SoS: October 7, 2013 - October 13, 2013

Up and down temperatures here in Montreal - today is rather cool and tomorrow will be rather warm. In my bathroom it'll be freezing cold because it's going to be,

Menthol Monday:

L'Oreal Men Expert Facial Wash
#6 Horsehair
Super Speed/new Rapira
Tryphon Permafrost Blue Shaving Stick
Diana Sport Menthol Balm
Osage Rub AS
Aramis Stick Deodorant
Aramis EDT

Last week I had some minor issues with the 7 AM blade which I used, such as a couple of weepers and a bit of irritation from time to time so I decided to go with the Rapiras for this week because they really are my favorite blades. They give such smooth, effortless shaves with complete comfort. The Permafrost Blue stick is now a vintage item and it's fantastic - a very nice licorice-type scent with rich, stable lather which is so easy to create and a bone-chilling menthol sensation which the Diana balm and the Rubby Dubby Doo greatly intensify.

 

Monday - Open Comb Week

MWF bowl lathered with TGN boar in Ever-Ready 79 handle
Gillette New Improved with Astra SP (2)
3 passes, alum and Proraso aftershave

 

Monday

59’ E1 Fatboy/ Rhodium (Wide Open)
Voskhod (d3)
Vulfix 2235
Ingram/TSD Iced Florida Water (Uber)
Witch Hazel Splash
Master Blue A/S

 

Monday

Prep: Hot Shower-Stirling Pig Trail Soap
Soap: Stirling Scots Pine Sheep
Razor: ’66 Gillette Slim
Blade: Personna Med Prep (1)
Brush: Omega 6192 Badger
Aftershave: Krampert’s Frostbite

WTG-XTG-ATG (adjusted angle for my beard a bit)

5th shave with the Gillette Slim. Set it on “7” today so I decided to load a new Personna Med Prep. I also returned to my Stirling Scots Pine today. The Omega badger and the Scots Pine liked each other. I had a great shave: close, nick & burn free. I could really feel the difference with the razor set on “7” today. I finished up with Krampert’s Frostbite to see how I did on “7”. All is well……

Bob

 

Monday

Prep: Quick face wash with Nivea for Men Sensitive.
Razor: Mühle R89.
Blade: Viking's Sword (4)
Brush: Semogue 1520 boar.
Lather: Arko, grated soap stick.
Equipment: Steve Woodhead Pottery shallow mug.
Shave: Traditional 3 pass with touch-up on chin.
Post: Luke rinse, followed by alum for 1 minute, then thoroughly rinsed off with cold water.
After: Aqua Velva Ice Blue AS.

Nice comfy shave with my all favorite soap, Arko! None above, none below. Arko and AV works great together, dunno why, but it's an amazing combo IMHO. Sadly it's monday, but with this great shave it's gonna be a good day afterall

 

Gillette New Improved
Gillette Silver Blue
Chubbz 3
Klar Kabinett
Alum
Superior 70

Smooth.



*ETA my marginal cell phone pic...

 

Menthol Monday/Open Comb week:

Prep: Hot shower, Crown Shave Co. Supreme Glide Pre-Shave Lotion
Brush: Beeline Boar
Soap: Ginger's Garden Grapefruit Mint Glycerin-in-a-jar
Razor: Merkur 41c 1904 OC
Blade: Sputnik Teflon (2)
Passes: WTG, XTG, ATG
Post: Cold water rinse, Dickinson's WH, Lucky Tiger Menthol Vanishing ASB
Cologne: Xeryus by Givenchy

The Sputnik apparently smoothed out a bit, and I got 3 passes with a BBS result and only one tiny weeper that re-opened from yesterday's trip to the butcher shop. I'm really confused/concerned about why I'm having trouble making stable lather with the Grapefruit Mint, though, particularly since I don't have this problem with the Coffee Jasmine glycerin soap Irena makes; is the technique really that different for soap-in-a-jar vs. a "loose" puck, when the other variables are the same aside from scent? The Grapefruit Mint + Lucky Tiger combo does leave my face quite frozen, though.

 

Magic Tabac Monday

Scuttle : Michal Yoresh double-walled
Prep : Ahava Men Facial Wash
Brush : Omega Pro 48
Blade : Q-Ball Platinum ( israeli personna)
Razor : Gillette English Tech
Soap : Tabac
Post : cold water + Tabac AS and some Tabac EdT

For some reason, this was the best shave I had since I started wet-shaving. A fantastic lather and the blade slided as touched by magic.
I hope I can reproduce this tomorrow

 

Menthol Monday
hot shower
Shavemac 167,2 band,d01,fan
Maggard Sweet Orange PSO (forgot to add some M-Bomb )
TSD 2X Iced Pink Grapefruit Lanolin Soap
iKon Slant/Gillette 7 o'clock yellow (1)
warm water rinse
Shavex alum
TSD 2X Iced Pink Grapefruit WH
TSD 2X Iced Pink Grapefruit ASL

TSD 2X Iced Pink Grapefruit ASL really reminds me of The Penguin,but with way better skincare.

 

Shave of the Day, Monday October 7, 2013
• Prep: Brush soaked in cold water, tepid shower
• Razor: iKon Shavecraft 101
• Blade: Croma Diamant Stainless Steel
• Brush: Shavemac Limited Edition Shaving Brush 90 with High Density Finest Two-Band Badger Fan Knot designed by Geoff Anderson
• Cream: The Shave Den Violet Patchouli Wheat Cream
• Splash: The Shave Den Iced Violet Patchouli
• Post: Cold Water Rinse, double splash of aftershave

A nice shave to start the work week.

I hope that everyone enjoys their Monday.

 

Gem Junior Lather Catcher, Pella
SOC boar, Mike's Rose & Cedarwood
Manufaktura Beer Aftershave balm

A super smooth 2-pass plus touch ups shave.
Manufaktura smells great but stings given the chance. However none was given.

 

Monday

OCMM
GEM PTFE
The Grosvenor
Proraso green soap - old
Proraso Preshave
Proraso Splash
Proraso Balm

It was an awesome Proraso morning!

 

Razor: Merkur futur
Blade: Lord Platinum
Brush: WD 24mm Tulip Handle w silvertip
Pre: Musgo Real Lime Basil Oil Soap
Soap: Mikes Bay Rum
Post: Monster Alum Block
Aftershave: Captains Choice

 

Monday morning, October 7, 2013

Gillette Fusion Proglide Power with Proglide Power ct. (2)
Semogue 1305 boar bristle brush,
TABAC soap, lather with hot water & shave—
apply Captain's Choice Lime for a damn fine shave!


Another fantastic smooth and close shave with the Fusion Proglide. Love the slick TABAC. My Semogue is breaking in beautifully. Aces!

 

SOTD Monday 10-7-2013

6/8 J.A. Henckels early 401, Full Hollow, Spike Point
Proraso PSC
Rose of Bulgaria SC
GT G4 Scuttle
Omega 31064 Boar
Dickinson's Witch Hazel
Nivea Replenishing ASB
Rose of Bulgaria ASL

I'm calling this mornings shave "The Black Rose". (A takeoff on the Black Dahlia without the grusome ending.) Got the black scales on the Henckels, the black handle on the Omega and of course the Rose of Bulgaria adds the floral touch. I have really taken a liking to the Rose scents and the Rose of Bulgaria is really a great shave cream and ASL for the performance and price. A also have Salter's Wild Rose SC and of course the Klar Kabinett SS I received from Dale to add to the rose garden drawer in my shave cabinet. The Henckels 401 (circa 1890) is really an awesome shaver. The edge on this straight is incredibly keen and it holds that edge for a long time with moderate stropping. I have been away from the straights for awhile and I'm really enjoying each one as I go through the rotation with them. (Absence makes the heart grow fonder I guess. Actually, I enjoyed them before but just got bored with them and wanted to use and complete my DE collection.) I hope everyone has a great week of shaves and enjoys the beautiful fall weather and foliage. The trees are really starting to turn right now. Enjoy!

 

You seem to be on a straights kick! I must say you've been sporting some great looking razors friend, thanks for sharing.

 

Thanks Richard. Yes, I'm back on the straights for awhile. I straight shaved everyday for a couple of years and took a break for awhile but, I'm back to them with a DE shave thrown in from time to time. I think half the fun was getting a junker from the bay and refurbishing it. After I stopped aquiring and refurbishing them they just seemed to lose my interest for awhile but, I miss the straights and really enjoy the shaves they give. I have 47 straights that are shave ready and it is a shame to let them just sit there. I kept noticing Oscar 11's shave kits and couldn't stop drooling over his straights. (He's a known enticer!) I couldn't stand the temptation anymore and had to come back.

 

Razor: Aristocrat #16
Blade: Croma Diamant
Brush: BF Greenie
Cream: Lider Active
Post: Alum, Thayer's & Nivea Creme
AS: Fine American Blend

 

7.10.2013

• Prep: shower, Bulldog Original face wash
• Razor: Cobra Classic
• Blade: Feather Pro (5)
• Brush: New Forest Tubby 2
• Cream: Proraso
• Post: alum, T.N. Dickinson's Witch hazel
• Aftershave: Proraso lozione dopobarba, Omega balm

 

SOTD 10-07-13 MENTHOL MONDAY/Return of The DE!

Shower

Soap: Irish Spring Original bar soap
Shampoo: Head & Shoulders with Old Spice scent

Shave

Prep: Hot shower, Nivea Face Wash, Hot towel
Brush: Van Der Hagen Boar
Lather: Proraso Green soap (Face lathered)
Razor: Merkur 23C
Blade: Derby Extra (1)
Passes: WTG/XTG/ATG/RXTG
Post: Warm water rinse, Cold water rinse, Alum Block, Thayers Cucumber Witch Hazel, Gillette Intense Cooling Lotion, Osage Rub (in freezer overnight)

Ahh, at last. It's the return of the DE for me. After a month using cartridge razors, it's time to go back to my normal routine of my beloved Merkur and my Gillette open comb. As usual, the Merkur had no problem taking down my 3 day growth. One minor minor weeper on my cheek (typical trouble spot), but in the end I was rewarded with one hell of a COLD and smooth shave. Finished up with a splash of the Rub. The scent reminds me of the beach because that's what I used while on vacation earlier this year. Everyone have a great day.