Shave of the Day 2015

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Razor: Ever Ready 1912
Blade: GEM Personna SE
Brush: Semogue BC Cerda
Soap: XPEC Original scented
Aftershave: Floid Vigoroso

A fairly rough shave today with the 1912. I just can't quite get the angle right and it feels more like I'm scraping stubble off rather than cutting it smoothly. If anyone can give me a few tips that'd be great.
I'm not really a fan of the XPEC scent but it does perform quite well. The scent reminds me of something my grandmother might have had lying around her bathroom. It certainly isn't the be all and end all that I've heard it described as.
 
GQ1982 said:
Razor: Ever Ready 1912
Blade: GEM Personna SE
Brush: Semogue BC Cerda
Soap: XPEC Original scented
Aftershave: Floid Vigoroso

A fairly rough shave today with the 1912. I just can't quite get the angle right and it feels more like I'm scraping stubble off rather than cutting it smoothly. If anyone can give me a few tips that'd be great.
I'm not really a fan of the XPEC scent but it does perform quite well. The scent reminds me of something my grandmother might have had lying around her bathroom. It certainly isn't the be all and end all that I've heard it described as.
Click to expand...

Be keen to try the XPEC (that and Baume.be are on my must-try list) if you decide to pass it on. PM me if so and we can talk trade options.....or cash if you're that way inclined.
 
GQ1982 said:
Razor: Ever Ready 1912
Blade: GEM Personna SE
Brush: Semogue BC Cerda
Soap: XPEC Original scented
Aftershave: Floid Vigoroso

A fairly rough shave today with the 1912. I just can't quite get the angle right and it feels more like I'm scraping stubble off rather than cutting it smoothly. If anyone can give me a few tips that'd be great.
I'm not really a fan of the XPEC scent but it does perform quite well. The scent reminds me of something my grandmother might have had lying around her bathroom. It certainly isn't the be all and end all that I've heard it described as.
Click to expand...

Sounds like a bit of a disaster shave to me. I never really got on with 1912s. Don't know why. Tried every version out there. Same result. All I can recommend is to hold it as flat to your face as possible and go really slow, particularly if it's a fresh blade. Is that the standard GEM SS coated blade?
 
stillshunter said:
Be keen to try the XPEC (that and Baume.be are on my must-try list) if you decide to pass it on. PM me if so and we can talk trade options.....or cash if you're that way inclined.
Click to expand...

I think I'll give it a bit more of a try first but I will keep you in mind if I do decide to trade/sell it.

Pjotr said:
Sounds like a bit of a disaster shave to me. I never really got on with 1912s. Don't know why. Tried every version out there. Same result. All I can recommend is to hold it as flat to your face as possible and go really slow, particularly if it's a fresh blade. Is that the standard GEM SS coated blade?
Click to expand...

Surprisingly it wasn't as bad as I thought. Though the result wasn't as smooth as I'd like, I didn't get much of a sting from the aftershave and I couldn't see or feel much razor burn. I'll take your advice try hold the head flatter to my face and go slower next time because that is pretty much the opposite of what I did today. The blades are the GEM Personna SS coated ones available from connaught shaving and form what I've read they are the best so I'm thinking its more a technique problem.
 
GQ1982 said:
.....Surprisingly it wasn't as bad as I thought. Though the result wasn't as smooth as I'd like, I didn't get much of a sting from the aftershave and I couldn't see or feel much razor burn. I'll take your advice try hold the head flatter to my face and go slower next time because that is pretty much the opposite of what I did today. The blades are the GEM Personna SS coated ones available from connaught shaving and form what I've read they are the best so I'm thinking its more a technique problem.
Click to expand...

Yeah I think that's the way to go. After a few shaves with a new blade you can let your guard down a bit. Surprised you didn't peel more skin off. I do if I don't watch out with a new blade.
 
Pjotr said:
Yeah I think that's the way to go. After a few shaves with a new blade you can let your guard down a bit. Surprised you didn't peel more skin off. I do if I don't watch out with a new blade.
Click to expand...
I have found that angles are critical with an SE. For a DE the wrong angle can scrape your skin; but a SE will peel it...













(And a straight will simply slice your skin and you won't know until you see the blood... [emoji14])
 
Kamisori: Takemaru
Brush: Omega S10108
Soap: Gent's V5 Original
Aftershave: Myrsol Antesol

The 50% olive oil soap works, is stable enough for two passes and gives an outstanding post-shave. I think I prefer the V4 formulation but I'll enjoy shaving with this one too.
 
Pjotr said:
Yeah I think that's the way to go. After a few shaves with a new blade you can let your guard down a bit. Surprised you didn't peel more skin off. I do if I don't watch out with a new blade.
Click to expand...

filobiblic said:
I have found that angles are critical with an SE. For a DE the wrong angle can scrape your skin; but a SE will peel it...
(And a straight will simply slice your skin and you won't know until you see the blood... [emoji14])
Click to expand...

I'm always pretty mindful of pressure so that probably saved my skin. So far I'm finding that the SE blades feel harsher during the shave but are more forgiving than DE blades post shaving.
 
My shave tonight was 2 passes with a 5/8" Bengall and I'm pleased with the results. Once my skin heals up from my stupid deviation to an electric razor for one shave I will probably alternate my straights and SE's on alternate nights. I'm staggered how long bumps etc hang around for.

@GQ1982 I have always found despite all the gushing hype that the 1912 can be a pretty rough "feeling" shave but after everything is fine. A G-Bar or a Featherweight are extremely mild shaves for an SE especially with a new blade.
 
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SOTD with the Plastic Fantastic

Brush: Simpson Duke 3
Soap: Chiseled Face Ghost (Thank you @Draco Noir )
Razor: Merkur Bakelite (on loan from a dear Uncle)
Blade: Personna Med Prep
Aftershave: Fine American Blend and Draco Noir's Reserve Argan Oil

To honour both @borked and @Pjotr I took a SPUD for a spin. It's like shaving with a feather weight 34C. Same level of aggression without the heft.
First shave with a Chiseled Face product. Ghost Town Barber smells great but I have much work to irk out a better lather.
Draco Noirs Special Argan Oil post shave absorbs beautifully leaving my face feeling so nice and subtle. Great scent too!​
 
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SOTD Wesnesday, November 18

Cold water shave
Preshave: Bloom water
Soap: Johnny Good Sir
Brush: Simpson Berkerley Badger
Face lather
Razor: Dave Stainless Steel 5/8 rounded point

My daily Soap bowl was empty so what would I use for the next few days. Rummaging around and there ... ... My all-time favorite scent. Johnny Good Sir has that many whiskey, smokey, almost an engine oil and broken teeth type scent. Doesn't lather up there with the best, but definitely a good Soap. If @Anthony can capture this scent in his new base he has a winner.

With the JETS in my bowl, choose now turned to blade. What better than my first wet shaving purchase, before iowned a brush or soap. The Dove Stainless Steel 5/8. This has that quality tool look that reminds me of a good workshop, the reason I was drawn to buy this particular razor.

Good soap, good Razor, no nicks and finished with home made bay rum A/S. Wet shaving.
 
Mon/Tues/Wed
Pre-shave: Cetaphil Cleansing Bar
Razor: Merkur 34C
Blade: PSS (2-4)
Soap: Shaver Heaven Hot Rum/MWF/B&M Latha Sandalwood
Brush: Omega 49 (M/T)/ Semogue 1800 (W)
Post-shave: Proraso(M/T)/ Speick (W)

Keeping things pretty consistent this week, just playing with the brushes and soaps. B&M arrived yesterday courtesy of @GQ1982 thanks :) What can I say, it's not just a clever name (lathers up a storm). It's the only one I've found so far that stacks up compared to Shaver Heaven. Truth be told, I was a little nervous about the scent from reviews I had read (not a fan of currant), but was pleasantly surprised. Sandalwood is certainly not one of the front notes, but I do get a light berry scent (combination between the currant and amber I think) upfront. Just a little short of the SH in slickness, but post-shave pulls a little ahead. Very line ball and both will be in rotation.
 
Lather: Saponificio Varesino 70th Anniversary
Razor: Henkotsu (Stills modded)
Brush: Smogs 820 & 610
Post-shave: Alum, F/Extra, Emulsion

Big thanks go out to @Anthony for the sample of the 70th anniversary. Scent is superb. Even with the likes of the two new Semogues on their second break-in run the soap lathered very nicely.

Henkotsu turned tuggy very early on in my trip away a couple of week's ago but I'm back now and so it visited the stones yesterday. Meant to just retouch with the jnats but noticed the edge was a little uneven. After a couple of laps on the side of the Shapton 5k and a couple of hours on the face of the Shapton 5k we got things straight again and a found a consistent bevel. This kamisori was really buggered when it first came to me, so a bit of a buzz to get a good edge on it first time around. And after this second round it came even better. More consistent across the edge and I even introduced the CrOx into the hone - per advice from Jim Rion's translation of Iwasaki's "Honing Razors and Wakamisori" - for the finish.

A little irritation under the chin due to an over-zealous first pass ATG on 3-days growth....I know there's a better way but I'm still getting my head around alternative one-handed approaches in some areas. All mostly set as ease by the post-shave. Loving the Alum and the Emulsion, but doubting the need for the alcohol splashes. I swear I get a better result from the Thayers Unscented.
 
Tuesday Night Shave
Pre-Shave Musgo Spiced Citrus Oil Soap
Brush The Grooming Co Synthetic
Soap Shave Heaven Hubba Hubba
Razor Ikon #102
Blade Persona Blue Med Prep
Post Shave Proraso Green Pre-shave

Tried to use Danshaku, but was too tired to focus and rather than risk creating face sashimi I put it away and fell back on the #102.
Comfortable 2 pass shave with no irritation. The Green pre-shave makes for a nice cooling post-shave.
 
stillshunter said:
Lather: Saponificio Varesino 70th Anniversary
Razor: Henkotsu (Stills modded)
Brush: Smogs 820 & 610
Post-shave: Alum, F/Extra, Emulsion

Big thanks go out to @Anthony for the sample of the 70th anniversary. Scent is superb. Even with the likes of the two new Semogues on their second break-in run the soap lathered very nicely.

Henkotsu turned tuggy very early on in my trip away a couple of week's ago but I'm back now and so it visited the stones yesterday. Meant to just retouch with the jnats but noticed the edge was a little uneven. After a couple of laps on the side of the Shapton 5k and a couple of hours on the face of the Shapton 5k we got things straight again and a found a consistent bevel. This kamisori was really buggered when it first came to me, so a bit of a buzz to get a good edge on it first time around. And after this second round it came even better. More consistent across the edge and I even introduced the CrOx into the hone - per advice from Jim Rion's translation of Iwasaki's "Honing Razors and Wakamisori" - for the finish.

A little irritation under the chin due to an over-zealous first pass ATG on 3-days growth....I know there's a better way but I'm still getting my head around alternative one-handed approaches in some areas. All mostly set as ease by the post-shave. Loving the Alum and the Emulsion, but doubting the need for the alcohol splashes. I swear I get a better result from the Thayers Unscented.
Click to expand...
New avatar. The green cape is gone. What gives stills? No longer a superhero?
 
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Face Wash : Razorock Menthol Lime Glycerine Soap
Pre-Shave : Myrsol Emulsion
Brush : Plisson La Maison du Barbier
Soap : Mike's Lime
Razor : Mastro Livi Custom Western Kamisori
After Shave : Argan Oil
After Shave Splash : L'occitan EDT

Today's shave is dedicated to @razorguy, without whose incredibly generous help I wouldn't be shaving with the amazingly beautiful Kamisori in the picture. It's (obviously) based on the shape and ergonomics of an authentic Kamisori, but with a symmetrical grind : hollow, but not quite as hollow as a full hollow ground western straight. Mastro Livi has made it from a piece of Damascus steel which I chose from a small number of beautiful patterns. From that point on, creating the razor was a matter of leaving of leaving it in Mastro Livi's hands and making some small useability decisions along the way - jimping in the thumb notch, putting a tiny chamfer on the sharp corners etc. The "scales" were crafted from giraffe bone.

In use, the razor would be the most ergonomically comfortable shaver I've used. It allows a very comfortable grip and has the ideal balance for a Kami style razor : enough weight in the blade to let the razor do some of the work, but not too much. As for the shave - just brilliant! It shaved very close indeed but didn't sacrifice shaving comfort to achieve it. Two passes with this razor and I was left with a BBS result - no nicks, no irritation, just a great shave.

Finished this amazing shave with the usual argan oil, then a few sprays of L'Occitan Classic EDT. Happiness and contentment....

Thanks again to the wonderful @razorguy - I know this couldn't have happened as well as it did without his generous bi-lingual help. Here's a closer shot of the razor :

MastroLivi_zpstwwasbvj.png
 
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