SOTD 11/23 The Holidaze Begins…

Pre: Maggard Razors PSO – Grapefruit
Brush: GBS Pure Badger Brush
Soap: RazoRock Brain Freeze
Razor: ’88 Gillette Super Adjustable – Black Beauty
Blade: Astra SP
Splash:   Humphreys Alcohol Free Cucumber Melon Witch Hazel Facial Toner
Post: Fine Classic After Shave – Platinum

Yep.  Winter has arrived, just in time for Thanksgiving.  it was about 21 degrees Fahrenheit this morning, and we have a good 3 inches on the ground.  Was still a pretty nice walk this morning.  Chico was irritated because he hates walking on salt.  But he wont let me pick him up, and he refuses to wear paw covers, and we live downtown.  There is salt everywhere.  He just has to deal with it. I just keep an eye on his paws for any problems.

Really smooth shave this morning!  Pulled out the RazoRock.  This soap was one of my first artisan soaps.  back when I first grabbed it, RazoRock was all over the shave groups and forums.  Now I never see the brand mentioned anymore.  What’s up with that?  Did he “fall off”?  If I missed something, please fill me in!  Aside from that, I still love this soap.  It was also my first real menthol soap.  It doesn’t feel nearly as icy as it did back then, but I attest that to me becoming more tolerant of it.  Still has a nice chill though.  Makes a nice smooth lather, and has decent glide.  Skin feels moisturized afterwards.  Good soap.

Matched up an Astra SP blade with my Black Beauty.  This is always a great combo.  Performed as expected.  Was able to achieve BBS with minimal effort.  Some tiny spot of irritation on the back of my head but I blame that on user error.

So what are your T-Bird Day plans?

 

SOTD 11/13 HULK SHAVE!!!

Pre: Maggard Razors PSO – Grapefruit
Brush: Custom Boar by Steve Brown Swirl Handle
Soap: Dr. Jon’s Handcrafted Shaving Soap – Big Green Monster
Razor: Maggard Razors MR3
Blade: Derby Extra(3)
Splash:   Humphreys Alcohol Free Cucumber Melon Witch Hazel Facial Toner
Post: Brut After Shave Lotion & Fine After Shave – Platinum

It is COLD and windy this morning!  Not as windy as yesterday when we had 60mph wind gusts, but it is still very windy today.  And wet since it rained all night.  Plus they are predicting that moisture could turn into snow flurries.  Nice, right?  NO.

After that frigid walk I was looking forward to a nice warm shave.  Opted for the Big Green Monster by Dr. Jon’s.  I like the scent of this soap.  Another one of those thats a complex scent for me – peppermint, basil, and lime.  It’s a great combination.  Whips up into a nice creamy lather.  Not the most dense but has decent cushion and slickness.  Good skin feel after the shave.  And for those that care about such things – it’s a vegan soap.

Third shave on the Derby blade.  Still decently sharp.  Definitely not as smooth.  But no errors or blooding this morning.  Had to chase the baby a bit in my problem areas but otherwise a smooth and comfortable shave.

TGIF!  Have a great weekend!  I’m going to Chicago.  What are your favorite stops there?

SOTD 9/4 Return of Slick

Pre: Maggard Razors PSO – Grapefruit
Brush: Shea Synthetic Brush
Soap: Headblade Headslick
Razor: ’38 – ’43 Gillette Black Fat Handle Tech
Blade:  Lord Platinum (Super Stainless?)(2)
Splash:   Thayers Natural Remedies Lemon Witch Hazel w/ Aloe Vera Astringent
Post: Axe Body Spray – Edge

Man it is STICKY this morning!  Night has been bringing no relief to the humidity.  Running the AC 24/7.  I don’t know about you, but I can’t sleep when it’s overly humid.  Man I miss central air! LOL

Went “digging in the crates” this morning and found a real “oldie but goodie”!  I pulled out a familiar black and yellow plastic bottle.  A bottle that has a lot of sentimental value to me as it was my first soap I used when I started shaving my dome!  HeadSlick by Headblade!

I haven’t used this soap in forever, mainly because of the plethora of artisan soaps that I have been trying constantly.  Not because Headslick is a lesser soap, because it definitely isn’t.  They claim it’s specially formulated for head-shaving but I’ve found it to be a great soap for any shaving.  It’s a bit more fluid than your average cream.  More of a lotion consistency.  Whips up very easily into a fairly dense, creamy lather with only a little water.  Great slickness and cushion.  It has a bit of menthol in it so it feels refreshing but not overwhelming.  I used this soap exclusively for months before I discovered artisan soaps.  I probably will always have a bottle of this in my collection.  Even if it wasn’t sentimental, it’s performance would guarantee it a spot on the shelf.

Second shave on the Lord Platinum blade.  I could feel that it already has lost some of it’s sharpness but was still fairly smooth.  Was still able to achieve BBS without too much effort.  No errors or major touch-up needed.

You may have noticed that lately I’ve been using body sprays, both Old Spice & Axe.  I’m evaluating them as daily wearers.  I’ll post my opinions soon.

6/26 Head games

Pre: Shave Secret PSO
Brush: Custom Boar by Steve Brown Swirl Handle
Soap: RazoRock Brain Freeze
Razor: ’64 Gillette Super Speed Flare Tip
Blade: Sputnik (3)
Splash: Humphreys Alcohol Free Cucumber Melon Witch Hazel Facial Toner
Post: Brut Original Fragrance Moisturizing ASB & Fine Classic AS – Platinum

Man it’s a good thing it’s Friday because I am dragging arse this morning!  Don’t know why but I just can not get it into gear.  My walk was uneventful and pretty pleasant.  Maybe I just need to eat a big breakfast.  I mean a “healthy” breakfast 😉

Diggin’ in the crates this morning!  Pulled out one of the first soaps I ever bought.  Brain Freeze by RazoRock!  I’d almost forgotten I had this soap.  Todays shave quickly reminded me as to why I haven’t traded it away.  This soap is fantastic!  The thick, yogurt-y lather comes almost instantly.  Great cushion and very good slickness.  I have a hard time describing this scent.  It just smells like menthol to me.  Oh did I forget to mention this is a menthol soap?  Yessir!  Just enough of a freeze to wake me up in the morning, which I definitely needed today!  I just realized this is the only Razorock product I own, so I’m going to have to look into that soon.

Last shave on the Sputnik blade and I have to say it performed great from first to last shave!  Today it was still nicely sharp, decently smooth.  Ended up BBS with only one nick on the back of my head which was probably due to user error.  So I will most likely be re-upping on the Sputniks.  If you like the Gillette 7 O’Clock Yellows, you should try out the Sputniks.

TGIF!  I definitely need a drink!  Or three!

SOTD 6/3 Redneckin’

Pre: Shave Secret
Brush: Custom Boar by Steve Neon Barber Handle (The Force)
Soap: Chiseled Face Groomatorium Redneck Shaving Soap
Razor: ’44(?) Gillette Post WW2 Tech Razor w/ Bakelite Handle
Blade:  Kai Stainless Steel(2)
Splash:   Wal-Mart Witch Hazel 86%
Post: Gillette After Shave Lotion & Fine Classic After Shaving Splash – Platinum

Beautiful morning today!  Bright sunny day, you’d almost think it was a Sunday morning.  Supposed to be awesome weather all week.. until Friday of course LOL  Well this is Michigan so, that’s to be expected.  Don’t like the weather?  Wait 15 minutes, and it will change 3 times! 😉

Another superb shave this morning!  I re-visited the Redneck soap today.  This soap intrigues me.  I love the performance.  The lather comes so easily and is dense and creamy.  Lots of cushion and slickness.  Definitely a good choice for a “daily driver”.  The only oddity for me is the scent.  I was told by the creator (of the soap, not God lol) that he was going for the smells of like an auto repair garage.  Which is an amazing concept.  But my nose just dosen’t get it.  Both times I have used this soap, all I can think of is wet magazines.  I know, I know.  But you know what?  I think it’s growing on me because I kind of like it.  It’s definitely an odd scent, but it’s familiar and somehow comforting.  If that was the original goal for this scent, then by jove I think he’s got it!

Second shave on the Kai blade.  These blades are fast moving up my favorites list.  They’ve already surpassed the 7 O’Clock Yellows, Gillette Silver Blues, and the Voskhods!  Coming up fast on my Personna Reds and maybe even my beloved Astra SPs!  What?  BLASPHEMY!!! We will see… lol  Ended up BBS on the dome and face, with near BBS on the neck.  Didn’t do any buffing to chase it…

Hump Day once again!!

SOTD 1/29 TOBS Re-Mix

Pre: Shave Secret
Brush: Shea Moisture Synthetic Brush
Soap:  TOBS – Sandalwood, Avacado, & St. James
Razor: ’30-’40s Clix Bakelite
Blade:  Topaz Stainless
Splash:   Humphreys Alcohol Free Cucumber Melon Witch Hazel Facial Toner
Post: Gillette Lotion ASB & Fine Classic AS – Platinum

Tricky walking this morn’.  Temps in low 30s but over night we apparently got some freezing rain as all of the sidewalks are covered with a coating of ice.  I can only assume the roads are iffy also.  Lot’s of pedestrians taking it real slow today.

In my effort to finally finish off the many samples I had started, this morning I combined what was left of 3 TOBS samples – Avacado, Sandalwood, and St. James.  I have to say that combination made for an interesting scent!  It also made for some incredible lather!  Super thick, dense and yogurt-y.  I don’t know if the formulation of those samples are any different from each other but MAN this was great lather even for TOBS usual top end lather!  Or maybe I just hit the sweet spot today, who knows?  Either way it was fantastic feeling and super slick.  I definitely want to grab a full tub of this soap as soon as I decide which scent to start with LOL

Re-visited the Topaz stainless blade.  A very smooth, decently sharp blade.  IMO a good blade to use in more aggressive razors as it seems to be fairly forgiving.  I was able to reach BBS with minimal effort or buffing.  One minor nick in a spot on my chin that I had nicked previously and just forgot to avoid.  We’ve all done that am I right?  Annoying.

It’s another Thirsty Thursday!  I think tonight it’s time for a good dark beer.  What say you?

SOTD 1/5 Menthol Monday

Pre: Shave Secret
Brush: Shea Moisture Shave Synthetic
Soap:   Headblade Headslick
Razor:  ’88 Gillette Super Adjustable – Black Beauty
Blade:  Astra SP(2)
Splash:   Wal-Mart Witch Hazel 86%
Post: Pacific Shaving Moisturizer & Fine Classic AS – Platinum

Wow!  I picked a heck of a day for a menthol shave!  Temp was at 7 degrees Fahrenheit for our walk this morning.  Consequently it was a very short, very quick and frigid walk.  Chico did his business with record swiftness LOL

First Menthol Monday of 2015!  I pulled out an old favorite.  One of the first soaps I ever used back when I first started shaving my head, Headblade Headslick.  This soap gets passed over by a lot of folks because it is marketed to head shavers.  I’m here to tell you that it is a good soap for shaving period.  Head, face, whatever.  Well maybe not whatever, as it IS a menthol soap, but definitely use it on your face and neck.  It has great cushion and very good slickness.  The lather is easy to whip up into a creamy, thick consistency with just a small amount of water.  And bonus for you menthol overs – it has an appreciable menthol kick to it that slowly builds during the shave.  I guarantee it’s worth it to give this soap a try.

Second shave on the Astra SP.  My go to blade.  Excellent sharpness.  Totally smooth.  Gives me a consistent DFS each and every time regardless of which razor I use, although I do love it in my adjustable.  Typically its very easy to push the shave to BBS if I feel like chasing the baby.

Ok folks, back to the regular grind after the holidaze.

Instead, I have an abundance mentality: When people are genuinely happy at the successes of others, the pie gets larger. –  Stephen Covey

SOTD 6/20/2014

Pre: Shave Secret
Brush: VDH Boar
Soap: VDH Classic
Razor: Gillette Super Speed
Blade: Astra Superior Platinum
Splash: n/a
Post: Aubrey Organics City Rhythms AS Balm
After:  Pinaud Clubman Classic After Shave Lotion

The Astra SP is a smooth blade!  I think the Personna Red may have a competitor for my number one slot!  Super close shave, no issues at all.  Just slide over the dome with ease.  Even thought the lather was less than stellar today.  I think my experience with the VDH has been tainted by all of the awesome creams I have been using.  That or I may be out of practice lathering a puck.  Wasn’t horrible but definitely not as good as I remembered the VDH to be.  I’ve decided I don’t really like the Aubrey Organics balm.  I think I mentioned that in a previous post.  Well today confirmed it.  Don’t know if I’m going to finish it.

By the way, the smoke pictured is an Asylum Schizo 50×6.  A very smooth, mild to medium smoke with woody, leather, and cedar flavors.  I dabble in cigars occasionally also.  Usually about once every couple weeks or so I’ll get the urge..