Now I am wondering if I should hold off on the GIT. Truly, the Bevel has barely any scent whatsoever, in complete contrast with the Signature, which has a fairly strong, lasting scent.
Send a shave tried the Marco method and it works really well. I haven't used that method in a long time, I don't know why. Razor - ever ready 1912 Blade - Gem Lather - Saponaficio Varesino Manna Brush - Pilsson synthetic Aftershave - Trumpers sandalwood skin food.
I do...... I also enjoy Coates, I tried a sample of Cyril R Salter wild rose, it was nice. I have rose from Pyrate' cove. want to try rose of Bulgaria so it's fair to say, I like the roses.
30 Day Rule - July 2015 July 19th Razor - Feather SS AC/Gillette New LC Blade - (3) (2) Brush - Omega 10066 (BoS) Soap - Mitchell's Wool Fat Post - Cold Water splash, The Veg Back to the shave today. Head shave first since it's that day. I have one setup for that which is the VDH Boar brush and VDH Deluxe soap and the Merkur 23c with an Astra. I am so dialed in on this setup for my head I don't even consider a change. Great result every time and it's smooth as can be when it's done. On to the face and we're back to the Feather SS. Decided to do a bit of experimenting today. I've been working Japanese style all month, using only my right hand and the same side of the razor to my face. It's a fairly high learning curve and I've gotten mixed results as expected. For today I decided to go to the less difficult two handed approach using each hand on its own side. No change, obviously on my right side but it brings the left hand into play. Grabbed the BoS and went to work on the MWF. I think I've found the perfect match with those two. Effortless to load the brush and even get the lather going on the puck and the face lather is just luxurious. First pass with the SS on the right side was about as good as it gets. Very good feel, great near DFS result on that one pass and all is well. Switched to the left hand and made a couple of strokes. Re-lathered that spot and did it again and stopped to ponder. Yeah, my left hand has always been the weak and semi-useless stepchild but it just didn't feel right. So, I switched in mid stroke to the Japanese style again with my right hand. Wow. That was easy. Finished the left cheek that way and went back to my left hand for the left neck. Now THAT felt ok and got a good result. I may have developed a new style for AC shaving. Right on right, Go Japanese on the left face then left on left on the neck. The result of that one pass (with all of its changes) was a very near DFS. At that point I grabbed the Gillette, went a quick XTG over everything and have a very very nice DFS for two passes. Hard to beat that. No nicks, cuts or other issues so I hit the cold water, toweled off and got out the Veg. Yeah, so it gave me a quick burn.....the afterglow and aroma was worth it! I think I'm going to try that modified approach again tomorrow and see if I can repeat the result and even go XTG with that approach. If it works I may have invented the Russian style for using an AC. Or, perhaps since it's a mix of Japanese and American styles it should be the Alaskan style? Hawaiian style? Sushi with a beer style? Hmmmmm.........
Agree regarding Signature scent. Only one's I haven't tried are Bevel and Bill the Barber but over all I liked the soap and one of the better triple milled I have tried.
Shave of the day Pre- Hot shower, Olive oil bath soap Soap/cream- The Shave Den Pumkin harvest shaving soap Brush- Turkish nr 6 Boar Razor- Gillette Tech Blade- Astra SP (2) Post- Cold water rinse, Pinaud Clubman classic vanilla aftershave lotion, Homemade unscented mentholated aftershave lotion and Nivea sensitive cooling aftershave balm It was a long time ago since I used Pumpkin harvest. Last time I used it I got some irritation. Today I handlthered the soap, so I didn't get the irritation. I heard someone talk about that sometimes when people get irritation it can depend on facelathering. I do not get this irritation from my other TSD Soap, which I'm very happy about because it might be my favorite menthol soap =P It worked, im very happy about that! Because the scent of this soap... OMG! I The Tech is proving to be a good shaver =D good combo with the Astra SP.
SOTD - Sunday, July 19, 2015 Cool shower Prep: Homemade PSO Brush: Rooney 1/2 Super Silvertip Soap: Stirling Padre Island Razor: Weber PH Blade: Rapira (5) Aftershave: Floid SE Mentolado Vigoroso
Sunday: Prep: Hot shower, Neutrogena Invigorating Face Wash, TSD Jasmine Sambac preshave balm Brush: Simpsons 56 Best Badger Lather: RazoRock One-X croap Razor: Merkur 41c 1904 OC OC Blade: Bic (2) Passes: WTG, XTG, XTG (3, 4, 5) Post: Cold water splash, Bloc Osma Alum, Dickinson's WH, RazoRock One-X AS splash Cologne: Le 3e Homme de Caron by Caron I had a really comfortable shave this morning with lather that, theoretically, I should have added a bit more water to, as it got a little pasty by the end. DFS+ results, or so I thought, but I noted that I had sprouted a weeper when I looked in the mirror after getting dressed. I guess it's a good indicator of a sharp blade when the cut doesn't even register when you run over it with alum.
Razor: Gillette Black Handle Flair Tip (P1) Blade: Wilkinson Sword(1) Brush: WDC-5 Bowl: KnockOut Shave Soap: Jacks Shave Soap A/S: Afta Outstanding shave this evening. Jacks soap is excellent as is the razor, blade, and A/S.
Friendly reminder that we start a new SOTD thread HERE tomorrow. As I've done in previous weeks I will close this thread for a short time late tonight, early tomorrow morning. Happy shaving! Kerry
Prep - Shower / Woods Of Windsor Cedar Woods soap / Pre-lather / 3 min steam Razor - Ever Ready 1912 Blade - GEM Personna SS (#5) Brush - Omega 20106 Soap - Arko / Nanny's / Glycerine After - Freezer Towel / Alum & WH Result - BBS++ If I used a 1912 every time, what would I use for special occasions? When I use it, I feel like I'm going to meet the Queen or something similar. The results always surprise me. Lather tonight was among the best I've ever used. I found myself a nice bowl in a charity shop and it's just about perfect for me. First use of this combination, very protective.
July 19, 2015 SOTD 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: Catie's Bubbles Mile High Menthol Brush: Omega Pro 48 Razor: Gillette Tech “Fat Handle” Blade: Voskhod (1) TSD Witch Hazel After Shave: Myrsol Agua Di Limon First shave with the Voskhod - the 4th brand of blades in the month-long Focus. This will be a 3-pass shave on a two-day growth. 1st WTG - Nice. Provided a bit more feedback then I remember from the GSB but it sang a slicing tune, no tugs. 2nd XTG - quiet smooth, so smooth I thought I'd go on a chase, but... 3rd ATG - decided to just go thru my new motion (pulled skin for jawline) and just stay with technique. Very nice shave. Obviously this will be a contender to join GSB on the "Preferred" list for the Gillette Tech. We'll see! Stay cool all! Cheers! RT
SOTD: Today (Sunday) Razor; 1958 Fat Boy Day 2 (Saturday) and Day 3 (Sunday) for my Fat Boy / Ikon 102 comparison. The comparison is for my own edification mostly. The FB is one of my favorite razors, but the Ikon really impressed. Saturday and Sunday I put the FB on 6 and completed a 2-pass shave (XTG, WTG) with comparable results to the Ikon. BUT, the experience was not as enjoyable, mainly because I really had to pay attention to the angle of the FB to get it to perform. As I said earlier, the Ikon is VERY heavy and much bigger than my FB. Here's a comparison to my FB and my long handle SA. The FB is shorter, lighter and generally smaller. The SA is longer, but that's it. It's also lighter and thinner. What does it all mean? Who knows...maybe the balance of the universe...or maybe it's just because I like different razors.
Thanks. Steve (Oscar11) crafts an exceptional boar brush. Easy-on-the-eyes and a top performer. The brush, that is. Steve may be as well, but I cannot personally attest to this fact.
