7/28/14
Prep: Warm wash with Stirling Naked & Smooth bath bar
Lather: Stirling Barbershop
Brush: Vie-Long 13061M
Razor: Gillette New SC
Blade: Dorco ST301 (3)
Post: Captain's Choice Lime

I suppose that any shaving soap will improve the longer one uses it. I started this puck of Stirling Spice on July 6 and have used it on 16 out of the past 23 days. The soap is getting so easy to load onto my my brush and it makes some fantastic and slick lather on my face. I will likely continue with this soap until the puck is gone and I expect that ought to be at least 20 more days, based on the way it seems to be lasting thus far. Anyhoo, the shave itself was pretty uneventful, which is what I am looking for, no cuts, nicks, weepers or burns. 3 passes and I ought to be good for the day.

On a side note, I want to participate in Menthol Mondays, but I don't really like the scent of any soaps with menthol in them.

Menthol Monday
warm shower
Rooney Heritage Stubby 3XL
Proraso PSC
Mama Bear's Bear Ice
Gillette Ranger Tech/O'clock Black (1)
cold water rinse
Monster Block Alum
cold water rinse
Stirling Glacial Wintergreen WH
Nasomatto Hindu Grass

A very refreshing 2 pass face,1 pass dome,for BBS all around!


Stay frosty,my friends!

Menthol Monday:

Prep: Hot shower, Healthy Accents Daily Renewal cleanser, TSD Jasmine Sambac preshave balm
Brush: Simpson 56 Best Badger
Soap: Ginger's Garden Grass Stain Menthol Snow
Razor: FaTip Piccolo
Blade: Bolzano Superinox (2)
Passes: WTG, XTG (3, 4)
Post: Cold water splash, Bloc Osma alum, Dickinson's WH, Aqua Velva Ice Blue AS splash
Cologne: Xeryus by Givenchy

The FaTip is definitely aggressive, but worth it. With the right amount of time spent on prep and building a good lather, I generally wind up with a DFS shave - like today - that's probably a tiny bit closer than what I get from my 41c; the trade-off is the fact that I have to go a bit more slowly to do so, and be absolutely certain that all my tools are in good order. The menthol combination today was pleasantly cooling, even if the Aqua Velva is not ultra-frigid.

Monday

Prep: wash with CeraVe cleanser, soak brush
Soap: HTGAM unscented
Brush: Bethlehem olive wood, TGN F2 knot
Razor: iKon ShaveCraft
Blade: Personna med prep
After: Cold rinse, CeraVe

Comfortable shave for a Monday morning.

Monday morning, July 28, 2014

Schick E2 Injector with Schick blade (8)
Semogue 1305 boar bristle brush,
Arko shaving soap with hot water lather,
finish with cold water rinse for a CCS!

I like your new SOTD =) how is that axe boost energizing?

SOTD Monday 7-28-2014

5/8 Tiger Wedge, Hollow Point
Proraso PSC
Classic Brand Jasmine SS
Col Conk Barbershop Badger
Dickinson's Witch Hazel
Gold Bond Moisturizing Lotion
Aqua Velva Classic Ice Blue ASL

Love the scent of the Jasmine SS!

MONDAY
Late Morning Day Off Shave

I followed up Saturday's shave, which used the large bladed Rodgers & Sons, with a big 7/8 frame back razor today.
I haven't yet made up my mind as to my own personal preference regarding blade size in a straight. I know many guys like the 5/8" full-hollow razors—probably the most popular—but I'm intrigued with some of the larger blades. Each has its own 'character' or traits. I suppose part of the fun is to keep testing and comparing.
A very comfy three-pass with the FR this morning.
Bruce & I must be on the same shaving schedule—2nd day of back-to-back posts….

Have a splendid Monday, all!

Extra great shave today.

Last week, out of nowhere, Dale (PanChango) graciously PM'd me with an offer of a new brush. Mine's starting to shed so I gratefully accepted. I've waited 4 days to shave, eager for his brush to arrive.

Today, a surprisingly heavy small flat rate box arrived. Inside was a BIG! (to me) Omega 42 with a boar knot...a second, smaller but equally nice brush...a Gillette NEW long comb (my fav OC) on a Tuckaway handle...Russian Soapy shave cream and balm...Walter's lemon shaving soap (smells fantastic)...two packs of SuperMax Tiger blades and what appear to be some vintage Brit Wilkinson blades.

Now I ask you: how nice is that?

But what makes Dale's gesture even more special than it already is: I've recently developed something in my hands (no idea what) where I can't use a small brush nearly as well as a longer/larger one. I've told only one other member of TSD this fact, so Dale did not know of it. So of course it was a blessing on top of a blessing to receive that long, chunky, hefty, grippy Omega brush today!

To the shave:



2 pass BBS with some nicks. It's been too long since I shaved with a NEW and the Tiger blade is much sharper than I'm used to, so I was careless...next time, I'll know. But of the few SuperMax blades I've tried, the Tiger is the best, hands down. That's an old Clix handle, btw.

The brush is FANTASTIC, nice and stiff like I like 'em. It's going to replace my shedding Adoration.

The shave cream worked very well, lathered up easily and thickly in my hard water. The shaving balm, applied after my alum WH mix, did not sting at all, the way some balms have done.

So all in all, today's shave is one for the books. Thank you again, Dale!

It's people like that making gestures like that that make TSD such a great place!

+1

Forgot the pic.

It's fun and exciting to try the various sizes and grinds of straights to determine your personal preference. Eventually you will pick a style and size that works best for your face and beard. It appears that you are narrowing in on your "razor that fits your face". (ala the Robeson motto)
That Freddie Faux Frameback is a beauty!

Just when I think I am getting close to finding my 'ideal' razor-type, another one jumps up and grabs my attention! Oh, the joys of variety!

Thanks, Bruce. This is the Freddie that was horribly abused by someone probably using a knife sharpener to 'hone' the edge. Glen worked his magic to eventually get a good bevel set—but even he admitted before he started that I shouldn't get my hopes up on salvaging this blade. It was a good thing Glen was determined, because it took about a dozen tries even for him to finally get the blade to cooperate.

Its okay. I like Nivea cool kick better. I have a big jar of Noxzema I need to use more often.

Dale is a VERY giving man! It's members like Dale, that make TSD a better place.

I remember that about the Freddie. I'm glad that it worked out alright and it's holding it's edge. Those Sheffield razors are super smooth performers. Now that you know it's edge is holding up, it's time to work your magic on some new scales for that baby.

SOTD 07/28

Hot shower to start the day, facial wash with Axe Peace.

Semogue 1460
Stirling Orange Chill

Gillette OC/Astra SP

Osage Rub.

SoS - Menthol Monday, July 28, 2014

Cool shower
Prep: Peppermint PSO
Brush: WD Silvertip
Soap: Stirling Glacial Lemon Chill
Razor: Merkur 38C
Blade: Gillette 7 O'Clock black (2)
Post: Stirling Lemon Chill WH
Aftershave: TSD Iced SubZero splash

- Don

July 28 - Birthday Shave
Proraso Green
Vulfix 660 Super Badger
British Aristocrat #66 Coronation Razor (Birth Year) / Voskhod (1)
Thayers Lemon Witch Hazel
Aqua Velva Musk