SoS: June 2, 2014 - June 8, 2014

Thanks, David. Two things I have learned regarding straight razors: there is a discernible difference between makes of blades (how well they take or hold an edge, for example); and they all require some investment of both your time and effort to maximize the potential.

 

SOTD Tuesday 6-3-2014

Gillette NEW Short Comb
Super-Max Tiger (S6)
Proraso PSC
Barrister & Mann - Solstice
Becker Travel Scuttle
Semogue 820 Boar
Dickinson's Witch Hazel
Gold Bond Moisturizing Lotion
Aqua Velva Musk ASL/Cologne

Day six on the Tiger and it's still smooth and performing well. (After six days it's shaving like a fresh Dorco ST300 if that helps.) It's ready for retirement though as it's just not getting as close as I'm used to with the straights.
The Barrister & Mann Solstice SS was ...meh. This one didn't do anything for me that a $3. puck of Stephans SS at the Army Navy store wouldn't do.
It lathered well and the performance was very good but, no scent whatsoever! I like my SS to have a scent and this one let me down in that respect. I'm thinking the Barrister & Mann is a pretty high dollar commercial SS but, it couldn't hold a candle to the artisan soaps I have been using this past week. YMMV but, for me, it was a dud!
The Gold Bond Moisturizing Lotion is a very good performer; cheap, economical, and locally available. It not only moisturizes the skin (which lasts for hours) but, the menthol in it cools like the best menthol after shave. I'm lovin' this stuff.

 

Tyr's Day:

Prep: Hot shower, TSD Jasmine Sambac Preshave balm
Brush: Simpson 56 Best Badger
Soap: Ginger's Garden Grapefruit Mint
Razor: FaTip Piccolo
Blade: Bolzano (2)
Passes: WTG (4)
Post: Cold water splash, Dickinson's WH, Aqua Velva Ice Blue

Today's shave was virtually a formality, as I was still plenty smooth after yesterday's BBS. One easy WTG pass to keep my hand in and keep the shave level around DFS. Naturally, use of the Aqua Velva meant that one quick tip of the bottle resulted in a cascade all over my hand and into the sink.

 

Kaloderma Shaving Cream
25mm HMW w/ custom handle
Aristocrat #16
Personna
Ali Biyikli Alum Block
Kaloderma Aftershave

​

 

Razor: 1956 Gillette Red Tip
Blade: Personna
Brush: Vulfix 1000a
Soap: Stirling Scots Pine Sheep Shave Soap
Aftershave: Avon Spicy

 

6/3/14

Prep: hot shower and face wash
Lather: Tiki Set Sail
Brush: Stirling $6 boar
Razor: Weber PH
Blade: Feather Hi Stainless (4)
Post: cold water rinse and Captain's Choice Lime

I know, boring, but darn it, it is all working very well. 3 easy passes left me with a DFS. I headed off for 4 hours of professional development that left me feeling just a touch less educated than when I went in. Oh well, faceturbation saved the day.

 

Tues P.M. shave.



NDC "Ugly-Brass" Super Speed
Gillette Spoiler blade (shave #2)
VDH

2 pass BBS.

Avon Bracing Lotion a/s.

 

Planned Shave 06-04-2014 ...

​

 

SoS - Tuesday, June 3, 2014

Hot shower
Prep: Lime & Tea Tree PSO
Brush: Simpson Duke 3 in Best Badger
Cream: La Toja Classic
Razor: Merkur 38C
Blade: Rapira SS (3)
Aftershave: Pinaud Clubman Special Reserve

DFS+ today with my favorite cream. The La Toja never fails to impress. Lathers and performs flawlessly, and smells great too!

- Don

 

Prep: hot shower, Neutrogena Face Wash.
Brush: Turkish #6 Brush.
Razor: Schick Krona.
Blade: Personna Med Prep.
Cream: Egyptian Ingram.
Post: LE Razorock XXX AS by Fine.

Very pleasant shave today. I used to think there was no difference between Personna Lab and Personna Med Prep, but now I'm starting to wonder. Labs just don't feel as smooth as they used to before I stated using Med Preps. The Egyptian Ingram cream is a great face freezer. It also gives me a good shave with lots of good skincare. The Fine Aftershave did not let me down, like always.

 

Gary,
Sorry to hear this. May he RIP and not suffer any longer.
Pat & Evelyn

 

Great looking Throw Away Dog aka Rescue Dog. He is lucky to have some one that will care for him.

 

SOTD: Monday 02Jun14;

• Shower & Pre-Shave:

Stirling Soap Co. Tea Tree Bath Soap
Neutrogena Men Invigorating Face Wash
Pacific Shaving Co. All Natural Shaving Oil
Wet Face Towel Soaked in Ice Cold Water

• Deodorants :

Mennen Speed Stick

• Razor & Razor Blade:

Vintage 1951 Gillette W-2 Super Speed DE/ TTO {Birth Year Razor}
Wilkinson Sword DE Blades
Schick Xtereme 3 Disposable,

• Shaving Mug & Shaving Soap & Brush:

Arletta Mug I (White Coffee Mug that my daughter had)
Vander-Williams Shave Soap Mixture aka Patrick's Blend
"Oscar11" Custom 24/48mm TGN Super Finest Black& White Resin Handle

• After Shave Balm:

Afta Aftershave Skin Conditioner by Mennen

• After Shave:

Mennen Skin Bracer

Photo; L to R
Oscar 11 Brush. Arletta Mug I (White Coffee Mug that my daughter had)Mug loaded with.(Vander-Williams Shave Soap aka Patrick's Blend)Vintage 1951 Gillette W-2 Super Speed DE/ TTO {Birth Year Razor}, Wilkinson Sword DE Blades, Pacific Shaving Co. All Natural Shaving Oil,Afta Aftershave Skin Conditioner by Mennen, Mennen Skin Bracer Original Scent.

Mondays Shave was just as good if not better than what I accomplished on Sunday.
Yesterday Monday I had a DFS shave on the first pass. On the second pass I ended up with a not quite a BBS. I would really have to say it was a perfect shave. "Rudy Castiel Clean Shave" if I do say so my self. I did not need to use the Afta Skin Conditioner but I did anyway. It seems to really sooth the face. This was a Cold Shave again today, after my shower.

 

SOTD: Tuesday 03Jun14;

• Shower & Pre-Shave:

Stirling Soap Co. Tea Tree Bath Soap
Neutrogena Men Invigorating Face Wash
Stirling Coniferous Pre-Shave Oil
Wet Face Towel Soaked in Hot Water

• Deodorants :

Mennen Speed Stick

• Razor & Razor Blade:

Vintage 1951 Gillette W-2 Super Speed DE/ TTO {Birth Year Razor}
Wilkinson Sword DE Blades
Schick Xtereme 3 Disposable,

• Shaving Mug & Shaving Soap & Brush:

Arletta Mug I (White Coffee Mug that my daughter had)
Vander-Williams Shave Soap Mixture aka Patrick's Blend
"Oscar11" Custom 24/48mm TGN Super Finest Black& White Resin Handle

• After Shave Balm:

Nivea After Shave Balm

• After Shave:

Stirling Soap Co. Coniferous

Had a great shave today. I forgot to post yesterdays SOTD so that's why I just posted it. Todays shave was not a cold water shave.

 

Wednesday:

Neutrogena Men Facial Wash
Large Horsehair Barbershop
Super Speed/Sharp day 3
Stirling Glacial Wintergreen SS
444 AS Balm
Barbon AS
Aramis EdT

Guys, a little tip if you haven't tried any of these Glacial soaps - never let the lather get too close to your eyes because the menthol fumes are so strong that they'll tear like crazy. The freezing effect hits immediately and it gets more intense with each pass and a cold water rinse almost numbs your face. The 444 balm adds to the frigid fun as does the Barbon aftershave. Smoother than smooth could be this morning!

 

Feather Portable Bulldog
Gillette Silver Blue
Semogue BC Mistura
Bigelow SC
Alum
Superior 70

 

8/8 W&B restored by Glen
Vie-Long horsehair brush
Gada Original SC
L'Oreal Men Expert AS splash
One pleasant shave from start to finish. Love that old heavy chopper!

 

Wednesday:
hot shower w/Lilac Vegetal scented body wash
Homemade PSO
Gillette RedTip 3 passes
Gillette Wilkinson (1)
VDH Deluxe boar
VDH formerly unscented Luxury soap in a warm mug
Thayers Lavender w/aloe
Pinaud Clubman Lilac Vegetal AS lotion

Middle of the week, the forecast calling for heavy rain today... I decided to Veg out.
Added a small amount of the Veg to the top of my puck of unscented VDH Luxury and voila! - Lilac Vegetal shave soap

And as always, a fabulous shave with the RedTip; warm buttery lather, a brand new Gillette Wilky, and the whiskers didn't stand a chance.
Have a great day fellow shavers!