I would love to see this.

Planned Day 8 - DEcember 2015



Stirling Closed Comb DE
Gillette Silver Blue (3)
L'Occitane Plisson Synthetic
TSN Flying Mango (from Secret Santa)
Alum
TSD ISZ AS under Pinaud Lilac Vegetal

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Continuing with DEcember, day three planned for the Stirling. Days one and two were really nice. Trying a new soap today from Secret Santa! The Stirling DE is slightly more aggressive than either the DeFitch or the Utopia I have used recently. Expecting another great shave tonight. Posting at lunch because I am headed out to Denver this evening with Mrs. Samurai for dinner and a little fun. Gorgeous out on the prairie today, 62F with light wind and mostly sunny skies! Finishing up some chores and then off to get ready. Other than that...all is quiet in Colorado.

Have a great Tuesday afternoon!
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Me also!

Tuesday, December 8, 2015

AlumiGoose with Triad Ti Helix Hex
Feather Pro #1
Varlet Orion
Tabac Shave Soap
Alum, Witch Hazel +Menthol, Whipped Cucumber Melon Shea Butter
Tabac Aftershave

Today’s shave was a beautiful two passes and clean up. Closeness A+, Irritation A. I caught the baby with a brand new razor. The first thing noticed about the alumigoose is, it’s light. The Shiny Head weighs 19.2 grams. I decided to use a titanium handle for added weight and a better grip. The second thing I noticed was increased audio and tactile feedback from the razor. I could hear and feel the whiskers being sliced off, down to individual hairs. I shaved with the lightest touch. It was hard to believe it was a Goose. The Alumigoose shaves at least well as, and possibly better than its predecessor. Tabac is a friendly old scent for me. The Soap is easy lathering, thick creamy and very slick. Ended this shave with a good splash of Tabac Aftershave. I’m ready to Rock N’ Roll. Have a good Tuesday folks.

Late addition:

The Varlet Orion has a full face feel with very soft tips, excellent flow through, and zero scritch. It splays easily yet maintains a good backbone. The Orion finest badger is well suited for face lathering, building lather easily. The knot held enough lather for 4 or 5 passes. The handle is well designed, fits comfortably in the hand, and has a great grip. The knot size is 25.5mm, the loft is 47.5mm, and the handle is 57mm tall.

December 30 Day Focus--Gillette Executive and Stirling Kong

December 8

Razor - 1958 Gillette Executive Adjustable (WTG 6, ATG 5)
Blade - Gillette Silver Blue (2)
Brush - Stirling Kong
Soap - Tabac Stick
Post - Cold water, witch hazel, TSD Bourbon Vanilla


First, I want to say just how much I love the Tabac soap. I also am a huge fan of the shave stick aspect. I wet my face good, then smear the stick all over until it looks like every hair has some soap, I think this was either Clint's or Chris's recommendation regarding a shave stick. May be overkill, but WOW the lather it can produce! I also want to give props to @Queen of Blades and the amazing bourbon vanilla scent! This has to be one of my favorite scents and works great with the Tabac!

The razor is just a joy to use. I love the heft to it. You feel like you are holding a real tool and not a toy, especially as compared to the L6. The weight also makes the WTG/XTG pass which is more generally N/S on my face really easy to accomplish because you are working with gravity. It does mean I have to pay extra attention to staying on the cap and keeping the blade angle when doing the ATG pass because it is generally against gravity and I need to ensure not to force the issue (basically the same lesson that @DFrazier learned after only a couple weeks--let the razor do the work).

Today was the day to try Vince's theory of setting the adjustment levels on my Executive. Starting out more aggressive on the WTG/XTG first pass. This pass was incredibly comfortable. I noticed a fairly significant difference in aggressiveness going from 5 to 6 on the Executive. Seemed like more of a jump than 4 to 5. The shave was incredibly efficient and no irritation at all. Excellent reduction on the first pass. I then reduced the aggressiveness back down to 5 for the ATG pass. Another very efficient very smooth pass. No irritation from this pass either. Had a little touch-up in my two main areas around the adam's apple and at the chin. Neither area had any irritation when done. Second cold water splash to test. Felt nothing anywhere on the face. At first test, it was definitely BBS smooth! How would it hold up is the question. Well, it is now 7.5 hours since my shave. I just did a little faceturbating and it is still incredibly smooth with no sign at all of prickly stubble showing up yet. This may be one of those rare shaves where I get 10+ hours out of a shave! The gauntlet has been thrown down. Going to be hard for Chris's settings to top today's shave, but we shall see. I will probably give both settings a few shaves at the 5 and 6 settings as they definitely produced an excellent shave today.

I just got done shaving my head, possibly one of the worst head shaves ever!! I'm all broken out on the back and side of my noggin. Painful. Man!!

Beautiful Mark!

Razor: Gillette Super Speed 1948-49 No Date Code
Blade: Gillette Platinum (2)
Brush: WDC-5 Boar Green Handle Whipped Dog 24/65
Soap: RazoRock Don Donato
A/S: Booster Iced Lime
Another DFS tonight. Had the brush knot wrong. It is a boar knot from Whipped Dog. This brush is breaking in nicely. I really like the Gillette Platinum blade. Booster Iced Lime is a very good A/S.

What happened?

I, for one, appreciate the information. Using the pain sticks has been an interesting dip into the world of straights, though without the hassle of the maintenance. And I'm sure the shaves are different once you try the traditional straight. Using the Durham Duplex was also an interesting look at that type of razor, and the fact they made a strop attachment for them intrigues me. I'm trying to find one so I can try stropping the blade next time. and, of course, I'm pretty sure I'll try traditional straights, and my traditional kamisori, before too much longer. The power of the Dark side is strong, after all.

What is going on around here.......apparently not the week for head shaves.

Great photo Mark. Was this the maiden voyage for the Orion also? Thanks for the report on the AlumiGoose. Mine is delayed in the USPS Black Hole.

3 and out on DE blades for me as well.

It's not his back I'm worried about.

Sorry to hear you package has 'The USPS Blues'. Thanks Clint and yes, the Orion's first time out was today. It was an auspicious day, the Alumigoose also sailed today.

Glad to hear about your most excellent shave. I've been following your PS progress. Your technique is improving and you're having a good time.

One of the coolest things about Straight shaving for me, is that you can tailor the edge based on your maintenance. At least to a point. Blade tuggy? Strop an extra 100 laps with no pressure. Skipping a little bit? Strop on green paste or 10 passes on a finishing stone. Just not cutting well? Reset the bevel and take it all the way up. Each different stone affects how the blade feels, (to a point) so instead of doing blade trials, I can use the Purple Dragon's Tongue or Translucent Arkansas to change the feel of the edge. To me, maintenance isn't a chore, its a really fun part of shaving.

Hmm, I might have an idea for January's focus.

“Psst”… (came the sound from the dark alley next to the Barber Shop).
“Yeah, you.” whispered the gravelly voice. “Yousa William right? William the Executive Shaver, no?”

Listen, lemme tella youse sumtin. Tomorrow yousa gonna hava greata shave, no? Da best shava you life, yes? :ahem:


I know, I know, you thinka that Vicenzo have all the righta answers, yes? Eh, you thinka he’sa funny guy too, huh? Ha, he thinksa he’sa the Groucho o’ sumtin!

Buta looka here Mister Shaver guy. Thisa Samurai. He’sa the smarta one and donta forget it. Nota Vicenzo, nota Groucho - nota even this Ivan the Russian. Fahgeddabowdit!! :ahem:


You sticka wida the Samurai, everyding be A OK, capisce? :ahem:


Ok, yousa good guy, smarta fella. You gonna hava da best BBSa ofa you life.
You hava good time now, eh? Atsa boy, go hava cappuccino anda cannoli, fahgeddabowdit!!

Outstanding!!!

Dec 9 Shave 2.2

The focus is now creams and crops so I decided to include Barrister and Man, a shout out to @Drygulch for sending me this soap. It is a soft soap so it is in. This reminded me allot of the lather I get from my favourite QCS. The scent was nice too, Fireside smells just like a camp fire. The lather was wet and slick. Four passes with my Futur and a close irritation free shave. Next we will see how the B&M works with a straight.

Irritation A Closeness A

Barrister and Man Fireside
Rooney 3/2 silver tip
Whitehead scuttle
Futur with Rapira Swedish steel
Speick AS
Edwin Jagger ASB
Dior Cuir Cannage