Thread: Righty Tighty; Lefty Loosey

Shave #127.2 - Not a PWSS Shower Shave

SWMBO's boss came over for dinner, so I needed to combine ablutions to save time. Today was a shower shave. I sometimes really enjoy this after a workout, but today it was done simply to save time.

Proraso Green Shave Cream
Semogue 2012
Mach III
Captain's Choice Bay Rum

Three quick passes got me to a nice DFS. This was a utility shave, not really that enjoyable. The more I shave with a straight or a DE, the more I notice what a miserable way to shave the cartridge is. Unlike some of you, they never caused me skin problems or pain. But, now when I grab a cartridge I do notice how much more grabby a shave it is. I can see why it would suck with a tough beard and soft/sensitive skin.

Shave #127.3 - ...And, Social Progress Goes Boink

Had quite a lot of whiskers to chop down and went with the DE.

Synergy Cavendish Shave Soap
TOBS Badger Brush
Edwin Jagger DE89L + Feather (3)
Hulk's Smash

My normal shave, with less than normal results. Mostly BBS, but I seem to have missed a large spot on my right cheek. The razor bit me going ear-to-nose, fat skin just got in the way.

Shave #128 - Another Review

Wedding tomorrow, so thought I'd grab a straight shave tonight.

Synergy Cavendish Shave Soap
TOBS Badger Brush
WISS Ugly Duckling 9/16" (32)
Captain's Choice Bay Rum

I shaved pretty quickly, but did do 3 passes on the face (N-S, ear-to-nose, S-N) and 4-ish passes on the neck. I'm BBS, except for around my Adam's Apple which is DFS. The after shave did burn a bit, but all-in-all a pretty satisfying shave.

I'm going to give you my review of the Synergy Cavendish. Normally I would do a series of shaves along with general impressions before writing up a review, but since I've already reviewed the Synergy Lime, both soaps formulation is the same, except for the scent, so it seems unnecessary. If your interested, just scroll back. Anyway, the review is the same except for the scent portion.

How to Grow a Mustache Synergy Cavendish Shaving Soap Review

The Basics: The soap is a handmade vegan product with a nice ingredient list, without a bunch of preservatives. I appreciate this, as occasionally skin sensitivity becomes an issue for me. The soap is primarily kokum butter based, which is hydrating, along with mango and cocoa butter. The ingredient list is rounded out by various oils, soy bean extract, aloe, maca root, yellow dock root. The only chemically ingredients are sodium and potassium hydroxide. I'm assuming these are used for saponification of the soap.

(Ingredients: Kokum Butter, Organic Mango Butter, Organic Cocoa Butter, Organic Avocado Oil, Organic Pumpkin Oil, Organic Castor Oil, Coconut Oil, Palm Oil, Organic Neem Oil, Safflower Oil, Glycerine, Purified Water, Sodium & Potassium Hydroxide,Soy bean protein, Chaulmoogra Oil, Aloe Extract, Maca Root, Yellow Dock Root, Essential Oil [Unless Scent Free]).

Lathering: This is a great soap to work with. The large 5" disks make loading the brush easy. Using a dry puck, all it takes is to swirl a wet brush on the puck for maybe 20 seconds to get the brush fully loaded. I never had to soak the puck. It is easy to both bowl and face lather with this soap. The soap has pretty good latitude for how much water it can accept. You have to be a real lathering klutz to add so much water that you cause this soap to break down. (5/5)

Lather Quality: This soap produces a very good quality lather. It is easy to create a dense lather with nice peaks. The lather has a nice lustrous sheen, indicating that it is accomplishing its job of holding moisture to the face. One thing I have noticed is that the lather tends to be so voluminous that when shaving with a straight razor, I sometimes have a hard time controlling where the lather goes. I get it between the scales, on the tail, and even on the pivot pin. Trying to keep the blade wiped clean can become a real task. (4/5)

Shavability: It gets the job done very well. The soap has good glide and slickness. It leaves me with enough residual slickness that I could go back over a spot without worrying about irritation or the blade getting hung up. I have not had any problems with skin irritation from this soap, as I sometimes do with other soaps. The soap does its job well enough that I have never been irritated by the shave itself while using this soap. (4/5)

Post Shave: I like the post shave qualities of this soap. My skin feels slick, smooth and hydrated after shaving with this soap. It is probably the best vegan soap I have in this regard. (3.5-4/5)

Scent: Well, this is highly subjective, but I personally have fallen in love with the Cavendish scent. It is a nice approximation of a sweet pipe tobacco. To me it smells amazingly similar to L'Occitane Eau des Baux eau de toilette, and the two complement each other perfectly. I love using this soap, followed by Captain's Choice and topped with the Eau des Baux. (4.5/5)

Total Score: 21-21.5/25

General Thoughts: This soap makes an excellent daily use shave soap. It is easy to use, no muss, no fuss. You can count on it to get the job done without a bunch of hassles or the need to be very careful over your lathering method. Frankly it is a joy to use. It is not the greatest soap - but it is a good workhorse. The price comes in at a bit under $2US/ounce, so it is moderately priced.

I have some tallow based soaps that make a nicer lather or have better post shave properties. They're a little more luxurious. But, I'm not really comparing this soap to those. In my mind I'm kinda comparing this soap to my other workhorse, Proraso shave cream, and this soap is a little better in all categories.

Shave #128.1 -

C&E West Indian Lime Shave Cream
Semogue 2012
Edwin Jagger DE89L + Feather (4)
Captain's Choice Bay Rum

After 4 shaves the Feather is beginning to go off a bit - I have an overall DFS+. Although, the C&E Shave Cream might be partially to blame. It is the most drying, unlubricating, lather in my collection.

After following this thread for a long time, I still find it interesting that the different elements (soap, brush, blade) can make a noticeable difference in a shave, even with as many shaves as you've now done. Thanks for doing this, it steered me to some products and away from others. Shave on!

Shave #128.2 - The Capper to a Day of Relaxation

Thanks for the kind words Harold - much appreciated. I sometimes ask myself why I'm still journaling my shaves. I'm happy to hear that some find it useful/interesting.

Today was nice! Went for a couple hour bicycle ride with the wife, followed by a trip to a spa, where I enjoyed the steam bath and hot springs, followed by a nice massage. We then had dinner, came home - in a semi-comatose state - and watched some Big Bang Theory while I had a Cognac and a Cuban (Montecristo Petite Edmundo) - bliss. Decided to cap the evening with a shave.

RazoRock Captain's Choice Bay Rum Shave Soap
TOBS Badger Brush
Edwin Jagger DE89L + Feather (5)
Alum
Captain's Choice Bay Rum
L'Occitane Cedre & Oranger AS Balm

Around DFS+ again, but this was not such a pleasant shave. The blade was tuggy and left weepers all over the place. The result of my experiment with taking the blade out between each shave and drying it, is that it made no difference in longevity. Right now I'm running about 4 reasonable shaves off a Feather blade whether I leave it in the razor or pull it out between shaves.

Some of you might recall that when I first started with the DE I was getting 6-7 shaves from a Feather. What happened? I'm not so sure, but I hypothesize that it is a result of switching from hot water to cold water shaving. No idea why this might be, but it is the only thing I can think of that has changed.

Shave #128.3 - How'd I Miss That?

RazoRock Bay Rum Shave Soap
Semogue 2012
Edwin Jagger DE89L + Astra Platinum (1)
Hulk's Smash

BBS, except a little spot on my jawline in front of my right ear.

Shave #129 - Quite Nice

Castle Forbes Pre-Shave
RazoRock Bay Rum Shave Soap
TOBS Badger Brush
DOVO Palisander 6/8" (53)
Captain's Choice Bay Rum
L'Occitane Cedre & Oranger AS Balm

Today was a surprisingly nice 2-passer. Even my neck isn't that terrible, and that is with no extra touch up. Let's call it an overall DFS, with surprising spots of brilliance, the right side of my neck is BBS - rare, and never in 2 passes.

Shave #130 - Damn Fine, Damn Fine

I have a social engagement this evening, of some small formality, so another shave seemed to be in order.

Castle Forbes Pre-Shave
RazoRock Bay Rum Shave Soap
TOBS Badger Brush
WISS Ugly Duckling 9/16" (33)
Captain's Choice Bay Rum
L'Occitane Cedre & Oranger AS Balm

Another quick 2-passer. My face is BBS and my neck is solidly DFS, with some spots of BBS. These are really pretty good results for me off a 2-pass shave. I'm not too sure why I'm getting such good results. I was really hustling today, and not really paying such close attention. I'll have to cogitate on that a might when I have a moment to spare.

Shave #131 - Shavette Time

My Don Jae Chopper hasn't seen the light of day in a long time...

Castle Forbes Pre-Shave
RazoRock Bay Rum Shave Soap
Semogue 2012
Don Jae Chopper + Gillette Blue (1)
Captain's Choice Bay Rum
L'Occitane Cedre & Oranger AS Balm

Another very good 2-pass shave, no touch ups. I'm BBS everywhere, except a small stretch of territory along my jawline on the left side of my face. I don't really remember if this is an improvement on my normal shavette results. I suspect it is better than I usually got in 2 passes.

So, what's been going on the last few shaves?

I have a couple ideas. First, the astute among you might notice the addition of an extra product in my shaves - Castle Forbes Pre-Shave. I do believe this product is adding appreciably to the slickness of my lathers, and improving my results. I've had this stuff laying around for over a year and haven't used it much. I do now believe it is giving my shaves a little extra something something. Not an endorsement. I'm pretty sure it is nothing more special than hair conditioner (the stuff you put on after shampooing), repurposed, rebottled and marked up 1200%. But, if you'd like to try this type of pre-shave, grab some hair conditioner and give it a shot. I get my skin really wet, put it on, wet my face yet again and then lather. It holds a lot of wetness.

Also, I have just recently changed back to hot water shaves. I change with the seasons. When I change to cold water in the spring, I usually notice an improvement in my shaves. Perhaps, likewise when it is time for me to go to hot water, there is an improvement as well. My skin seems to appreciate these seasonal changes.