SoS: September 24th, 2012 - September 30th, 2012

I love the style of those Barbershop brushes but especially the old American Ever Ready, Rubberset & Century versions. There's just something other worldly, different and historic about them. Been meaning to whittle me a handle for a while now. Might jam a big old Omega boar in it. Note to self: just do it.

Mr Nicholas, is the 'Fat' all its cracked to be? Is the boar better for making lather with it? I always thought this would be the very first soap I'd buy when starting the DE journey given I can get it fairly cheap but I've been running scared. I've read it lasts for ages too. Also, every time I read your posts I'm astonished that all you seem to need afterwards is a cold water rinse! I have to seal my skin with a splash after the cold water rinse then ah, 'borrow' some of my good lady's moisturiser .


Oscar, your pictures are astounding and your brushes, objet d'art. Can't say any more.

 

It has a bit of chill, it is not long lasting.

 

Tuesday 25 September 2012

A long hot shower started the day to undo the kinks and stiffness.
I have been enjoying the benefits of Prairie Creations pre- shave soap.

Today's soap a sample of Mama Bear's Andes Mint.
Featured brush for lathering today a Semogue 1460
Day three for the pairing of the Gillette "Super Adjustable" and Chroma. The Chroma has earned a top 5 spot in my blade rotation. Sampling blades is a great way to find a great blade.
After a superb shave a generous splashing of cold water, rubdown with alum. Application of Kapo balm and to spruce up a splash of Aqua Vela Musk.
Another near prefect DFS.

 

Yeah, Gem Micromatics are great! I always get a good shave out of it!
Enjoy!

 

09/25/12 Tuesday

Hot shower w/Tamiranda glycerin soap
Brush- H I S synthetic
Soap- Mike's Naturals Peppermint & Rosemary w/ 4 drops of M-bomb!!
Razors- 1st pass EJDE89
2nd pass Gillette Knack
Blades- Astra SP in both.
Aftershave- TSD Lemon Cederwood 2x Iced

Yesterday's shave was so nice I decided to stick with it for today switching the soap over to Mike's Naturals and only 2 passes with light tought up. Very nice shave, I'm really liking the M-bomb and the aftershave 2xIced. Very very nice shave. Have a good one!!!

 

Not as good as yesterday. Still learning and enjoying myself, though.

Some changes on the kit:

Vintage English 7 O'Clock New style copy with DE87 handle and Personna Red blade
EJ super badger medium brush
TOBS rose cream
Cold water rinse
Barbershop Bay Rum
Astral cream
Coviello Eau de Cologne

Really love the look of the NEW style OC's with those handsome long combs and its a surprise to look under the head and see 7 O 'Clock instead of Gillette. Not enamoured with this brush mainly because it sheds at least 5 or 6 hairs at Den time but a lovely 2 band 24mm knot arrived from TGN today and is destined for a butterscotch keyhole shaped Rooney so I need to get in gear and do something with it now. I'm a real softie for floral scents but I have an excuse, honest: gairdner is Scottish slang for gardener and I like to spend time pottering around my wee garden so TOBS rose today which smells good and lathers up very easily. However, despite feeling slicker and more cushioning than the Ingrams (which is less than a quarter of the price), I don't feel it to be as good on my skin. Its not the first time I've felt just a little irritation around certain parts of my face mid shave. Maybe its the lanolin and menthol in the Ingrams my faces likes? Bay Rum was just fantastic but a little more irritation today so regular amount of cream. New Cologne sample today which is made by Professor Blighty in the UK and smells great! Sorry for getting a bit long winded folks but it good for me to have a record of how things went: helps with the old learning curve.

All the best!

 

Tuesday!

• Prep: hot washing cloth
• Music: John Barry, Dances With Wolves soundtrack
• Brush: DVH boar Wilkinson Sword badger
• Cream: Palmolive Classic
• Razor: GEM Micromatic OC
• Blade: GEM stainless
• Shave: 3-pass + touch-up
• Post: hot water rinse, cold water rinse

I fist took out my DVH boar brush, but the knot fell out of the handle!
Guess I'll have to glue it back using some two component epoxy glue.
So I took out the WS badger and had a magnificent shave! BBS thoughout!
That Micromatic OC is a real gem! It always performs

Gave a great day!

 

I really miss not posting my pic but it looks like I'm limited to using my phone.

Merkur 34c
Wilkinson sword (2)
Semogue 1438
RazoRock XXX s/c
RazoRock 888 a/s lotion

First spin for my new Semogue. If felt great on my face with almost no piggy smell. If it gets softer with use then I will look down at bore no longer. First try of the RazoRock XXX and 888 a/s. My neck was frosty a good half hour after my shave. Walked out the front door with some extra swagger thanks to my DFS for sure.

 

Pre-shave: Marinated in Proraso Pre-Shaving Cream, Warm shower
Razor: Gillette 1969 Adjustable @ 5
Blade: Astra SP
Brush: Muhle Black Fiber
Soap: MWF
A/S: Cold Water Rinse, Alum Bar, Witch Hazel, Osage Rub, 444

I always wanted a birth year razor. I finally pulled the trigger and bought a Gillette 1969 Adjustable. I got it in the mail yesterday (my birthday, perfect timing). I used it today....I love it!! Very smooth, no nicks or cuts. May try the setting at 6 next time.

 

Good morning from a very rainy day here in Singapore.

Today was again one of those 'enlightening' Moments of Truth (and Zen) - after the first couple of strokes I was saying to myself "Why bother with any other razor?"

You see, last night, I decided to change my Den's set-up, a bit out of impulse but also a bit based on some lingering thoughts about some of my newer razors. I put the 2 new Open Combs, the Vision and the Futur aside and took out from it's sleeping place one of my older trusted razors. Loaded up with the Kai blade which I had in use since Monday, that razor delivered, and how! As I said earlier: "why bother indeed with anything else?" That razor was my Red Tip and the full set-up was:

Musgo Real pre-shave oil
Calani Cadre Noir shave soap
Semogue 1305 boar brush
'55 Gillette Super Speed 'Heavy' (Red Tip)
KAI blade (3.)
Bloc Osma alum
Musgo Real Classic after shave

All just fell into place for an outstanding 2-Pass DFS+ shave!
Of course that does not mean I will give up ALL of my other razors

Wishing all of you a wonderful day.

 

• Prep pre-shave cream
• GFT Almond shave cream
• Sara Bonnyman "Waterfall" shaving bowl
• Merkur Futur shaving set
• Kai blade (1st shave)
• Edwin Jagger Sandalwood AS balm
• GFT Spanish Leather AS lotion

The Use-Up-Some-of-the-Stuff-I-Don't-Really-Like Shave

The Futur shaving set is the first set I bought. The Futur razor is a bit big but it is very comfortable to use. I am trying to use up my GFT Almond. I don't know why but this tube of cream is really lacking in performance. Comparatively low cushion and glide and it dries out much faster than any other shave cream, even when I compensate by mixing the cream on the wet side. (Maybe I got a bad one?) The Kai blades are also kind of interesting. Pretty good, but perhaps not worth the price and certainly not worth more than a Feather blade. The Edwin Jagger Sandalwood AS balm is a good product -- I suspect very good for people with dry skin or those who live in dry climates. It's a good AS balm but I find the EJ Sandalwood scent to very sweet. Three pass BBS shave today, nice and comfortable.

Cheers, Lyndon

 

No Shave for me today

 

Tuesday - 25.09.2012

Facewash: TBS Maca Root wash
Razor: 2 x Merkur HD
Blade: Bolzano and Elios
Brush: Horse brush
Soap: L’Occitane
AS Lotion: Prorasos Green – New one
AS balm: D.R. Harris Aftershave Milk

These boys did a very good job and provided me with a very nice shave.
Thanks guys

 

Wednesday

Prep: Hot shower, AoS pre-shave oil
Coffee: Home roasted, fresh ground Kenyan AA, BLACK
Soap: TOBS Sandalwood
Brush: Semogue 2000
Razor: '73 Black Handle SS
Blade: 7a.m. Plus, day 3, 3 passes
Post: Cold water rinse, ice water splash, L'Oreal Comfort Max ASB, Sean John Unforgivable, hand strop blade
'Stache Wax: Steve's Own

Not bad. Not crazy about this blade, but not bad.

 

I like the painted rings on the HDs. Just adds that little touch of class.

 

I had to do something to tell them apart.
But yes, I agree. I think it improved the look in a way

 

Feather Portable
Perma Sharp Super
Omega 11047 Mixed
Arko Shave Stick
Superior 70 Bay Rum

Minimalistic shave for Wednesday. The Feather was the first razor where things clicked, but I haven't used it in well over a year. I still like the Mighty Midget, but the handle is a bit small for everyday use. Overall an excellent shave.

 

Wednesday shave
pipe: peterson
tobacco: the last of my seattle pipe clubs mississippi river until my shipment comes in from pipesandcigars.com
pre shave: hot shower and I mean HOT, you know the 1 that makes the top of your feet itch
razor: gillette flare tip super speed
soap: proraso green
brush: omega badger
3 pass DFS
post: proraso ASB

Just another wonderful shave! goodnight all

 

Wednesday:

Omega Silver Handle
Super Speed/Sharp day 3
Phyto Expert Regular SC
Svoboda AS Balsam
Aqua Velva Ice Blue AS

Although today is Yom Kippur and I should not have shaved, I could not resist the temptation because otherwise I would have felt dirty. The new Phyto Expert Regular cream from Russia is so soothing and protective, and it gives tremendous lather and a small menthol effect. I cannot say enough good things about the Svoboda balsam and the Aqua Velva.

 

Wednesday evening:

Pre shave: Hot Shower
Pre shave: Proraso Pre Shave Cream
Shave mug: Old Spice 60's
Shave brush: Men's Biz Super Badger
Shave cream: Triumph & Disaster 'Old Fashioned' Shave Cream
Razor: Merkur 34C
Blade: Feather (4)
Post shave: Cold water rinse
Post Shave: Nivea post shave balm

3 Passes (WTG / XTG / ATG) minimal touch ups for a DFS+

The Feather performed well, although I new by the end I wouldn't get another shave out if the blade. I do think 12 passes was superb out of the blade, especially considering I was a day late shaving so the beard was a proper 3 day growth. The previous 3 shaves (9 passes) were all 2 days apart.

Enjoy the remainder of your Wednesday.