SoS: January 23rd ~ January 29th, 2012

No problem, glad your enjoying it, does the tube still smell of wars?

 

No, thankfully that's gone away haha... WARS and Lider are great creams themselves, but I'm not really sure why Bond amazes the way it does, maybe because its like shaving with shampoo, but it actually works.

 

Tuesday January 24, 2012

Prep - soak soap/brush while showering
Soap - Williams
Cream - C&E Nomad
Lather - tried mantics superlather technique from youtube
Razor - Merkur HD 34C
Blade - Personna Platinum
Brush - Kent VS80
Post - Warm water rinse, C&E Nomad AS balm

This was an OK shave; I did 2 passes WTG and 1 XTG (cheeks only) - I'm only going WTG on my neck until I get better lathering and technique, so it's still a bit rough. No cuts, but a little redness on my neck, even after only WTG passes. My razor technique is getting better but I need to practise lathering more, but I think my brush may be part of the problem (read on). I was watching the mantic channel after dinner last night and thought I'd try a super lather. It worked pretty good, but not as good as it should have, I think. A quick note on the blade; this is only the second blade I've used (the other was the Merkur super that came with my razor) and I can't really tell a discernable difference. So, on to my brush, my first and only brush. I've had this brush for a few weeks and it's been shedding a lot since day 1. At first I chalked this up to 'breaking in' but it's never stopped, and even gotten worse! This morning, while lathering, there was a ton of shedding and then, afterwards, while rinsing, the bristles popped right out of the handle . I already have an e-mail in to Kent about the shedding, and I guess I need to send another. I'm pretty disappointed in the Kent brush. I went with this brush mainly because it was the only one they had in the store, but I'm also a big fan of kent hair brushes, so I figured I couldn't go wrong. I knew it wasn't the best brush, but I also figured it wasn't the worst either. Now I have no brush .

 

Next brush you buy a brush try an Omega brush. They are a quality brush at an affordable price. I believe I paid $40 for the 1 I have and it shed a little the 1st time I used it then nothing since.

 

GREAT SHAVE TODAY!!!!!!

I placed an order thru westcoastshaving the other day and everything was delivered yesterday afternoo

pre shave: hot shower followed by some new PRORASO PRE SHAVE. man what a feeling!
soap: brand new PRORASO GREEN.......ahhhhhhhhh
razor: Gillette ss
blade: astra
brush: omega badger
post shave: brand new PRORASO AS BALM oooooooooooooooo!!!!!!

Now that was NICE! Might have found a new soap

 

Tuesday:

Feather injector
Schick blade
Penworks brush
Monsavon
Proraso AS
Proraso pre/post white

I decided to do a quick 2 pass shave this morning. The Monsavon lathered very nice and the shave went really smooth. A few knicks here for and there, but nothing that didn't clear up. It was the second time I tried the Proraso splash. I quite like it! No burning or stinging and a very light cool sensation when it is first applied. I really enjoy how it is like the balm, meaning moisturizing. It doesn't dry my face at all. All in all, it was a decent DFS!

 

Tuesday morning, January 24, 2012

Schick E2 Injector Razor w/ Schick blade (3)
Omega 10066 boar bristle brush,
MWF shaving soap w/ warm water lather,
finish w/ cold water rinse for a DFS!

 

Gillette Fatboy
Personna Med. Prep.
M&F Emillion
GTP - G5
Tabula Rasa Tangerine Vetiver
Alum
Humphreys Citrus WH
Guerlain - Dandy

 

Sometimes, a good photo just isn't happening, no matter how much I play with the lighting. Here's what I used today, though.



Cyril Salter Soap
Omega Professional Boar
Valet Auto Strop
Feather Auto Strop blade

The black and blue Old Spice mugs are much wider than the white ones, making them the perfect size for an oversized Cyril Salter puck. I don't have to grate it, or pare it down.

 

I just bought a tub of the green Proraso and tried it Sunday? I have to agree...every lather felt better! Proraso Balm is one of my favorite products! I am glad you like it!

How do you like the Feather/Valet combo?

 

It's not the greatest thing since sliced whiskers, but it works very well for about three shaves. Trying to extend the life of these blades with the strop hasn't worked for me, and I have been unable to restore any of the vintage Valet blades I have to usability. This is the model of Auto Strop that only takes the cutout blades. I have others that will take a de-spined regular SE blade.

 

Tuesday:

Dovo Natural
The Dridecker
Derby Lemon
Alum Block
Witch Hazel
Afta Fresh Balm
Tabac After Shave

 

Tuesday, January 24, 2012. Good Morning!

Morning Coffee: Hills Brothers Original Blend
Prep: Wash face with Musgo Real Glyce Lime
Razor: EJ DE87
Blade: Gillette
Soap: Proraso
Brush: D.R. Harris H2 (Rooney 1/2)
Scuttle: Dirty Bird 1.5
Post: Cold water rinse followed by some Proraso After Shave & Balm

 

Tuesday

Merkur Futur
Astra (1)
Omega Boar brush
Tabac shave soap
Master Topaz A/S

Woke up in a DE mood, so I cleaned and put a fresh blade in the Futur (I actually use it daily to shave the front part of my head, even if I use a straight for everything else), and went to town. The result: a near BBS shave in three passes. The Master Topaz was a fit finish for an awesome shave!

 

Tuesday Shave

The open comb had one more shave on it so I selected it today. And wow, this razor gave a great shave. I am sure I can get one more but I don't push past 5 shaves. The Merkur 11 C, which I purchased as a strong mild to medium razor to compliment Slanty delivers one great shave.

The Kit

Vitos pre/post
MWF-I like to use this 2-3 days in a row. Really cleans out the face
Gillette 7 o'clock Dark Blue (5)
Merkur 11 C Open Comb
Witch Hazel/TSD Bourbon Vanilla (time to open another bottle)
Aqua Velva Ice Sport

My Team of Merkur's continues to deliver one great shave after another. I couldn't be happier with the current direction of my den, put together with everyone's input. Thank you.

 

Yeah I find it get me about 3 decent shaves too, sometimes a fourth can sneak in, but not always.

 

Great Brush!

 

Simpson's Chubby 2
MWF
Merkur Slant
Feather
Master's Lilac Vegetol Splash
Lab Series AS Balm
Music: podcast again, Hardcore History by Dan Carlin: "Thor's Angels"

 

Monday
Prep: Whisker Shampoo with HOT water
Arko SC/Arko Stick-Bowl Lathered with the Omega 10029
1938 Gillette Senator/New Rapira SS
Arko-Nem moisturizer/Rebul Lavanda Colonia

Well as I predicted, todays shave was fantastic...I was not disapointed... After several weeks of rapidly changing blades and finding that this razor delievers the goods with everything I threw at at...Now I can do a little more indepth study, and find the subtle differences between blades when used in this beautiful razor...

The Rapira Stainless on 1st shave, after 3 full passes delievered a 5 Blade BBS....Worthy of 'Tree Climbing, Barrel Throwing, and a little Gong Banging'

The Perma-Sharp Supers consistantly delievered effortless, irritation free BBS's. They are so sharp and smooth, they just glide, as if on air, and leave you thinking a blade never touched your skin...

So far the Perm's are the best blade I've tried...Though not inexpensive... The Rap's cost less than a fourth of the Perm's...So that could be a consideration...And they do give great shaves aswell, although I needed an extra pass and touch-up...and did have to take my time and pay attention to detail...The experience is finer with the P-S's; the end result is similar...Todays shave was a BBS that in the words of the immortal Danny,"Baby's Butts should be jealous of..."

After careful consideration...I believe yesterday's problem was due to "NO PREP".... The Perma-Sharp Supers are a true connoisuers blade...

Tomorrow I may do a 'Shave-Off' between the Astra SP and the Perma-Sharp Super.....Keep in mind, this is just my opinion this week and purely for fun and couldn't be less scientific....ha,ha,ha...

 

Tuesday

Prep: Hot shower, soak brush
CD: 25 Blues Masters ~ Vol. 3
Coffee: French Roast, BLACK
Soap: TSD Oak Leaves & Acorns
Brush: Omega 10098
Razor: '62 Slim Adjustable @ 6
Blade: Gillette Super Thin, day 2, 3+ passes
Post: Cold water rinse, Dickenson's WH, B&BW Oak, hand strop blade

Shave Rating: 4 Blades

Nice. Very nice.