Tabacstag! Today I returned to old reliable Tabac, though I refrained from making überlather so as to better evaluate the oils, to take the soap out of the equation while I attempt to evaluate pre shave oils. I used a Personna blade today and tried dialing down the FB to compensate, starting with a pass at seven rather than my usual nine. I think it worked, but I could have dialed down further for the last pass. No drama, great shave. I finished up with KFBR - my favorite bay rum aftershave. I have maybe one more use before I need to get a refill. Pre Shave Oil Comparison day 4 Once again the Shea Moisture offering is thicker and somehow makes my face feel warm - the only one of the four having this effect. I wonder if I am a bit sensitive to one of its ingredients, but it does not cause redness at least. I could smell the eucalyptus in the Maggard's oil better today - its a much less humid day, with fewer allergens, so my nose is more clear. I think I have to give the nod to Shea Moisture in this round, but its close. Neither oil seemed to make a big difference in the shave, but I find the side with SM to be a little bit more comfortable. I predict either of these would fall to the Van Yulay I used earlier in the week, however. I will find out with SM vs. VY tomorrow and Friday. Prep: Shea Moisture pre shave oil, Maggard's pre shave oil Soap: Tabac! Brush: HIS Synthetic Razor: '59 Fatboy 7/7/7 Blade: Personna Lab Blue (1) AS: Krampert's Finest Acadian Spice Bay Rum
7/15/2015 Wool Fat Wednesday! Prep: Hot shower with Neutrogena Face Wash with menthol, home made PSO Razor: Star 1912, John Jay Velvet Shaver straight razor Blade: GEM Blue Star SE blade (3) Brush: Turkish #6 Soap: Mitchell's Wool Fat After: Home made ASB Cologne: Polo Extreme Sport It is Wool Fat Wednesday!! The #6 brush whipped the MWF into a nice and thick lather this morning. The Star and the Velvet shaver knocked down the stubble with ease. The Polo was a nice finish for this Darn Fine Shave. Have a blessed day!
SOTD Schick Krona Astra SP (1) Satin Tip synthetic Col. Conk Bay Rum Thayer's Rose Dally Beauty Supply Bay Rum This is basically a "cheap products shave" but it did the job very well. I found this Col. Conk that I'd forgotten is in my den so I decided to use it because I don't think I've used their stuff since my first month wet shaving and nobody ever talks about it in the shaving world. It was an alright soap. The scent was almost non-existent to me but it lathered up pretty quickly. The lather seemed to die off a bit in between passes but a touch of water revived it right away. The Krona/Astra combination is absolutely incredible. That's all that needs to be said about that.
Razor: Feather AS-D2 2015 Brush: Fuller Amber Badger 1920s -1940s Mug: Old Spice 1985 Cobalt Blue Cream: Jack Black cream Blade: Feather (2) Post shave: Thayers Cucumber WH, Jack Black Post Shave Gel, Old Spice Lime original Shulton AS Frosted Glass 1960s Locked in the Feather blade in the Feather and off we go to another great shave. Whipped up some great lather with the JB and the Badger. Another nice 2 pass shave. Finished with the WH, and then some soothing JB. After cleanup some vintage Old Spice Lime from the '60s. I'm just an Old Spice junkie, but it has to be original Shulton, and the Lime is my favorite. Have a good one y'all!
July 15, 2015 30-Day Focus - Blade Trials for Gillette Tech Weekly Trial for: Personna Red, Derby Green, Gillette Silver Blue, Voskhod Hot Shower Pre-Shave Oil: Gingers Garden Soap: TSD SubZero (Iced with 2 drops of TSD M-Bomb) Brush: Omega Pro 48 Razor: Gillette Tech “Fat Handle” Blade: Gillette Silver Blue (1) TSD Witch Hazel After Shave: Myrsol Blue Decided that 5 shaves was enough of a trial for Derby, which happened to Personna Red as well. Onto the GSB, a nice PIF from @Bama Samurai Nice? I’d say! Interesting that I happened to follow the Personna Reds and Derby with the GSB. Felt like night and day to me. The others were sharp enough, but the first pass with GSB took off more depth and was noticeably more smooth. A very comfortable two-pass shave! Refining my jawline stretch approach is showing progress. Cheers! - RT
SOTD 07.15.2015 Prep: Shower Razor: Gillette Aristocrat Blade: Rapira Super Stainless (3) Brush: Omega 13109 Lather: Cella Post: Cold rinse, Alum, Witch Hazel, TBS Maca Root ASB First time trying out Cella. The shave went well, but all I wanted to do the entire time was eat the lather. Anyways, this cream is definitely going in my rotation. Now I feel like getting an espresso shot and a biscotti.
Prep: hot shower followed by MR GLO. Brush: Semogue owners club boar. Cream: TOBS Peppermint. Mug: Fine lather bowl. Razor: Ikon OSS. Blade: Voskhod (1) Post shave: alum followed by Stirling Lemon Chill witch hazel and aloe. Gave the OSS a little love today. Open comb side exclusively for three passes WTG, XTG, ATG. A little clean up by j-hooking on the neck and had a nice BBS. I forgot how good the OSS shaves. Zero irritation as proven by no feedback from the alum. I love how Stirling's WH & Aloe makes my skin feel. All in all a great shave.
Razor: Gillette SS, 1948-49 Blade: Personna Blue (5) Brush: Omega 10066 Soap: Razo Rock Don Donato A/S: Pinaud Musk Outstanding razor, blade, soap, brush, and after shave ending in a DFS & BBS. What more could you ask for. Okay 8 under par would be great also. This brush has performed above and beyond the call of duty since my wife bought it for me. Couldn't be more happy with it. If someone is looking for a first or second brush you couldn't go wrong with the Omega 10066. Out..
Thank you, Don! You have a beautiful collection of vintage Gillette razors, so I take that as a high compliment.
