SoS: February 3, 2014 - February 9, 2014

Thursday:

I can't believe how I shaved today!

Real Shaving Company Menthol SC
Super Speed/Permasharp day 4
L'Oreal Men Expert Facial Wash
Svoboda AS Balm
Aqua Velva Ice Blue AS
Santos de Cartier EdT

A weird but good shave this morning, but not enjoyable at all because this RSC cream is BRUSHLESS. I tried to get it to lather with my new horsehair barbershop brush, but no way. The cream has a mild cooling effect on the skin and soothes well but it's not for me. The Svoboda balm and the Aqua Velva felt great. Tomorrow, it's back to the good stuff. No pictures today, sorry.

 

SOTD Feb 6 -- Blade safari day 6

Prep: Proraso pre-shave white, hot shower
Razor: WW2 Gillette Khaki
Blade: Personna Blue Lab (day 2)
Brush: Vie-Long
Soap: Proraso White tub
Passes: 2 (WTG, XTG)
Post: Nivea Men cool kick

The pre-shave helped with today's shave. Still some initial tugging on the first pass, but not as much as yesterday and I have a closer shave with less irritation!

 

Geneva Cutlery Pyramid 7
Harris Windsor SS
homemade brush
I like Pyramid 7's for some reason. Very nice shave this morning, close and smooth. Genco/Geneva Cutlery have always been very good shaving razors for me. Have a good one.

 

Thursday, February 6, 2014

Prep: Warm shower, Cetaphil Lotion
Razor: EJ DE89L
Blade: Voskhod (3)
Soap: RazoRock XX
Brush: Semogue 830
Post: Witch Hazel, Cetaphil Lotion
Aftershave: Old Spice

I'm not too sure about RazoRock XX soap. It was fine on the first pass, but dried my face. The razor just didn't want to glide very well. When I use something like Stirling soaps, there is still plenty of "slippery" (to use an adjective as a noun) left on my face after my between pass rinses. Not so with the RazoRock XX. This is my third RazoRock product and I have had this same problem with every one of them. I know that they are highly regarded, but I don't think they are for me. Otherwise, I had another fine shave.

Have a great day!

 

Thursday
Arko Stick-da BOMB!!
Omega Baby-Pro 10029-Big lather from a tiny brush...
1912 GEM Cutlery Co. Damaskeene
GEM Stainless Coated d2
Rebul Lavanda Colonia

There are those who call the GEM 1912 Damaskeene the Greatest Razor Design of all time....If I had to, I do not believe I could or would want to challenge them...
There's something very special about dragging a 100 year old razor around your face and getting such an extraordinary shave...An absolutely effortless and irritation free 3 pass BBS...and my skin feels great!

I wouldn't change a thing, although I'm looking forward to adding to the mix... I have some Guerlain Habit Rouge coming in next week...I've been out of my signature scent for too long...Can't wait...

 

Thursday 06-02-2014

Razor: Merkur 34c HD
Blade: Polsilver SI (4)
Brush: WD Synthetic 24mm
Cream: Top Ten Menthol
AS: Old Spice

Great 3-pass shave today(WTG,XTG,ATG) near BBS!

 

How are you liking this combo? I have yet to try the Voskhod in my R89, but the way it shaved in my vintage Gillette gives me high hopes!

 

Thursday Shave
Razor: Rimei
Blade: Rapira (2)
Soap: Derby
Brush: Isana Men Badger
After shave: Brut Original AS

I had a nice BBS. Derby lathered well this time and let my razor slide easily.

 

2/6/2014

Prep: Hot shower with AXE Chilled cooling face wash, home made PSO
Razor: GEM SE, Dubl Duck Goldedge straight razor
Blade: GEM PTFE coated single edge (4)
Brush: Turkish #6
Soap: TSD Lanolin shaving soap Sandalwood scented
After: Home made ASB
After Shave: Aqua Velva classic ice blue cooling after shave

It was another comfortable Darn Fine Shave this morning. This GEM razor paired with the GEM PTFE coated blade is a smooth shaving combination. I received the TSD Lanolin shaving soap in the Secret Santa 2013 package. It produces a nice lather, provides good cushion and great skin care. The sandalwood scent lasts for several hours after the shave, bonus. The Aqua Velva added a nice tingly finish.

 

Thursday morning, February 6, 2014

Gillette NEW Long Comb
with an Astra SP blade,
Lather up with CO Bigelow - shave,
and finish with Walgreens Witch Hazel
and SFM Brisk Aftershave

A great shave. Luxury!

 

I like it a lot. I get great shaves with it every time and find it to be very smooth. The only blade that I like better is the Personna Lab Blue. Honestly, though, I don't think I could tell one from the other if I didn't know which one was in my razor.

I love the EJ89L. I replaced the handle with a Weber Classic (the long one) and find it to be a great combination. The only reason I replaced the EJ handle is because it would get slippery if it got soap on it. It's never a problem with the Weber handle.

 

Cobra Classic
Kai Mild (7)
M&F Chief
GMS Lavender Grapefruit SS
Barbasol Pacific Rush A/S
HTGAM - Frost_Byte A/S Lotion

Malle - Dries Van Noten

The Kai Milds were not so Mild after the 6th shave. Lots of irritation with the 7th shave. More than likely I will switch after 5 shaves with this blade. Looks like the Feather Pro are the way to go for me.

 

THURSDAY

Pre: Hot shower, Shea Moisture Facial Scrub, homemade PSO
Razor: Ikon Slant
Blade: Feather Stainless
Brush: Simpson Chubby 1
Lather: RazoRock XXX, face-lathered
Shave: Two passes; minor touch-up
Post: Cold water rinse, Alum block, Wm. Neumann 'Heartwood' Balm

My final shave using both the Ikon Slant razor and the Simpson Chubby brush as they will both be returning to their original owner in the next few days.
I'm glad I had the opportunity to put both of these fine shaving tools to use through numerous shaves. It has me seriously considering getting another slant to add to my currently slantless rotation.
This morning's shave was excellent—two efficient passes to slippery smoothness!

Happy Thursday, all!

 

Thursday

Prep: CeraVe facial cleanser
Lather: Petal Pusher Fancies unscented soap
Brush: Frank Shaving Pur Tech synthetic
Razor: iKon ShaveCraft 101
Blade: Gillette SharpEdge yellow
Post: Cold rinse, CeraVe lotion

 

Thursday morning, February 6, 2014

Schick E2 Injector with Schick blade (10)
Semogue 1305 boar bristle brush,
Arko shaving soap with hot water lather,
finish with cold water rinse for a CCS!

 

Razor: GEM MMOC
Blade: Gem PTFE SS (D8)
Brush: H.I.S. 1918 25mm synthetic
Bowl: Dirty Bird 1.5 Scuttle
Pre Shave Soap: MRGLO Lime Basil
Pre Shave Oil: Homemade Lime & Spearmint
Shave Soap: Lather & Wood Sandalwood
Post: Monster Alum Block
Aftershave: HBG Sandalwood
​

This morning tried out a new soap that I picked up off Amazon for only $1 as he is wanting some feedback on the soap. It is from a company called Lather & Wood and this puck is a tallow based Sandalwood soap. Only other Sandalwood soap I have tried prior to this was TOBS which I liked the aroma and shave but the EO irritated my skin. This soap is similar to Mystic and Stirling's as you have to work on it to obtain a lather but I was able to whip a yogurt like lather and the aroma is like a powered Sandalwood. A mellow aroma that I enjoyed and I had no irritation like I had with TOBS. Disclaimer here as I have noted in the past I have severe sinus issues that require daily meds so YMMV with the aroma. The lather was thick, bladed glided with ease and my face is nice and smooth. At $19.97 a puck a little on the pricey side compared to most of the artisan soaps we use but a very nice soap nonetheless.
http://www.amazon.com/Premium-Shaving-Soap-Ingredients-Moisturized/dp/B00GQKX04G/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1391705254&sr=8-1&keywords=lather & wood

 

SOTD Thursday 2-6-2014

11/16 C.V. Haljestrand, Full Hollow, Spike Point
Proraso PSC
Rose of Bulgaria SC
GT G4 Scuttle
Omega Boar
Dickinson's Witch Hazel
Nivea Replenishing ASB
Rose of Bulgaria ASL

 

2/6/2014

Prep: Hot shower and face/scalp wash, homemade PSO to wet face and scalp
Razor: 1963 Gillette Ball End Tech
Blade: Wilkinson Sword black box
Creme: Bodyshop Maca Root
Brush: Omega boar 31025
Post: Cold rinse and Captain's Choice Lime

Decided to combine face and scalp again today as I had time and the house finally warmed up. Face/scalp lathered with the 31025 and felt like it is starting to break in a bit more and it did a fine job. 2 pass on the scalp and 2 pass on the face. Throat is not smooth today, but didn't feel like a 3rd pass. I must say that this was the best head shave I've gotten since converting to DE. On a side note, my wife walked by and commented that she really like the smell of the Maca Root soap.

 

Brush: RV MoonJava + WSP Super 2-band HMW
Soap: MdC Scented
Razor: Muhle Jet + Weber Bulldog
Blade: Personna 74'
Post: Proraso Green AS + Simpson ASB

 

I've heard lots of praise for that Personna blade. I might have to order a pack before settling. Can't wait to try the Voskhod blade though.