SOTD 11/19

Pre: Maggard Razors PSO – Lime
Brush: Custom Boar by Steve Brown Swirl Handle
Soap: Kell’s Original Handcrafted Shaving Soap – Dragons Blood (Hemp/Aloe Blend)
Razor: Maggard Razors MR3
Blade:  Croma Diamant Stainless (4)
Splash:   Humphreys Alcohol Free Cucumber Melon Witch Hazel Facial Toner
Post: Pacific Shaving Moisturizer ASB & Fine Classic American Blend

Another arctic morning in Michigan.  man if it’s this bad before Thanksgiving, we are in for a long, miserable Winter.  Unlike my morning shave, which was absolutely great today!

Re-visited the Dragons Blood by Kell’s.  Love the scent of this soap.  I really had the lather dialed in today.  Finally got that thick, yogurt like consistency and it was pretty cool.  I’ve been playing around with the way I load the brush and the amount of water I use.  This time I used a wetter brush for loading, and added less during generation.  It was near perfect IMO.  I probably could have added a touch more water to smooth it out more but I was thrilled with what I had.  “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it!”

Pushed the Croma to a 4th shave and it was still just as smooth as shave #1.  It was a bit less sharp as I had to do some buffing over both ears to get as smooth as I like but other than that the Croma performed great!

Finished with American Blend by Fine.  I love Fine after shave!  The American Blend smells exactly like it did at the corner barber shop back in the day.  I just grabbed sample but I am totally buying the bottle 🙂

Stay warm! It’s time for Chai latte!!

SOTD 11/10 Menthol Monday

Pre: Shave Secret
Brush: Custom Boar by Steve Neon Barber Handle (The Force)
Soap: Headblade Headslick
Razor:  Merkur 41C 1904 OC
Blade:  Croma Diamant (2)
Splash:   Shea Moisture Shave Tea Tree Herbal Bump Preventer
Post: Pacific Shaving Moisturizer & Fine Classic AS

Back to Menthol Monday!  Jumped back in with an oldie but goodie for me.  It’s the soap that got me started.  Head Slick by Headblade.  I’ve posted SOTDs using this soap before but it tends to get buried in the rotation, so it’s always fun when I “re-discover” it!

The lather generation of this cream is excellent.  It’s a little thirsty but well worth the effort.  The menthol kick is right up there with Razorock Brain Freeze.  Starts off kind of mellow but quickly builds to polar levels.  Great cushion and excellent razor glide.  The scent is really all menthol, at least thats all my nose picks up.  And.. it’s relatively cheap.  You typically only need about a quarter sized dollop to make enough lather.  I do 3 passes on the dome & 4 passes on face and neck with lather left over.

2nd shave on the Croma blade.  Still super smooth.  This shave confirmed that this blade isn’t the best combination with this razor.  Wasn’t a bad shave by any means, but I had to go over some areas repeatedly to get them where they should be.  The Croma worked excellently in more aggressive razors.

“Either I will find a way, or I will make one.” – Philip Sidney

 

 

SOTD 11/2 There Will Be Blood…

Pre: Sir Hare Bald Head Care Shaving Oil – Beach Bum
Brush: Custom Boar by Steve Brown Swirl Handle
Soap: Cold River Soap Works – Savon No. 2
Razor:  Maggard Razors MR3
Blade:  Croma Diamant Stainless (3)
Splash:   Thayers Natural Remedies Lemon Witch Hazel w/ Aloe Vera Astringent
Post: Pacific Shaving Moisturizer & Aqua Velva Musk

Had a beautiful but frigid walk this Sunday morning!  Sun shining crystal clear blue sky!  It is truly scenic but I am SO not looking forward to snow and further temperature drops.  Ugh.  Not a Winter person by any stretch.

So I think I had mentioned that I had shaved off my beard this Halloween.  Well if I didn’t mention it, I did.  I got rid of all the cheek hair and kept the ‘stache and the goat.  So for the first time in my shaving career, I am shaving my head, face, and neck!  So my shaving time has increased a bit.  Nothing insurmountable.  Also for the first time, I attempted to “edge” my ‘stache using my DE.  Ouch.  As you can see from the pic, I definitely need more practice.

I am still really liking the Cold River soap.  This was a great spur of the moment purchase that I’m glad I jumped on.  It’s a good latherer, and has decent cushion and glide.  The scent is subtle but very present.  As usual it’s kind of difficult for me to describe.  It’s sweet without being cloying, perfume like without being over bearing.  It’s a classic masculine scent that makes me think of that show mad Men for some reason.

Shave #3 on the Croma blade.  This will definitely be a repurchase.  I think this blade may have wormed it’s way into my top 5!  It’s gonna be close.  I think this blade may ease it’s way past the Silver Blues.  Maybe.  I have a Croma in another razor currently so we’ll see how those shaves go.  Stay tuned!

Shave on Sunday!

10/30 Tabac Thor’s Day

Pre: Shave Secret
Brush: VDH kit Boar Brush
Soap: Tabac
Razor:   Merkur 41C 1904 OC
Blade:  Croma Diamant Stainless
Splash:   Wal-Mart Witch Hazel 86%
Post: Nivea Sensitive AS Balm & Aqua Velva Musk AS

It’s a day of T’s.  Used the last of my Tabac sample that Pete S. bestowed upon me trying to woo me to ways of the Tabac legions.  I have to say he nearly succeeded.  I have grown to like Tabac.  The scent still dosen’t do anything for me, but I love the lather and the skin feel while shaving.  So while I may not go out and buy a jar of it anytime soon, if I was to come across someone trading some, I might jump on the deal.  Maybe 😉

Came across one of those odd combinations again.  I think the Croma Diamant blade may be too mild for me in the 41C.  Although I did end up with a very close BBS all around, I had to go over certain spots several times to get it that way.  Another odd thing was that it felt like one side of the blade was definitely sharper than the other side.  I could physically feel the blade making better contact on one side.  I triple checked to make sure the alignment was good and it was.  Weird.  But regardless, it was a good comfortable shave.

It’s almost All Hallows Eve.  Are you tricking or treating?

SOTD 10/23 The Great Pumpkin

Pre: Shave Secret
Brush: Shea Moisture Synthetic
Soap: WSP Rustic Shaving Soap – Pumpkin Spice
Razor:  Maggard Razors MR3
Blade:  Croma Diamant Stainless (2)
Splash:   Thayers Natural Remedies Lemon Witch Hazel w/ Aloe Vera Astringent
Post: Dove Men+Care ASB & Master Well Bay Rum

Now I’m hungry!  The smell from the WSP soap is totally delicious!  I am craving some pumpkin pie right now LOL  I unknowingly nearly duplicated the first shave I had on this soap this morning.  What can I say, I like what I like!

The WSP Pumpkin spice is a fantastic soap.  If other WSP soaps smell this good and perform this great, I need to invest in some more of them!  Maybe the Vetiver .  Anyway, this mornings shave was great.  Thick rich creamy nourishing lather was easily generated.  Excellent cushion and smooth razor glide.  Good skin feel between passes.  Not overly thirsty.   I really can’t think of anything less than good about this soap.  If you’ve been on the fence about trying it, DO IT.

Second shave on the Croma blade.  Still ninja smooth and sharp!  This blade was definitely a hidden gem for me, but they’re on my radar now!  I will be picking up more of these I’m pretty sure.  I had previously compared them to the Voskhods, but after this shave I think the Croma is actually smoother than the Voskhod.  Again, maybe a tad bit less sharp, but it left me a total BBS shave front to back with zero weepers!

Speaking of thirsty, it’s Thirsty Thursday!  What are you drinking today?

SOTD 10/11 It’s Pumpkin Time

Pre: Sir Hare Bald Head Care Shaving Oil – Beach Bum
Brush: Shea Moisture Synthetic
Soap: WSP Rustic Shaving Soap – Pumpkin Spice
Razor:  Maggard Razors MR3
Blade:  Croma Diamant Stainless
Splash:   Thayers Natural Remedies Lemon Witch Hazel w/ Aloe Vera Astringent
Post: Dove Men+Care ASB & Master Well Bay Rum

Great shave this morning!  And after a long eventful day, a late evening posting 🙂  Another double debut day – a new soap and a new blade!

I received the WSP soap as a surprise gift from a special someone.  It was kind of done in jest as she knows my annoyance with the overbearing presence of pumpkin EVERYTHING during this season. So when I opened the package and saw that it was pumpkin scent, it was a bit of a let down.  I was all “Ha ha. Funny.”.  But then I opened the tin and all that changed!  Immediately the scent came wafting out, and it smelled delicious!  Plus I had been curious about this brand of soap for awhile anyway. So..

This morning I put it to work!  I topped it with a little hot water during prep to bloom the scent more.  Had my whole bathroom smelling like a bakery!  The style of soap, meaning hardness/texture is similar to Maggard Razors soaps.  Maybe a tad softer.  Loaded on my synthetic brush quickly and smoothly.  Whipped up to a rich creamy lather which held its consistency after application.  Had lots of cushion and felt protective between passes.  The scent lasted the entire shave.  Very impressed with the performance of this soap.  I will be trying out other scents, notably the Mahogany.

Also tried out a new blade.  I’d never heard of the Croma brand so when I was putting together my blade sampler, I put a couple in to try.  Glad I did.  The Croma Diamant blade turned out to be super smooth and nicely sharp.  My first impression is that it is similar to to Voskhod, maybe just slightly less sharp.  Had no issues with tugging or skipping.  Felt very slick on the dome.  Ended up with a front to back BBS with no weepers.  I’m going to have to keep my eye on this blade.  I may be adding a new contender to the list.  Only ding against the blade is that the packaging uses huge glue spots.  Not a deal break though.

Another note on the soap, the Sir Hare oil scent went absolutely perfectly with the Pumpkin.  Then I added to the spice with the bay rum and was smelling fan-freaking-tastic!  Got a few comments at the apple orchard..  have a great night!