Thread: SOTD Sep 24 - Sep 30

Tue:

hair conditioner
Rooney finest small style 1
Harris Arlington soap
HandAmerican strop
7/8 Heljestrand square point
Harris face milk

Normally I lather up before stropping to give my beard a chance to soften. This morning I swiped a bottle of the wife's hair conditioner and marinated my face with that while stropping, then washed it off and lathered up and shaved. Great shave, the extra softening really helps with the tough beard in my goatee area and on either side of my adams apple.

The new handamerican strop is finally conditioned and broken in, and it's seriously the bomb. The padded D ring handle is extremely comfortable and forgiving.

The Heljestrand is on its sixth shave since being finished on the translucent arkansas hone, and so far it's holding steady. Normally I'm looking at a refresh in about 3-4 shaves so I'm pretty impressed. Still shaving with no appreciable deterioration during the shave, the fin seems extremely strong.

Originally Posted by FiReSTaRT

Ivo, there is a possibility that you have overhoned the edge a bit. It was good for a pass and then it deteriorated with resistance. Happened to the Taylor after its first honing. Do a 3-5 1-5 1-5 1-5 on the Norton and try again.

Ilija, I did something like 7-7, 5-5, 5-5, 3-3, 3-3, 1-1, 1-1 (no system, just felt like it, I am not worried about loss of metal that much for this W&B). Stropped and test shaved a patch, performed very well but my next full shave is with a 6/8 Goldedge the W&B will have to wait a bit more

Cheers
Ivo

Taylor's Lavender Soap
Sheffeld Steel
Superior Best Badger Brush

RT

My system with new blades or ones that weren't honed to my satisfaction is:
1) hone
2) test the next day.
3a) if good, put it at the end of the rotation
3b) if not good, repeat steps 1 and 2 until good.
Now do me a favor and just try 4x 1-5, starting with very little pressure on the blade and ending with just the weight of the blade for the 4th 1-5. If that doesn't work, shave with the Goldedge the following day and get back to the W&B when you're up to it.

Speaking of which, I finally got the Genco to shave nicely this morning. I still like the Tonsorial gem better, but the Genco will be a regular in my rotation. Sorry for the hijack guys, but I try to include meaningful technique/gear discussion related to someone's successes and problems instead of a BORING list:
1) strop
2) brush
3) soap
4) razor
5) aftershave
and nothing else.

In my case everyone already knows everything I have to say about every one of Colleen's soaps, and the BB Brush/Sweet Almond Oil Cream/Nomad Soap from C&E and that Tony makes great strops. So I try to stick to what's different. These days it will be new additions to my rotation.

Originally Posted by mparker762

Tue:

hair conditioner
Rooney finest small style 1
Harris Arlington soap
HandAmerican strop
7/8 Heljestrand square point
Harris face milk

Normally I lather up before stropping to give my beard a chance to soften. This morning I swiped a bottle of the wife's hair conditioner and marinated my face with that while stropping, then washed it off and lathered up and shaved. Great shave, the extra softening really helps with the tough beard in my goatee area and on either side of my adams apple.

The new handamerican strop is finally conditioned and broken in, and it's seriously the bomb. The padded D ring handle is extremely comfortable and forgiving.

The Heljestrand is on its sixth shave since being finished on the translucent arkansas hone, and so far it's holding steady. Normally I'm looking at a refresh in about 3-4 shaves so I'm pretty impressed. Still shaving with no appreciable deterioration during the shave, the fin seems extremely strong.

I've been using hair conditioner for the better part of a year. I apply it in the shower and leave it on until right before I exit. It does make a difference!

RT

Ilija, missed your post. I assume you talk about a Norton 1-5. I am actually only using the Lithide for this.

So I tried the DUCK!!!

Shower
some hair conditioner
Tabac soap
Omega Silvertip (Peachy)
Dubl Duck Goldedge 6/8
Trumpers Alum block
ice cube
Lucky Tiger AS Toner
L'Occitane CADE AS balm

The 6/8 Goldedge feels fab and fits very nicely in my hands! I feel like it were made for me, despite the fact that I am biased against celluloid and brass! I haven't had such a strong perception with any of my other razors, and I do have other cult brands / models... I thought I prefer wedges, but I still love how this hollow razor shaved. I MAY have used inferior angles at times, as the razor came to me through a very respected forum member, but I did sense some pulling. Clean shave but did not go BBS, as I prefer less redness and irritation...

Omega is a bit floppy but holds lots of water, makes lots of foam, which I like after the C&E beautiful boar disaster... Tabac is, as we all know, great. Alum block burned a bit in some areas, which again tells me I had less than optimal angles in some instances. Nevertheless, redness was soon gone after I applied toner and AS balm.

And now for the conclusion: (DRUMROLLLL)

0, as in ZERO, Nicks / Cuts! That's a first!

WTG Ivo! Here's another tip. Try gradual reduction instead of elimination. That reduces irritation and generally gives you better shaves.

Originally Posted by FiReSTaRT

...Try gradual reduction instead of elimination. That reduces irritation and generally gives you better shaves.

I do this, Ilija

Will work on the W&B tonight
Cheers
Ivo

Friday

Shower
Aveda Conditioner while stropping
Vulfix BB
Peabody Mountain soap
Challenge 5/8 spike
AOS Sandalwood Gel
C&E Sandalwood EDT


Great shave!! This plain jane razor was my first (thanks J Chandler) and remains one of my best shavers.

Jordan