SoS: January 13, 2014 - January 19, 2014

SOTD Jan 17

Prep: hot shower
Razor: WW2 Gillette Khaki
Blade: Merkur(day 2)
Brush: Vie-Long
Cream: Musgo Real Classic
Passes: 3 (2x WTG, XTG)
Post: cold water, Proraso blue

Still having water to cream ratio issues, seems I shook out too much water today. I might switch to soap for the weekend and see if that's any better.

Not much changed from yesterday's shave. I've decided to put the 444 AS balm on hold until it gets warmer out, so when back to the Proraso blue AS lotion. The only thing wrong with the Proraso blue is I will eventually run out.

It might be to soon to call, and I don't want to jinx it, but today's shave yielded a DFS+

 

Friday, January 17, 2014

Prep: Warm shower, Cetaphil Lotion
Razor: Weber PH
Blade: PolSilver SI (1)
Soap: Lea Stick
Brush: Semogue 830
Post: Witch Hazel, Cetaphil Lotion
Aftershave: British Sterling

DFS today. The PolSilver does a great job. I tried face lathering today for only the second time. The first time I used a cream and this time I used a stick. It went OK, but I left too much water in my brush. I still got a good lather, but not as thick as I would have liked. I don't know if I really face lathering. There's no doubt that it works, but I think I prefer to use a bowl. I'll give it another try tomorrow and see how that goes.

Have a great day!

 

C&S
Williams
homemade brush
Pinaud V.I. Bay Rum
Very nice smooth shave this morning. Have a good one.

 

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FriDay

Pre: Hot shower, Shea Moisture Face Scrub; homemade Citrus PSO
Razor: H. J. Herskovitz 6/8
Strop: Whipped Dog 3"
Brush: Omega 626 Silvertip Pure Badger
Lather: Cella Almond, scuttle-warmed
Shave: Two passes, plus a little DE touch-up
Post: Cold water rinse, alum block, Pre De Provence balm

Straight-Razor Friday: feeling energized this morn (too much coffee!), so decided to shave with the naked blade!
Brushing on the warm, almond-scented Cella smells as if I'm smearing a hot bear claw pastry on my face.
My technique with the straight razor is improving ("practice makes perfect"), and although it is far from perfect, I am at least capable enough to get an ultra smooth shave in two passes, and requiring less DE touch-up with each shave. There is hope…..

Have a blessed Friday, all!

 

*Friday*

Prep: CeraVe facial cleanser
Soap: Mike's natural soap, unscented
Brush: Frank Shaving Pur Tech synthetic
Razor: iKon ShaveCraft 101
Blade: Gillette SharpEdge (yellow pack)
After: Cold rinse, CeraVe lotion

Today will be a long day, with a dress up company social event in the evening, so I needed a close shave this morning to keep me looking presentable. Mike's excellent lather and four slow, gentle passes with the ShaveCraft razor gave me a comfortable, smooth result. My face feels great, no irritation.

There is a big pep rally today for the Seattle Seahawks, just two blocks from my office downtown. Lots of local football excitement! Tickets to the NFC championship game on Sunday are a hot commodity, selling for hundreds of dollars over the already high face value. It would be fun to be there, but my TV works fine!

 

Friday

Prep: Hot shower, Dirigo Blue Cedarwood PSO
Coffee: Maxwell House, BLACK
Soap/Cream: Woods of Windsor + a squirt of KMF unscented for a little boost
Brush: The Dridecker
DE: Stahly Live Blade (no, I didn't wind it up)
Blade: ASR Platinum Chrome, day 5, 3 passes
Post: Cold water rinse, L'Oreal Comfort Max ASB, Pinaud Clubman
'Stache Wax: Dirigo Blue

Not too bad at all.

 

SOTD Friday 1-17-2014

5/8 Tiger 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

 

Friday - Date day, so I have to look good. I also decided to give the noggin a first try with a DE. Here is what I used:
Prep: hot shower with some type of teen manly body wash and scrubby
PSO - EVO + castor oil + almond oil
Soap - Omega crema
Brush - Omega of some sort (sorry, not obsessed enough yet to keep track)
Blade - Gillette 7 O'Clock Super Platinum
Razor - Merkur 34C HD
Post - cold water rinse, Captain's Choice Lime
I have not shaved my head since Sunday, so had a little stubble to deal with. I decided I didn't want to deal with uber-rinsing the stubble from the 4 bladed Headblade ATX and as I was not in any hurry, decided to give a DE head shave a try. I lathered up my face and scalp and grabbed the razor. I knew that it might be a challenge on the head, but just took my time. A first WTG pass over the scalp was sort of fun with a lot of audible feedback. I rinsed my scalp and identified a few areas (crown, lower neck) that would benefit from another pass, so lathered it all again and made another pass, this time XTG with a couple of areas ATG. Pretty smooth. So then on to the face which had been marinating in lather the whole time. I freshened up the face lather and had a very uneventful 2 + pass on the face. Still having a little trouble getting the lower neck smooth on the right side even with my adam's apple, but all in all a DFS. Finished with a nice skin tightening application of CC Lime and out for my second cup of coffee.

 

Although I seldom make comment, you sure do take excellent pics, Bruce!

 

Cobra Classic
Feather Pro
M&F L7
LASS Woody Lavender
Gentleman Jon Alum
Nivea Energy A/S

Tom Ford - Tobacco Vanille

 

Since you use unscented soaps exclusively, Mike, I wondered how you compare the quality of, for example, the Mike's to the HTGAM or other unscented options?

 

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Razor: Merkur futur (S3.5)​

Blade: Gillette Wilkinson Sword (China)(D4)​

Brush: Muhle 21mm V2 Synthetic ​

Bowl: Dirty Bird 1.5 Scuttle ​

Pre Shave Soap: Nivea Energy Face Scrub ​

Pre Shave Oil: Homemade Lime & Spearmint​

Shave Soap:Praire Creations DdC Ancient Sedona​

Aftershave: Myrsol Agua Balsámica​

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Thank you Steve.

 

Where did you find your M&F L7, may I ask?

 

Bruce doesn't reveal HOW he shoots, but I suspect there's more to it than meets the eye...

 

Actually, this photo doesn't show the couch and the white fur spread used in the center-folds!

 

SOTN 1-17-14

Prep: Hot shower
Razor: Travel Tech head, MR1 Handle
Blade: Red Personna (2)
Soap: HTGAM Cavendish
Brush: Rubber Set reknot w/ TGN F2 22mm
Post: Alum, Billy Jealousy Shaved Ice ASB

Been experimenting a lot with razors lately. Had a change of heart to stop using my family heirloom SS as my everyday razor so that I can keep it in good shape and continue to pass it down to the next generation. Tonight I pulled out a travel tech and attached the head to my Maggard MR1 handle. Nice shave from it. Can't get enough of the Cavendish soap. Love this stuff. Also the TGN F2 is fantastic. It's hard for me to believe how perfect it is for my taste. Great backbone and crazy soft tips. In fact, I've been so impressed with previous uses and this use that I just ordered another F2 knot. Have to wait until next check to order a custom Pav brush works handle for it.

 

Saturday Shave
Razor: Rimei
Blade: Rapira (3)
Brush: Isana Men Badger
Soap: Camelot (enriched with lavender oil)
After: Tariş Lavender Cologne, Nivea Classic Creme