Shave of the Day Thread - 2016

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Last night's SOTN is dedicated to yesterday's birthday boy :)
You know who you are ;)

Slip : Shaver Heaven - Absolution
: Simpsons Polo 8 in best
Sharp : Grandfather's Bengal
Soothe : Alum
: Dr Jons - Hydra a/s
: Shaver Heaven - Arctic Mango balm

Yes @stillshunter I've now joined the straight brigade.

Now let me preface this, if you can find someone that can put a substancially keener edge upon a blade than @Mark and a vastly superior soap than @Anthony there will be many waiting with baited breath to hear about these revelations.
Two nicks that didnt draw blood and a cut that did, and my first straight shave was done, yet no where to my satisfaction.
To me, it felt like the blade was skipping, which is weird considering I showered before and used quality equipment.
The later was wet to the point that it was starting to drip off the brush, I tried from a very shallow to a more open angle, so I'm at a loss as to what I may be missing here and open it up to wiser heads to aid me here.
I will persist with this :)
 
Mark1966 said:
Same deal for the straight shavers - try to use a razor starting with a 'T' - for DE or SE shavers without a Tech similar approach.
Click to expand...

Tanifuji will be the razor for tonight. I will use deed pole and change the name of my SE to Terrance just to comply.

For soap day can we have all soaps starting with "S" as I just call mine "SOAP"

borked said:
I tried from a very shallow to a more open angle, so I'm at a loss as to what I may be missing here and open it up to wiser heads to aid me here.
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There will be other answers: Skin stretching with a straight is very important. With skin not properly stretched a small amount of skin will/can bunch up infront of the blade. A straight performs better when it is moving when it contacts the skin and as such doesn't bind on the first thing it contacts. Another thing a straight is more sensitive to drying lather and will give that skipping feeling.
 
@bald as the stretching might be the key here, as I've only ever stretched via distorting my head position before.
Might have to try manual assistance in this field.
 
Mark1966 said:
So this is this week's theme? I think maybe it is so let's make it bigger and bolder -

Tuesday 22 March 2016 is - #TechTuesday

Same deal for the straight shavers - try to use a razor starting with a 'T' - for DE or SE shavers without a Tech similar approach.

Next week I think we will need to have a soap theme to be more razor agnostic :)
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I have a Tanifuji straight... but just put it in the mail to @Mark for re-hone after I dropped it! That leaves me with a Merkur 34c HD & a Gillette New... No tees for me.
 
borked said:
@bald as the stretching might be the key here, as I've only ever stretched via distorting my head position before.
Might have to try manual assistance in this field.
Click to expand...

Pulling back on the ear, pulling up on your side burn, two fingers on the cheek bone pulling either up or across, 'choke hold' around the neck are some I have found to be useful these past three weeks of SR use. Jutting you chin out helps too. I generally just place pointer and index fingers of my free hand where-ever needed to stretch the skin away from the direction of growth where possible. From watching countless videos I see experienced SR users don't stretch with the free hand nearly as much as I do so I am guessing as technique improves the need to use the free hand lessens.
 
G'day ;) is nearly 6am in morning in Scotland.

Brush: RazoRock Plissoft
Razor: Parker 31R Shavette
Blade: Gillette Silver Blue (3, 1st half of the blade)
Soap/Cream: Haslinger Sheeps Milk & Lanolin (very similar to MWF)
Post/After Shave: T.N. Dickinson Witch Hazel Astringent / Natio Maximum Razor Relief Healing Lotion
Fragrance: L'Occitane Baux EDT
Time: Who cares I'm enjoying myself wet shaving, love making a bloody mess and clean up after I'm done.

Another big day for me today as I'm heading to the Palace of Holyroodhouse in Edinburgh all day as part of the Masonic, later on all the Mason will be heading to a restaurant called The Dome on George St in New Town and the list goes on and on. Yesterday I've been speaking to a number of Masons who are wet shavers and the most popular place to get a great shave with a straight razor a place called the 'Alfies' on Fleshmarket Close that the name of the street, I went to get a haircut and a gentlemen who own the shop is a Mason and he gave me the best straight shave ever super bloody smooth WOW! and the price is perfect I thought I was going to get rip-off. Any way I head back to the hotel to have a good rest and taking a very nice long walk around Edinburgh, and the weather looks some what okay bloody cold :confused: I guess not very many Aussie are used to the weather in Scotland now I understand why.
 
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Pre-Shave: Occams pre-shave soap, cold water
Razor: Wolfman WR1-SB with WRH2
Blade: Vintage Wilkinson Sword Made in England (4)
Brush: Omega Pro 49
Lather: Mystic Waters Jeff's Lavender
Post-shave: Alum, Barrister & Man Kyovu Original, South Australian Organic Extra Virgin Olive Oil​

The bunny definitely improved my technique - so thanks again @twhite and @bald as - I had a fantastic shave today.

Lather shot can be seen here, had my last remaining boar out for the first time this year. The lather definitely took more time - I assume because the brush doesn't hold as much water? I also noticed a considerable scrtichy nuisance - I assume this is die to the black (nylon?) hair in the knot. I have decided to cull them and then try again. I will report back...
 
Sxot said:
I have a Tanifuji straight... but just put it in the mail to @Mark for re-hone after I dropped it! That leaves me with a Merkur 34c HD & a Gillette New... No tees for me.
Click to expand...

A Gillette New is kinda like an open comb Tech. So go with that :)
 
@alfredus if your boar is not yet broken in and you can tell this by the tip looking a bit "fuzzy" when you look down on the top of the knot it will possibly feel a bit scratchy. Hand lather it with hair shampoo, rinse, hand lather with conditioner, rinse, hand lather with a not so often used soap, rinse and allow to dry in the warmest shaded area you have. Repeat until the bristles really start to split. Some of my boar brushes have black boar hairs in the knot and it is possible they are a bit tougher than the lighter bristles.
 
bald as said:
@alfredus if your boar is not yet broken in and you can tell this by the tip looking a bit "fuzzy" when you look down on the top of the knot it will possibly feel a bit scratchy. Hand lather it with hair shampoo, rinse, hand lather with conditioner, rinse, hand lather with a not so often used soap, rinse and allow to dry in the warmest shaded area you have. Repeat until the bristles really start to split. Some of my boar brushes have black boar hairs in the knot and it is possible they are a bit tougher than the lighter bristles.
Click to expand...

I read once, that Omegas are only fully broken in, once the sticker is gone...seeing that there is still a bit of sticker left on my brush (and I refuse to remove it - it has to fall off on its own) - I guess by that definition the brush might not be broken in yet :D

However: this one is at least 4 years old and was for a time the only brush I used. If it is still not broken in, it never will - or at least I will never break it in :ROFLMAO:

The white hair is beautifully split and totally fuzzy - yet there is some scritch in there. So either I am getting more sensitive and wimpy by using badgers or it is actually those black things in the knot (don't want to call them bristles, because they are not). I really hope it is the later - I'd like to keep at least one boar in the den, and this is my last one...
 
Pre: just a shower this time
Brush: Chubbeast 2 in Fine
Soap: DR Harris Lavender
Razor: iKon B1 OSS
Blade: Feather, second use
Post: Alum, Thayer WH with aloe, SH Green Tobacco

I used to face lather with a dry face. Hence, the difficulty to create lather. After reading an article, for real dummies like me about face lathering, I have to start with a dripping wet face. Add droplets of water as I go. The lather created was great. Pretty smooth and slick, even with the second usage Feather.

However, going against the grain with the second usage feather wasn't that great. I squeezed the Chubbeast to extract it's creme de la creme lather, there are still some water trapped within the core of the knot, made the lather a little runnier than I would have liked, further more it's not a pristine new Feather, minor irritation. No biggie. I'd bear in mind to face lather in the future with a brand new blade,or avoid finishing by going against the grain.

Over all, a pretty good shave!
 
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alfredus said:
I read once, that Omegas are only fully broken in, once the sticker is gone...seeing that there is still a bit of sticker left on my brush (and I refuse to remove it - it has to fall off on its own) - I guess by that definition the brush might not be broken in yet :D

However: this one is at least 4 years old and was for a time the only brush I used. If it is still not broken in, it never will - or at least I will never break it in[emoji23]
The white hair is beautifully split and totally fuzzy - yet there is some scritch in there. So either I am getting more sensitive and wimpy by using badgers or it is actually those black things in the knot (don't want to call them bristles, because they are not). I really hope it is the later - I'd like to keep at least one boar in the den, and this is my last one...
Click to expand...
I realised that I really like boar bristles as well. Glad I got the omega 48 and semogue owners club.
 
Soap: Shaver Heaven Hazelnut Cappuccino (Thanks @Sxot )
Brush: Edwin Jagger badger
Face lather
Blade: Dovo Stainless Steel scales, 5/8 SS blade

As with all Shaver Heaven soaps performance was A1 though this scent is just not me at all. Far too "sweet" smelling. Wife loves it though. Dovo was sharp and smooth with a 3 pass shave.
 
#techtuesday

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Soap: Nivea Sensitive Cream
Brush: Savile Row 3124
Razor: Gillette Tech Fat Handle - Rhodium Replated
Blade: Feather (3)
Post-shave: Nivea Sensitive Balm

I love this razor. The rhodium on the fat handle looks amazing. These techs are efficient but mild, and can be had for under $20 delivered from eBay. Add $60 for the replate, and you've got an amazing razor for under $80 which will last a second lifetime (this razor is from 1948 so it's already listed one lifetime) and is made from solid brass not pot metal like the Muhles and Murkers (looks better than them too IMO). My only complaint is the handle could be heavier...

Nivea cream was disappointing. I haven't used it in probably 12 months. Can it go off? The lather was very sparse. Maybe I need to use more cream though... It was definitely slick, and I love that scent.
 
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