SoS: January 19, 2015 - January 25, 2015

This poor soap tin hasn't gotten any love because of all of the recent soap samples, so today I decided to dust off the trusty WSO. It's too bad this not is not available anymore, but I respect the artisan's decision.

I was able to thread the 102 onto the elite razor handle, and it proved to be a great combo. I challenged myself to shave the left side of my face with my left hand (I'm right hand dominant), and it was easier than I expected. I really enjoyed the results, and will continue this way from now on.

It's cold and rainy out, but I'm feeling fresh and smooth. Have a good one gents...

 

Prep: Hot shower, olive oil soap, hair conditioner
Razor: Merkur 34C
Blade: Astra SP (3)
Brush: Omega 13109 Pure Badger
Cream: TOBS Jermyn Street
Post: Cold rinse, Alum, Thayers WH Original
A/S: Proraso White balm

Cloudy day, but I got a glorious shave today!

TOBS to the rescue! Having previous trouble with he Astra blade, today was a very nice irritation-free shave.

Have a wonderful Thursday!

 

SoTD for Thursday January 22, Damaskeen SElebration

Pre- 2x hot towel cycles w/ Kiehl's Face Fuel, followed w/ Clove Balsam PSO
Soap- La Pere Lucien Vetiver Bourbon
Brush- Baja w/ new boar knot
Razor- Gem Damaskeen 1912
Blade- Gem Stainless Steel
Rinse- Osage
Aftershave- Cordovan
Lotion- Kiehl's
Cologne- vintage British Royal



Continuing my length-pliable single edge celebration week, today belongs to the Gem Damaskeen 1912. This is one of a few that I own, and is my favorite. The fact that it is nearly unused is great, but as always the cardboard outer shell makes this one special to me. I love these illustrated slip cases, and I love the characteristic Gem art style. I call this guy Shaving Dad. He appears in a few different permutations on Gem items and I love every one of them. I'm a fan.
There isn't much I can say about the Damaskeen that hasn't been said. Nothing really... but to recap: It is a great razor. Excellent build quality. Excellent physical balance; it feels good in your hand. It also has a perfect balance of mildness/aggression. In my opinion, the Damaskeen 1912 is a core razor. A necessity if you are at all interested in the single edged design.
I have finally buckled to the hype around Gem Stainless Steel blades. I decided that I should try them, they must be good considering how glowing the reviews are. So today was the day to finally try them out. I wasn't blown away. Don't get me wrong, they are good blades. But I honestly don't see much difference between these stainless blades, and their carbon twins. I truly feel that the quality of my shave was no different. They are much better than the Pella carbons in the big dispenser, but equal to the Blue Star carbons. What is that you say? You thought those were the same blades? Well so did I. And after testing the two back to back several times, I no longer think so. The Blue Stars are significant better than the Gem science blades. So if that is the case, why spend the money on the stainless blades? They are considerably more expensive than carbon blades after all. It comes down to one word- durability. The Blue Stars are good. Great even. But carbon degrades quickly. Yes, you can dip them in alcohol, or glycerin, or store them facing east, or whatever tip you have heard to preserve blades. But other than using up time and effort, they will still decay faster than stainless. Much faster. I really do think it is worth the extra money to not have to worry about what voodoo I will use to keep my blade alive. But, as always, YMMV. Some of you guys might think the Gem ss blades are the best thing since sliced bread. Others may hate 'em. These are my opinions only, so add however many grains of salt you need to make it palatable.
The soap was again La Pere Lucien, but a different type. This is a limited edition Vetiver Bourbon I got from another TSD member. It is fantastic. Just simply amazing lather and performance. The fragrance is unique bordering on weird. I do not mean that in an insulting way... it is just so unlike anything else I have used. And honestly it is also totally unlike the fragrance I imagined based on the description. I really expected something else. But what I got is great. It is like I found the exact scent that I needed, despite not looking or knowing I wanted it. Did that make sense? If not, then just go with this; I love this soap!
Finally, just a quick word on the brush. I have been slowly progressing through finding homes for 11 new knots. I got the first five installed first. They were the glamorous knots. 2 different badger and 3 synthetic. Then it was time for the boars. Boring old boars. I got the first two in... and they were great. Fantastic, no frills, tough little workhorses. This brush is my third boar reknot, and two more are waiting to be fixed into permanent homes in their assigned handles. After using the badger and synthetic brushes, I was worried that I had bought too many boars and not enough of the others. But after using the three newly knotted boar brushes, I am again comfortable with the balance. Plus, a great unintended bonus of the boar knots is their cool messy blooms. Doing these brushes has been really rewarding. I cannot recommend it more. So if you have some old brushes laying around, get some refurb going. And if you don't, then get some old brushes to lay around! You will love it, I promise.

 

Did he stop making soaps for good?

 

SOTD
3P
Duke 3
Stirling Ozark Mountain
Ikon SB
Lab Blue (2)
Floid Black AS

I always forget how good this soap is, super slick. I reckon the slickest soap I own with the best post shave feel.

 

What he said!

 

As far as I know...yeah. I haven't seen an update in a while... It's a bit of a shame, because he made a damn good product. I would be great to see how well it would stand up to some of the more recent artisan explosion soaps.

 

Friday's


Nivea Men's Face Wash
Kiss My Face Cool Mint moisture shave
Wild Cherry STB
Schick L-1
Personna Injector
CWR, Asma Alum Block
Thayers Rose Petal WH
Aqua Velva

The Kiss My Face Cool Mint moisture shave face-lathered well with my Wild Cherry STB Brush. Two passes with my Schick L-1 and a Personna Coated SS 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 Petal WH and then Aqua Velva after shave. I am clean, smooth, and refreshed...

 

Tomorrow's Shave (01~23~15)

​

 

SOTD - Thursday, January 22, 2015

Hot shower
Prep: Homemade PSO
Brush: Simpsons Duke 3
Soap: Catie's Bubbles Spanish Holiday
Razor: Weber PH Bulldog
Blade: Personna Lab Blue (1)
Post: Nivea Men Sensitive PSB
Aftershave: Floid SE Mentolado Vigoroso

- Don

 

The rare night shave for me. I knew that I would be receiving a new cream today so I postponed todays shave.
Cream: Svoboda Apple Blossom
Brush: Fuller reknotted with TGN finest
Razor: '61 Aristocrat @ 5
Blade: Astra SP
AS: Lucky Tiger

 

Kropp 6/8
Kent Infinity Synthetic
Monsavon Soap

A great shave to round of a great evening. This evening I attended my first class back on the Tae Kwon Do mat tonight after a 2 year absence due to a herniated disc, in my back, which has got to the point where I doubt it will improve much further. As such its just a case of seeing if my body will let me get back to martial arts or not. Only time will tell but despite being totally out of condition I really enjoyed myself.​

 

2 In 1 Artic Freeze, After Shave Gel and Moisturizer

 

I agree! I'm glad I have a couple of tins, seeing your SOTD will have me use one on Sunday. Great soaps.

 

In Russian, that's read as Yablon'iev'uy Tsvyet which means Appleseed Colour. I know because Russian is for me a childhood language, and I speak, read, and write it perfectly. I also have that cream and it's pretty good.

 

Friday's planned shave:

Neutrogena Men Facial Wash
Large Horsehair Barbershop
Super Speed/7 AM day 4
Stirling Glacial Lavender SS
Gold Bond Moisturizer
Osage Rub AS
Grey Flannel EdT

Finally our weather will be warming up a little, (thank God!) so I've selected a great set-up which is guaranteed to put plenty of icicles in my face. The Neutrogena facial wash gets the ball rolling, the first pass with the Glacial Lavender soap will freeze a penguin to death, and the second pass with it feels even ten times colder. After a nice massage with the Gold Bond moisturizer which feels really chilly, a couple of good slaps of the Rubby Dubby Doo can almost numb you. Guess who's going to have fun shiverin' while shavin'!

 

Thanks for that info. Appleseed Colour...interesting...
Yes I found it to be a good cream but I can't figure out how to describe the smell....its like apple pectin, birch tar soap, and something green (perhaps the hypericum ?)

 

FRIDAY
Evening Shave for Tomorrow
Uneventful yet enjoyable 3-pass shave from the Big Imp & MdC.
Have a blessed day, all!

 

SOTD 22 Jan 2015

RAZOR: Gillette New Deluxe
BRUSH: Klenzo - restored
BLADE: Gillette 7 0'Clock Black
SOAP: Arko

​

 

Friday's Planned SOTD 1/23/15

Razor: Phoenix Double OC
Blade: Super Iridium(4)
Brush: EJ XL Synthetic Silvertip Fibre
Bowl: Doug Smith 5" Shaving Mug
Pre Shave Scrub: SPAtopia Dead Sea Scrub
Pre Shave Oil: Homemade Lavender Mint
Shave Soap: CRSW Select Vetiver
Post: Monster Alum Block
Aftershave: HTGAM Al-Fin


​