SoS: October 1st, 2012 - October 7th, 2012

Proraso Tuesday in the Norsehome. It was time to test the soap version of the cream I have come to love.
And so I did using these fine instruments:

Face Wash: Zirh Clean
Razor: Merkur Progress
Blade: Feather, 2nd shave
Brush: Proraso
Soap - Proraso new formulated green stuff
AfterShave Lotion: Prorasos Green - new formula
AfterShave Balm: Prorasos Aloe Vera/Blue Balm - Smelled like an old cellar, but did a fine job nonetheless

 

Wednesday

Pre (Eucerin Moisturizing cream, warm shower)
Omega 10083 Pro boar
MWF
Merkur 23c w/ Kai Stainless
Post (Cetaphil Gentle cleanser, cold water rinse)

Two pass DFS! All good. Another day, another dollar.

 

How does the Col. Conk Barbershop brush lather for you?

 

The Col Conk Barbershop Badger lathers very well. I bowl lather for SC's and load SS's from a mug to load the brush then warm the lather in a Becker scuttle. It is a pure badger that is clipped with about 45-50 MM loft so it is a little scritchy when applying the lather on your face. It loads very well and produces lather with ease as well as having a very good flow-through. It would also be a very good brush for face lathering and exfoliating. It's a very nice brush, no sheading, minimal wet rat smell that disappears in a couple of latherings and the price (about three years ago) was only $19 bucks and change. Hope that helps.

 

Wednesday 3 October, 2012

A typical start to the day a hot shower.
Facial prep from Prairie Creations pre-shave soap
The star of my brush rotation the Semogue Owner's Club cherry wood handle, was today's brush.
Soap choice Vergulde Hand Extra fris. The Semogue whipped mounds of lather. I thought when I started lathering I had too much water, the lather was rich and thick.
Razor and blade change this morning. Chose a 1920 Gillette Gold Open Comb teamed up with a Super Max Platinum.
The Super Max platinum, was first experience shaving with this blade. Sharp and very smooth.
Three passes today change the face mapping today. I normally do the ATG on the second pass, today I did it on the third. I think it made difference, the shave today was very close to a BBS.
Post shave cold water splash, alum, Proraso milk to seal the deal.

 

Good morning.

I don't know what I did to the razor and blade yesterday but the edge on one side of the blade was totally discoloured last night. I suspect it has to do with me forgetting to take out the razor and blade from their Alcohol bath after yesterday's morning shave.

Whatever the reason, I had to load a fresh blade for today and I chose another Rotbart. They are just so nice and smooth right out of the box.

Today's set-up consisted of:

Martin de Candre, scented shave soap
Mühle Basic Nr. 02 shave brush, Silver Tip Fibre
Rotbart Mond – Extra open comb razor
Rotbart ‘Extra Dünn’ blade (1.)
Block Osma alum
Musgo Real Classic after shave.

 

Ok... now don't laugh at me. I have been reading about technique on these boards, and over at B&B, so tonight I tried to do some of the things I have learned! I started out by boiling a pot of water in the tea kettle as I keep my water heater on a safe temp for young'uns. I set up a bowl of hot water, and another bowl inside of it like a scuttle, then I filled the second bowl with the hot water. I soaked my VDH Boar brush in it, and while I was waiting for that, I used warm water to wash my face. I applied about a dime size of EVOO to my face where the whiskers are, and let it sit for a few while I was getting my brush ready. Next I used an all natural soap made especially for me by my sister-in-law. I dumped the second bowl, and started building the lather. (This is the first time I have tried this method!) I rinsed the oil off and applied the lather and WOW! I now know why you guys like this method. I usually face lather, but when I have time.... I will always do this! I used a Merkur 34C with a Dollar General brand blade in it, (I don't like those blades, they tore me up the first time I used them) But tonight, I finished up with a warm rinse, I had no razor burn, I got the closest shave I ever had, and there was no sting when applying the Pinaude! This is a first for me, and I'm excited... can you tell?

Thanks to you all for the great advice, and great site!

 

Great to hear that it all came together for you in your shave today Monty! I hope that you will share your shaves with us in the future, Congrats and welcome to TSD!

 

Monty, glad it was such a Zen Moment. Some of us had similar experiences, I bet, in my case that was 'when I saw the light..."

No worries, help is already on the way

 

I wasn't going to shave tonight, but after watching this Presidential debate, I need some way to relax and cure my headache. I think my weapons of choice will be the following...

Pre: Warm shower, conditioner in my stubble, Proraso Pre/Post Cream.
Razor: '63 Super Speed
Blade: Personna Lab.
Brush: Semogue 1305
Cream/Soap: Either TSD Lanolin Irish Spring or Musgo Real.
Post: Cold Water rinse, alum block, Thayer's Witch Hazel Rose, Proraso Pre/Post Cream.

 

Wednesday
Muhle R41 + Voskhod
Simpsons Chubby CH1
Proraso Red (Original Wheat stuff)
Pinaud Clubman

 

Oct 3
Face Wash: Nivea Moisturizing Face Wash
Pre-Shave Lather: Dalan D'Men Sensitive
Pre-Shave Oil: T&H Ultimate Comfort Shave Oil
Shave Lather: DR Harris - Arlington SS
Razor: Gillette Old Type
Blade: SuperMax Platinum (2)
Brush: Baton Brush handle wiht a TGN Finest, 18mm
Post: Witch Hazel/Rum/Aloe/Glycern mixture followed by Kistna TSB

I need to ease up on the pressure with this combo. I can still feel a slight burn.

 

I do the same thing with a tea pot from time to time when I want to do a hot towel prep. I carefully pick up my wash cloth and let it cool down for about 30 seconds before I apply because it's too hot straight up. And I let bowl get nice and warm.

 

10-3-4

Razor Parker 22R
Soap: Daisy Mountain Naturals (Sandlewood)
Blade: Astra
Brush: The Body Shop

Nice DFS with the Astra on day 5. Good day everyone!

 

Thursday, October 4

Merkur 37C (Slant)
7 O’Clock Black (d4)
Arko Stick
Tweezerman Badger
Stephans Spicy

Most blades do not delivery well for me on the 4th shave, but this one did.

 

Merkur 34c
Sharp SS
Whipped dog silver tip
RazoRock XXX
444 balm
RazoRock 888 A/S wax

Two pass DFS. The shave felt great so I called it a day at two.

 

Thursday - another day closer

Prep: Hot shower
Coffee: Home roasted, fresh ground Kenyan AA, BLACK
Soap: VDH Select + 2 drops Em's Woodstock EO
Brush: Vulfix 404, The Grosvenor badger/boar mix
Open Comb: Thick Handle Tech, at least that's how Country Joe showed it - Fat handle tech handle, NEW type head
Blade: ASR Platinum Chrome, day 4, 3 passes
Post: Cold water rinse, ice water splash, Osage Rub, Pinaud Clubman
'Stache Wax: Steve's Own

Darn fine shave. Inexpensive does not have to mean cheap. VDH has to be the best puck for the buck!

 

5/8 Kropp
Mr. Taylor SC
22mm homemade brush
Superior 70

Very nice shave this morning. I like the scent of the Mr. Taylor. Snowing this morning. Have a good one.

online photo sharing

 

Be nice to see a pic of that Whipped Dog Silvertip, please.

Not posted my shaves for a few days - heads been completely in the clouds!

After a nice hot shower.....

English-made Ever Ready 1912 SE with GEM coated stainless blade
EJ super badger medium in ivory
MWF
Barbershop Bay Rum after cold water rinse

The Ever Ready has been great these last couple of days with total BBS on top of face and pretty good on neck too although a little work still needed on technique south of my chin(s). Can't believe how loud this bonnie wee beastie is! The audio feedback is stunning and sounds like a machete going through a stand of matchsticks at a great lick. I've read of difficulty in lathering the MWF soap so have been running scared of it for a wee while but perversely since it arrived, I've actually found it the best and easiest lathering soap I've yet used. Really stable, thick, lush, highly cushioning and with great slip. I got some of their bath soap too and that lathers up something crazy too. I honestly reckon I could get a useable lather from the bath soap! Mind you, where I live in South East Scotland has incredibly soft water so that probably helps more than a little. No cream required after this choice combination.

Good to be back in this brightest of places!