Shave of the Day Thread - 2016

[eggbert]

There can be no better way to start the day, or end it for that matter, than indulging yourself in the experience of wet shaving.

I think you are aiming quite low if that is the pinnacle of experiences.

 

[Mark1966]

I think you are aiming quite low if that is the pinnacle of experiences.

Some of us don't lead the glamorous, exciting, high energy life that you do mate.

For boring accountants I would think getting out of the OTHER side of the bed would be an adventure.

For more normal people like @Osman a great shave is probably one of those quotidian pleasures of life worth savouring and enjoying.

 

[eggbert]

I'd rate a bacon sandwich at the start of the day and a G&T at the end as being far more enjoyable than shaving, and that's not aiming very high. Understandably some people can't partake of either, but I'm sure there are other activities or little life pleasures that can be rated higher than shaving.

It's far less a chore than mowing the lawn, but still a chore nonetheless.

 

[Draco Noir]

Face Wash : Shower
Pre-Shave : Razorock Peppermint Emulsion
Brush : Shavemac Silvertip
Soap : Saponificcio Varesino 70th Anniversary
Razor : Kamisori - Kamisori - Mastro Livi Damascus
After Shave : Witch Hazel/Aloe Vera spray, Tom Ford Tobacco Vanille EDP
Time : 26 mins

Ah, Friday - lunch day for the Melbourne Paste and Cut members...

It wasn't difficult to decide which Kamisori to finish off the week with. The Mastro Livi is a beautiful piece of work indeed, depending on the subtle damascus patterning in the steel for its understated beauty. It is also a fine shaver now that @Mark has helped me to find what sharpening regime brings out the best in it - thanks a heap @Mark! I whipped up a beautiful lather from the SV 70th and Shavemac without any difficulty whatsoever - all that was required was a little extra sprinkle of water once the lather was on my face. The razor just hummed its way through the task at hand, and after 2 passes I was satisfyingly smooth.

I was given a tiny sample bottle of Tom Ford's Tobacco Vanille Eau de Parfum recently, and used it for the first time today. Wow, just wow. It conjures up immediate images of an Edwardian Gentlemans Club - leather furniture, havana cigar smoke, snifters of cognac after dinner - I'm sure you get the picture. A truly scentsational finish to a shave. The only downside is that I just know that it will be as dear as poison, otherwise I'd buy myself half a litre of it

Well, after a full week of Kamisori shave, I think my Inner Ninja is pretty happy and satisfied. I think there will be a change of pace for next week...

Happy weekend everyone!!

 

[eggbert]

@Draco Noir 100ml is only $100 more than the 50ml bottle at David Jones.

But then the 50ml is $300 to start with.

 

[Draco Noir]

@Draco Noir 100ml is only $100 more than the 50ml bottle at David Jones.

But then the 50ml is $300 to start with.

Thanks so much @eggbert - I'll hold that thought all day

 

[silver]

Face Wash : Shower
Pre-Shave : Razorock Peppermint Emulsion
Brush : Shavemac Silvertip
Soap : Saponificcio Varesino 70th Anniversary
Razor : Kamisori - Kamisori - Mastro Livi Damascus
After Shave : Witch Hazel/Aloe Vera spray, Tom Ford Tobacco Vanille EDP
Time : 26 mins

Ah, Friday - lunch day for the Melbourne Paste and Cut members...

It wasn't difficult to decide which Kamisori to finish off the week with. The Mastro Livi is a beautiful piece of work indeed, depending on the subtle damascus patterning in the steel for its understated beauty. It is also a fine shaver now that @Mark has helped me to find what sharpening regime brings out the best in it - thanks a heap @Mark! I whipped up a beautiful lather from the SV 70th and Shavemac without any difficulty whatsoever - all that was required was a little extra sprinkle of water once the lather was on my face. The razor just hummed its way through the task at hand, and after 2 passes I was satisfyingly smooth.

I was given a tiny sample bottle of Tom Ford's Tobacco Vanille Eau de Parfum recently, and used it for the first time today. Wow, just wow. It conjures up immediate images of an Edwardian Gentlemans Club - leather furniture, havana cigar smoke, snifters of cognac after dinner - I'm sure you get the picture. A truly scentsational finish to a shave. The only downside is that I just know that it will be as dear as poison, otherwise I'd buy myself half a litre of it

Well, after a full week of Kamisori shave, I think my Inner Ninja is pretty happy and satisfied. I think there will be a change of pace for next week...

Happy weekend everyone!!

I was watching a Video last night, on @razorguy 's youtube channel, about Stefano getting his custom Mastro Livi razor made out of San Mai Damascus. Such a beautiful piece of work.
Great blade you have there @Draco Noir . Absoulutely stunning!

@filobiblic also highly recommended this soap, and I now have an SV 70th Anniversary coming in the express post, should be arriving today. Can't wait for it!

 

[filobiblic]

Brush: Shavemac 2-band
Soap: CRSW Jardin d'Orange
Razor: Kirby Beard
Blade: Personna Blue [3]
After-shave: Floid Vigoroso

Superb. Simply superb. Brush. Soap. Razor. Aftershave. All was exactly what my face wanted this morning.
I swear this brush is a whole new level. Never used a brush like it before... I'm a believer @alfredus ! [emoji38]

 

[Mark1966]

Brush: Shavemac 2-band
Soap: CRSW Jardin d'Orange
Razor: Kirby Beard
Blade: Personna Blue [3]
After-shave: Floid Vigoroso

Superb. Simply superb. Brush. Soap. Razor. Aftershave. All was exactly what my face wanted this morning.
I swear this brush is a whole new level. Never used a brush like it before... I'm a believer @alfredus ! [emoji38]

LOL - a true believer now huh?

Are you sure it was not the fantastic CRSW soap?

Or that super amazing Kirby Beard razor?

Or maybe the incredible and world renown Floid Vigoroso?

More importantly - how long did this life changing shave take?

 

[Mark1966]

@Draco Noir 100ml is only $100 more than the 50ml bottle at David Jones.

But then the 50ml is $300 to start with.

I can understand why there would need to be a limit of 6 per customer then - http://shop.davidjones.com.au/djs/en/davidjones/tobacco-vanille-100ml?cm_vc=prodpg1

Thankfully for @Draco Noir though this will not stop you getting your half a litre. In fact they are in the Cart ready for you to Checkout -



You will be pleased to know that standard delivery is complimentary when you spend $100 or more ...

 

[Sxot]

An electric? With a crap result that wrecks your skin? No way!

I shave every day, often early before heading to the airport to catch a plane.

Most mornings shaving is, for me, a 6-7 minute routine. The quality of that routine has improved dramatically - but it is still a routine.

On some occasions I will take more time and care - it might be 10 - 12 minutes.

I haven't got the patience for a 30 minute shave - what do you do with that time?

Sorry, stone me now ...

Well for me, the electric shaver has served me very well giving a top shave with zero issues everyday for two decades.. fast, efficient, no mess. If you can get a great wet shave in 7min and enjoy the process - more power to you. I am a long way from that but then I have only 4 weeks DE shaving under my belt. If I get to the stage I can shave that fast with a top result I will be very happy.

On the other hand, I enjoy the experience, the mindfulness, the casually deliberate-ness of the whole process. Wash my face that one extra time, leave a hot towel on my face for that little bit extra, add a few drops of lavender or eucalyptus oil to the basin and allow it to permeate the water, the towel, the air etc. Take the time to clean the razor that little bit carefully, polish it even. 30min is gone in a blink of an eye at that pace and I could easily push it out to 40min.

But, whatever floats you boat.

 

[filobiblic]

LOL - a true believer now huh?

Are you sure it was not the fantastic CRSW soap?

Or that super amazing Kirby Beard razor?

Or maybe the incredible and world renown Floid Vigoroso?

More importantly - how long did this life changing shave take?

All excellent products I know. They all worked together to accomplish a superb shave.
But the brush was the highlight amongst these elite high performers. [emoji6]

And today's shave was 20 mins approx. (Usually they take between 12-15 mins but when I have the time they go from 20-25 mins. Add 5 mins for a str8.)

 

[Sxot]

Average photo with a terrible flash mark, with a pathetic digital patch up... oh well. Better than nothing! Since I take 20 to 30min to shave, I don't really have time for a photo...

Pre: Sorbolene based body soap/shower
Brush: Duke 2 - Best
Soap: Wickhams Super Smooth - Sandalwood
Blade: 1950's Tanifuji 6/8 Hollow
Post: PAA Alfin & SH Balm - Arctic Mango

I ditched the Occams today and instead did the wash/cleanse/massage in the shower with a soapless body wash. My Super Smooth order arrived yesterday so I had to take one for a run today. Sadly I am disappointed by the Sandalwood scent. All I could smell was weak and chemical. I wonder if it is imitation Sandalwood and not much of it or maybe he's used the real deal but only very little, or maybe my nose is just dull (which it is). I don't know. Luckily the soap was an excellent performer as per usual. Face lathered, then left it on while I stropped the blade. It didn't dry at all at the end of that first pass. Did two passes, ATG & WTG with a tiny bit of touch up. No irritation, and top result so I am encouraged that my technique is coming along well and I have got the edge back on the blade.

Alfin - wow. Just, wow. I love this stuff. I love the ingredients, I love the smell and I love the feeling on my face. The menthol kick is tops and in all honesty, I was thinking I didn't need a balm at all. With the extra long soak with a Tallow soap on my face, then the Aloe and what not in the AS... awesome. I don't understand the limitation of shipping denatured alcohol seemingly all of a sudden but thankfully @shavetheman is stocking PAA at The Stray Whisker. Now to order a 10L bottle of the stuff. In the end, loved the menthol hit so slapped some Arctic Mango over the top once it had faded just for kicks. That was at 8:30, now at 12:30 I am enjoying the subtle Alfin scent and a silky smooth face. Winning!

 

[Mark1966]

...
On the other hand, I enjoy the experience, the mindfulness, the casually deliberate-ness of the whole process. Wash my face that one extra time, leave a hot towel on my face for that little bit extra, add a few drops of lavender or eucalyptus oil to the basin and allow it to permeate the water, the towel, the air etc. Take the time to clean the razor that little bit carefully, polish it even. 30min is gone in a blink of an eye at that pace and I could easily push it out to 40min.

But, whatever floats you boat.

Well that kinda makes sense if you can make that sort of time and want to take that approach. I've generally gone for a run or walk, made a cup of tea for my wife to wake her up, had a shower while she is having her tea and shaving fits between my shower and her tea being finished and her shower. While she showers I have breakfast and makes lunch(es) and then it is out the door. So the whole routine/rhythm is different. I could have 10 to probably a maximum of 15 minutes uninterrupted unless the routine changes.

On weekends I could have more time but I'm really a morning person, Once awake I want to get into the day and make the most of it, so even to slow down to 10 - 15 minutes on the weekends would be a big thing for me.

No hate, no hate, just different personalities and routines.

...
Blade: 1950's Tanifuji 6/8 Hollow
...

Of course if I tried one of THOSE it would probably take me all morning !

 

[Sxot]

You don't shower with your wife?? Oh the wasted water...

Well by the time I am showering at 7:30am, I have done up to three hours of exercise and the family has only just gotten out of bed!

Reading about your routine raises an alarm for me. I use the main bathroom and have it all to myself as the three kids (7, 9, 11yrs) only grab a toothbrush and they are gone, back for a second to drop it back in. I can see when they are older I will be fighting for bathroom time though - especially since two of them are girls!! I do have a third small bathoom outside by the pool. Maybe I will make that my shave "Den".

 

[Nightguard]

Brush: Simpsons M7 Manchurian
Razor: EJ 89
Blade: Vintage French Nacet
Soap: Caties Bubbles Un Jour Gris
A/S: Alt Innsbruck

 

[alfredus]

Pre-Shave: Occams pre-shave soap, cold water
Razor: Wolfman WR1-SB with WRH2
Blade: Vintage Wilkinson Sword Made in England (3)
Brush: Paladin TSN LE
Lather: Stirling Bay Rum
Post-shave: Alum, Barrister & Man Kyovu Original, South Australian Organic Extra Virgin Olive Oil​

The blade was absolutely sensational today - so smooth. Again many thanks to @bald as and @Mark1966. Now let's see how many shaves it will be like that. The first 2 were a bit too sharp for my likings, but after today I might start to get the whole vintage blade thing...unfortunately for the blade this has to wait now for a week...I have hopefully some extra special shaves waiting for me this week - all will be revealed Sunday!

So of course I couldn't stop myself and timed my shave - I was just curious. I have to admit the first min or so was horrible, I felt totally rushed and had to take a deep breath and then started to do my normal routine...

Total Shave Time: 25 min

1. Washing Face twice with soap, pat dry with towel, use soak water (distilled) from brush to wet face: 3:00

2. Wring out brush, tip over bloom water, load brush (adding 3 times water): 2:00

3. Face lather: 5:00 - lather was SENSATIONAL

4. Pass 1: 2:15

5. Pass 2 (including rinsing and drying face from last pass): 2:40

6. Pass 3 (including rinsing and drying face from last pass): 2:20

7. Pass 4 (including rinsing and drying face from last pass): 2:45

8. Lather up one more time, clean brush, razor, sink, etc with hot water: 2:00

9. Rinse face with cold water, alum, wash brush with cold water: 1.15

10. Witch Hazel, shake out brush, dry sink etc, olive oil: 1:45

So considering that point 1 is done by most under the shower, only a good brush is worth some extra minutes of shave routine (points 2 and 3), most people here do only 2 passes (so no points 3 and 4) and points 8, 9, and 10 could also be substantially reduced by not lathering up one more time, not taking much care of my brush and other gear and just chuck some pure alcohol on my face at the end of the shave - I see how I could reduce it to under 10 min....but for me that would be 10 wasted minutes and at the moment I have 25 spectacular minutes of me time.

I am very glad that @filobiblic believes now - a great brush and great lather...that makes such a huge difference...

 

[unobtainium81]

Swagger & Jacks Preshave Oil
Stirling Soap Co "Kong" shaving brush
Caties Bubbles La Terre Verte
Merkur Futur @ 4
Gillette Super Stainless (3)
Burberry Weekend Sport aftershave

7th shave in a row with this soap. I'm certainly getting a feel for it.

 

[Mark1966]

You don't shower with your wife?? Oh the wasted water...

Well by the time I am showering at 7:30am, I have done up to three hours of exercise and the family has only just gotten out of bed!

Reading about your routine raises an alarm for me. I use the main bathroom and have it all to myself as the three kids (7, 9, 11yrs) only grab a toothbrush and they are gone, back for a second to drop it back in. I can see when they are older I will be fighting for bathroom time though - especially since two of them are girls!! I do have a third small bathoom outside by the pool. Maybe I will make that my shave "Den".

I'm leaving the house at 7:45 so showering at 7:30 would not work for me!

You have some fun ahead with those kids, I have 20 (G), 18(G), 15(B). My son has retreated to use the guest bathroom downstairs when we don't have people here and the girls share the upstairs bathroom/powder room and toilet (yet still get in each others way).

When we built the house we did a 1200mm single basin vanity in the ensuite. That was before I started DE shaving. So I need to be out of the way before my wife gets out of the shower. Doing it again I might have done two basins...

...

So of course I couldn't stop myself and timed my shave - I was just curious. I have to admit the first min or so was horrible, I felt totally rushed and had to take a deep breath and then started to do my normal routine...

Total Shave Time: 25 min

...

Yes you could get it down but you are probably more fastidious than me - which is OK! - and have some elements I can't think of why I would want to include but ...

I am very glad that @filobiblic believes now - a great brush and great lather...that makes such a huge difference...

Maybe you should offer us all loaner brushes AND a personalised tutorial service so we can learn the truth about amazing lathers

 

[Psmith]

Pre: Musgo Real Soap
Brush: Simpson Chubby 2 Best
Soap: Soap Commander Vision
Razor: Merkur 1904
Blade: Feather [1]
After-shave: Alum, Thayers, Shaver Heavan Arctic Mango

My first go with Soap Commander and an outstanding lather thanks to Chubby. A superb scent.
Trying the 1904 again to see if I want to keep it. It's easily the most comfortable razor I have. It feels like there's no blade. It's also the hardest to get a DFS with. 3 passes and touch up (with a Feather) and I can still feel some stubble. Maybe it's a question of angle, but I'm going to need some room thanks to the enabling on here, so maybe a B/S/T.