SoS: July 6, 2015 - July 12, 2015

July 8, 2015

30-Day Focus - Blade Trials for Gillette Tech

One week trial for each brand:
Personna Red, Derby Green, Gillette Silver Blue, Voskhod

Hot Shower
Pre-Shave Oil: Gingers Garden
Soap: Catie's Bubbles Mile High Menthol
Brush: Omega Pro 48
Razor: Gillette Tech “Fat Handle”
Blade: Personna Red (1)
RazoRock Alum
After Shave: Myrsol Agua Di Limon



First time using Catie's MHM - what a great lather with a refreshingly cold, brisk sensation and a mild minty scent with eucalyptus. Thankfully I didn't lose any feeling on my skin as I was guiding the razor through its paces. Do I dare use it for a 3-pass? I think I'll work up to it in time, after all I'm not one of the TSD Mentheads !!! (you know who you are!) The AS splash of Myrsol Limon paired nicely with the MHM to chill me out to face another scorcher here in Seattle!

Ok, I like those products but I’m scratching my head a bit about this blade. Four shaves so far with two, or maybe three shaves left with my trial of the Personna Red brand. We’ll see how it goes.

Cheers!
- RT

 

Razor: Gillette Flare Tip (A3)
Blade: Feather (6)
Brush: WDC 5- Whipped Dog knot Boar/ Green Handle
Soap: RazoRock Don Donato
A/S: Pinaud Clubman Citrus Musk Eau De Cologne
Three passes.
Excellent shave tonight. Learning a new respect for boar brushes. I find that less backbone seems to work best for me.

 

Here's what's on tap for Thursday:

Neutrogena Men Facial Wash
Large Horsehair Barbershop
Super Speed/Derby day 2
Godrej Menthol Mist SC
Anherb AS Conditioner
Alcolado Glacial Menthol Splash
Brut Cologne

The Godrej Menthol Mist cream was calling my name begging to be used so this is what I decided to go with, and why not - it's excellent stuff. I love the scent, the way it lathers, and it's DAMNED cold. OK, maybe it lacks a wee bit in the moisturizing department but then again I have the Anherb conditioner to back me up there. The Penguin is a great way to keep well-chilled and comfortable, and its scent doesn't clash with a cologne or an eau de toilette. Man, I love these Derby blades - what smoothness and sharpness they have.

 

Thursday's


Dove Men Face Wash
Kiss My Face Cool Mint moisture shave
Semogue 1800
Gillette NEW SC
Sputnik
CWR, Asma Alum Block
Thayers Lemon WH
Pinaud Clubman

The Kiss My Face Cool Mint moisture shave face-lathered well with my Semogue 1800 Boar brush. Two passes with my Gillette NEW SC razor and a Sputnik 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 Clubman after shave. I am clean, smooth, and refreshed...

 

SOTD/JULY 8th

Bolzano/4
Merkur 47c

 

Me three...

 

SOTD 7/8/15

All I can say is “Wow!”

PREP: Hot shower
RAZOR: Ikon Shavecraft 102 Slant (w/ Ikon OSS handle)
BLADE: Astra SP (1)
BRUSH: Whipped Dog Silvertip
SOAP: Stirling Sharp Dressed Man
AS: Barbasol Pacific Rush

Wednesday morning was my first shave with the Ikon slant (or any slant, for that matter) and I must say I’m impressed and very happy! @RaZorBurn123 said there was a bit of a learning curve, but it was very short. Initially I found myself “correcting” the head position thereby canceling out the benefit of the slant, but I managed to stop that before it became a habit.

This is probably the heaviest razor I’ve tried, particularly because of the long OSS handle. But I found the razor still had a comfortable balance in my hand. I remembered to let the weight of the razor do the work and as my shave progressed I found the the “sweet spot” where the blade was doing its best and the razor seemed to glide across my face. I don’t recall much audible feedback, but the feel changed when the whiskers were gone. I did my usual 3 passes (WTG, XTG, ATG) and would classify this first shave with the Ikon as a DFS, not perfect, but very, very nice. But, since I tend to “chase the baby” a bit, my definition of DFS may be a little to strict. All I know is it’s 9:30 pm and I still feel very little beard growth. I don’t remember my shaves staying this close this long.

This is a really wonderful razor.

 

Thursday Planned SOTD
Razor: ATT H1/Wolfman WRH2
Blade: Gillette Spoiler (D4)
Brush: Shavemac Americana D01 24mm
Bowl: Georgetown G12
Pre Shave Scrub: RazoRock GLO
Pre Shave Oil: Homemade Rosemary Mint
Shave Soap: Mitchells’ Wool Fat
Post: Monster Alum Block
Aftershave: TOBS Lavender Water


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Slim set at 5, Big Ben, BF Greenie, Tabac, Thayer's and Nivea Balm

 

Day 8 - 8 July 2015

30 Days of Maggard and MITA!
(Blade trial)


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Day 8 means halfway through the the blade selections in the PIF box from @Bobcat. So far these Super Max are my least fave of the four I have tried. The 7O'Clock SS, ASCO SS, and 7O'Clock SP are 1-2-3 at this juncture. I find the ASCO and 7O'C SS to be perfectly acceptable blades. The big thing I am noticing is the the Maggard is less aggressive than the Cadet from last month. The Maggard with the top 2 is giving me a really good shave, but 3-4 lack in the sharpness department, vis-a-vis the return of stubble faster than usual. Next up is Rapira Swedish Supersteel, followed Rapira PL, GSB, and Gillette Platinum. The Stirling MITA is the soap all month. If you like citrus and menthol, you should try it! @Bobcat has good taste in both soap and razors!

Today's shave was alright, just alright. See the decanted green AS in the pic? That's the Veg. It's how I finished up the shave after another gloomy, smoky, cold day. Other than that...all is quiet in Colorado.

Have a Super Tuesday!
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That blade is a forum fave. I wanted to like it and didn't. I need to revisit sometime.

 

Rest well my friend! I hope you're back to full speed soon.

 

In HS, I played that Social D cassette tape until it broke.

 

Thursday morning shave. Once again I disobey the manipulate only one variable in a scientific approach toward the perfect shave. Well, it was a great shave, so who cares!



No prep product apart from regular shower and face wash
Holy Black Sandalwood Smoke soap
Omega mixed midget brush
Newly acquired Fatboy loaded with a Bolzano Set at three and six for passes one and two, respectively
Finish: Holy Black Sandalwood Smoke splash and some pure shea butter

I have to say that all elements, old and new, performed flawlessly. The best shave in a couple of weeks, for sure. The soap producer has met some criticism on Reddit, I know, but I have no complaints - speedy shipping and, from my limited experience, easy and good latherability. Also, the Fatboy by far outperforms the Super Speed!

@Misphit, on Bolzano: definitely like it so far. (Other favorites are Polsilver, Gillette 7 o'clocks, and a Feather every now and then). But there's the variables issue again, given that I used the Fatboy for the first time.

 

Count me in with liking that brush. How does it perform?

 

Good picture also!

 

A great shave again just now. The Godrej Menthol Mist felt nice and cold, and the Penguin was so icy afterwards!

 

Shave for 9 July through 12 July

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July 9 SOTD:

Homemade PS Oil
Simpsons Commodore X3 Best Badger
Stirling Glacial Spearmint
Phoenix Dbl OC
Stirling Unscented PSB
TOBS Sandalwood AS