SoS May 11-17 2009

Saturday...

Razor: Slim @6
Blade: Schick Plus-Platinum (NOS) day 2
Soap: Tabac
A/S: Clubman Bay Rum

 

Thanks for the info! I personally love almost every shave cream with coconut oil. I wondered what they all had in common and it was the coconut oil Lavanda, Frasers, TOM,Proraso, etc. Good stuff!

 

SATURDAY,
MAY 16.

Lower Body:

Merkur Long
Gillette Plat.
BIC Cream
C&E Best
Cool Blue.

Upper Body:

Mach 3
KoS Gel
Cool Blue.

...

Firstly, I received via gift a 100 of these Gillette Platinums, which come in packs of 5, individually wrapped in paper atop wax, and made in St. Petersburg.

I've included pics of the razor and packaging because I've heard so many negative reviews of the Russian Gillettes, which I've personally seen sold at Rite-Aid at the ludicrous price of ten bones for ten blades, packed in a plastic, thumb-slide dispenser; and I'm desirous to know if these are they.

If they are, well, these aren't terrible blades at all, but very smooth ones. Can't attest to their longevity yet but so far thumbs up.

II.

My upper-body I tried to do with the same configuration but substituting King of Shaves' Ultragel for Sensitive Skin for the Turkish BIC SC. The DE felt odd with it so I stepped out of the shower and grabbed the first razor in sight - a Mach 3.

What a joke this gel is. I don't have sensitive skin but My God if someone did and used this - replete with odd ingredient after odd ingredient after odd ingredient - I don't think he or she would like it very well.

It felt, in my estimation, akin to shaving with a hair conditioner that happened to look a vile green and contain a solid menthol kick.

III.

Skipping a face shave ATM and waiting for tonight as I won't be leaving the house till then. I cannot wait to try Kent Red SC to see if it differs from Kent Black, which blew my mind last night.

IV.

Check out these pictures of the Gillette Platinums and tell me if these are the alleged bad seeds!

 

No, I don't have those blades, bro--mine are different.......

 

Saturday afternoon:

Merkur Futur with Wilkinson (UK) Blade
Plisson 20
Truefitt & Hill Rose Shaving Cream
Thayer's Witch Hazel; D.R. Harris Milk
None yet, but it's gonna be Penhaligon's Hamman Bouquet or
Czech & Speake No. 88

Click photo for 1280x960 pixel size:

 

Sábado // 16/05/09

Pre
Warm water wash

Shave
Personna Triple-blade (disposable)
CVS Shave gel

Post
Cold water rinse

Result: As a result of packing up all my shaving gear, I decided to do a quick maintenance shave. This turned into a 3-pass BBS masterpiece and is extremely concerning. I had skin scraping yesterday, and today the cartridge didn't even affect it! 3 passes! Unbelievable....makes me wonder why I have safety razors when this beautiful shave occured today costing next to nothing. Not to mention... 0 irritation.

 

Saturday

Merkur Futur
Derby Extra (2)
Williams Shave Soap
Thayers WH with Aloe
Aqua Velva A/S

 

DJ, I've been there.

Once you get your technique down solid - and to do that I suggest you use one razor (HD), one blade (Astra) and one form of lather (SC is a bit easier) - you're going to think carts/disposables and canned are better, as I did.

Rest assured, DE shaving with a brush and proper lather is much nicer once it clicks.

I use plastic disposables here and there with brush and soap or cream and while it works, it certainly doesn't shave nearly as well as when a DE is employed, isn't as enjoyable and, most important, doesn't irritate a bit.

When I use a DE I don't feel a thing. With plastics and carts. I do. Not anything horrid but it's not as gentle.

When you get back I'll show you how to shave.

 

I believe those are the new Gillette blades that are rumored to be replacing the Gillette Swedes. I had someone send me one to test out. I was pleased with the results. It gave a very smooth shave and was similar to the Gillette Swedes that I normally use. I got 4 or 5 shaves out of it which is above average for me.

 

1st SE shave

Proraso green
C&E BBB
GEM Junior w/GEM blade
Proraso ASB

Not a bad shave for a 1st time SE. Wasn't on par with my Super Adjustable, but again, it was the 1st time. I'll keep at it.

Aaron

 

Saturday 5/16

• Ever Ready 100T boar
• Lea Shave Stick
• Gillette Slim Adjustable
• Gillette 7OCB
• Thayer's A/F Original
• Irisch Moos A/S

Result: I really enjoyed the Lea stick today. First time with it, and it really has a nice clean soapy scent (I say Tide...my wife says Ivory ) Great lather, too. After yesterday's BBS with the straight, I did feel a lot of soreness this morning on my face in the shower, and in all honesty I really didn't need to shave (it'd been 20 hours, too!) but I could tell I would have needed it in the middle of the day. So I only did 1 WTG pass and that was it. I really love the IM A/S, too. :happy088

 

Once again, a picture I took long ago, but same setup.

Hot Shower
Slim at 7 w/ Yellow Gillette 7 O'clock (2nd use)
Col. Conk's Full Volume Pure Badger
eShave White Tea SC
Alum
Nivea Sensitive ASB
QED Unscented ASB/Moisturizer (as a super thin last moisturizing coat since I have dry skin)

 

Dubl Duck Special No. 1
Rooney Emillion
Irisch Moos soap
Proraso AS

 

Thanks, Chris. I was apprehensive about using one but since I've 100 I figured I had to! So far, so good

I noticed you used Headblade today. Do you normally use something else to shade your head?

 

It's actually a nail brush in a dish, part of a bathroom set my brother bought us. It's not glass but hollow plastic with a liquid and seashells floating inside.

Pete

 

I almost always use a Headblade. Usually it is the Headblade Sport version (yellow plastic with wheels). This one is the limited run all-metal Headblade that was produced a couple of years ago. I usually don't shave my face and head at the same time (usually a.m. for face and p.m. for the noggin). As I did both this morning, I threw the Headblade in the photo.

 

No head DE'ing??

 

I have used a DE, injector, Gem razor and straight razor to shave my head at one time or another. I just prefer the shave the Headblade gives. On a rare occasion I will use the DE but most of the time, it's the Headblade.

 

Busy busy day. Didn't even bother to switch out my razor.

1900 Gem Junior Lather Catcher
Pella
Knotty Badger Silvertip
Body Shop Cream
GFT Lime Skin Food - old formula
Sample of an EDT that I don't remember what it is. But it is good.

Great shave. I love that Body Shop Cream. I should have bought more when Shep gave me the chance.

 

SATURDAY'S ONE & ONLY.
SUPREME SHAVE.
16 MAY '9.
11 PM.

Body - Imperial Leather
Hair - Same Bath Soap
Razor - Gillette Tech
Blade - Gillette Thin
Lather 1 - Kent Red SC
Lather 2 - Kent Black SC
Brush - C&E Best
Splash - Masters.

...

I was initially reluctant to use the Thin but once I opened it I couldn't resist on account of its elegant antique look. It performed well, but who knows how many shaves it will provide.

On to the important part:

Blown away by Kent Black last night, I had to try the Red to see if it was the same product.

It's not, and it's not by light years. The Red is a normal SC, well-mentholated and -scented, but nothing about which to write home. Very small tube too.

Was I imagining how beautifully the Black had performed last night?

I had to try. After a pass with the Red I rinsed my face and brush and reached for the Black.

I knew it was a different animal as soon as I squeezed a dollop onto my badger, for, as I noted before, it doesn't have the consistency of ordinary SC but looks more like conditioner.

So I lathered up and Baby was this another joyride. Not as mentholated as the Red but infinitely superior. This is, without doubt, the best shaving lather I've ever used. It's slick like soap and cushioned like cream, but it's no silly superlather.

I googled Kent Shaving Cream and went through photos online, not seeing one Black. I'll have to appropriate more. It's THE BEST.