Very nice set of razors and soaps you have there! You are a wise man to pass on the Old Type for a few shaves. I picked mine up after 4 years of disuse last week and, while it was a good shave, I created some serious irritation. Glad to hear your technique remains strong. Like riding a bicycle.

Thanks, Joe. I have fairly heavy beard stubble. When I shaved today, I was getting rid of a very visible short beard. It's not that I like shaving a heavy stubble so much as I am lazy and don't bother shaving it until it starts getting to the point where it is becoming irritating. Since I work from home now, I mainly interact with other people when I go out grocery shopping or running errands. That reduces the social or business incentive to shave every day so as not to look like a hobo...

I figure I will be using all those other Gillettes before I try the Old Types. Just like I would ride the bicycle along park trails and side streets for awhile before taking it out on a road with traffic...

January 8, 2025

Jillette January


Razor - 1955 Gillette Superspeed Red Tip (A4)
Blade -
Soap - Moon Old School Tallow Shave Soap
Brush - Semogue 620 Boar
Finish - Aqua Velva

We're up to the mid '50s with the Superspeed Red Tip. For those unfamiliar with the Gillette Superspeed models, they produced three basic variations. The Blue Tip, Flare Tip, and Red Tip. Otherwise known as light, normal and heavy. Here's a blast from the past for your edification, enjoyment, or just something to watch for the fun of it.

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The differences between the three razors have to do with blade gap and weight. The Blue Tip, or light razor, has a blade gap of .02 inches and weighs 46 grams. The Flare tip, or normal, has a blade gap of .025 inches and weighs 58 grams. The Red Tip, or heavy, has a blade gap of .03 inches and weighs 65 grams. While blade gap is a determiner of aggression, the weight, to me, is a bigger factor. The more weight in a razor the more naturally aggressive it will be, and the better suited for heavier beards. So, with an extra .01 inch of gap and 19 grams weight over the mild Blue Tip, it is definitely ready for work.

I paired the razor with the Gillette 7 O'clock Super Stainless, a Russian made blade and much better than the Vietnamese Gillette yesterday. For the soap I dug out Moon Old Style, a soap that I had trialed for them when they were in early production. It's a fine soap, very nice lather, great cushion and the Tallow in it really stands out. The Semogue 620 boar made it easy to get a rich lather up fast. Great pairing there. For the finish, well, Old Style soap, old style aftershave. Aqua Velva Blue.

Two passes, done and done. Great finish and no irritation or burn from the finish.

Up next is the 1956 Ball Head Tech. And, after that will be a Blue Tip Superspeed.....assuming it arrives by then. It was supposed to be delivered Monday, but the snow slowed it down, and now with all post offices closed tomorrow it will wait at least one more day. It's sitting in St. Louis waiting for the trip to where I'm living now in the western exurbs. If it doesn't show up by then, well, I'll punt until it does. Expecting the Blue Tip and also a Fatboy this week. Have a great Thursday!

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Excellent shave and post Neal.

fine red tip shave and pic Neal.

9th January 2025.


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Shaving Recipe for today.

Prep: Warm shower:/L’Oréal Paris Men Expert Hydra Energy Taurine Shower Gel.

Pre:
Cold wet flannel to my face.
Pears Transparent bar Soap.
Brush: Omega 10066.
Face Lather.
Lather: LEA shave stick.
Blade: Amazon Solimo. (D4)
Razor: Baili BD177 Rose Gold TTO.

Post:
Cold Water Face Rinse./Cold water face wash with brush squeezing's,/Alum Rub./Cold Water Rinse./Homemade (~Autumn/Winter mix~) peppermint lavender, eucalyptus, + Tea Tree essential Oils Mixed Together With Care+Witch Hazel./P&G Old Swagger ASL./Cien Men Sensitive ASB.

Greetings,

Early morning shave,

I find the Lea shave stick is absolutely superb, not just for it's price tag, but most importantly for it's performance & post shave feel.

A close comfortable silky smooth shave with no errors to report.

Finishing the shave off with a few small dollops of Cien Men Sensitive ASB

My face is feeling smooth, & smelling divine.

Keep safe, and enjoy your day ladies & gentlemen.

I see that now, thanks Joe

Great recovery shave Joe, no damage to the dophin!

One or two more days with the sticks, I find they work better than when I last tried them in 2024

Thanks Gary

, congrats on the landmark and stickability Gary, lovely post as always

superb record Gary, I am of the same opinion, I can't remember ever hating shaving, but looking back I guess i never knew how really, until I stumbled on TSD, can't remember how that happened, but still enjoy the process and the result. Of course I don't mind the odd day here and there

Superb looking red tip and case Neal. Just love those old ads!

09 Jan 2025

1 Days growth, similar setup to yesterday

Hot water Prep and Preshave = T&H No 10
Soap = Speick Shave Stick (2)
Brush = Omega boar 10049
Razor = Merkur Progress ~ 2+
Blade = Astra day (3)
Passes = 2 +
Post = Usual CWR, Alum, rinse, pat dry, Thayers rose petal
ASL = Imperial Leather
Scent = The Body Shop EdP Black Musk Vegan
Score = 9.8 / 10
Damage = none

Today the shave stick was soaked a bit longer to soften the tip, made for easier application. The big boar did well enough but didn’t quite hold as much of the lather as the Badgers. The crisp sounds of the Progress as the blade scythed through the stubble added to the auditory sensation of a satisfying shave. Back of the neck taken care of at the same time. No post shave balm today. Thayers Rose Petal and Imperial Leather topped of a great shave, with the EdP providing additional but mild notes to the pulse points.

I plan to do one or maybe more shave stick days as part of this mini focus, and then get back to the shaving bowl bowl

Happy Thursday

3 day stubble after 2 days off work for weather.
Prep: Shower
Lather: Arko /TOBS mixture.
Brush: badger
Razor: Gillette New LC
Blade: Astra (2)
Post: cool rinse and CC Lime

We had 2 days of school cancelled due to slick roads and low temperatures. I’m not complaining, but I didn’t shave on those days. The New LC did its usual efficient job of taking down the stubble.

The badger brush barely got it done with mug loading and bowl lathering. I don’t think this brush is stiff enough to load from my old Seaforth mug.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Good shave today-could have done better. The Razorock brush whipped up a nice lather of the Stoylin soap. Clean and clear most areas, except I was a bit lackadaisical on ther right cheek. Will do better there tomorrow. No other damage. Nice finish from the AgadirMen A.S. Pretty Outstanding.

January 9 SOTM

Good morning.

Van der Hagen TTO
Gillette Wilkinson Sword DE Blade (6)
Omega Pro 49 Boar Brush
Music City Suds Lavender and Ever Amen SS and AS
Stirling Alum Block
Personal Care Witch Hazel
Beard Growth: 24 hrs



I haven't used this razor since July so it was time to do so. It's a mild razor so it was up to the task of mowing my 24 hr facial stubble. I only needed 2 passes to give me a smooth and comfortable error-free shave.
The Music City Suds provided a nice lather. It is at the bottom of this 6 oz tub and so it was will be on my Fitzgerald list soon.
The alum feedback was quite minimal. Finished with the witch hazel and aftershave treatment. Take care.

Wonderful shave Barry. I may bring out my Tabac stick this weekend or early next week.

Thanks Chris.

Awesome stick shave once again Chris.

Terrific Thursday shave Troy. I find that you have to overload the badger brushes for them to perform well.

i hated the 35+ years of shaving with cartridge razors,,ingrown hairs on the neck etc....

thank you Chris.

awesome thursday affairs gentlemen.