SoS: December 1, 2014 - December 7, 2014

Fellas, it's been a very long time since I've made a SOTD post. I've wrapped up no shave November. Still keeping the beard just shaving my neck and defining my cheek line.

No pics today. Sorry, folks.

* Shower
• Soap: Dr. Bronner's Lavender bar soap
• Shampoo: Head & Shoulders Clinical Strength
• Conditioner: Suave Professionals Volumizing (female stuff, I know)

* Shave
• Prep: Hot shower, Dr. Bronner's Lavender bar soap, Every Man Jack Signature Mint Face Scrub, Suave Professionals Volumizing conditioner
• Brush: Van Der Hagen boar (yes the same one from 2 years ago)
• Lather: Van Der Hagen Deluxe Shave Soap (still my go-to)
• Razor: Magic Shavette
• Blade: Micro Touch One (Dorco)
• Passes: WTG/ATG/Touch-up
• Post: Warm water rinse, Cold water rinse, Alum block, Thayer's Cucumber Witch Hazel, Corn Huskers Lotion, Dove For Men Hydrating Post Shave Balm, Pinaud Clubman Virgin Island Bay Rum

My straight razor/shavette skills have been immensely improving. I used it to clean up and trim out my No Shave November beard and it worked fantastically. Couldn't have done much better with clippers. The shave was DFS, only I tagged my Adam's apple. But in all, a success. Tomorrow's edition will include pics.

 

SOTD - Tuesday, December 2, 2014

Hot shower
Prep: Homemade PSO
Brush: Plisson/L'Occitane synthetic
Soap: WSP Rustic Pumpkin Spice
Razor: Merkur 38C
Blade: Israeli Personna Red (4)
Post: Thayer's Cucumber WH
Aftershave: CVS Old Spice knock off in a Vintage Decanter

- Don

 

So is the music playing during prep? Does it help prevent razor irritation?

 

3P
New Forest 1901
Soap Commander Respect
Razorock SLAB
Polsilver SI (4)
TOBS No 74 Limes
Trumpers Lime Skin Food

 

Guy, this is funny - both the Glacial Obsidian and Yeti Snot make my eyes tear, BUT: I find the Glacial Obsidian (as well as all the other Glacial soaps) feels somewhat colder on my face. I'll still admit that the Yeti Snot is a hell of a face-freezer.

 

That's kinda funny...for some reason I found the Yeti Snot the colder of the two. It's got more than just menthol, like eucalyptus or something. The Glacial Obsidian delivers a big hit of anise straight to my face, and is a very different feel than the Yeti. I will revisit the Obsidian soon! I enjoy menthol-cold products very much.

 

My thoughts on Whoosthemansoap Batting Clean Up soap and Aftershave.
I was going to use this product again tomorrow, but it's not worth the discomfort.
Very easy to lather
Slick, cushiony
Scent? Leather maybe?
Skincare was ok
Here's where the discomfort comes in, have you used Captains Choice Cat O' Nine Tails? Kick it up 5x throughout the shave, I didn't have any redness, irration just an uncomfortable burn. It's got to be the EO's being used.
The same was true with the aftershave.
I'm going to put this away for now, I'll revisit at another time. I have so many good soaps/croaps and creams to use, no need for discomfort. Your Comfort May Vary.

 

Tuesday morning -


Prep - Noxzema & hot towel
Lather - Monsavon & suribachi
Brush - Baton 105 w/ 24mm 2-band @ 43.5mm
Razor - Wm. Greaves 7/8

2 pass
Warm water rinse & cold water splash
Alum block & Witch-hazel AS





A great shave this morning. The Greaves is pure silk and the lavender in the Monsavon gives a mild menthol-like effect, very nice and works well with the noxzema of course. I've noticed the same thing with the Speick as well. A light snow falling on & off all day here, but no real accumulation. Still, it's better than no snow at all; temps hovered right around 32ºF/0ºC all day. Have a good 'un folks.

 

The learning curve is gone, and I really like the scent on this soap.

It's good to see more variety on here now that No variation is over. I can only respect that level of dedication. I know I couldn't do it myself.

Hope all is well for you..gents.

 

Monday 12/1/14

Prep: glycerin soap
Pre-Shave Oil: Shave Secret
Brush: 20mm Whipped dog set deep
Scuttle: Georgetown Pottery
Razor: Gillette New Long Comb
Blade: voskhod
Lather: MDC with AOS Sandalwood
Post: Alum sprayed on
Witch Hazel: Generic Rose Scented
A/S: Stirling Sharp Dressed Man
Balm: Avon Musk Marine After Shave

I mixed in some AOS Sandalwood with the MDC this morning. That is a very nice aromatic and extremely smooth combination.

 

A little after the fact, but here was my 1-DEC shave:

PSO: Palmer's Cocoa Butter Formula Moisturizing Body Oil (where is my ShaveSecret? )
soap: Arko (in the small red tub)
brush: Omega 31064
razor: FaTip Grande (aka The Beast)
blade: Astra SP (1)
post: ISO Blue
A/S: Stetson - Original After Shave

After 23 days I was well past ready to remove the NovemBEARD (yes, I missed the first week learning how to tame The Beast). For my first full "enlightened" use of the FaTip, I set the variables to baseline. How can you go wrong with Arko? Astra SP is my all around steady performer. If the Omega 10049 and 10098 are "lather cannons," the 31064 is a .50 caliber BMG . I thought I would go for heavy coverage with increased visibility, rather than full on Omega Pro lather.

The Beast sailed through the beard for a 1 pass DFS like nobody's business. I was expecting it to slide right on through, but... WOW!

Second pass took it to BBS. I was a little bit overzealous in a couple of small spots under the jawbone, but nothing in the "ouch" category.

I used the Grande for today's shave, too. Awesome again. I may have to put it down just to refresh my memory on how great some of my other razors are. Currently, The Beast — along with the "ride the cap" technique — is leading me away from my other faves! Could it be the Highlander of razors? Never!

 

Given that I've sometimes felt NO burn from the Captain's Cat, that's interesting food for thought. Thanks for the review.

 

Give it a try, under $5 a puck.

 

December 3's

Nivea for Men Sensitive Face Wash
Cella Shaving Soap
Omega Pro 49 boar brush
Schick Krona
Feather Hi-Stainless
CWR, Asma Alum Block
Thayers Lemon WH
Pinaud Vegetal

The Cella Shaving Soap lathered well with my Omega Pro 49 Boar Brush. I am bowl lathering until I get the stitches out from my cheek. Two passes with my Schick Krona and Feather SS blade gave me a close, comfortable shave. After a cold water rinse, alum block, and a final cold water rinse, I finished off with Thayers Lemon WH and then Pinaud Vegetal after shave. I am clean, smooth, and refreshed...

 

Evening Shave for Tomorrow
A repeat performance using the same George Wostenholm razor. I had such a great shave with it the first time last night, I demanded an encore performance.
Using a new soap: WSP 'Pumpkin spice'—a gift from fellow TSD member, Don (@figment714 )— thanks again, Don! Great fall scent that ties in perfectly with the season! Makes quite a decent lather, too!
The overall scent blends very well with my Bay Rum aftershave. Thumbs up from the wife!
And by the way…another great shave, too.
Have a happy Humpday, all! Only 22 more shopping days left!

 

Shave of the Day

Prep: NONE. OUCH.
Razor: Merkur 34C
Blade: Supermax Super Platinum Tiger (2)
Brush: New Forest 2204 High Mountain Badger
Lather: Badger Navigator
Shave (setting): 2 passes; WTG, XTG + Cleanup
Post: Stypic pencil, Thayer's Rose Witch Hazel, Pinaud Clubman Virgin Islands Bay Rum

Shaving with no prep sucks. How do you guys get a decent shave when you're in a hurry? Cause I sure need the help.

I gave myself a few weepers and one nick from being too rushed, but in the end got an OK shave just not enjoyable.

The Badger brand soap is really nice. Smells very fresh, has bergamot and vetiver in it, VERY thick lather, I mean clogging up the razor after two swipes thick... Good slickness. Was a little pricey at 12 bucks (so the wife claims... Lol) but it's a pretty big puck and I like it. Def recommend.

So anyways. That was my rushed shave.

 

Tomorrow's Planned SOTD 12/03/2014
Razor: Weber w Bulldog Handle
Blade: Tomac SSS (Gillette Spoiler) (D9)
Brush: M&F 26mm 2-band Blonde
Shave Bowl: Doug Smith 5" Shaving Mug
Pre Shave Soap: MRGLO Lime
Pre Shave Oil: Saponificio Varesino
Shave Soap: Saponificio Varesino Fern
Post: Monster Alum Block
Aftershave: Saponificio Varesino Fern


​

 

Immensely!

It fixes the hair's attention to the music so it doesn't know what's happening until it's mowed down.

 

SOTD Dec 2nd
Prep: None, just went for it.
Blade: Personna Platinum
Razor: Gillette slim on 8
Brush: Omega 10066 Boar
Soap: Mike's Rose and Cedarwood
Post: Osage Rub and a little Vaseline.
It's been a while since I've used Mike's because I've been trying to use just the Fat for a month. Every time I come back to Mike's I remember why I like this soap so much. I'm not a fan of the Rose scent on this one, but the shave more than makes up for it.