Thread: Sun November 11th - Sat November 17th

Delorme Charleston | Vulfix Lime | Semogue Boar | AdP Balsam ASB | Tauer Vetiver Dance

Most of these are products that have never really clicked for me. No matter how many times I try the boars, I just still prefer a badger. The Vulfix cream, while easy to lather, just doesn't do much for me in the protection department, and the Delorme is smooth, but I just don't go for the smaller blades. Despite the kit being less than optimal for me, I was BBS in two passes. Of course, my face doesn't feel as nice as normal because of the choices I made, but it's proof that with good technique, you can get a decent shave with any operable gear in your bag!

Shave prep: Hot shower
Brush: D.R. Harris
Soap: Martin de Candre
Scuttle: Simple soup bowl
Razor: Wacker Jugendstil 7/8, scales by Max Sprecher
Strop: Kanayama ++ strokes on the leather
After Shave Splash: Nivea aftershave Balm

Notes: The edge needed a touchup and small pyramid on the Norton 4/8k, Naniwa SS12k,
balsa+Cr02, 20 canvas strokes and 80+ strokes on the leather did the job.

Btw, I still used a black marker to see where my edge needed a bit more attention.
After the first stroke on the 4k, the disappearing marker on the edge showed immediately what I was doing.

The proud feeling of a scratch-free face after a comfortable shave with your honed razor always brings a smile:-)

Paul

Lukewarm Shower, Imperial Extra Hollow Ground, Semogue 2000, Cella, Aqua Velva Musk

Pretty simple but very close shave this morning. The more I use Cella, it seems the more I like it. Some have said they don't care for the smell but I don't mind it. What I particularly enjoy about Cella is this kind of alum like skin tightening quality it tends to have. Does anyone else get this from Cella or am I crazy?

Pre - Alum block
Strop - 3 inch bridal leather
Brush - Semogue 1305 Boar
Razor - Crown & Castle 6/8 http://straightrazorpalace.com/custo...stle-save.html
Soap - Vitos Red + Macca Root
Post - Alum block followed by Thayers witch hazel.

Tried doing a face lathering uber lather by spreading the Macca Root on my face and then going at it with the Boar brush loaded with the Vitos. It does work. Also found that the blade needs a touch more tuning on the hones even though the shave was smooth and irritation free. Just not quite sharp enough yet. All in all not to shabby for the razor's maiden voyage with an experiment in lathering thrown in to boot.

Bob

A Smart shave...



Pre: Proraso Bianca
Cream: Proraso Blu
Brush: Omega pure badger
GEM Micromatic
GEM Blade
Post: AS Davidoff Hot water

16/11/2012

Pre : Shower + Proraso Pre
Bowl : Robert Becker Scuttle
Brush : F.S. Silvertip Badger 24MMx50MM, Richmond Faux Ivor
Safety : Gibbs Nº16
Blade : Shark Super Stainless #1
Soap : Geo F. Trumper's Sandalwood
Post : Barbasol Pacific Rush

Shaving seems like such an enigma at times. Today I used a soap I'd given up on - Mystic Waters Marakesh. I've tried repeatedly and never get a stable lather. So today was going to be the last time before it went in the bin. Lo and behold, I got an incredible thick, rich lather from it. Because I was less than comfortable with the idea of using this soap, I used a simple razor that seems to be a no brainer - Heljestrand Mk4. I gave it several good laps on the balsa/CrOx strop the other night to make sure it was ready for the challenge, it pops arm hairs with ease. Despite this, I felt like I really had to work the shave. The combination clearly didn't work well, even though I got a nick/weeper free BBS in two passes plus touch ups... The Lucido confirmed it was irritation free, and a bit of Yohji Yamamoto later, I'm ready for a busy day at work!

Prep: Hot shower--followed by Vitos pre-post-shave cream
SC: Palmolive for Men “Classic”
Brush: Caswell-Massey “Super Badger”
Razor: Merkur 34C Classic Heavy Duty w/ Wilkinson Sword Blade
Toner: Thayers Original” Witch Hazel w/ Aloe Vera
ASB: Geo. F. Trumper “Coral” Skin Food
AS: Bulgari “BLV”
Result: A quick, close, comfortable, and smooth shave.

Have a Great Friday Gents!

Shave prep: Afternoon shave, so just a splash of hot water
Brush: D.R. Harris
Preshave: Proraso
Soap: Nomad
Scuttle: Simple soup bowl
Razor: F.W.Engels 5/8
Strop: Kanayama 20 canvas strokes and 80+ strokes on the leather
After Shave Splash: Nivea aftershave Balm

Notes: In Holland we have the expression: ‘it handles like a razor’. Strangely enough, this concerns usually cars and bikes, but for me it’s always applies to this nimble 5/8 F.W.Engels.

Its small size let it be maneuvered around my face with confidence, ease, and comfort. The spike point isn’t even an issue, better yet, it makes the finer trimming around nostrils no problem at all.

Although I prefer the weight of the heavier blades to plough through my whiskers, this small and light one gets the job perfectly done with BBS result.

Paul