Thread: Hello from Montreal

I went by the pharmacy, but they didn't have the Proraso pre/post. They did have the tube shaving cream, though. I picked one up and will try it out to-morrow morning. I've been having the devil's own time trying to get my Crabtree & Evelyn shave soap to foam well, so I'm hoping this will be better.

That's not a dis of the C&E, buy the way. I'm perfectly aware that it's likely my technique. I'm just hoping the Proraso will be easier until I've really developped my technique.

Originally Posted by Jes

I went by the pharmacy, but they didn't have the Proraso pre/post. They did have the tube shaving cream, though. I picked one up and will try it out to-morrow morning. I've been having the devil's own time trying to get my Crabtree & Evelyn shave soap to foam well, so I'm hoping this will be better.

That's not a dis of the C&E, buy the way. I'm perfectly aware that it's likely my technique. I'm just hoping the Proraso will be easier until I've really developped my technique.

Here's a tip for C&E:

While you soak your brush, add a couple drops of water to the top of the soap. Let it soak too. You don't need lots.
Wring the brush out, and grab it (including the base of the knot of hair) with a three finger claw grip. Load the brush like this, until the bristles are nice a covered with a dense and very dry sud. Put a few drops of water into your other hand, and begin to hand lather. Keep adding water this way until you achieve the thickness of whipped cream (the real stuff). This way you can monitor the amount of water you needed for this soap, and it will set a benchmark for next time.

At the beginning of a new soap, I find hand lathering to be beneficial. It's visual and tactile in a different way than face lathering, and can be helpful.

Good luck

Originally Posted by Maxi

Here's a tip for C&E:

While you soak your brush, add a couple drops of water to the top of the soap. Let it soak too. You don't need lots.
Wring the brush out, and grab it (including the base of the knot of hair) with a three finger claw grip. Load the brush like this, until the bristles are nice a covered with a dense and very dry sud. Put a few drops of water into your other hand, and begin to hand lather. Keep adding water this way until you achieve the thickness of whipped cream (the real stuff). This way you can monitor the amount of water you needed for this soap, and it will set a benchmark for next time.

At the beginning of a new soap, I find hand lathering to be beneficial. It's visual and tactile in a different way than face lathering, and can be helpful.

Good luck

Okay, I'll try that when I pick up some more of the C&E soap. I find that a *lot* of the str8 learning curve pertains to the soap.

Hi folks. Here's a little update:

My str8 arrived a few days ago, but I've only used it once (this morning) because there's still no sign of the strop. I guess there's a pretty major backlog still at Canada Post's facilities from the strike, because I checked on the strop and the Mama Bear shaving soap and both shipped a while ago.

First impressions:

1) The gold wash is poorly done and needs to go. Rather than tracing the outline of the etching, it's just sort of a block of gold with concave ends. As soon as I can find a way to get it off without messing with the finish of the blade, it's outta here.

2) Balance seems really nice. It seems to be friendlier to the hand than my scrappy replaceable-blade Tommyco 'straight' razor, but man, do I ever have to re-learn my technique. It's a much heavier razor than the featherweight cheapo I'm used to.

3) Fit and finish-wise, the Astrale doesn't come close to a $300-level razor, but for a fairly entry-level str8, it's nicer than I was expecting. The ebony scales are a nice touch for a razor at this price point, too. There's a little glue left over from some sort of little sticker that was on the scales when it arrived. Anyone know if Goo-Gone will mess up the wood?


Here's a pic:


Oh: Maxi, I went and bought a new cake of the C&E soap and worked it the way you said. Massive, night-and-day style difference. Thanks a million.

Welcome from another fellow Montrealer. As was said before, the basics are covered by Jean Couteux / Pharmalaprix / etc. but if you're starting to get the acquisition bug, you should patronize the canadian online vendors:

Fendrihan.com
RasagePoulin.com
ItalianBarber.com

There's nothing these guys can't sell, and the only thing worth buying from the States would be hardware: stones, razors, strops.

There's always Vasco cigars on Ste-Cath x Crescent, but they're more expensive, and a bit snobby. I bought creams, soaps, and colognes there, but I wouldn't buy razors or strops from them. Though you should drop in nearby Ogilvy to sniff the Acqua di Parma shaving cream, and check the Art of Shaving stuff.

If you're really courageous, you should patronize Pierre Campeau Ltée, 10421 Av Ethier in Montréal Nord, just besides the louche car garages... They sell JM Fraser's, Booster's, and Pinaud Clubman.

Avoid at all costs Le Centre du Rasoir. Espresso machines, hair dryer, cheap knives, yeah, but the last thing these bozos have is a razor!

Originally Posted by MHV

Welcome from another fellow Montrealer. As was said before, the basics are covered by Jean Couteux / Pharmalaprix / etc. but if you're starting to get the acquisition bug, you should patronize the canadian online vendors:

Fendrihan.com
RasagePoulin.com
ItalianBarber.com

There's nothing these guys can't sell, and the only thing worth buying from the States would be hardware: stones, razors, strops.

There's always Vasco cigars on Ste-Cath x Crescent, but they're more expensive, and a bit snobby. I bought creams, soaps, and colognes there, but I wouldn't buy razors or strops from them. Though you should drop in nearby Ogilvy to sniff the Acqua di Parma shaving cream, and check the Art of Shaving stuff.

If you're really courageous, you should patronize Pierre Campeau Ltée, 10421 Av Ethier in Montréal Nord, just besides the louche car garages... They sell JM Fraser's, Booster's, and Pinaud Clubman.

Avoid at all costs Le Centre du Rasoir. Espresso machines, hair dryer, cheap knives, yeah, but the last thing these bozos have is a razor!

I'll definitely take a look at those websites, thanks. I work near the Vasco and Ogilvie, so maybe I'll drop in sometime soon. Montréal Nord's kind of a trek, as I live in teh southwest, but it might still be worth it.

I don't really like the attitude at Vasco. I'll check it out, but man, those guys...

Originally Posted by Jes

I'll definitely take a look at those websites, thanks. I work near the Vasco and Ogilvie, so maybe I'll drop in sometime soon. Montréal Nord's kind of a trek, as I live in teh southwest, but it might still be worth it.

I don't really like the attitude at Vasco. I'll check it out, but man, those guys...

The Montreal-Nord store is really a hole in the wall, and worth it if you want to save on shipping for Pinaud/Boosters products.

There's one guy at Vasco who's OK, not too snobby, but the others look just like they should be clubbing instead of working.