SOTD October 19 - October 25, 2020

[brothers]

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[drmoss_ca]

Maximising the fun - a Livi Damasteel in mammoth ivory scales fresh from the coticule and black Arkansas, Trumper Violet soap (old tallow stock), and Lee Sabini's magical Apothecary Shop brush, and L'Artisan Parfumeur Verte Violette:

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[jgreenepa]

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SOTD MONDAY MORNING, OCTOBER 19, 2020

I’m really enjoying my shaves with these early 19th century Sheffield razors. Setting the bevel on this wavy Frederick Reynolds 5/8 was a challenge, but the two pass mug (WTG, ATG) shave this morning was well worth it. The buttery smooth edge made short work of my 24 hour stubble. I realize given the closeness of these shaves that I could easily get away with shaving every other day, but I just enjoy the process too much. My Ever Ready Streamline took care of my dome shave leaving me with the expected velveteen smoothness I’ve come to treasure in the mornings. I feel refreshed, limey-clean and velveteen!

RAZOR: Frederick Reynolds 5/8 (Mug), Ever Ready Streamline (Dome)
BLADE: Pella PTFE Coated Gem
PREP: Cold water rinse followed by Argan Oil
BRUSH: JR #372 Boar
CREAM: Castle Forbes Lime
POSTSHAVE: Cold water wash with Glyce Glycerin soap followed by Humphreys Lilac WH. Finished with Royall Lyme AS Splash/Cologne

[drmoss_ca]

W&B chopper, Trumper Rose soap (tallow), Rooney finest, L'Artisan Parfumeur Voleur de Roses:

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[jgreenepa]

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SOTD TUESDAY MORNING, OCTOBER 20, 2020

Today’s shave was brushless. I realize it may not be politically correct to say this, but Cremo brushless shave cream is successful for good reasons. It is a very slick formula, truly concentrated, and provides the kind of thin, very slick surface that is ideal for straight shaving. I reapplied it for each of my two (WTG, ATG) mug passes, but could easily have just wet the original shave surface again as the slickness in this cream is remarkably persistent as I discovered later with my dome shave.

I’m very glad I acquired this C-Mon Special straight razor. It really holds an edge and sings as it shaves. Vintage razors sometimes arrive with eccentricities. The tip of the blade on this razor needs to be carefully guided back into the scales, but that’s no issue for me as I routinely close each razor carefully after drying and oiling it. The shave was everything I could have hoped for, and my dome shave hit all the same buttons!

The safety razor I selected for my noggin shave was my favorite shaving Gillette safety razor, the New LC. It is so comfortable and efficient to shave with. I spread the Cremo for my first pass (ATG) pass which was so close that I just needed to wet my troublesome areas at the sides and on the back of the dome for a bit of selective buffing. I discovered that wetting the area recovered all the slickness necessary to complete the shave in very short order. I feel refreshed, velveteen smooth, and clean!

RAZOR: C-Mon Special 11/16 (Mug), Gillette New LC (Dome)
BLADE: Sharp Star
PREP: Cold water rinse followed by Argan Oil
CREAM: Cremo Cooling Shave Cream
POSTSHAVE: Cold water wash with Glyce Glycerin soap followed by Humphreys Lilac WH. Finished with Krampert’s Frostbite AS Splash.

[drmoss_ca]

Happy Trafalgar Day! Used the large and lightly-etched Wacker damascus from hell today, with AoS Lemon soap (old tallow Valobra base), with a Rooney finest and Penhaligon's Douro:

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[jgreenepa]

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SOTD WEDNESDAY , OCTOBER 21, 2020

Great shave this morning with two of my guaranteed great shaving blade holders. The Feather DX Barber’s razor coupled with my FrankenFamex [Famex head on ATT Atlas handle] combined to deliver the level of closeness I desire, albeit with a new shave soap, PAA CK6 Scentless heavily dosed with peppermint oil. The lather was slick, but I’m still not sure about post shave skin feel. What I do know is I feel smooth, clean and velveteen. Enjoy your day!

RAZOR: Feather DX (Mug) FrankenFamex [Famex head, ATT Atlas handle] (Dome)
BLADE: Feather AC Proguard (Mug), Feather DE (Dome)
PREP: Cold water rinse followed by Argan Oil
BRUSH: MrEE Monster Tuxedo Synth
SOAP: PAA CK6 Scentless dosed w/ Peppermint Oil
POSTSHAVE: Cold water wash with Glyce Glycerin Soap followed by Humphreys Lilac WH. Finished with Jeris Osage Rub.

[drmoss_ca]

Wacker french point, C&E Mysore Sandalwood, Vulfix 2 band, Taylor's Sandalwood:

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[jgreenepa]

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SOTD THURSDAY, OCTOBER 22, 2020

The shave today I was excellent. The soap was ok, but it just didn’t provide the quality post shave feel I look for. MWF and Nancy Boy Signature have spoiled me. The Lord straight razor with it’s smooth buttery jasper stone edge was a delight to shave with. Two passes (WTG, ATG) on the mug and two of the same on the dome with my Valet Auto Strop VC3 was all she wrote. I feel smooth, clean and velveteen!

RAZOR: Lord 5/8 (Mug), Valet Auto Strop Model VC3 (Dome)
BLADE: Feather FAS-10
PREP: Cold water rinse followed by Argan Oil
BRUSH: MrEE Monster Aluminum Tuxedo Synthetic
SOAP: Wholly Kaw King of Oud
POSTSHAVE: Cold water wash with Glyce Glycerin soap followed by Humphreys Lilac WH and Osage Rub.

[drmoss_ca]

Back to the mithril and horn Wacker, Speick soap, Simpson E3, Trumper Marlborough:

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[EL Alamein]

Wacker french point, C&E Mysore Sandalwood, Vulfix 2 band, Taylor's Sandalwood:


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Love that C&E soap. I have a cake of it I reserve for Christmas Day. To me it smells almost identical to Trumper's Sandalwood cream. And that cream is what I used the first Christmas as a married man. Was quite nice.

Chris

[drmoss_ca]

Yes, the C&E sandalwood cream was a strong and woody scent that would stay on your skin all day. Might still have some around somewhere.

Today the big Wacker, some really old stock Erasmus soap, Rooney Beehive, and Trumper Milk of Flowers:

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[pausted]

Tabac soap
Semogue Caravela Mistura brush
Colonial General razor
Feather Pro blade
Pinaud Lilac Vegetal aftershave

I finished my bottle of “the veg” this morning. Probably most of you would say “ thank goodness it’s gone”. Me, I might buy another bottle. I kinda like it.

[drmoss_ca]

Last day of the Wacker, as I think I have as good as it will get, some old stock Taylor's Lavender soap, Apothecary Shop brush, Taylor's Lavender Water:

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[jgreenepa]

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SOTD SUNDAY MORNING, OCTOBER 25, 2020

Although the morning was a bit gloomy and cold, the shave certainly was not. My usual shave prep consists of a bracing, cold water rinse followed by an Argan Oil scrub. This is then followed by brush application of the MWF bloom water to the shave surfaces. The MWF paste follows, and is face and head lathered into the lanolin-rich, protective carpet that leaves behind post shave the incredible skin feel this legendary shave soap is renowned for.The shave proved to be awesome. I attribute it to a combination of both tools and technique.

At TSD the ‘technique trumps tools’ mantra is the theme new 30DC crew members are taught, and there is a great deal of truth inherent in the saying. Good technique is the mainstay of decent, acceptable shaves with basic tools. However, every craftsman will readily admit that the best tools yield better results, or else why is there so much interest in the best DE blade, the best safety razor design, the optimal knot characteristics, the best cream/soap, or the best best edge on our open edge tools. The beauty of this hobby of ours, is its subjective nature! We qualify every review/assessment with YMMV (Your Mileage May Vary).

In that spirit I found this morning’s shave to be exemplary. The Puma 5/8’s jasper stone finished edge was a true delight to shave with. My son has a huge honing stone collection, everything from synthetic water stones, natural water stones, oil stones, slates, jnats, and dry ceramic stones. There are probably many that would provide a better edge, but I like the mug shaves from my jasper stone edges on all my straight razors.. My dome shave with my Supply 2.0 safety razor was every bit as good. Daily shaves with my straight razors and safety razors have definitely improved my technique, but focusing on acquiring the best shave tools has also paid off. I feel cool, clean and smoothly velveteen.

RAZOR: Puma Solingen 5/8 (Mug), SS Supply 2.0 (Dome)
BLADE: Schick Twinjector
PREP: Cold water rinse followed by Argan Oil
BRUSH: Rooney Ebony Pure Badger
SOAP: Mitchell’s Wool Fat
POSTSHAVE: Cold water wash with brush squeezings followed by Humphreys Lilac WH and Chiseled Face Natural AS Splash. Finished with A&E Post-Shave Serum.

[CMur12]

Sunday night:

Razor: Rockwell 6C (on setting/plate 2)
Blade: Tíz (excellent blade from Iran)

Brush: Semogue 1305
Soap: Mystic Water Lime

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

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

- Murray