SOTD: 22nd May 2018.
View attachment 35712
Shaving recipe for today.
Prep: Warm shower:/ Imperial Leather ~ Sea minerals & Black Mint Shower Gel.
Pre:
warm wet flannel to my face.
Wilkinsons Fruits ~ Rhubarb & Vanilla Body Butter.
Brush: Semogue 1470.
Face Lather.
Soap: Kent.
Blade: Super-Max Super Platinum. (1)
Razor: Parker Variant (settings): 2: WTG, 2.5:XTG,3: ATG,+ pick ups.
Warm wet flannel/ cold wet flannel to rinse my face.
Post:
Alum Block./Cold Water Face Rinse./ Homemade Lemon,Lime+Peppermint Oil Witch Hazel Mixture./Nivea Men ~ Sensitive Cooling Post Shave Balm.
Giorgio Beverly Hills ~ Ocean Dream A/S Lotion.
Greetings,
it'll be two years on July 2018. that i became a member of TSR..
In them two years, i find it amazing that before i started traditional wet shaving i used to hate shaving with a passion, now with my likeable hobby, i look forward to my next shave.Since i've started traditional wet shaving i've amassed quite an amount of shaving kit, and many different DE razors some have been passed on to me, each of which have their pros and cons , in the two years i've used most of them multiple times,and enjoyed using each and every one for all different reasons.
The more aggressive ones,such as the 'Muhle R41'(2014 version) Mingshi 2000s, & Fatip Grande have taught me to "Shave the lather from my face, rather than the stubble", and have gave me the shaving confidence to use an aggressive razor without the fear of thinking it's going to cut my face to ribbons.All of my DE razors, have taught me to treat them with the same level of respect,regardless been aggressive or non-aggressive, if not, these ladies will give me a nasty bite..with patience good preparation & learning my technique, of which i'm still learning with every shave, i've been rewarded with some sublime shaves, and also the occasional weeper,& nick along the way,which is all part of the fun with traditional wet shaving...However,despite the fact that I have used all of those razors I cannot ever remember getting such a sublime shave with the first use of a razor, but all that changed with my maiden shave using the Parker Variant.
I won't deny the fact that i have a fondness for parker my razors,and in theory i didn't really need to buy the Parker Variant,as my other Parker razors give me good acceptable clean shaves,However, after sitting on the fence undecided for well over a year, i pushed the buy button on the Parker Variant. I now have the grand the total of nine Parkers!, which i get great pleasure from each one, but i can honestly say none of them are even remotely in the same category as the Variant. Not even close, my only other razor that i can compare it to is my Mingshi 2000s,+ (Spare one) which are the only other adjustable razors i own, another superb razor,that gives me very efficient shaves indeed, but on my first pass with the Variant it felt right from starting the first pass,a soild weight smooth,& balanced in my hand,and was at ease instantly with it's aggression.I've learn't alot of my shaving technique using my various assortment of DE razors, Parker razors i find shave excellently with a slightly steeper shaving angle, resulting in a very comfortable smooth performance. I found my shaving angle with the Variant almost instantly on the 1st pass.However,as it was my maiden shave with the variant I took Paul's
@Blademonkey advice with the settings and started on setting 2. WTG, 2.5 XTG, then took it up to setting 3 for ATG,+pick ups.
I find setting 3 very comfortable for me, i could feel the blade for sure, but it felt comfortable & solid...I probaby didn't need to take to setting 3 ,but i was just experimenting with its aggression, i may try it above setting 3 in the future shaves, but 3 is my 'comfort zone' setting for now, also i was BBS after the 2nd pass,..another first, but i carried with the 3rd & pick up passes just for the sheer pleasure of the shave & to use up the wonderful lather, the first time use of Kent soap had created.Incidently i personally think that 90% of traditional wet shaving is good preparation & mastering your technique,a good solid well balanced DE razor blade choice helps immensely to put you on the right track to do so, the Parker Variant will be a great one for me.
An amazingly well built razor, which is a pleasure to use.A keeper for sure.I should have bought one last year, when i had the chance to..Oh well ,you live & learn.
A sublime very efficient 3 pass + pick ups silky smooth shave with no errors to report...
Finishing the shave off with a generous splash of Giorgio Beverly Hills ~ Ocean Dream A/S Lotion... Both the A/S & Soap, are early birthday presents from my siblings,that i was told i had to use with my new razor. both excellent presents, i now know that the kent soap is the same as MWF,which was a double bonus for me, as it's one my favourite shaving soap to date..The post shave feeling is the best i've had from all the soaps & creams. The A/S is 'Very refreshing stuff!',and yes!, the bottle is "skew-whiff " readers, its not your vision playing tricks on you, the scent reminds me of Davidoff Coolwater, which is another old favourite of mine...I also got some Gillette 'Blue' aftershave, from the rest of the clan which i'll be trying out in future shaves...I was quite taken back by the fantastic pre-birthday presents from the family, i'm well stocked up with soap & smellies now.
My face is feeling super smooth refreshed, & smelling devine.
Sorry for the short novella, posting fellow members,"I get carried away with myself at times".. The performance of the Parker Variant has left a very lasting impression on me, enough of my babble.
And i shaved happily ever after.The end.
Enjoy your day, ladies & gentlemen. Regards. B.