cool set up and pic Jeff..

Here's a live introduction to Steven Wilson's solo stuff from a few years back.
Steven Wilson - Luminol (from the Get All You Deserve Blu-Ray & DVD) - YouTube Enjoy. Yours-Barry.

Shave with the Artist Club clone went well. I got a few nicks but got a really close shave. It will take me a bit to get the hang of this and not nick myself. I get closer on my right jawline with this razor than I do with a safety razor. Nothing the alum bar couldn't handle. I may let my face recover for a day. I got shaved so close, I will not need to shave for a couple days. Minimal cleanup with the Fatip Slant open comb.

Captain's Choice "Italia" whipped with my smallest Simpson brush. Proraso Blue pre-shave. Fatip open comb Slant razor with Crown blade. Proraso Sensitive after shave balm. I will try the Guard blade again next time and give it another chance. I nicked myself a bit more with the light blade. This will take some time...I think I will continue perfecting my technique with this razor and hold off with the DX until I am better at this open edge shaving. I like how close the shave is with this open blade!

I have ordered a pack of the "Pro Guard" blades to try

Great shave today Hogie! Honestly, I can get by not shaving every other day when I use a straight or a shavette. It helps that my beard is gray so it doesn't look as bad as if I had my original dark brown stubble. On average, I shave 5x a week with every 3rd day as a non-shave day. At your initial stage, learning to maintain light pressure and angle of the blade will minimize the seriousness and frequency of your nicks. Your positive attitude with using an open blade will serve you will. It did for me when I started the journey.

Yes, I do like this and want to perfect my technique. Face burned a bit after today's shave but, that has settled down now. So far my nicks have been minor but plentiful! LOL

I find that almost no pressure is needed. And that angle must be correct!

Glad you’re enjoying open blade shaving, Gary! Sounds like those Kai Mild blades will serve you well! Former safety razor shavers can achieve good close shaves with their safety razors, but are locked into the angle and gap designed into the safety razor head. With an open edge, and increased expertise in its use, an open edge shaver can vary that shave angle as necessary to get at those areas that the fixed angle and gap may not be ideally suited for. For example, when you were concerned about the areas around your mouth and those nicks. With a light touch and the ability to vary your shave angle as needed those type issues go away with an open edge. Again, just my opinion! YMMV,

Gary, a lot of guys like Proguards. They don’t have as pronounced a guard built in as the Softguards. My preferred AC blade is the Feather Super! A former member of the Den, Bill, loved Proguard blades.

Yes, I agree. I am getting closer on my upper lip without nicking. I just barely touch the area with the razor and it shaves really close! It's the same with my right jawline. That is a part of my face that is hard for me to get real close. The open blade has me so close, I cannot feel ANY stubble at all! WOW!

My problem that needs work is maintaining the proper angle consistently. I do like how close the shave is. I won't need to shave tomorrow!

I have NEVER shaved so close! I feel zero stubble! After shaving with safety razor, I can still feel some stubble that was hard to remove. Not so with the open blade!

Yes he does. I have purchased 6, 5 for myself and 1 as a gift.

awesome shave Gary.

May 4. SOTD

Good morning!



Straight Shave #363
15/16 Wostenholm Near Wedge
MrEE LE #10 Cashmere Brush
Music City Suds Lavender and Ever Amen SS and AS
Maggard's Alum Block
Dickinson's Witch Hazel
Beard Growth: 37 hrs

It's a dreary morning on Long Island so I decided to go with one of my favorite soaps. Music City Suds provides a great, slick lather with an awesome smoky lavender scent. I decided to use my Wosty near wedge again because it is an easy straight razor to use. It is a thick grind that just plows through my stubble and the chances of me getting nicked is quite small as compared to a full hollow blade. Mind you, I use full hollow blades without any issues, but I find it is harder to nick yourself with a heavier grind.
Anyway, did get a beautiful 2 pass shave without any incidents. The alum gave no feedback so the shave was close and comfortable. Finished with my normal postshave routine. Have a great day.

fine shave Joe..good morning.

SRS # 682 - Declaration Grooming Week

Rating: 5 / 5

Razor: Taylor Eyewitness 1000
Brush: Purple Haze Badger
Lather: Declaration Grooming Trismegistus
Aftershave: Stirling Arkadia
Additional Care:
Stirling Alum Block
Stirling Unscented Glacial Balm
Thayer’s Witch Hazel - Original

Another wonderful DG shave. The Trismegistus soap was one of my first DG soaps, as a full tub, in my den. It is a dupe of the Terres de Hermes

The Taylor 1000, which I picked up in a raffle last April for $12, has an extremely sharp blade and currently gives one of the closest shaves to date of any of my straight razors.
Following my usual three passes my face feels dolphin skin smooth. I am smelling good and ready for whatever this dreary Long Island day presents.

Have a great day gentlemen.

Thanks Gary! Have a good morning as well!

Awesome shave Joe! I am sick of this dreary weather. Lol!

Fabulous dreary day shave Joe

Thank you Joe.

Excellent shave Gary.

Very nice shave Gary.