SOTD: 4th of April to 10th April of 2020

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Sotd - Wednesday the 8th of April.

Prep - facial scrub
razor - ATT Calypso M
blade - Supermax Titanium Plus (5?)
brush - Semogue 2015 HD - silvertip
soap - Meissner Tremonia - Black Beer No.1 paste - vegan
post - witch hazel
a/s - Myrsol Agua Balsamica
balm - none needed.

Result? - top end. One of my all time favourite soaps - performance and scent - dark, medicinal and herbal - I find it uplifting to use - if you are not fond of the smell of rosemary though - I would give it a wide berth. It dovetails beautifully with the prominent herbals of the Agua Balsamica after shave. Job done - have good shaves all - yours - I.
 
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SOTD 04/08/2020

A man can definitely become addicted to the delightful velveteen feeling smooth skin arising from a barber close BBS shave. The truth underlying any safety razor is that it really is nothing more than a blade holder. The transition many make from safety razor to shavette to straight arises for a variety of reasons. There's the danger coupled with the mastery of technique of straight edge open shaving. There's the connection to our past and the history of shaving dating back to the Egyptians. Then there's just the feeling of belonging to a small select club. But most importantly, it's that feeling of shaving mastery, understanding shaving angle and the accompanying skin stretching required for a great shave that contributes to the improvement of safety razor shaving. In my case a neurological condition prohibits my joining the open edge family.

Safety razor designers can attempt to engineer blade angle and blade exposure into their blade holders, but technique still reigns supreme. The safety razor shavers' acronym, “YOUR MILEAGE MAY VARY (YMMV)”, exemplifies the role technique plays. But is that all there is to it? I own a variety of vintage and modern artisan safety razors, and can elicit a decent shave from all of them, but there are certain razors that that just seem to perform better for me within certain blade parameters. For example, my Rex Ambassador shaves beautifully with Wizamets or Voskhods, not so much with Feathers or Nacets. Whereas my AS-D2 and Occam's DE reform best with Feathers or Nacets, and not so much with Voskhods or Wizamets. When it comes to my SE razors, of which I own many, my favorite DE SE, the G.E. Jones Shake Sharp performs best with any stacked DE blade, but the blades of choice for my smoothest and closest shave are Sunekos.

I can achieve a BBS shave with any of my razors, but have recently discovered that the closest barber-level BBS is best achieved with a Feather Super blade in any of my SE AC blade holders. Today's one and a half pass BBS was delivered through my newest SE AC razor ordered back in December of 2019, the Colonial General V2. What I most love about this razor is the sense of effortless competence I experience when shaving with it. It truly feels like I'm just sweeping away the lather. The Feather Super blade is incredibly sharp, but the balance and weight of the razor in hand allows for old, shaky me to exert negative pressure with no effort. So much so, in fact, that there is no audible or tactile feel of the blade cutting. I will always insist on Feather Super Blades in future AC SE shaves. I truly enjoy shaving both face and noggin with this razor. I feel clean, velveteen smooth, and refreshed.

RAZOR: Colonial General V2 in 316L SS
BLADE: Feather Super AC
PREP: Cold water rinse
BRUSH: Alpha Shaving T-400 with 26mm Silvertip Badger Knot
SOAP: Pannacrema Nuavia Blu
POSTSHAVE: Cold water wash with brush squeezings followed by Thayers Lavender WH and finished with Fine Fresh Vetiver AS Splash
 
Wed 8th April

The Grosvenor [ 404- mixed ]
Williams Mug Soap
ER 1914
Gem S/S [ 4 & 1 ]
Williams Aqua Velva A/S Lotion

Not a good start today, the blade very harsh so loaded a fresh one. Shave OK but not that as good as yesterday with an ER1924. I do have a replen for both the Soap & A/S which are nearly finished,

Late report as busy till now. Got New TV stand so planned to relocate TV that was made redundant. Assembled Stand OK, moved old Steam TV old style [ Big Box] and then cabled up TV/Digi Box/ DVD and then disaster Aerial Co Axial wrong size, managed to lose Free View Channels as well.
Could not get Virgin Signal and due to Virus no telephone help.Son will not be Happy as this was in area used by him.

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RussellR5555 said:
Wednesday's Shave

I like the fragrances of all the Signature Soaps I have I find their fragrance very clean and well balanced , but this one is becoming a firm favourite. All 4 of the soaps I have produce an excellent and slick lather.


Preshave: African Black Soap
Brush: Cadman 30mm Synthetic
Blade: Feather
Razor: Karve SB Brass D Plate
Soap: Signature Soap Vectis
A/S: Quoram
Balm: Bart's Lavender
EDT: CK Obsession

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Thank you for all your comments, it makes it all worthwhile. Regards Brian
 
For this evening I give you my shave themed 'Sense and stupidibility'. So named after the lesser known Jane Austen novel

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Stupid razor - Ikon B1 in matt stainless 104 Tech
Sensible blade - Polsilver Lodz
A soap which makes sense - Extro Arancia
Brushability - Cadman 30mm Tuxedo in carbon effect
Help me out stupid scent - Alvarez Gomez Barberia

Feeling utterly arrogant towards the way in which I can fling an Ikon B1 around my face; this evening had my head inside the shaving cabinet choosing which one was going to be the 'I dare you' B1 for shaving duties today. 'Ah ah' what else but that big softy the matt stainless version.

Wonderfully lathered up using the wonderful Extro Arancia with the wonderful Cadman and ready to meet sharp steel. Yup, if ever an Ikon had a soft side then the matt version is exactly that. I feel utterly confident with this one and I couldn't think of a better way to round of a very pleasant and achieving day.

Except.........

You utterly stupid man..........

First thoughts were 'sh*t, this is one sharp blade' followed by second thoughts of 'What the f*@king sh*t was that?', followed by a nasty slice to the cheek, followed by blood and followed by thoughts down the line of 'You stupid daft Bast@*rd'. What I thought was a the B1 was actually the most viscous bl**dy razor I have ever met in the 104 Tech. I'd managed to cause more facial damage in the initial stroke than I had all year to date.

Did I give in? Did I f*@k.

No, I just decided that less arrogance and more care was to be the order of the evening and happy to say the rest of the shave went without any further cause for concern. I will say outside of the initial stupidity, sense prevailed, and one ridiculously close shave was the end result. Awesome stuff even if I had blood trickling happily down my left cheek. No problem and nothing the styptic pencil couldn't sort out. Except.....I'd packed it in to my bag for another week away captive on the boat. Another moment of stupidity. Plenty of cold water, a good rinse with some Witch Hazel, a generous splash of Alvarez Gomez and things eased off. I might look like I've been dragged through a hedge but actually felt great about it all which I guess is all that matters.

So happy I even decided to use expletives instead of just swearing my t!ts off.

Back in to work for a week in the morning and all packed and ready (styptic pencil included). Have a safe and happy remainder of the week forum folk and wish you all good health in every way.


Have some fucking awesome Japanese ladies to round off this fucking awesomely stupid shave


 
Well I really wanted something tropical or at least more Summerish. So it was a toss up between CBL Ghost Pineapple or Stirling Weekend in Malibu. WiM by a slight margin. It really is a great scent with some coconut, pineapple and all sorts of other tropical notes. If Malibu smells this good I can see why you would want to hang out there!

Razor of the day is the Colonial General SS SE. decided to try a new blade today from a sampler I got awhile back. Up until now it has been Schick Proline AC or Feather AC. So today I tried out the Kai Captain Original. Very enjoyable and put them on par with the Feather for sharpness but a tad smoother. The Proline is still the smoothest I have used and it is a joy to use. Got a bunch more to try!

The brush today is special and it comes from Wild West Brushworks. It's called the “Kingston” for obvious reasons. I was quite proud to use it on our last trip to Jamaica. Derek Wheeler and his family tragically lost their home and workshop to a fire right before Christmas 2019. Such a great guy. Hope you're safe and back on your feet soon!

Three pass BBS shave. Topped it off with the matching WiM AS and some English Laundry Tahitian Waters EDP. Well my face smells like it's on vacation. Until we meet again Mai Tai!

Rating: 5 / 5

Razor: Colonial General SS
Blade: Kai Captain Original
Brush: Wild West Brushworks 24mm Boss - Kingston
Lather: Stirling Weekend in Malibu
Aftershave: Stirling Weekend in Malibu
Additional Care:
B.I.G. Co. Alum Block
English Laundry Tahitian Waters
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Date:- 09 April 2020

Pre-shave:- Cold Water straight from the tap
Bowl/Scuttle:- Captain's Choice
Brush:- WCS Two-Tone Tall (Blue & White) Extra Dense Synth. 26/56mm knot
Soap/Cream:- Barrister & Mann ~ Nordost
Razor/Blade:- Rockwell 6C-R3 / Kai Stainless #3
Post/After-shave:- T.N. Dickinson Witch Hazel Astringent mixed into the 240ml bottle with Natural Glycerin (20 drops) & Tea Tree Antiseptic (10)
 


SOTD : 9th April 2020.


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Shaving recipe for today.



Prep: Warm shower / Nivea Men ~ Power Fresh Shower Gel.



Pre:

warm wet flannel to my face.


Simple ~ Sensitive Pure Soap Bar.


Brush: Unbranded turkish Boar.


Bowl Lather.


Tesco's Ceramic 'Cosmo' Side Bowl.


Frankensoap/Uber/Superlather : Arko Derby,& Palmolive Classic shave stick endings + Derby Lemon Shaving cream.


Blade: Astra SP .(4)


Razor: Baili ~ BD177 Rose Gold TTO.


Post:

Cold Water Face Rinse./Homemade Lavender, eucalyptus + Tea Tree Oil Witch Hazel Mixture./ Osmanli ~ Lemon Eau De Cologne.



Nivea Men ~ Sensitive cooling PSB.



Greetings,


Last use of the astra sp blade, on it's fourth outing which paired together with the baili bd177 wonderfully, another great duo with no signs of dulling still feeling smooth cutting through my stubble with effortless ease.

Today i fancied a turkish theme shave so i went for my Arko Derby & Palmolive Classic shave stick endings Arko & Derby lemon shaving cream,which i've only a few more shaves left in the tube a wonderful concoction that i haven't used for a while resulting in another slick protective super lather.

The only thing i over did it with the ratio quantities,"yet again"resulting in having enough lather left over for another three shaves.

A enjoyable 3 pass+ pick ups acceptable silky smooth shave with no errors to report.

Finishing to the shave off with a generous dollop of Nivea Men ~ Sensitive cooling PSB.

My face is feeling smooth & smelling devine. ;)

Stay safe, and enjoy your day ladies & gentlemen.:cool:

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Tabac Thursday 9th April
Zenith Olive wood Synthetic - Tabac - Valet VC1 - GEM SSC #2 - Tabac A/S - Aloe Vera Gel
Valet VC1 Patent Anniversary (1912)
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