I used Arko in western KY on a spring trip. The water in that area is very soft, and lathers much easier than the rock hard water in Colorado.

October 26, 2015

The Eve of World Series Week

Finishing up on OC October. I've introduced myself to four OC razors.
Gillette New LC
Schick Type C1
Standard Safety Razor
Gillette Goodwill
Today will be my first shave with the Goodwill.

Morning shave
Hot Shower
Soap: Barrister & Mann Diamond Shave Soap
Brush: Omega Pro 48 Boar
Razor: Gillette Goodwill
Blade: 7 o’clock (Blues) (1)
TSD Witch Hazel
Aftershave: Old Spice 1967



I'm warming up for the start of the World Series on Tuesday with a shave soap that captures the scent of the ballpark! It brings me right back to the smell of the grass, clay dirt and even a hint of tobacco, beer and a bit of mustard! I couldn't be more excited to see my hometown team back in the Series - Amazing!

Play Ball!
RT

Could very well be a water issue...quick think Bama!
I usually make sure my beard is completely hydrated...then hold the soap's open end under hot running water for like 20 seconds....then apply by rubbing the stick in tight circles on my face...re wet and wipe ATG strokes on my whiskers til every hair has it's own little white ball of Arko hanging from it....
For the last minute of this I have had my brush being blasted by hot running water in the sink while I've been appling the soap...Now I pick up the brush, a couple wrist snapping shakes to get rid of excess water and hit my face scrubbing....and I'll dip the brush tips into the sink water if I need more water...and I just scrub with the brush til I have the lather I want...

The only time this hasn't worked for me was with some strange water in some hotels...like salt water in the shower...But usually Arko is bullet-proof....If you have tried my technique to no avail it could be a ph balence thing too...

Thoughts?

Only one taker? Is that because the answer is so obvious ?

Another one sold. Thanks Doug @Douglas Carey for putting this together.

10/26/15
Gillette NEW LC
Vulfix Super Badger (660)
Kiss My Face Lavender and shea moisture shave cream
Aqua Velva Ice Blue

Shave #1 with a fresh Gillette Silver Blue in my New LC.
Face lather and 2 full passes: Pass 1 XTG. Great reduction. Pass 2: ATG. Rinsed and did a minor touch up where I could easily feel stubble. Very nice DFS at that point. A cold water rinse followed by a small amount of touch up and the baby came home. The Aqua Velva was mild today.

A nice BBS from the Gillette Silver Blue in my New LC. Smooth and comfortable. There were times when I was tempted to make sure I had a blade in the razor. The Shave My Face cream is vegan and the fragrance seems very faint, almost non-existent. It gave good protection and rinsed off more quickly than the Proraso.

Have a great Monday!

October 26th SOTD
Two days’ growth
Preshave: Hot Shower
Razor: Union Cutlery Spike (near) Wedge, 11/16
Strop: Drygulch Leatherworks Oiled Latigo
Brush: Handturned Tulip Poplar Badger
Soap: Homestead Ranch Goat butter soap, Rosewood
Postshave: Cold Water Rinse, Alum Block, Thayer’s Witch Hazel
Aftershave: Pinaud Clubman with M-Bomb added, Pacific Shaving Co, Caffeinated Aftershave

Today was not a good shave. I really struggled with this soap, and getting it to lather well. I think part of it might be the size of the cup it comes in, which is smaller than my brush head. I got out my Omega 1066 to see if it would do better, but didn’t start over, just added to the existing lather. Ended up with a very thin soap with very little glide or cushion. In my best Neal (@NCoxSTL) voice, I asked myself what’s the worst that could happen.

Did one and a half passes, since the shave on Saturday was such a good one there wasn’t much to work with. ATG, then XTG for the touch up on the neck and chin. I realized that my face was a little tender, like I had used a paint scraper rather than a razor. The Alum was like a solid full armed swing slap to the face. Witch Hazel did nothing to calm that down. Clubman felt like getting round housed while recovering from the earlier slap. Waited about 10 minutes, and used the Caffeinated Aftershave Balm. Did two rounds with that, and my face is still irritated.

Smoothness was a DFS, Irritation today was a D-. (Keith, @Keithmax, I am totally stealing the way you rate shaves.) On the plus side, check out my new watch and ring set. Have had the watch band for a while, but finally put a new watch in it.

We all have off days. Maybe the next shave will be better. Cool watch and ring.

10/26/2015
Razor – Wolfman OC with Hempel Ti
Blade – Feather (3)
Brush – Romera Olivewood Synthetic
Lather – B&M Latha
Post - Witch Hazel & Fine Platinum



A great 3 pass with touch ups shave this Morning. I would rate the smoothness and results as a solid A. I am really starting to get the hang of these shave sticks. Finished off with a splash of Fine Platinum.

OCtober Focus Day 25:

Homemade PS Oil
Stirling Synthetic Brush
Stirling Glacial Spearmint
Phoenix Dbl OC
Osage Rub
Stirling Unscented PSB -- Mentholated
Stirling Glacial Lemon Chill AS

I went menthol today, and it was very cold. It got me moving this early Monday morning. The Phoenix and Voskhod combo was again great; I almost hated putting the blade in my blade bank. But, tomorrow I will start with a fresh Voskhod blade in my New LC and work on that for the remainder of the month.

SOTD
October 26, 2015
Prep: Hot Shower. Axe Energizing Face Wash Boost
Razor: Gillette British Rocket
Blade: Personna Lab Blue
Lather: Prairie Creations DdC Aqua di Gio
Brush: Stirling Synthetic
Post: Thayers Cucumber WH. Gold Bond Ultimate
Aftershave: Folsom & Co. Muir
Wow!! I've had this soap for 2 years! It was born on September 11, 2013. It says on the jar sadly I have so many soaps/creams yeah first world problems that many get lost in the shuffle. I put up my closet door organizer yesterday and took all the soaps that haven't seen the light in some time out. Look for some different soaps here in the coming weeks PC DdC is a really nice soap, still has a wonderful scent, slick, plenty of cushion. The British Rocket is a fantastic razor! This would be my 3rd Clint!!
Thank you all for your support in the 1st annual Shave Den Calendar. Doug and I really appreciate it.
Never let the things you WANT
Make you forget the things you HAVE

Well, I did my Fat Boy in a combination of white and black rhodium, so I'm not a traditionalist. I think the Delta Echo finishes are awesome.

30 day focus - Day 26
Fat Boy set to 9
Sputnik Blade
MDC Face Lathered
3 passes

Another fine MDC shave with the Fat Boy.

Oh...NOW I get it! You had me scratching my head on your comment. But then I read it before morning coffee and my head wasn't functioning yet. Guess I should have said "Nice Gillette $1.95 razor you have there!". Either that or addressed him as MR. Fatty to be polite?

I love that Phoenix. It's such a great, and different, looking razor. Do you know if you can buy just the head? I've already have a PA "Name Taker" handle.

Rufus, do you find it difficult to align the blade on that Goodwill? I have one and pretty much gave up getting things straight.

October 26
Standard 160 Goodwill
Astra SP (1)

I'm afraid I broke focus for this one. My latest eBay purchase arrived on Saturday, a Goodwill. Cost me $12 shipped. Except for a couple of spots on the cap, the original gold plating is in very good shape. The handle is a bit worrisome, though, as it has a two cracks (a short one at each end) and the collet and ball are both a little loose, though not enough so far to prevent using it.

As for the shave... this is probably one of the closest shaves I've ever had, even closer than my 20's Old Type. One-and-a-half-passes to a DFS with no weepers and virtually no irritation.

I confess that I'm constantly amazed at how well these early Gillette models shave and get really confused as to what later changes such as solid safety bars were supposed to improve. After this month is over, I definitely need to spend some time with my SS and SA to see if I can duplicate these results.

JR

I will definitely have to look into the water aspect of it. Plan to use both distilled and bottled spring water to see if it gets any better. I applied it pretty much how you indicated when I face lathered it. I can get some great lather from the soap. It just is not very slick. Will definitely be experimenting this weekend with the water to see if anything changes. If not, I will try using it with some pre-shave oil to see if it assists the slickness for me. As @Bama Samurai said, definitely a YMMV kind of hobby!

Monday, October 26, 2015

Mongoose with Triad Ti Helix Hex
Feather Pro 5
El Druida Red D-7 Manchurian
Krampert’s Frostbite Soap
Alum, Witch Hazel +++Menthol, Gold Bond Green Lotion
Krampert’s Frostbite Aftershave


​

Mark, does the flask have a flow re-stricter? Great shave/picture!!