What makes Monster Block your favorite, Gerry?

My wife and I made a road trip to Maggard Razors yesterday. What a great shop! Brad and Casie were helpful and friendly, too. We were able to smell all kinds of soaps and colognes. Maggard clearly has the best selection in Michigan. I stocked up on blades and Proraso green pre/post, and bought Woody Lavender soap from LA Shavings, and some Razorock P-160 balm.

Prep: Hot shower, Burt's Bees face wash
Soap: LA Shavings Woody Lavender
Brush: Parker Synthetic
Razor: Merkur Classic 33c
Blade: Gillette 7 o'clock sharp edge yellow
Post: Krampert's Finest Bay Rum, Proraso Post

Nice smooth DFS shave today. I did not shave yesterday, to give my face a rest from the slant experience. My neck is still red, but feeling much better. The LA Shavings soap is a real treat. The scent is fantastic - my wife loves it - and it lathers like a dream. You would think it is full of tallow, but it is all veggie - and all quality. I expect to buy more of this, and their other scents in the future. The container is a little on the small side, and the labels get ruined as soon as they get wet, but the quality is spot on where it matters most.

Have a great Sunday!

Sunday - last day of Open Comb week

Cella face lathered with restored Ever-Ready 1000 with TGN Pure Badger knot
Gem MM OC with Gem stainless blade (3)
3 passes, alum and finish with Proraso aftershave

A great Sunday morning shave

Sunday



Hot shower accompanied with a face wash with L'Oreal Men Expert Hydra Energy.
Gillette Super Speed Flare Tip '64 coupled with Viking's Sword DE blade.
Proraso "Green" SC whipped with Semogue 1520 boar brush in Steve Woodhead shallow mug.
Traditional 3 pass followed by luke rinse, Ajanta alum applied for 1 minute, then rinsed off with cold water.
Finished off with Nivea for Men Sensitive ASB.

I don't know why I even bother with rotating razor - it's just not the same as with my trusty Mühle R89. I like the SS a lot, it's a very nice vintage item, but the technique needed is just different from my Mühle, so I cannot just use it for one day and get a great shave. I'd have to use it everyday to perfect my shaves and technique with it. Alas today was no different. It's a close DFS but no more. It's not as close as I'd wish for, but no irritation made it an okay shave. I'm most definitely a "software-guy" with need for only one razor/blade and then rotate "software" instead. That I like a lot more.
Speaking of software, the L'Oreal Men wash is amazing, with a very nice cooling effect. Sadly it's fall/winter here so I can't benefit from the effect on a hot day. I can easily imaging how great it'll be next summer! The Proraso SC is okay. It's not the best, but it's no slouch either, there are just many other creams that are better for a bargain of the price, eg. Arko Men Sensitive SC or Florena Men Comfort SC. I like the cooling effect though, which is why I have it in rotation. But to me Proraso SC is more of a name than a top notch product.

Have a nice Sunday, ya'll!

6/8 Torrey
Harris Windsor
28mm Omega knot

Very nice shave. Nice old Torrey, pure function, good steel, American made, a fine shaver with a workhorse background. It will do it everyday for you and do it well. Thanks, Dale. Have a good one.

SOTD Sunday 10-13-2013

5/8 J.R. Torrey -US-, Shoulderless, Hollow Point
Proraso PSC
Rose of Bulgaria SC
GT G4 Scuttle
Omega 31064 Boar
Dickinson's Witch Hazel
Nivea Replenishing ASB
Rose of Bulgaria ASL

The Torrey shoulderless is a great shaving American made razor. It's extra hollow grind and shoulderless style makes it one of those "singing razors" you have heard about. The feedback on this razor is awesome! I have three Torrey's and they are all great shavers. Many of these fine vintage razors can be found on the bay for a very reasonable price compared to the vintage German and English blades. The Rose of Bulgaria SC and ASL provided a very pleasantly scented shave to go along with the great performance of the Torrey. Enjoy the rest of your weekend Gentlmen!

Sunday morning, October 13, 2013

Gillette NEW Short Comb,
Personna Med Prep Blade (4)
Semogue 1305 boar bristle brush,
Arko shaving soap with hot water lather,
finish with cold water rinse for a CCS!

Thank you for your kind words. I'm considering making a calendar out of the 12 photos of mine I like best.

Razor: Merkur Slant 37c
Blade: Personna Medical
Brush: Parker 25mm Best Badger
Pre: Musgo Real Lime Basil Oil Soap
Soap: Ogallala Bay Rum
Post: Monster Alum Block
Aftershave: Ogallala Bay Rum W lime & peppercorn

SUNDAY
Final Day of OC Week
Pre: Hot shower & face towel; Homemade Cedarwood PS Cream
Razor: FaTip OC/ Ikon Bulldog II
Blade: Merkur Super (Day 1)
Brush: Omega 48 Pro
Lather: Tabac Soap; Scuttle-warmed
Shave: 3 passes + touch-up
Post: Cold water rinse, Alum block, 4711 AS

Back to the Open Combs after a few days of wandering off the OC path. VERY smooth, close shave with the semi-aggressive FaTip and the much-maligned Merkur blade. Two passes would be just fine, but a scuttle full of warm lather compelled another pass. BBS today!
Happy Sunday all!

Shave of the Day, Sunday October 13, 2013
• Prep: Brush soaked in cold water, tepid shower
• Razor: Merkur Progress modified into Mergress XL
• Blade: Croma Diamant Stainless Steel
• Brush: Shavemac Limited Edition Shaving Brush 90
• Cream: The Shave Den Violet Patchouli Wheat Cream
• Splash: The Shave Den Iced Violet Patchouli
• Post: Cold Water Rinse, double splash of aftershave

Although it is open comb October I had to switch it up today as I do not have enough open combs left in my arsenal to keep me from being bored.

I went with the Mergress and am glad that I did.

The Violet Patchouli is a deeply sensual scent, it may be a little too feminine for most men, but I absolutely love it.

Enjoy your Sunday everyone.

Very nice looking Mergress Arley! I've got to give that Violet Patchouli SC a try. Every time I see it in your posts I am inspired. The Patchouli scent has to bring back some old memories of the 60's and 70's. Maybe if I use it I'll remember them.

Sunday morning, October 13, 2013

PAL adjustable razor with Schick blade (4)
Semogue 1305 boar bristle brush,
TABAC soap, lather with hot water & shave,
touch up with Gillette Fusion Proglide Power
with Proglide cartridge (2)
apply Family Dollar Spice for a damn fine shave!


Trying something new. I've wanted to experiment using two razors, one for first pass and one for final touch up, and discovered it works nice! I've been missing the PAL Adjustable and thought it'd be great as a mild first pass razor. I love the shave of the PAL Adjustable, so comfortable. The Fusion Proglide cleaned up mighty close, smooth and comfortable. It seems to work best with the stubble already cut down. Near BBS! I've been neglecting the Family Dollar Spice for too long, glad I used it this morning. Aces!

SOTD Sunday morning

Prep: hot shower
Razor: 1946 Gillette Aristocrat
Blade: Supermax Titanium
Cream: Barbasol Arctic Chill
Shave: 4 passes
Post: cold water, Honeybee Gardens Bay Rum
Pomade: Murrays Super Light
Cologne: Varvatos Vintage

Incredible razor/blade combo. 4 passes with no irritation for BBS.

Sunday 10/13

Hot shower
RazoRock glycerin
RazoRock Fresco
Semogue 1460
1905 Gillette open comb
Israeli Blue

100+ year old razor delivers Superior DFS, today's shave was no expectation.

Sunday:
hot towel
Maggard Lavender PSO
Maggard MR4
Gillette Wilkinson (2)
VDH boar
SRD Essential Oil Lavender Shaving Soap
Alum
Suave Vitamin E lotion
Musgo Lavender Cologne

LOL - Lots of Lavender - Day 2 with my new Maggard razor - I initially paired it with the Gillette Wilkinson because I get an absolutely fantastic shave with this blade in my Parker 80R but apparently it's not going to be the blade I want in the MR4. It seems like nothing's happening so today I made the mistake of pushing harder and paid the price with some irritation hence the alum and lotion finish. I ended up with all the whiskers gone and a very close shave but not without about an hour of unpleasantness. Early afternoon I applied some Thayer's Alcohol free unscented Witch Hazel with aloe vera so now I'm all better.

Hi Guys,

SOTD Sunday,October the 13th.

1. hot shower
2. Floid Sandolor Preshave Gel
3. Jabonman Mandarin & Vetiver
4. iKon S3S on Bulldog Handle
5. Wilkinson Sword blade (1st shave in 2 passes with touch ups)
6. HJM Black Synthetic Fibre Brush
7. Floid "The Genuine" Aftershave

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Enjoy enjoy enjoy...what a shave!!! The S3S Head is absolutely stunning. Heavy,very gentle,smooth and very very thoroughly. In some moments i had the feeling that there were no blade in it. Fantastic!!! The Wilkinson Sword in combination with the S3S Head is a nearly "perfect" combination for me.​

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Take care and have a wonderful start into the new Week.​

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Greetings​

Thorsten​

13.10.2013

Prep: FitjarSoap Pre Shave Soap
Razor: Merkur Classic 1904 OC
Blade: Crystal (2)
Brush: Lijun Shaving
Soap: Martin de Candre
Aftershave: Aqua Velva Ice Cool
Moisturiser: Fitjarsoap Shea Butter Moisturiser

Today I tried face lathering for the first time. I am a bowl latherer by nature, but wanted to try something new. And although I do not see myself doing this on a permanent basis, it was a pretty good experience. The lather was thinner and denser at the same time. Pretty good result IMO, but it felt weird “skipping” a step before applying the lather to my face.
I’ll give it a few tries before I decide. But as an old Norse saying goes. Taste is comparable to a man’s behind, it is divided. ( a rotten translation, but it was the closest I could come up with on such short notice)

In honour of this week’s theme, I also took out my one and only OC razor. The magnificent Merkur Classic 1904. A lovely razor. Heavy and sturdy. Mild, yet efficient.
I should really use this one more often. And tonight was a good reminder to do just that.

13.10.2013

• Prep: shower, Bulldog Original face wash
• Razor: Cobra Classic
• Blade: Feather Pro (10)
• Brush: New Forest Tubby 2
• Soap: Mike's Natural Soaps Pine & Cedarwood sample
• Post: alum, T.N. Dickinson's Witch hazel
• Aftershave: Floid mentolado vigoroso

I think I have been converted over to face lathering. However, that does not mean that I won't ever bowl lather again. At first it seemed like I was skipping a step, but now it is more like merging two steps and eliminating one clean-up step. And, the face is getting more quality brush time. I like it.