Thread: November 26 - December 2

Rooney small style 1 brush
Truefitt & Hill soap
Hand American strop
5/8 sq pt Heljestrand #31 ivory scales
Harris Face Milk

Got a little too close on the right hand side of my chin, but no blood. I won't need to shave there for a couple of days though :-) Other than that, a very good shave.

Skipped yesterday so I'd have 2 days growth to take off with a 13/16 Frederick Reynolds wedge freshly reground and honed by Mr. Chandler.

Vulfix 2234
Mamabear's Masculine Musk soap
Frederick Reynolds 1/4 hollow
Alum block
Pinaud Bay Rum A/S

Fantastic shave. This razor is a real pleasure to use.
This soap smells so good that it drew my wife over to sniff the mug. I generally discourage her from getting too close when I have a straight razor in hand but she couldn't resist. I like the way it shaves so much that I'm having a hard time using up my other soaps.

Shower with TGQ Oak & Moss soap (my lady really likes the scent)
Dubl Duck Special No. 1
12 laps on the linnen and 48 laps on the leather of my Illinois 361
TGQ Desert Ironwood Shaving Soap (a bit too cinnamon for my taste, but I hear it's a good element for the face after shaving)
Thayer's Witch Hazel Skin Astringent w. Aloe
Lush Dream Cream
Truefitt & Hill Grafton Cologn (not bad)

X

Rudolph Stehlo 6/8, Simpsons Duke 2, Col. Conk Almond, Proraso A/S Balm.

RT

Mon:

Rooney's finest small style 1 brush
T&H soap
Hand American strop
7/8 Henckels Friodur square point, with oryx scales by Robert Williams
Harris face milk

BBS in only 1 pass this morning. Must figure out how I did it.

Boker 6/8 spike
Vulfix 2197
Institute Karite shea butter soap
Alum
Proraso A/S splash
Proraso pre-post.

Mint 5/8 Wonderedge spike honed by me. Knew it was not where I wanted it but it was popping hairs so I decided to give it a go

5 days' growth
no prep (aside from lather)
L'Occitane CADE soap
Little Cutie
Moss scuttle
Tony M strop
said Wonderedge
Alum block
L'Occitane CADE AS balm

Decided to shave with the Wonderedge on a whim. Skipped shower, towels, etc - just lathered and waited a bit while I stropped. Lather was good, razor was dull but with careful angles and stretching I managed to get a good shave without cuts and, most importantly, virtually no irritation.

This was my first Wonderedge shave. Dealing with such growth, without being as sharp as some of my other razors I honed, makes me believe Lynn's statement that a properly honed Wonderedge can handle the wild man of Borneo... Yah, it feels delicate but actually did not flex much. I think the 7/8 Satinedge flexed more.

First shave rating: 9 or so / 10. Certainly not top of my rotation yet, but with some hone love I clearly see how it can get there. The smaller 5/8 is just a tad less pleasant in my hands (grip-wise) than my 6/8 Goldedge. All Ducks I have held feel made for my hands and I love using them (even though I hate celluloid scales)

Cheers
Ivo

Hot shower

15/16 Dorko
proraso pre shave
Colleens Black Cavendish cream
silvertip badger brush

Pinaud Bay Rum

Nice shave nice scent.

Monday

Hot shower
Hair conditioner while stropping
Tony Miller strop
Muhle silver tip
Proraso green tube
6/8 Wacker 1/4 hollow spike
AOS Sandalwood Gel
Penhaligon's Hammam Bouquet

Nice!

The Proraso had been riding the bench for a while. It was good to get it back in the game.

5/8 Dovo
EJ Best Badger
Tony Miller Strop
Mama Bear Rosemary Mint Soap
Aqua Velva Ice Blue

I Was having a great shave, until I got careless and dinged the razor edge against the faucet. And just when I'm starting to get the hang of this whole straight shaving thing. Oh well, lesson learned I guess. (I just love these smileys )