Prep: Hot shower, 50% Aleppo
Brush: Blackland Signature
Soap: Nuàvia Blu
Razor: ER 1924 Shovel head
Blade: Personna GEM PTFE-coated (1)
Post: Home made skin tonic
View attachment 86019
Shave: The first synthetic brush I have enjoyed using. Dense knot with substantial backbone, creamy lather, and much more than I expected from a 23mm knot (then again, it is Blackland...).
The 1924 was a first, too. I know enough about vintage GEM razors to start cautiously, but the first thing I noticed is that the construction of the 'Shovel Head' acts like a feedback speaker – every stroke was met with a satisfying rasp. I did a standard three pass shave, with an added ATG pass on my neck, and by the time I was approaching the final rinse, I felt quite confident with it.
The only ER GEM razor still on my list is the 1914, and one of those is in the post. So far, I've found the 1912 and 1914 impressive, and I'm fond of the Micromatic Bullet-tip, too.
Some days are still Sabre days, but the relatively modest cost of a vintage GEM razor collection is definitely worth it, in my opinion, considering the quality and variety of choice you get in return.