SOTD : August 1, 2016 - August 7, 2016

[brothers]

Happy August everybody! For Monday morning's shave, I find I am almost to the end of my small tube of Coates Almond shaving cream. It'll probably run out in about 2 days. I'm not sure which product I'll use after that. As usual, the Darwin Deluxe is ready and the Kai blade still has some life left.

[Mike R]

Monday

Brush: Simpson Chubby 1 Best
Soap: QED Special 218
Razor: Van der Hagen
Blade: Derby
A/S: Jojoba Oil
Cologne: Old Spice Classic A/S

Mike

[smoothshaver]

unscented AoS shave soap
Rooney 2/1 super silvertip
Feather AS-D2 razor
Feather blade (1)
Thayers witch hazel
unscented AoS ASB

[therazorguy]

Tuesday 2 August 2016



Mastro Livi for USA

Vacation time. I decided to put in my luggage the two latest Mastro Livi straight razors I recently added to my collection because I want to try them both and enjoy them as much as possible. I therefore ended up taking with me the two CarboInox razors with scales in which there is an insert of the flags of Italy and USA. Last Sunday I tried the one with Italian flag, so today has been the turn of the straight razor having the USA flag. They are both magnificent with superb CarboInox blades, including this one having a simpler pattern however beautiful. Not to mention how smooth and effective it is in shaving, giving - just like all Mastro Livi razors - a very close and velvety shave. The finishing touch has been delivered by my super cool and super refreshing Thyrrenus aftershave, ensuring a cooling relief from summer heat.

• Pre-Shave: RazorGuy Pre-Shave Oil
• Soap: Aquagena Shaving Soap
• Brush: Mühle Modern 281 H 23, Fine Badger, Pine - 21 mm knot
• Strop: Mastro Livi Travel Loom Strop and Hand Palm
• Razor: Mastro Livi CarboInox USA, 13/16 Full Hollow, Spanish Point
• Post-Shave: Alum Block
• Post-Shave: Argan Oil
• After Shave: RazorGuy Thyrrenus

[Mike R]

Tuesday

Brush: Simpson Chubby 1 Best
Soap: QED Special 218
Razor: Van der Hagen
Blade: Derby
A/S: Nancy Boy
Cologne: Old Spice Classic A/S

Mike

[brothers]

This morning's shave resulted in another product finished off from start to finish. Coates Almond shaving cream lasted 19 great shaves. Slick like I like it. (I have more. ) The Monster synthetic brush is outstanding with the face-lathered shaving cream. Got a great 7th shave from the Kai blade and the Darwin razor. Finished off with Superior 70 mentholated splash. Looking forward to tomorrow's shave which will probably include one or two changes in the lineup.

[Mike R]

Wednesday

Brush: Simpson Chubby 1 Best
Soap: QED B&B
Razor: Van der Hagen
Blade: Derby
A/S: C.O. Bigelow / Dr. Galen
Cologne: Old Spice Classic A/S

Mike

[brothers]

Today's shave was #8 with the Kai blade. Some folks have had terrible experiences with the current Kai blades, and that concerns me, especially because they are so expensive. I am fortunate that every Kai I have used has provided at least 7 smooth shaves. I did make one change in my SOTD since I finished up my little tube of Coates Almond shaving cream yesterday. Today's shaving soap of choice was my homemade cedarwood scented soap from November 2013. I plan to use it daily until it's all gone. The Monster brush was loaded on the soap then face-lathered. It produced mounds of thick rich lather, more than enough for 3 full passes. The Darwin Kai combination will probably get me through tomorrow's shave, at least. Followed up with a great menthol kick from my Superior 70 splash.

[smoothshaver]

unscented AoS shave soap
Rooney 3/1 super silvertip
Feather AS-D2 razor
Feather blade (3)
Thayers witch hazel
unscented AoS ASB

[brothers]

Looks like the Kai lasted through 9 shaves. 8 were great, the last one, not so much. Time to toss it and load up the razor for tomorrow with a Gillette Platinum Plus Brazilian blade. I probably used too much water to lather the homemade cedarwood soap. I'll try to remember to cut back a little bit tomorrow. After two and a half years, the soap and fragrance are as fresh as a daisy.

[eeffoc]

Thursday Night

Gillette flare tim with Astra Platinum
Badger brush
Stirling Soap Co. Bay Rum
Nivea Men

[Nick Freeh]

Friday, August 5, 2016

Prep: Proraso Pre-shave Cream
Razor: Merkur Futur
Blade: Astra SP
Brush: Vie-Long 2012 LE Beehive Natural Horse
Soap: Brutalt Bra – Norwegian Woods
Post Shave: Dickinson's Witch Hazel
ASL: Myrsol Agua Balsamica

[Mike R]

Thursday

Brush: Simpson Chubby 1 Best
Soap: QED Sandalwood
Razor: Van der Hagen
Blade: Derby
A/S: None
Cologne: None

Mike

[Mike R]

Friday

Brush: Simpson Chubby 1 Best
Soap: Tabac
Razor: Van der Hagen
Blade: Derby
A/S: Nancy Boy
Cologne: Clubman A/S

Mike

[brothers]

I have been using the homemade Cedarwood soap for the past 3 days and I think something has happened. I get that burning sensation that is normally a light enough sensation upon using a new product that it quickly stops after one or two or three uses, because it is merely something new to the skin. I know the burning is a result of the pH factor. I am starting to wonder whether my homemade soap is going to become incompatible as a permanent part of the rotation. That would be quite a blow. Today's blade is a fresh Brazilian Platinum Plus. Sweet! The unwelcome burning seemed to dissipate fairly soon after the Superior 70 mentholated splash was applied.

[CMur12]

Friday night:

Razor: Mergress (on lowest setting)
Blade: Gillette Platinum Plus from Brazil (via Walgreen's)

Brush: Semogue 1305
Soap: Valobra Shave Stick (converted into a cake)

Lather made on top of the soap
Two-and-a-half passes

Aftershave: Cold water rinse and Thayer's Peach Witch Hazel

- Murray

[Nick Freeh]

Saturday, August 6, 2016

Prep: Proraso Pre-shave Cream
Razor: Gillette Slim Adjustable
Blade: Astra SP
Brush: Vulfix 2234 Super Badger
Cream: Trumper's Limes
Post Shave: Dickinson's Witch Hazel
ASL: Captain's Choice Lime splash

[brothers]

I've just discarded two tubs of my homemade shaving soap from 22November2013. They burned my face leaving it red and aching. I tested the pH yesterday and found it is borderline acceptable in the 9 to 10.5 range. I had only the two pucks, one Cedarwood and the other Lime. They lathered and shaved great, but the burn is not a part of the bargain. That leaves me with two more batches, one being from 11November2013 (two pucks) and the other 14March2014 (6 pucks). I'm going to give each batch a fair trial, but if there's burning involved then I have no problem getting rid of it. That's that.

Regarding the shave itself, the results were as expected from the Brazilian Platinum plus and the other stuff. 2 thumbs up!

[smoothshaver]

Sorry to hear about your homemade shave soap, Gary.

Saturday:
unscented AoS tallow-based shave soap
Rooney 2/1 super silvertip badger brush
Feather AS-D2 razor
Feather blade (1)
Thayers witch hazel
unscented AoS ASB

This has become my standard shave; rotating badger brushes and changing blades as needed.

[Nick Freeh]

Sunday, August 7, 2016

Prep: Proraso Pre-shave Cream
Razor: ATT Atlas R1
Blade: Polsilver Super Iridium
Brush: Semogue 830 Boar
Soap: Savonniere du Bon Berger - Cedar Mandarin
Post Shave: Dickinson's Witch Hazel
ASL: Pitralon Classic