SoS: December 30, 2013 - January 5, 2014

SOTD Monday 12-30-2013

5/8 Wade & Butcher Near Wedge, Hollow Point
Proraso PSC
Rose of Bulgaria SC
GT G4 Scuttle
Omega 31064 Boar
Dickinson's Witch Hazel
Nivea Replenishing ASB
Rose of Bulgaria ASL

 

Monday

MWF face lathered with Omega 49
Ikon Slant with Astra SP (3)
3 passes, cold water splash and finish with Proraso aftershave

 

12/30 Happy Monday

Hot shower
Neutrogena facial scrub
Semogue 1460

Groom Room Balizarde like a cold winter wind on your face.
Gillette Rocket
7 am Platinum
Murray's Florida Water

Superior DFS

 

- Getting a jump on Straight Razor Theme Week -
MWF soap face lathered with a no name badger.
Dovo Shavette with Dovo blade.
Clinique moisturizer for post care.

 

HTGAM Lime day three

Really nice shave today, and some surprises. I decided to make more effort at getting to the recommended temperature of the soap, so I soaked my brush in hot water while I showered. The soap lathered very easily and smoothly with the brush. I decided to face lather because my father's mug is too small for my brush. I also decided to wash another of his brushes with me in the shower. The barbershop brush is losing lots of hairs, so I thought I would clean the c40. During my shave, I soaked the c40.
The HTGAM worked great, and I found the scent bloomed with the warmer brush. Three easy passes led to DFS, with a couple of weepers from going too fast for no reason other than my mind wandered. My alum block made short work of the weepers, and my TSD Signature Aftershave milk was soothing.

Ok. Surprise 1: soaking that c40 caused it to emit the most rank stench I've smelled in a long time! I panicked and poured mouthwash over it in the mug and let it soak while I cleaned up the sink. I then rinsed out the mouthwash (which seemed to have worked on the stench), and made a lather with antibacterial soap in the mug and let that soak for a while. Did I ruin the bush with the mouthwash? Any guesses on why it would suddenly reek?

Surprise 2: my Christmas presents came in the mail today!
Captain's Choice Bay Rum Aftershave - I applied some and I already like it!
Razorock Captain's Choice shave cream
Petal Pusher Fancies Black Tea Soap - they have excellent customer service! I highly recommend them!

 

I once bought some shorts from the thrift store.... I soaked them in some oxyclean and they released the most putrid smell I had ever smelled in a long time. Whoever last owned them must have pissed themselves. Or died in them...

 

Or both.

 

Isn't this 'Boar Brush' week, with 'Straight Razor Week' beginning next Monday (Jan 6)?

 

Monday
Boar Brush Week -Day 1

Pre: Hot shower, Shea Moisture Facial Scrub, homemade Citrus PSO
Razor: Mühle R41, 2011 version
Blade: Astra SP, 1
Brush: Omega 48 Pro Boar
Lather: Tabac Soap
Shave: Two pass, plus touch-up
Post: Cold water rinse, alum block, Pre de Provence balm

2-day growth vs R41 =2-pass near BBS shave!
The Omega 48 is a solid, inexpensive boar brush that created wonderful Tabac face lather.
Have a great end-o-the-year, all!

 

Yup

 

Ooops! I looked at it wrong. I thought Boar Week was last week, LOL!
Well, what I mean is, I uh...I'm getting a jump on things...yeah, yeah that's the ticket.
Check out the edit.

 

Adaptability is essential 'round here!

 

I'm doing my best to keep the head flat but I'm definitely guilty of taking strokes that are probably too long. As soon as it doesn't seem like I'm making progress I start tilting the head and stroking like I'm using a DE. I looked at my journal and noted my best shaves were with my Featherweight and with my Micromatic but I probably just got lucky and need to work at it a little more with each razor. Most of them I've only used once or twice so I probably need to pick one and give it 8 or 10 shaves. Thanks for the tip and the encouragement.
I can't believe what I just wrote (pick one and give it 8 or 10 shaves). I just had another razor come in today's mail plus I'm supposed to start 2014 learning to use a straight. I'd count how many razors I have but it might make me quit buying them.

 

Today's shave.

Prep: hot shower, L'Oréal Face Wash, Sasquatch Golden Moss bath soap.
Brush: Turkish #6 Brush.
Razor: Gillette Rocket.
Blade : Viking Sword.
Soap: Cella.
Post: cold water rinse, Krampert's Frostbite... did you actually think I would leave out menthol on Menthol Monday?

This shave was pretty good. I'm digging the Rocket/Viking Sword combo. 2 passes got me a comfortable DFS. Cella is something that everyone should try. You are doing yourself a disservice by not getting some. It's so slick, has great cushion, and skincare is top of the line. I could kick myself for not using this more often. And you all know me by now and know that I am partial to menthol. Krampert's Frostbite is my favorite aftershave. It froze my face, and felt great. It's closely followed by Barbon, Captain's Choice Bay Rum, Captain's Choice Lime, and Floid Blue.

 

My hair was annoying the heck out of me tonight so I had an evening head shave too. I don't think I'll ever be able to grow it back, cause I get too angry with dealing with it.

Semogue Owners Club Boar
Gillette New LC
Voskhod (2)
Mitchell's Wool Fat

Quick 2 passes and my skull is BBS

 

Im a de man myself but I love my Gem mmoc. Like mentioned allready the head is almost flat against your face to work at its best. It feels unnatural at first but once you get used it its worth it.
This works for me but YMMV of course.

 

Tuesday

MWF face lathered with Semogue SOC
Ikon Slant with Astra SP (4)
3 passes, cold water splash and finish with Lilac Vegetal aftershave

I think 4 shaves is a bit too much for the Astra SP

 

Something something your shave, something something your way.

 

Tuesday:

My last shave of 2013!

#6 Horsehair
Super Speed/Permasharp day 2
Speick SC
Thayers Witch Hazel
Balea Unscented Moisturizer
Booster Polar Ice AS
Aramis Stick Deodorant
Aramis EdT

Smoother than silk and smellin' great - what an awesome shave this morning. I also didn't use anything mentholated because it's so bitterly-cold here in Montreal. The Speick cream is fantastic stuff - its scent is so nice and the lather it gives is so rich and creamy, and it gives a lot of skincare. The Thayers witch hazel is very soothing and refreshing, and the Polar Ice is a Canadian classic.

Happy New Year to one and all, and don't drink and drive!