!

December 1
Fendrihan Scientist stainless steel dual comb
Rockwell blade (13)
Old TOBS Avocado croap
Nameless old drugstore brush
Alum and Thayers Witch Hazel Lavender

My combo Decadent and Dual Comb December is off to a rocky start.

The Decadent part is lined up and ready: a sample of Castle Forbes Lavender shaving cream and aftershave arrived yesterday to join a small collection of other soap and a/s or tonic samples I plan to try out. I also have a suitable brush on deck to pair with them - an as-yet unused Paragon Sianaco with a wonderfully plush-feeling black synthetic knot.

However, the Fendrihan Scientist has a reputation as an aggressive razor on both the open and closed comb sides, so for my first shave with it this month (and my second one ever), I decided to keep the prep, soap, brush and blade identical to what I used all last month, varying only the razor.

I'm glad I did. After a month of irritation-free shaves with the Rockwell 6s on plate #3, I gave myself a one-pass DFS with the Scientist... plus a weeper on my chin and red patches of razorburn on my chin, upper lip and both cheeks. Oy!

I'm just glad the Rockwell blade already had 12 shaves on it or who knows what my face would look like.

I'll try again with the same setup tomorrow. If it's no better, then the next day I will change up the blade to a Schick Plus Platinum that I quite enjoyed in a Gillette adjustable. After that, if I'm still not enjoying my shaves with the Scientist, I will be truly decadent and - with a will of pure butter and a spine of marshmallow - ditch my dual comb Focus and go with a month of luxury soaps, tonics and brushes...

A fantastic start to the month.

December 2, 2016
Mongoose B2 with Triad Ti
Feather Super Pro (2)
Rudy Vey RV7 with Shavemac Finest
PannaCrema Nuavia Rossa
Witch Hazel

​

The shave this morning was a great way to end the week. The Nuavia Rossa was very easy to lather and the wonderful scent made the shave more enjoyable. I went with a 2 pass, XTG & ATG, shave and with a few touch ups ended with a near BBS. I really can't ask for better. I hope everyone has a great Friday.

Truth.