Thread: My Mastro Livi razor, at last: a wonderful life experience!

Yesterday I went to Mastro Livi's laboratory because I ordered to him a couple of shave brushes. Mastro Livi has now available two new types of lofts for his brushes and I wanted both in my collection. The new badger lofts are Super Silvertip Badger and Wild Silver Badger Double Band. I wanted to try them both and ordered two brushes with different handles. For the Super Silvertip Badger brush - very very soft - I opted for a handle made of Padouk wood, whereas for the Wild Silver Badger Double Band brush - stiffer and with a more robust backbone - I opted for the super fragrant and aromatic Juniper wood.
I am going to test the Wild Silver Badger Double Band shave brush in today's shave and the Super Silvertip Badger shave brush in my next shave.

My new Mastro Livi shave brushes and their boxes





My new Mastro Livi shave brushes





Mastro Livi Wild Silver Badger Double Band, 24mm knot, Juniper wood handle





Mastro Livi Super Silvertip Badger, 24 mm knot, Padouk wood handle

Sunday 24 January 2016



Mastro Livi Grifetto 60, 6/8 Full Hollow, Round Point

Today's shave has been the good occasion for testing one of the two new Mastro Livi shave brushes I bought yesterday and this time I opted the Wild Silver Badger Double Band and I must say I am very impressed by its performance. It has a lovely backbone and the right compromise between stiffness and softness on the skin. I also used Mastro Livi Grifetto 60, the straight razor Mastro Livi wanted to make in order to celebrate his 60 years of experience and daily commitment on the shaving and straight razor business. Grifetto is a straight razor I truly like, always giving a very pleasing and smooth shave, not to mention, very close.

• Pre-Shave: RazorGuy Pre-Shave Oil
• Soap: Cella Shaving Cream
• Brush: Mastro Livi Wild Silver Badger Double Band, Juniper Handle, 24 mm knot
• Bowl: Gerby Bowl
• Strop: Mastro Livi Medium Loom Strop "Coramella Italiana" and Hand Palm
• Razor: Mastro Livi Grifetto 60, 6/8 Full Hollow, Round Point
• Post-Shave: Alum Block
• Post-Shave: Umbria Extravirgin Olive Oil
• After Shave: Pinaud Clubman

Sunday 31 January 2016



Shaving with a Snake

Not only the beauty of this straight razor is simply breathtaking, but also the performance in shaving is simply top notch. This Mastro Livi CarboInox Snake razor is very special and in many regards. The blade, first of all. This is a special CarboInox I wanted Mastro Livi to make for this razor and the middle layer is made of stainless steel with twisted carbon Damascus dots inlaid in the blade. The outer layers are made of a beautifully colored twisted damascus steel, made by Mastro Livi, of course. It is a genuine masterpiece made of CarboInox and a perfect shaver and I am very proud for having it in my collection!

• Pre-Shave: RazorGuy Pre-Shave Oil
• Soap: Musgo Real Claus Porto Shaving Cream
• Brush: Mastro Livi Super Silvertip Badger, Padouk Handle, 24 mm knot
• Bowl: Gerby Bowl
• Strop: Mastro Livi Medium Loom Strop "Coramella Italiana" and Hand Palm
• Razor: Mastro Livi CarboInox Snake, 8/8 Full Hollow, Snake Point
• Post-Shave: Alum Block
• Post-Shave: Umbria Extravirgin Olive Oil
• After Shave: Lucky Tiger Bay Rum

Wednesday 3 February 2016



My First Mastro Livi

This is my very first Mastro Livi, the one which introduced me into high quality of shaving and made by this incredible Italian craftsman. I bought this razor in April 2013 and, as of today, it never needed any honing, not even a pass on any paste. It shaves like the first time and it amazes me more and more. I have always followed Mastro Livi's wise advises on how to maintain a straight razor, that is his loom strop and hand palm, and it works. This razor is made of Damasteel Blue Tongue pattern - as far as I know, a discontinued pattern - and scales are made of cobalt buckeye burl, a color not available anymore. These two factors make this razor even more special, not to mention the fact it still gives a super smooth and velvety shave, close and impeccable, even though three years have passed since the day I bought it and never honed or refreshed its edge. Simply amazing!

• Pre-Shave: RazorGuy Pre-Shave Oil
• Soap: Cella Shaving Cream
• Brush: Omega Bristle Brush 48
• Strop: Mastro Livi Travel Loom Strop and Hand Palm
• Razor: Mastro Livi Damasteel Blue Tongue, 7/8 Full Hollow, Livi Snake Point
• Post-Shave: Alum Block
• Post-Shave: Argan Oil
• After Shave: L'Erbolario Vetiver Hamamelis Aftershave Lotion

Sunday 7 February 2016



Traveling with My First Mastro Livi

I am still traveling and yesterday morning I found in a mall this Wilkinson Sword Shaving Soap and, you know it, I bought it. I am very curious about trying every soap or aftershave I happen to see in shops and, although this one is considered a sort of classic shaving soap, I admit I never had the chance to personally try it also because it is not so easy to find it in Italy. This soap is not so bad, however I would not consider it a top notch soap, however it is a good basic soap providing enough cushion and slicking effect, but I find it to lack in the moisturizing effect. As for fragrance, it is what you would get from an "old fashioned" shaving soap, however I like it.

• Pre-Shave: RazorGuy Pre-Shave Oil
• Soap: Wilkinson Sword Shaving Soap
• Brush: Omega Bristle Brush 10275
• Strop: Mastro Livi Travel Loom Strop and Hand Palm
• Razor: Mastro Livi Damasteel Blue Tongue, 7/8 Full Hollow, Livi Snake Point
• Post-Shave: Alum Block
• Post-Shave: Umbria Extravirgin Olive Oil
• After Shave: RazorGuy Bay Rum

Tuesday 9 February 2016



Getting Ready to Go Back Home

I am getting ready to go back home and, as usual, before leaving I always shave. The companion for my business trip has been this Mastro Livi Bluetongue Damasteel and it is the very first straight razor I bought from this highly revered Italian craftsman. After three years it is shaving like the first day and I am very happy with it as I never refreshed its edge, not even on chromium oxide. It is still capable of giving a super smooth and close shave with the well known and appreciate Damasteel aggressivity. Great shave!

• Pre-Shave: RazorGuy Pre-Shave Oil
• Soap: Aquagena Shaving Soap
• Brush: Optim'Hom Synthetic J082
• Strop: Mastro Livi Travel Loom Strop and Hand Palm
• Razor: Mastro Livi Damasteel Blue Tongue, 7/8 Full Hollow, Livi Snake Point
• Post-Shave: Alum Block
• Post-Shave: Argan Oil
• After Shave: L'Erbolario Baobab and Green Coffee Aftershave Balm

Sunday 14 February 2016



RazorGuy Shave!

This Sunday I felt like shaving with the homemade shaving products I make - therefore they are not for sale - so I used my pre-shave oil, shaving soap and Bay Rum aftershave. As for the aftershave I opted for my new Bay Rum, although there is also another one I call "Thyrrenus" - because of the noble Etruscan people who lived in Perugia, my city, 3000 years ago - but I like using this one in summertime because it has a more refreshing and cooling effect. As for the razor, I opted for this Mastro Livi RWL34 and I must say I like this stainless steel very much, always giving a very close shave - somewhat aggressive - but absolutely super smooth. I also have to say, the more I use my shaving soap the more I like it. Its post shave effect and feeling on the skin is absolutely superb!

• Pre-Shave: RazorGuy Pre-Shave Oil
• Soap: RazorGuy Shaving Soap
• Brush: Voigt & Cop High Mountain White Badger, Maple Handle, 24 mm knot
• Bowl: Gerby Bowl
• Strop: Mastro Livi Medium Loom Strop "Coramella Italiana" and Hand Palm
• Razor: Mastro Livi RWL34, 8/8 Full Hollow, Snake Point
• Post-Shave: Alum Block
• Post-Shave: Umbria Extravirgin Olive Oil
• After Shave: RazorGuy Bay Rum

Sunday 21 February 2016



Mastro Livi "Rasoio Italiano" Stainless Damascus, 8/8 Full Hollow, Spanish Point

It was quite a long time I was not using this Mastro Livi stainless steel Damascus. It has a very special blade because it is made of genuine artisan made stainless steel Damascus, entirely made by Mastro Livi in his laboratory. He used martensitic stainless steels only, therefore this Damascus can be tempered and used for making a cutting edge. And what a cutting edge, I would add! It gives a smooth and close shave with a somewhat aggressive touch, however very comfortable. Scales are very particular, too. It has a double Italian flag - made of jade, white turquoise and coral - with a middle plate made of fossil mammoth ivory. That's why this razor is called "Rasoio Italiano" (Italian Razor) because it is entirely made in Italy, including the martensitic stainless steel Damascus!

• Pre-Shave: RazorGuy Pre-Shave Oil
• Soap: Geo F. Trumper Violet Shaving Cream
• Brush: Frank Shaving Finest Badger Chubby Brush - 30mm knot
• Bowl: Bamboo Bowl
• Strop: Mastro Livi Medium Loom Strop "Coramella Italiana" and Hand Palm
• Razor: Mastro Livi "Rasoio Italiano" Stainless Damascus, 8/8 Full Hollow, Spanish Point
• Post-Shave: Alum Block
• Post-Shave: Umbria Extravirgin Olive Oil
• After Shave: L'Erbolario Periplo Aftershave Fluid

Sunday 28 February 2016



Mastro Livi CarboInox Kamisori, 7/8

Today I used this synthetic brush I restored last week by mounting this loft on a wood handle, therefore giving this nice synthetic loft a new life. I am happy with the result and I am glad I could restore it. In this shave I used my Mastro Livi CarboInox Kamisori giving an impeccable and very smooth shave as usual. Not only a beautiful work of art, but also a wonderful masterpiece with charming shading colors. Today I also felt using one of my favorite aftershaves - Floïd Blue - and it is a pity Colomer decided to discontinue this excellent product. By reading how many fellows wet shavers love this product, I cannot really understand why they are not making it anymore.

• Pre-Shave: RazorGuy Pre-Shave Oil
• Soap: Valobra Menthol Shaving Cream
• Brush: Restored Synthetic Brush with Wood Handle
• Bowl: Gerby Bowl
• Strop: Mastro Livi Medium Loom Strop "Coramella Italiana" and Hand Palm
• Razor: Mastro Livi CarboInox Kamisori, 7/8
• Post-Shave: Alum Block
• Post-Shave: Argan Oil
• After Shave: Floïd Blue

Grifetto is an amazing razor, equally great both for beginners and expert wet shavers and, to me, it is the ideal razor for traveling.
Yesterday I went to Mastro Livi's Laboratory because I ordered to him a very special Grifetto and I asked if I could watch the making of it. He of course accepted it and, moreover, he also accepted me shooting a video of the making because I thought other fellow wet shavers may like to see how a Grifetto is made.
In this video, Mastro Livi also explained what is a Grifetto, how it is made and the differences in the making from a totally artisan made razor. As a matter of fact, the only difference from a totally artisan made Mastro Livi razor, Grifetto is made from a blade blank which is then processed and honed by Mastro Livi just like any of his artisan made razors. Because of this, Grifetto is therefore a semi-artisan razor because of the blade blank, as for the rest it is a genuine and high quality Mastro Livi artisan made razor. To distinguish Grifetto even more from his totally artisan made razors, Mastro Livi wanted a special box for it, whereas the totally artisan made razors are sold with the "usual and traditional" wood box.
Mastro Livi also told me there are six different Grifetto razors, all having the same blade but different scales:

• "Regular" Grifetto with Olive wood scales
• Grifetto 60, a razor Mastro Livi made to celebrate his 60 years of experience in straight razor making, honing and restoration
• Grifetto with Cocobolo scales
• Grifetto with Black African Ebony scales
• Grifetto with white Mother of Pearl scales
• Grifetto with Abalone scales

As I already have a "regular" Grifetto with Olive wood scales and Grifetto 60, I opted for mother of pearl scales. Ladies and gentlemen, I am very glad to introduce you the third Mastro Livi Grifetto in my collection!

Mastro Livi Grifetto in Mother of Pearl Scales

• Size: 6/8 (blade is refined and ground by hand, so the size may slightly vary)
• Point: Round
• Steel: Stainless Steel
• Scales: Mother of Pearl