SOS: December 2018

December 19, 2018

Gem Contour Razor
Gem PTFE Blade
Cremo Sandlewood Shave Cream
Thatcher's Witch Hazel (Cucumber)
Alt Innsbruck After Shave

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Ed Wüsthof Trident #144
Rubberset 400-3
Vintage Old Spice & Old Spice

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Thank you Doug.


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Thank you Mark.


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Does smell awesome. Figured I'll give it 3 tries like I did with MWF and Stirling to dial it in. also I'm going to try using a drier brush and add water as I go like I did when I first started out with Stirling 5 years ago. If all else fails, will grind it down and mix with a GD unscented, add a little Dominica AS and give that a try. Forgot to add the 2nd pic was after my first pass and I added water x2 and lather bloomed out again but thicker for the 2nd and final pass.

 

Very good cushion and slickness. It is actually the first beef tallow based soap I have tried. I am impressed and now see what I have been missing out on...
Smell is very unique, I won't try to describe it any other way than good and masculine.

 

December 20 2018
Supply Co #3 plate
Paladin
SV Felce Aromatica
Myrsol Agua Balsamica




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I have one of those razors in my Aliexpress basket. How does it shave? Does it have a good range of efficiency. It looks similar to the (much more expensive) Q Shave Parthenon.

 

12/20/18 Shave of the Day
Face Wash with The Sudsy Soapery Black Soap Made in Africa
Phoenix Artisan Accoutrements High Jump 47 Conditioning Shampoo Puck (W/ Yucca Root & Cider Vinegar)
Phoenix Artisan Accoutrements CUBE Mentholated Preshave Soap
Stirling Soap Company Christmas Eve Shave Soap
RazoRock Rosso Corsa F-400 XXL 34MM Noir Plissoft Synthetic Shaving Brush
LOHS Art Student Handmade Pottery Bowl
OneBlade Razor Model 2.0 “Genesis”
Feather FHS-10 Hi-Stainless Blade - 2nd Shave
RazoRock Alum Block
Homemade Lime Infused Witch Hazel
RazoRock Mr. Pink After Shaving Splash
The Sudsy Soapery 100% All Natural Rose & Black Pepper Creamy Aftershave Balm
Phoenix Artisan Accoutrements Cold Spices Natural Deodorant - New Sport Strength Formula ​

 

Nah. I'm sold on the oil as it hasn't let me down. Some soaps suck the oils out of my skin between passes and I've found the pre-shave oil keeps the skin well moisturized to survive any lather (although I'm finding most of the solid artisans have soap that doesn't cause drying and the pre-shave oil isn't even necessary often-times).

 

Hybrid RazoRock Game Changer .84 P on Barbaros Levend Handle P / Personna Platinum / Wolf Whiskers Tmesis / WK Pasha's Pride

 

Thursday
December 20, 2018

Blackland Blackbird OC
Polsilver SI
Elite Razors Turquoise TGN Silvertip Grade A
Savonierre Du Moulin
Fine Lavender
Brooks Brothers Classic

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Today's shave was with an early 1970's Commie Razor. I had a fantastically smooth, and very tinny loud, 2 pass shave, that left me BBS. Zero issues. These Russian Beauties sure can hold a sharp, smooth edge.

Razor- Russian "Орбита"(Orbita) 1970's
Brush- Omega 10098 Boar
Soap- Arko/Sandalwood Scented
Aftershave- Florida Water

 

THURSDAY'S SHAVE​

Shampoo - Paul Mitchell (Tea Tree) Lavender Mint
Bath Soap - C.O. Bigelow - Lavender & Peppermint
Bath Epsom Salt - Better Bath Better Body "Peppermint & Lavender" - Back Healing

Razor - Phoenix Artisan Accoutrements - Double Open Comb Ascension (316L Stainless Steel Adjustable) (Fully tightened down)
Blade - Astra Superior-Platinum *Fresh Blade
Shave Brush - Vigshaving Nylon Synthetic
Shave Soap - Martin de Candre - L'Original
Aftershave - FINE - Lavender Pour Homme
Deodorant - Ooh La Active Organics "Lavender"
Fragrance - The Art of Shaving - Green Lavender Cologne Intense

Testing the PAA SS DOC razor with a blade "my gut" picked out during my shave with the BiC Chrome-Platinum that seemed a bit 'off'. Couldn't put my finger on why the BiC CP didn't work. Perhaps it was just me getting used to the razor because my last shave with the BiC CP on that 6th shave came out 'solid'/'good'. Not 'perfect', but really 'good', which was a hell of a lot better than the previous shaves I got to start off with this new razor. I debated whether to go with a 7th shave on the BiC CP blade, or try a round of shaves with my 'gut instinct pick' Astra SP. I was also contemplating testing out a different bath soap centered on just Lavender, minus the peppermint, and just shaving with the OneBlade, but where is the fun in that? Peppermint is in season with Christmas and the OneBlade will predictably shave perfect. Zero danger. Zero adventure. Zero suspense. (which can be good sometimes). I'm going to go with the fun and unpredictable shave and try the Astra SP blade in the PAA SS DOC razor. If I butcher my face then that is just the way it goes.

***EDIT - The shave felt great during the shave. 3-passes + detailed cleanup. However, despite a very comfortable shave, I still got irritation on my neck. People have called the PAA DOC razors 'gentle' but IMO, this razor is very aggressive. Even the least aggressive setting (screwed down all the way) has caused irritation. The only time irritation was low and within acceptable tolerance on my neck was when I had my 6th shave with the BiC Chrome-Platinum blade. This would seem to indicate that I have to go with a more dull/smooth blade which will likely last fewer shaves. On the next blade change I will swing entirely in the extreme-smooth blade direction and shave with a Derby Blade. Yeah. That extreme. No razors have shaved well with a Derby blade for me and I experience pulling/tugging with the blade, but gotta try everything. So far I haven't found the right blade for the razor. I still think this razor can deliver a stellar shave with the right blade and more usage/practice.

To minimize the near razor-burn type irritation on my neck, I went to the Shave-Den mentholated witch hazel directly after the shave, then the scheduled aftershave, then a 2-tier balm with my Neo-Cutis Bio-Gel (super expensive) which has advanced skin healing factors and my newest balm-find Advanced Clinicals Anti-aging Hyaluronic Acid Cream. Then patted talc-powder over the top (which left a bit of a film, which I later rubbed some water over when it all dried. So far, the prototype concoction for treating post-shave irritation is working okay. We'll find out tomorrow morning how effective this layered approach does. The Bio-Gel has worked in the past for those shaves that scrape too raw.

The fault of the results had nothing to do with the products. I just over-did it. The soap, if anything, made the shave so comfortable that I couldn't detect what the blade was doing. As I said, during the shave I had fantastic comfort and no cuts, no weepers. I assumed that it went great until I did the final rinse and could feel the first inklings of irritation. Then began to understand I misjudged the number of strokes and passes I could get away with.

 

I found it by accident actually when I was reading about the Parthenon. I have never shaved with the Q-shave version so I can only tell you what I've read. Reportedly, the Q-shave is MUCH more aggressive - scary so even if you believe what others say. The weishi goes from very mild to mod aggressive but not uncomfortably so. They are available on eBay and Amazon here in the states too. It was reviewed positively by people like Mantic59 (aka sharpologist) and I do like it.

I think it is a decent inexpensive adjustable for what it is. It needs to be on the highest setting to easily initially load the blade, and it takes some getting used to. I need more time with it but yes, I do like it. I'm going to keep mine for the time being anyways. I'm not planning on taking an expensive (aka Rex) or vintage adjustable traveling so this razor might be my guy. For the cost ~$30-35 it's not a bad risk to try, and from somewhere like Amazon, you can always return it if it doesn't work for you. Just my 2 cents .

Speaking of the Rex... Although I received a new to me ER-1914 in mail call today, I feel the Rex calling me tonight. Decisions, decisions...

Josh

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RR Mamba V1 .53 & Kai SS
Maggard 30mm B&W
Artisan Soap Shoppe Triumph tallow
Thayers Medicated WH Astringent
Artisan Soap Shoppe Triumph a/s splash

A quick 2 pass shave that resulted in a fine DFS. Good performance from the Artisan Soap Shoppe products. Scent was a little “meh” but, in the end a good shave. Have a great evening and amazing shaves everyone... ​

 

Yeah... as stated a little bit ago, my Rex won out. I'll try to give the ER-1914 a go tomorrow. The Rex is so smooth . The tabac was no match for the AP Shave Co Synbad - bundles of lather in no time. Have a great night everyone.

Josh

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20 December 2018

* Charcoal Goods Level 3 SB + Stork Ex Brass
* Wizamet Iridium Super
* Epsilon 2-Band + Doug Korn Faux Briarwood C7
* Jabonman/Eufros Sandolo
* Unrefined Shea Butter
* Bergamot/Vetiver EO


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That brush handle very well might have no equal.

 

New
Decadent December!!

December 19, 2018

Razor - Gillette NEW LC (Delta Echo)
Blade - (3)
Soap - Blood on Steel 30 DC LE
Brush -30 DC LE
Post - Alum

It's a Limited Edition shave tonight when it comes to brush and soap. The 30 DC LE brush paired with the 30 DC meet up soap from Jeeves, Blood on Steel. I'm keeping the AS out and ready for tomorrow night too since we're going to see the Nutcracker at the St. Louis Ballet. I surprised my wife with tickets as she's always wanted to see it performed by them. So, an early dinner tomorrow night at Stefenina's for some authentic Italian food, then off for a night of high class entertainment. And I'll be smelling wonderful, all thanks to Jeeves.

As for the shave tonight, it was three passes of glorious goodness with the NEW LC and Voskhod loving the lather. Sad to think of picking a new setup, really, but I have plans. Hope you all have a great night and a fantastic Thursday!

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