SoS: January 6, 2014 - January 12, 2014

Takehana FEON 1880
Tiger High Class 88
Barrister & Mann Vetiver, Clary Sage soap
Proraso Pre Shave

 

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Razor: Merkur 39C Slant​

Blade: Gillette Silver Blue (D3)​

Brush: Israeli Olivewood w 26mm HMB​

Bowl: Dirty Bird 1.5 Scuttle ​

Pre Shave Soap: Musgo Real Lime Basil Oil ​

Pre Shave Oil: Homemade Lime & Spearmint​

Shave Soap: Martin De Candre Scented​

Aftershave: Grey Flannel ASB​

 

SOTD Thursday 1-9-2014

5/8 Generic Soligen, Full Hollow, Round Point
Proraso PSC
Classic Brand Bay Rum SS
GT G4 Scuttle
Lijun Fisnest Badger
Dickinson's Witch Hazel
Nivea Replenishing ASB
Pinaud Virgin Island Bay Rum ASL

 

*Thursday*

CeraVe facial cleanser
HTGAM unscented soap
HIS synthetic brush
ShaveCraft 101 razor
Gillette yellow blade
Cold rinse
CeraVe lotion

Another great shave today! I am really enjoying this combo.

 

Thursday morning, January 9, 2014

Schick E2 Injector with Schick blade (7)
Semogue 1305 boar bristle brush,
Arko shaving soap with hot water lather,
finish with cold water rinse for a CCS!

 

Another solid DFS
For some reason, the Petal Pusher Fancies called to me this morning, and I am not disappointed. Great lather, easy glide, smooth face feeling. I like the way PPF leaves my face moisturized.
Prep: warm face wash with Shea Moisture Three Butters Scrub
Soap: PPF Black Tea
Brush: HIS Synthetic
Razor: Maggard MR10
Blade: Gillette 7OC Yellow
AS: Captain's Choice Bay Rum

 

Thursday morning, January 9, 2014

Gillette Adjustable 'Fatboy' F-2 (1960)
Astra Superior Platinum blade
Brut shaving cream
Walgreens Witch Hazel
SFM Brisk Aftershave (Skin Bracer knock off)

For a wonderful darn fine shave! Aces!

 

Hot shower
Muhle R41 (2013) W/Weber bulldog handle
Personna lab (1)
tbs Meca shave cream
Alum
Witch hazel
Old spice

I use to leave the Alum on, the last two shaves I rinsed off after cleaning up. Made a difference.

 

Fatip Grande with Astra SP (2)
Semogue 2000
Speick SC
Ralon original AS

Anybody up for some lavander ice cream?

I accidently squeezed out a little more cream than I planned , about 50% more than I usually would use with the 2000. This is the first time I tried out how much water the speick can take , and I was amazed, I drank up quite a bit more than I would normally use and the lather was superb.

You may notice the black strip on the base of the knot, it's a rubber band from an old inner bicycle tire I've put there to try and tame the 2000 a bit, since it broke in all the way it started to be a bit of a handful and splaying a lot. And this did the trick. The brush is a little stiffer and way more controllable.

The Fatip was nice and smooth with the Astra as usual

 

Thursday 01/09

Hot shower
Neutrogena facial wash
Semogue 1305
TSD Indonesian Teakwood
Gillette SS short black handle
Chroma
Stetson

Excellent DFS

 

I haven't seen anyone use Pino Silvestre since I was a kid. My dad always had a bottle for "special" occasions
A nice pine smell

 

Thursday, January 9th, 2014​

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Mastro Livi Experimental Inox, 7/8 Full Hollow, Spanish Point​

• Pre-shave: Proraso Pre Shave Green
• Soap: Proraso Shaving Soap Green Tub
• Brush: Omega Bristle Brush #83
• Bowl: Chinese Cheap Steel Bowl
• Strop: Mastro Livi Loom Strop and Hand Palm Stropping
• Razor: Mastro Livi Experimental Inox, 7/8 Full Hollow, Spanish Point
• Post-Shave: Argan Oil
• After Shave: Floïd The Genuine After Shave

 

Razor: Ever Ready 1912
Blade: GEM SS
Lather: Stirling sandalwood
Brush: HIS Synthethic
post-shave: Pinaud Clubman, Target-brand hand lotion

First time with the Stirling. My first impressions were that this sandalwood smells nothing like the sandalwood from the Proraso red. This one actually smells real. Not slighting Proraso it is a very nice and luxurious smell- just a lot different. However it did remind me of my (long dead) hamster's bedding. Loading took longer than Arko. But then again I don't think theres anything out there that is as easy as Arko. I did not lather directly on the bowl. I have seen the video where Rod recommends this but I did not want to do this as I thought it unfair to the soaps out there who lather well enough that this is not necessary. After all, the notorious Williams can only really be acceptable while lathering on the puck directly. Even bowl lathering Stirling it produced a lather as good enough as any. I live in Chicago- your water hardness may vary...

Upon lathering it on my face I realized- its super manly! Pure testosterone embodied in a soap puck. I took a pass and rinsed my face. Hmm harder to take off than Arko and even Proraso. It appears there was a layer of oil (probably the Castor oil) underneath the lather. Thats good IMO. Going in for the second pass and it appears my face is on fire. I know it is not uncommon for people to have reactions to sandalwood so I do not fault the Stirling for this. Other than the feeling there seems to be no averse reaction on my skin. Still, I might have to trade this... It could be a temporary thing as I noticed I had the same burning when using a camwood bath soap which later went away completely. Remains to be seen. Anyways, I continued the shave despite the burning sensation. Lather was stable and my skin didn't feel stripped of its oils afterwards. Smells remains after use for a while.

Quite honestly, being an "artisan" soap my expectations were pretty low. Being a suspicious person I thought hmm maybe theres a bunch of shills pushing this stuff. I was dead wrong. I now see why this soap is so highly praised on this forum. It is protective, moisturizing, slick, stable, American-made, and a great value considering its very high quality. I fully intend to order some more scents and I can already see its potential to displace my use of Arko and Proraso.

Done with my review of Stirling, I got a damn near BBS with this 1912. Unfortunately some weepers for the second time in a row. It feels on the milder-side but even the OCMM did not give me weepers. I love the handling and the looks though.

 

Today's shave.

Prep: hot shower, L'Oréal Men Expert Face Wash, TBS Maca Root Scrub, Sasquatch Golden Moss bath soap.
Brush: Turkish #6 Brush.
Razor : Gillette Aluminum Tech.
Blade : Personna Lab.
Soap : Razorock XXX sample.
Post: cold water rinse, Barbon AS.

I just moved to Texas a few weeks ago and am frictionally unemployed. I am looking for work and waiting to hear back from the places I applied. It's pretty stressful, but shaving gives me some time to relax and not be so depressed.

Today's shave was pretty awesome. I don't know why I waited so long to try Razorock, especially XXX. My sample was generously given to me by CJames. Even though there is only about a tablespoon of it, it looks like it will give me several shaves. This stuff lathered with no effort whatsoever. The scent is amazing. Like an old world scent that I can't quite place. It's also pretty slick, has excellent cushion, and great skincare. I'm definitely buying some of this whether I sell some stuff off first, or get a job first.

As always, I finished off my shave with my favorite aftershave, Barbon. It wasn't necessary after today's shave, but I couldn't help it. My girlfriend hates it, but I don't care.

 

Didn't have much time this morning, better late than never!



Gillette New LC
Voskhod
Semogue 610
MWF
Nivea Sensitive ASB

 

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A change of venue worked very well for your photo!

 

Friday:

L'Oreal Men Expert Facial Wash
#6 Horsehair
Super Speed/Permasharp day 5
Tryphon Permafrost Blue Shaving Stick
Visal AS Gel
Osage Rub AS
Azzaro Pour Homme EdT

Why do they always discontinue great stuff? The owner of Tryphon Enterprises was no longer able to keep his business going so he had to quit, therefore this Permafrost Blue stick is no longer available and it's a real pity. It has a nice licorice scent and awesome lather with a powerful menthol sensation. The Visal gel and the Rubby Dubby Doo are a hell of a face-freezing combination. BBS with no effort! Guys, please forgive me for not showing any photos.

Have a great weekend!

 

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Dove Men's Face Wash​

Col. Conk Bay Rum Shave Soap​

Parker Pure Badger​

Schick M Adjustable​

Schick Stainless Steel​

CWR​

Thayers Cucumber Witch Hazel​

Aqua Velva Ice Blue AS​

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The Col Conk Bay Rum and Parker badger brush face-lathered to provide two passes and touch-ups with the Schick M adjustable. It left me near BBS. I finished off with Thayers Cucumber WH and Aqua Velva Ice Blue AS. After a cold water rinse, I am feeling clean, smooth, and refreshed.​

 

Barbasol Floating Head Razor
Perma-Sharp Super
Omega Baby Pro
CO Bigelow
Nivea ASB