FatBoy on 5
Astra SP (2nd shave)
Omega 10049 boar
Tabac

2 passes to greatness.

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Tabac has been creeping to the front of den shelves everywhere lately.

For some reason I love Tabac when it rains, and it has been raining a LOT.

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I have not tried it yet. The normal soap base is pretty good, though. I'll have to add it to the list.

Thank you, Clint!

DAY 2 of 30 (Timeless TI, Voskhod, Arko, SOC Boar/alum, witch hazel, Nivea ASB):

Same hot shower prep and lathering technique. The Timeless continues to deliver for me. Just feels "right". I decided 3 passes was sufficient for a lazy Sunday morning shave, WTG and XTG r-l, XTG l-r. Not as close today, but no ATG pass so to be expected. DFS. Again, amazingly there's no irritation after the shave. After having this problem for so many DE shaves with so many different methods, gear, prep, etc. it's bordering miraculous that the neck irritation is just suddenly gone, but I'll take it!

Considering picking up the 0.95 OC base plate for the Timeless. Getting such good results with the 0.68 SC has me thinking it may be an OK thing...

Maybe @Douglas Carey and @Boojum1 will chime in also since I believe both have the 0.95 gap baseplates. I have the SS 0.95 OC and absolutely love the razor. It has a good deal of blade feel on the face. The efficiency of the 0.95 OC is superb but does require a light touch. Given their excellent return policy I would think it's worth giving it a try.

Gem OCMM
Gem Stainless (2)
Semogue BC Mistura
Soap Commander Love
Soap Commander Love ASB

Spending time with the OCMM is definitely helping reinforce using a light touch. Another great shave.

2 passes/ near 100% BBS / no irritation

Razor: iKon Shavecraft Closed Comb
Blade: Astra Platinum (1)
Brush: H.L. Thater Funf TSN LE Butterscotch Beehive 5th Anniversary 2 Band
Soap: Oleo Pucker
A/S: Myrsol Aqua de Limon

Sunday Evening:



-Henckels 13/16"
-Nathan Clark
-Soap Commander Courage
-Stirling Vanilla Sandalwood

A lazy afternoon shave on a rainy crappy day. The Henckels is fresh off a tune-up, and the edge gets an A+. This was one of my first two straights, and has probably gotten the most shaves of all my razors. That big full hollow sings loud as heck, but the SS holds back on some of the flex that I get from my other larger hollows. It is an excellent shaver, and as easy as it is to use, I always seem to find myself slowing down and relaxing when I use it. Today was no different, and I pretty much caught the baby.

Soap Commander leather is always great, and the Courage scent is a favorite. Soap Commander is a soap I should probably recommend more to newbies, because it has such a huge window for hydration. It is almost impossible to screw up, but it does take a little more effort than some.

I am re-visiting the Vanilla Sandalwood from Stirling. I remember I thought it was too sweet, and it is a bit. I have a bottle of straight Stirling Sandalwood that's about a quarter full, and I bet if I filled it up with a bottle of the vanilla....... Okay, I really am a nerd about some of this stuff.

I'm starting to feel like Michael Corleone in Godfather III.
I just finished a blade Focus for my OLD and was gonna enjoy the rest of Adjustable August with my SA-109. Then today I find this:

BadaBing! Blade Focus again. At least it's an Adjustable!

What an excellent spot for a pic, Doug. Was this a spot you were headed for specifically, or did you come across it? Either way, it's great.

I really like the Oleo soap that Timeless sells. How's the scent of the Pucker?

I knew where I was going for a change.

Very much lemon.

Wonderful picture, Doug!

Adjustable (Arko) August!!!

August 13 - Grand Blade Trials

Razor - 1959 (E4) Gillette Fatboy (9)
Blade - (3)
Soap - Mitchell's Wool Fat
Brush - WCS Synthetic
Post - Alum

Final shave for the Prime Platinum from Dorco so the Fatboy is wide open and ready to go. Using the Fat for a week straight has the puck in perfect condition for quick loads with a slightly damp synthetic brush. Face lathers are quick and easy and I'm loving it. With six shaves left on the Dorco blades I have almost another full week of Fat goodness to go!

The quick report on this shave is smooth, two passes and touch ups to another BBS finish (second in a row) and the alum is just a bit warm but not bad. My conclusion - this is a different blade (or at least finish) than the basic ST-301 by Dorco. Definitely sharper. With too much pressure this could have been a hot alum night. On the middle setting (6) this blade produced a great BBS with very little irritation if any. Can't fault it for any of its three shaves, but that was its best.

I'm looking forward to trying the Titan the next three days. We'll see if it has a discernible difference to the first two. Hope your weekend gets off to a great start! Early morning for me as I'm squeezing in a requested job interview before heading to work. We'll see how much hot air I'm getting aimed my way by these people.

13 August 2017 Adjustable August Shave

Pre: Plenty of Hot water, some soap off the puck and a hot towel
Razor: 1971 Gillette Super Adjustable 109
Blade: The Voskhod
Brush: Rubberset 303
Soap: Razorock XXX
Post: Hot/Cold rinse, alum block. Cold towelx2 and Dominello Vitali Calming Post Shave Moisturizer
After Shave: Cella

Me for the goosehair. I was up early today. Need to to rack out.

Another excellent shave tonight:

Stirling boar brush
QShave Futur clone
Dorco Platinum Prime blade (shave 3)
Kiss My Face Lavender shave cream
Thayers Rose Witch Hazel
Homemade Citrus Mint balm

On a scale of 1-10, this shave was a big, fat, solid 10. I love it when all of the elements come together and knock it out of the park. The Stirling brush only lost one bristle. Kiss My Face cream makes incredible lather. I'm not usually a big lavender fan, but this one really works for me. The QShave razor maxed out with the Dorco Platinum Prime blade continues to be a stellar combo. I got an incredibly close shave and the KMF left my face feeling super soft. I wrapped it up with cold water, witch hazel and my homemade balm (recipe borrowed from @HolyRollah, scent my own blend of Orange blossom, grapefruit and peppermint - holy smokes is it good) and a spritz or three of Salvatore Ferragamo Aqua Essenziale Colonia, which is a nice citrus scent. The whole experience left me feeling relaxed and happy. Good times.




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If you're bored some day, I'd love to have you mix up some of my AS balm recipe and get your opinion. It's simple and inexpensive to make, very soothing, mild on your skin, and won't leave your face feeling greasy. The only AS balm I choose to buy is Nivea, otherwise it's my home-rolled.

3 tablespoons Aloe and Lidocaine gel (the stuff for sunburn relief)
2 teaspoons olive oil
3 drops lanolin
3 drops eucalyptus oil (or other scented oil of your preference)
witch hazel to desired consistency

Mix all but witch hazel in a warm bowl until combined. Blend in witch hazel (for me this is about 2 tablespoons) slowly until the balm has the thickness and constancy you prefer for your lotions. Decant into suitable capped container.

Seems to have a nearly indefinite shelf life.