July 8th Face Wash: Nivea Moisture Wash Razor/Blade for 1st Pass: Ball End Tech with a Swann Morton Skin Graft Blade (2) Razor/Blade for 2nd & 3rd Passes: Merkur 38M with an Astra Super Platinum (2) Brush: Semogue 1305 Soap/Cream: Edwin Jagger Sea Buckthorn SS Post: Arber ASB by The Body Shop I tried the Swann-Morton blade in a different razor with similar results as yesterday...very tuggy and not very close, so I gave up on it and went with the Astra in the 38M. On a positive note, the Astra is doing better this time around then when I first tested it. I bought 100 of them, even though they didn't score well for me, because they were cheap. This is my first time using them since the end of January. I'll give them a 2 blade run and see how much better they work now. The Edwin Jagger Sea Buckthorn was the first soap or cream I ever used and it was nice getting back to it. I can lather it up far easier now than I could when is started. I almost gave up on it back then, but not it's no problem. Unfortunately it seems to irritate my face a bit. I'll use it for a few more days and see if I need to get rid of it.
Monday Prep: Hot shower, soak brush, hand strop blade, TSD ISZ PSB CD: Rich Mullins ~ Songs Coffee: Home roasted, fresh ground Malawi Mapanga AA, BLACK Cream: C.O. Bigelow Brush: Mohawk 3-338 with original knot Razor: '58 TV Blade: Voskhod, day 1, 3+ passes Post: Cold water rinse, ice water splash, Osage Rub, Old Spice cologne, hand strop blade 'Stache Wax: Steve's Own Darn fine shave.
Monday Eucerin cream Warm shower Omega Pro boar Institut Karite SS Merkur 23c w/ Shark stainless steel Cetaphil Gentle cleanser Nivea Sensitive Master Bay Rum DFS by means of wtg, xtg. Was missing my Institut Karite SS ... love it. Got several great soaps in my rotation now. Don't want to neglect any of 'em! No complaints. Forecast for record heat this week (or so I've been told) ... have a safe, cool week everyone!
Arley, I never tried the Lea Sensitive cream, but I have the Lea Menthol version which is so icy-cold and beautiful that it's unbelieveable. I cannot get over how delightful the scent is, and how it explodes into a rich, creamy lather. The blade glide is also awesome, and after a shave, your face feels chilled, smooth, relaxed, and very well-defended against razor burn and irritation.
I get a great lather from Lea Sensitive. I'm not crazy about the scent, but the lather is great...very slick and creamy. I face lather, if that makes a difference. Now your description of the menthol version makes me want to go out and buy yet another shaving product!
Monday July 9 Razor: GemMicromatic Clog- Pruf Blade: Gem Stainless Brush: Whippeddog 22mm Silvertip Soap: C&E Nomad AS: C&E Nomad Balm Result: DFS I seriously love my Gem razor. I have a feeling I'll be buying more in the future.
Razor: Merkur 34c Blade: store brand stainless Brush: AOS pure badger Pre: AOS shave oil - unscented Soap: C.O. Bigelow Witch hazel AS: Nivea Result: A nick and two weepers. I keep trying the AOS shave oil. Same result every time. It just doesn't work for me. Back to the glycerin pre shaves.
The Dridecker Brush TSD Cracklin' Firewood Soap EJ Ebony Handle Rapira Blade TSD Iced Cracklin' Firewood Splash Ahava AS Music-Marshal Tucker Band
Now I have to try that!!!! How does it compare to C.O. Bigelow? Although I love Bigelow, I wish it had more menthol.
I never tried Bigelow, but I can tell you that this Lea Menthol cream is a LOT stronger in the menthol than even the new Proraso Green cream. On a scale of 1-20, I'd give it easily an 18. I'd rate the Proraso Green at 15.
Tuesday, July 10 KB Extra 5/8 (EJ with Polsilver in support) Preshave oil blend Tabac Vulfix 404 Master Blue/Lucky Tiger Aspen
6/8 Prior AOS Sandalwood 24mm homemade 2 band brush AV Musk Had to tone down the blade a bit, it was too sharp. Nice shave, extremely close. If you can notice, the second brush from the left is the super badger (28mm) that I've been using. I dropped the loft 6mm, to an even 50mm. The whole appearance of the brush has changed, tomorrow we'll see how the performance has changed. It's going to be a crazy day. Have a good one. image host upload photo
Tuesday Prep: Hot shower, AOS pre-shave oil CD: Caedman's Call ~ In the Company of Angels: A Call to Worship Coffee: Home roasted, fresh ground Malawi Mapanga AA, BLACK Soap: AOS Sandalwood Brush: Ever Ready 250PB with original badger knot Razor: Late model Gillette Super Adjustable @ 6 Blade: Voskhod, day 2, 3+ passes Post: Cold water rinse, ice water splash, Dickenson's WH, Curve, hand strop blade 'Stache Wax: Steve's Own Simply fantastic.
July 9th Face Wash: Nivea Moisture Wash Razor Merkur 38M Blade: Astra SP (2) Brush: Baton handle with an 18mm TGN Finest knot Soap/Cream: Mystic Water - Lemon Rose SS Post: Witch Haze & Rum, Nivea Sensitive ASB EJ Sea Buckthorn was on tap but my sample of MW Lemon Rose (or Roselimone as she calls it) came in the mail so I had to try it. The new not had badger hair stink to it so I'll reserve comment on the scent of the soap until I after I use it with a broken in brush, but initiallly, I love the scent but wish it was stronger. Second go-around for the Astras. I had tried these in January but was not impressed. I had a good shave last night but it left me with irritation and a couple of weepers. End result was a higher rating than before, but not as high as my standard blades. Will continue with Astras for a few days.
