SoS: January 12, 2015 - January 18, 2015

Menthol Monday:

Prep: Hot shower, Neutrogena Invigorating wash, TSD Jasmine Sambac Preshave balm
Soap: Stirling Glacial Obsidian
Brush: Simpsons 56 Best Badger
Razor: Merkur 41c 1904 OC Nickel
Blade: Asco SS (1)
Passes: WTG, XTG (1, 2)
Post: Cold water splash, Bloc Osma Alum, Dickinson's WH, Aqua Velva Ice Blue AS splash
Cologne: Xeryus by Givenchy

As cold as it has been, I must be slightly crazy to use the Glacial Obsidian today. . . though it's 20 degrees warmer today than yesterday! It lathered about as well as I can get Stirling to lather. Compared to the Big Ben, the Asco was much smoother and sharper to my face, making for a more comfortable shave. That said, I decided not to press my luck and stopped with a 2-pass, DFS without any problems.

 

Prep - Shower / Woods Of Windsor Cedar Woods soap / Pre-lather / 3 min steam towel
Razor - Gillette Fat Handled Tech
Blade - Feather Hi-Stainless (#3)
Brush - Omega 20106
Soap - Arko / Eucalyptus & OrangeEO's
After - Frozen towel / Alum / Witch Hazel
Result - BBS

Continually amazed at the results from the Tech & Feather combination. It's almost too easy and I wish I'd started out with it.

 

Menthol for Monday
12 Jan 2015
Pre - Corn Huskers
Soap - CO Bigelow
Brush - Vulfix 660S Medium
Razor - Merkur 34C
Blade - Ladas (1)
AS - Barbasol Brisk

Couple of first's today. Ladas blade, this was so smooth i had to check to make sure the blade was in the razor. DFS+ and zero sting with alum block, needless to say I ordered bulk from ebay pricing is a steal on these right now. The other was Barbasol Brisk. Pretty good for cheap AS. For some reason today between the cream, cold rise and AS my face really felt the cold.

 

Monday

Muhle R106 head on Ikon Bulldog Handle (for maximum awesomeness)
Simpson Colonel in Best
C&S 88 soap
Lucido splash
persona plat.

Fantastic shave to start the day! Have a great week everyone!

 

Fantastic shave this morning.

Razor: British Gillette Rocket
Blade: GSB (1)
Soap: 3P
Brush: SOC Boar
A/S: Pinaud Lilac Vegetal

 

Prep: Hot shower w/ Grandpa's Pine Tar Soap
Brush Omega 13522
Soap: Arko
Razor: '46-'50 Gillette Heavy Gold Tech (I think)
Blade: Shark Super Stainless
Post: Witch hazel, Nivea Sensitive, Pinaud Lime Sec

Nice smooth shave today. Trying to put more emphasis on post shave skincare. Also still working on my lathering. I want to like the Shark SS blades but I seem to be getting the same corner-of-the-mouth irritation I get with the Derby blades. Digging the Lime Sec sample, bit summery for this time of year though.

 

We should strive for maximum awesomeness everyday!

 

Planned SOTD 13 January 2015
Day 11 of 30
30 Day Rule with a Slim​

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J2 Gillette Slim Adjustable
Kroger Israeli Personna
VDH Kit Badger
TSD Lanolin Shave Stick - Barber Shoppe Scent
Today's Great Cheap AS™ is Skin Bracer!

After a good shave on dial setting seven...day 11 continues my thirty day rule!

Check out the 30 Day Crew as we write about our month of focus on razor technique and share our experiences throughout January. Read about it here:
30 Day Rule Pic/Discussion Thread- All are Welcome!





Join in the fun in 2015!
4 Guys - 2 Soaps


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MENTHOL MONDAY: 1/15

Actually, most days are "menthol" days, just because.

Razor: 1958 Fat Boy custom
Blade: SuperMax Platinum
Brush: WD silvertip
Soap: Stirling Black Ice (brrr)
AS: Barbasol Pacific Rush (brrrrrr)

Shave #4 (or is it 3?) with my custom fat boy (on 7, then 4). More importantly, #4 (or 3) with the SuperMax blade. I've found the blade to be as smooth as the Astra SP, but it doesn't seem as sharp? (Does that make sense?) I've made this assumption because stubble seems to reappear earlier in the day. Also seems to require a bit more "work" in my trouble areas, much like a mild razor. Will see if I can get one more shave out of it, then switch to an Astra to compare. Still having the time of my life! (Sounds sorta sad doesn't it?).

 

Classic Excellence
Proraso Red is really great for me, full of Shea butter. The lather monster set 'em up and my New LC mowed 'em down in comfort and style. I finished up with Latha AS and I was ready to shovel snow before work. The snow today was much heavier and wetter than the powdery stuff we got last week. It's all going to freeze tonight anyway.

Prep: Shea Moisture Scrub
Soap: Proraso Red Barba Dure
Bush: HIS lather monster
Razor: Gillette New LC
Blade: Astra SP

 

Purty photo!

 

Razor Reveal Week - DAY 6

I almost forgot about Menthol Monday, so I had to call an audible to my soap choice. I used my mentholated Winter Woods from BSBC instead for today's shave, and the razor of choice was the GEM Micromatic Clog-Proof. This one felt much better than the open comb, but still took me a few strokes to figure out the angle. These razors have a longer handle compared to my other SE's, but require a much more flat angle of attack. Once I had it dialed in, it was smooth sailing for the next two passes.

The soap provided a fresh and cool lather with a nice smooth post shave feel. Overall, a very nice shave, and I can't wait to do it all over again tomorrow...

Have a good one gents!

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SOTD - Menthol Monday, Jan 12, 2015

Hot shower
Prep: Peppermint PSO
Brush: B&B Essential Boar
Soap: Stirling Glacial Lemon Chill
Razor: Merkur 38C
Blade: Super-Max Titanium (3)
Post: Stirling Lemon Chill WH
Aftershave: TSD Iced SubZero splash

- Don

 

Day 10 - Thirty Days with Merkur 34c (Jan 1-Feb 4 [No shave on Saturdays]) BSG 1-12-2015

Hot Shower and Prep - Nivea Men Sensitive Skin Face Wash, & Wm. Neumann & Co. Peppermint Leaf Bar Soap
Razor Merkur 34c
Blade Astra SP (4)
Brush - Plisson Synthetic
Lather - Poraso Green
Post - Warm & cool water rinse, Neutrogena Men Razor Defense Post Shave Lotion

Two passes N-S & S-N then just a few touches for surprise BBS. Experimented a bit with some odd angles on the neck. Not sure if that made a difference or not.
The Plisson Synthetic does a great job of holding the water so my lather was on the wet side. But even being too wet the Proraso still did a great job.

 

My planned shave for Tuesday morning:

L'Oreal Men Expert Facial Wash
Large Horsehair Barbershop
Super Speed/new SuperMax Blue
Proraso Green SS
Lubriderm Unscented Moisturizer
Proraso Green AS

For this shave which I'm using a brand of blades which is completely new and foreign to me I'm going to exercise a lot of caution, although I heard that these SuperMax Blues are supposed to be very smooth as well as sharp. I'm also going to tone down the menthol somewhat because it's supposed to be bitterly cold again. The Proraso Green is a favourite soap of mine, as is the matching aftershave.

 

One of your best photos. In my opinion at least. How was the Valobra?

 

13 January 2015 Shaving Plan

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Prep: Warm shower, Anthony Logistics Glycolic Face Wash
Lather: Mike's Natural Peppermint & Rosemary
Brush: Simpson Duke 3 Best Badger
Razor: Schick Krona
Blade: Astra Superior Platinum - #1
Post: Cold Rinse, Jack Black Double Duty Face Moisturizer

Forgot what a nice shave I can get with a Krona. Not a bad Monday morning shave. Also, as close to Menthol Monday as I can get with my current supplies. Have a pleasant week, gents.

 

Tuesday's


Nivea Men's Face Wash
TOBS Grapefruit
Wild Cherry STB
Schick M2 Adjustable
Personna Injector
CWR, Asma Alum Block
Thayers Rose Petal WH
FD Old Spice AS

The TOBS Grapefruit Shaving Cream face-lathered well with my Wild Cherry STB Brush. Two passes with my Schick M2 Adjustable and Personna Injector 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 Rose Petal WH and then Family Dollar Old Spice after shave. I am clean, smooth, and refreshed...

 

Planned SOTD for January 13, 2015

This will be the 12th day of my 30-day adventure to improve my shaving skills using the Mongoose. Preshave will consist of a warm shower and face wash using Cetaphil Daily Skin Cleanser. I will use my Kent BK4 brush and face lather using Mike's Natural Soap and a few drops of glycerin.

This will be the second shave on the Feather Pro blade on a two-pass shave. My goal is to achieve a close shave with no nicks or irritation! As usual, I plan to finish with Thayer's Lavender Witch Hazel and unrefined shea butter.

Have a great day, everyone!