Shave of the Day Thread - 2016

[Draco Noir]

Face Wash : Shower
Pre-Shave : Proraso Green Pre-shave
Brush : Shavemac
Soap : CRSW Fougere Moderne
Razor : Nobels AA Folding Kamisori
After Shave : Alum, Top Seven Balm, Bvlgari MAN

The razor I chose for today's shave is the same razor that bit me savagely and gratuitously last week. I mentioned at the time that the toe of the blade was too right angled and too sharp, and that I wanted to "operate" on it. This I did yesterday - gave the toe of the blade a gentle chamfering and (hopefully) neutralised the hazard.

I haven't used the Fougere Moderne from Cold River Soap Works in an age, so it got the job along with the slightly underutilised Shavemac brush. Although I thought I loaded the brush very well, at the first attempt the lather was a bit thin and runny. I tried to salvage it by loading some more from the puck but without success. So I ended up tipping it all down the sink and starting again from scratch. Second attempt was a huge improvement - the kind of lather I'd envisaged at the start.

Similarly, second attempt with the (now) tweaked kamisori was the bomb. It shaved beautifully. With it's very short (45mm) blade no part of my face was too cramped to get at. At the end of the first pass I was amazed at how much of my face was BBS. The second pass and cleaning up were trivial compared to the usual shave. As predicted, the razor is a little delight to shave with, and I'm confident it'll end up in the inner circle of most loved/most used shavers.

Another wonderful shave

 

[Draco Noir]

Razor: Kamisori western grind (10)
Brush: Stirling 22mm synth
Lather: Maggard Orange Menthol
Post-shave: Alum, Thayers Lemon Witch Hazel

FRAT version below

Tenth shave with the Kamisori. After only doing a WTG pass yesterday but getting so much out of it I was really excited and couldn't wait for today's shave. I did a 3 pass shave and found that I was able to significantly improve every pass as opposed to previous shaves. This really confirmed yesterdays experiment was a success as the technique and efficiency of each pass has greatly increased. While this hasn't changed the end result of a BBS shave it certainly felt like my skill level with the blade has increased exponentially as a result. This is reflected in a nick free completely BBS shave with no hint of a whisker anywhere!

Reflecting on this shave is kind of bittersweet as I've come to the sudden realisation that I've reach a point where now any improvements I make will likely be much more gradual and occur over a long period of time. I can't expect to have those great wow moments where I can see massive wholesale improvements from one shave to the next.

In saying that though I am really quite pleased with myself and have an immense feeling of satisfaction having progressed to this point far more quickly than I thought was possible, while there is still a long way to go I know that now it just comes down to repetition and time. It goes without saying (but I will anyway) that without Sensei @Draco Noir, knowledge and the confidence he instils in me there is no way I would be anywhere near this point so quickly and I really appreciate everything he has done and continues to do for me. I never thought I would have a shave mentor but I couldn't have asked for anyone better.

The exciting thing is while I continue to consolidate everything I've learnt with the straight is that I am going to start learning a new skill with Sensei @Draco Noir and that is how to hone. This is still very much in the infancy stage but it is something I am really looking forward to.

Congratulations, @saku39 - that is a huge effort mate! There's not much left to do for you now - develop some consistency and kick back and enjoy the business of shaving, basically. I know you've already experienced the intense satisfaction that comes with the milestones you've achieved, and I wish you more of those feelings : you deserve them

 

[Osman]

20160616_080631 by tvrepairzone, on Flickr
Preshave: Musgo Real Glyce soap and Proraso red preshave cream
Razor: Merkur Progress
Blade: Polsilver
Brush: Shavemac 177
Soap: Saponificio Varesino 70th Anniversary
Post Shave: Thayers Witch Hazel and SV 70th Anniversary after shave concoction
Enjoyed the SV felce aromatica soap so much yesterday pulled out the SV 70th today. Just a wonderful soap and a beautiful scent. Three pass shave with the Progress set to 1.5 and a lovely result. No nicks or cuts and a BBS result. So glad that I have come back to the Progress as it validates my improvement over the last 12 months. Wet shaving is a skill that is learned. Let the learning continue.

 

[SpeedyPC]

Let the learning continue.

@Osman as a rule towards human life as a man you'll never stop learning until you're dead

 

[alfredus]

Face Wash : Shower
Pre-Shave : Proraso Green Pre-shave
Brush : Shavemac
Soap : CRSW Fougere Moderne
Razor : Nobels AA Folding Kamisori
After Shave : Alum, Top Seven Balm, Bvlgari MAN

The razor I chose for today's shave is the same razor that bit me savagely and gratuitously last week. I mentioned at the time that the toe of the blade was too right angled and too sharp, and that I wanted to "operate" on it. This I did yesterday - gave the toe of the blade a gentle chamfering and (hopefully) neutralised the hazard.

I haven't used the Fougere Moderne from Cold River Soap Works in an age, so it got the job along with the slightly underutilised Shavemac brush. Although I thought I loaded the brush very well, at the first attempt the lather was a bit thin and runny. I tried to salvage it by loading some more from the puck but without success. So I ended up tipping it all down the sink and starting again from scratch. Second attempt was a huge improvement - the kind of lather I'd envisaged at the start.

Similarly, second attempt with the (now) tweaked kamisori was the bomb. It shaved beautifully. With it's very short (45mm) blade no part of my face was too cramped to get at. At the end of the first pass I was amazed at how much of my face was BBS. The second pass and cleaning up were trivial compared to the usual shave. As predicted, the razor is a little delight to shave with, and I'm confident it'll end up in the inner circle of most loved/most used shavers.

Another wonderful shave

Beautiful @Draco Noir

 

[alfredus]

Pre-Shave: Cypriotian Olive/Argan Oil soap, cold water
Razor: BBS-1
Blade: Ladas (2)
Brush: Nathan Clark Envy White
Lather: Stirling Scots Pine Sheep
Post-shave: Alum, Barrister & Man Kyovu Original, Australian Emu Oil​

Not a happy shave today

As much extra time I had during my last shave, as stressed was the one today. Phone calls in between and not happy with the lather (picture here) - I guess because it was the end of the tub - it all manifested itself in a unpleasant shave with some micro weepers. Nothing some cold water and the alum couldn't fix, but it was just not pleasant. The post shave feel is half a day later still very nice though...

 

[Nightguard]

https://i.imgur.com/HGLtECE.jpg
Brush: Simpsons M7
Razor: Merkur 37c
Blade: Gillette Black
Soap: Phoenix and Beau Spitfire
A/S: Masters Lilac Vegetal

Another excellent shave with P&B soap.

 

[saku39]

Face Wash : Shower
Pre-Shave : Proraso Green Pre-shave
Brush : Shavemac
Soap : CRSW Fougere Moderne
Razor : Nobels AA Folding Kamisori
After Shave : Alum, Top Seven Balm, Bvlgari MAN

The razor I chose for today's shave is the same razor that bit me savagely and gratuitously last week. I mentioned at the time that the toe of the blade was too right angled and too sharp, and that I wanted to "operate" on it. This I did yesterday - gave the toe of the blade a gentle chamfering and (hopefully) neutralised the hazard.

I haven't used the Fougere Moderne from Cold River Soap Works in an age, so it got the job along with the slightly underutilised Shavemac brush. Although I thought I loaded the brush very well, at the first attempt the lather was a bit thin and runny. I tried to salvage it by loading some more from the puck but without success. So I ended up tipping it all down the sink and starting again from scratch. Second attempt was a huge improvement - the kind of lather I'd envisaged at the start.

Similarly, second attempt with the (now) tweaked kamisori was the bomb. It shaved beautifully. With it's very short (45mm) blade no part of my face was too cramped to get at. At the end of the first pass I was amazed at how much of my face was BBS. The second pass and cleaning up were trivial compared to the usual shave. As predicted, the razor is a little delight to shave with, and I'm confident it'll end up in the inner circle of most loved/most used shavers.

Another wonderful shave

@Draco Noir glad to hear you've tamed the Nobles AA Folding Kamisori, lovely photo as well

Not a happy shave today

Yet you still produce a magnificent photo

 

[TomG]

20160616_080631 by tvrepairzone, on Flickr
Preshave: Musgo Real Glyce soap and Proraso red preshave cream
Razor: Merkur Progress
Blade: Polsilver
Brush: Shavemac 177
Soap: Saponificio Varesino 70th Anniversary
Post Shave: Thayers Witch Hazel and SV 70th Anniversary after shave concoction
Enjoyed the SV felce aromatica soap so much yesterday pulled out the SV 70th today. Just a wonderful soap and a beautiful scent. Three pass shave with the Progress set to 1.5 and a lovely result. No nicks or cuts and a BBS result. So glad that I have come back to the Progress as it validates my improvement over the last 12 months. Wet shaving is a skill that is learned. Let the learning continue.

@Osman - I note your term 'concoction' for the SV 70th Ann A/S. Is this due to the consistency and opacity of the liquid? I also have a bottle, and it has a higher than typical viscosity and is quite cloudy. I had to shake vigorously at first to get it to flow through the reducer - seems a surface tension effect. All good now - it was just the initial use. Same for you? By the way, a lovely aftershave - a typically elegant fresh citrus Italian fragrance.

 

[TomG]

https://i.imgur.com/HGLtECE.jpg
Brush: Simpsons M7
Razor: Merkur 37c
Blade: Gillette Black
Soap: Phoenix and Beau Spitfire
A/S: Masters Lilac Vegetal

Another excellent shave with P&B soap.

@Nightguard - how do you find the Spitfire fragrance?

 

[Mark1966]

@Osman - I note your term 'concoction' for the SV 70th Ann A/S. Is this due to the consistency and opacity of the liquid? I also have a bottle, and it has a higher than typical viscosity and is quite cloudy. I had to shake vigorously at first to get it to flow through the reducer - seems a surface tension effect. All good now - it was just the initial use. Same for you? By the way, a lovely aftershave - a typically elegant fresh citrus Italian fragrance.

I have the same problem and have actually removed the reducer ...

It is almost gelatinous

 

[Osman]

@Osman - I note your term 'concoction' for the SV 70th Ann A/S. Is this due to the consistency and opacity of the liquid? I also have a bottle, and it has a higher than typical viscosity and is quite cloudy. I had to shake vigorously at first to get it to flow through the reducer - seems a surface tension effect. All good now - it was just the initial use. Same for you? By the way, a lovely aftershave - a typically elegant fresh citrus Italian fragrance.

Yes it is a quite thick and gelatinous fluid as @Mark1966 states. It is a good product and I love the scent and it leaves the skin feeling well refreshed. The bottle is quite attractive as well. I am removing the reducer the moment I finish this. Good idea.

 

[TomG]

Yes it is a quite thick and gelatinous fluid as @Mark1966 states. It is a good product and I love the scent and it leaves the skin feeling well refreshed. The bottle is quite attractive as well. I am removing the reducer the moment I finish this. Good idea.

I wonder if it fits in an Alt Innsbruck neck?

 

[eggbert]

20ish shaves on the London Bridge and I'm thinking about swapping it out.
Not because it's dull or tugging, but because I didn't get a proper count on how many shaves it's done, and I'm scared if I wait much longer I won't remember how to swap it out anyway.

Then again, it's still in the razor now. I can see me shaving with it for another 5 shaves as I'm too lazy to get out of the shower and replace it when I'm already wet.

 

[bald as]

There is nothing that focuses your technique more than an ultra - ultra hollow ground freshly honed razor. It sounded like toast being buttered on a frosty Canberra morning as every whisker fell to the insanely sharp blade. Did I enjoy myself - well go on ask me

As an experiment tonight I used Proraso Red for the first time in a long time and it was actually good with the straight razor.
Synthetic brush and face lathered.
2 passes and a solid DFS+
No irritation - no blood and I'm looking forward to tomorrow night.

 

[TomG]

20ish shaves on the London Bridge and I'm thinking about swapping it out.
Not because it's dull or tugging, but because I didn't get a proper count on how many shaves it's done, and I'm scared of I wait much longer I won't remember how to swap it out anyway.

Then again, it's still in the razor now. I can see me shaving with it for another 5 shaves as I'm too lazy to get out of the shower and replace it when I'm already wet.

@eggbert - I'm not clued up on the London Bridge blades. What's the go?

 

[eggbert]

@eggbert - I'm not clued up on the London Bridge blades. What's the go?

They are a vintage blade made by Wilkinson sword in the early-mid 1970s. I took a punt on some in April and this is the first blade I have tried.
Like most of the vintage stainless blades they are very smooth and have a longevity far outlasting any modern blades.

These are a lesser known blade, thought to be a relative of the legendary light brigade Wilkinson sword blades and I'm lucky enough to have a few.

 

[TomG]

They are a vintage blade made by Wilkinson sword in the early-mid 1970s. I took a punt on some in April and this is the first blade I have tried.
Like most of the vintage stainless blades they are very smooth and have a longevity far outlasting any modern blades.

These are a lesser known blade, thought to be a relative of the legendary light brigade Wilkinson sword blades and I'm lucky enough to have a few.

Cool - I'm still coming up to speed on vintage shaving products. Really appreciate the info.

 

[Osman]

There is nothing that focuses your technique more than an ultra - ultra hollow ground freshly honed razor. It sounded like toast being buttered on a frosty Canberra morning as every whisker fell to the insanely sharp blade. Did I enjoy myself - well go on ask me

As an experiment tonight I used Proraso Red for the first time in a long time and it was actually good with the straight razor.
Synthetic brush and face lathered.
2 passes and a solid DFS+
No irritation - no blood and I'm looking forward to tomorrow night.

Great description of the sound your razor makes. I can actually hear it. Did you enjoy your shave?☺

 

[Nightguard]

@Nightguard - how do you find the Spitfire fragrance?

Very nice scent. I mainly smell juniper and some leather.