SOTD (13/4/2017)
Pre: Hot shower/Clinique Face Wash
Razor: Mongoose SE
Blade: Kai Captain Titan Mild (23x)
Brush: RazoRock Plissoft
Soap/Cream: Proraso Red
AS: T.N. Dickinson's/Proraso Red
Balm: Proraso Red
Fragrance: AoS Sandalwood EDT
Brush as always is the TF Custom Synthetic [emoji111]️Finally got my hands on the brand new proraso scent "Cypress and Vetiver" and what a beauty. Heaps of cream in this on and of high quality with beautiful lather. Scent strength maybe a 6. Wish it was stronger but a perfect shave today with 2 days growth. This blade is just perfection and nice change to put the PAA OC Slant on an r41 handle
Razor: PAA OC Slant head w/ Muhle R41 handle
Blade: Perma-Sharp (4)
Cream: Proraso Cypress and Vetiver
Post shave: Thayer's Witch Hazel, Alt Innsbruck EDC, Nivea 2 Phase Aftershave Lotion
WOW 23 shaves, Amazing.
SOTD (13/4/2017)
Pre: Hot shower/Clinique Face Wash
Razor: Mongoose SE
Blade: Kai Captain Titan Mild (23x)
Brush: RazoRock Plissoft
Soap/Cream: Proraso Red
AS: T.N. Dickinson's/Proraso Red
Balm: Proraso Red
Fragrance: AoS Sandalwood EDT
Nice review @Draco Noir and a timely one, ordered the General head only yesterday and a box of Feather Pro's & KAI titan mild (pink) to start of with, eager to try it out.The Best Razor in the World?
Pre-shave : Myrsol Pre-shave Emulsion
Brush : Semogue 2017 Barbearo Classico Limited Edition Synthetic
Soap : Saponificio Bignoli Agrumi Del Mediterraneo
Razor : Colonial General (Aluminium)
Blade : Kai "Pink" [2]
Aftershave : Speick AS Lotion
Fragrance : Frapin 1270 EDP
Just an ordinary shave today - that is to say "absolutely superb", which is what I've become used to for my daily shaves over the last 8 or 9 weeks. Among a cast of wonderful products that contributed to today's shave, the MVP was without a doubt the razor.
Many of you know me as a committed wielder of exotic kamisoris and straight razors, but I've gone through a bit of a sea change of late. I've always been a big fan of the Feather and Kai "Artist Club" type blades - they represent what may be the sole bit of innovation in razor blade design and manufacture for decades now. They offer superior longevity (10-25 shaves per blade for most users), superior sharpness and are about twice as thick as an average DE blade, which means that vibration and chatter are effectively eliminated. They also both offer the amazing "guarded" blades, where both sides of the blade have an extremely thin "comb" spot welded to them, which helps in keeping the actual cutting edge a few microns away from the skin. The problem though has always been the lack of razors in which to wield these wonderful blades. Cobras and Mongooses have been the only choices other than the Feather straight, and both of the safety type razors have been harder to obtain than rocking horse droppings.
Fortunately this has changed in a big way over the last 12 months or so, with offerings available from Above the Tie, Ikon, Razorock, Rocnel, Claymore, Colonial, Asylum and others. I've tried almost all of these, and one razor has shone more brightly than any other - the General, made by the Colonial Razor Co in the USA. Colonial is run by twin brothers Kirk and Kyle, and they are both shavers first and foremost, so you can be confident that they understand what we wet shavers want and need. They also have a philosophy of bringing high quality razors to market at a very reasonable price.
@Lifes a Peach and @Osman have both obtained Generals too, so the three of us have done a lot of discussion, testing and experimentation. Our Generals are made from aircraft grade aluminium and are priced remarkably cheaply. A head only (top cap and baseplate) cost us a mere U$24.99 on sale (now still only U$29.99) and my full razor in black was only U$58.99
As the photo above shows, the General is certainly a handsome razor - smooth minimalist curves are unspoiled by unnecessary "bling", allowing the attractive lines to speak for themselves. What the photo can't show though, is the extraordinary performance the razor offers : the design is really ergonomic and well balanced, making it totally comfortable in the hand. Then there's the shave - the General takes the concept of "smooth but very efficient" to a whole new level - it offers a near perfect balance of efficiency/aggression and comfort/smoothness. It is also an amazingly forgiving shaver : as @Lifes a Peach put it so well "the General lets me do things and go places that I've never been or even considered before. Shaving against the grain on the chin and under the jawline, and buffing anywhere at all with never a hint of skin irritation. No other razor has ever let me do that before". @Osman and I can endorse these comments 100% - total BBS has become the daily norm for us all, rather than an occasional achievement that includes the probable penalty of razor burn and skin irritation. The razor also offers fantastic manoeuvrability - it's akin to driving a sports car compared to the more truck style handling of many other razors.
The other wondrous attribute of this razor is how transparent it is to different blades : from the Kai Protouch (mildest) all the way up to the Feather Super Pro (most efficient), the quality of the shave is almost exactly the same in terms of comfort. The only difference is in how close the selected blade shaves. With most other razors, the performance varies considerably depending on blade. Not so with the General. This plus the ease of finding the right angle make the General so friendly and versatile that I would have no hesitation recommending it to a novice shaver, while knowing also that it will meet every need that a more experienced shaver might have.
So the long and short of it - is the Colonial General the best razor in the world at the moment? For me the answer is an emphatic "Yes! It's by far the best I've used". And I know that both @Osman and @Lifes a Peach agree with me enthusiastically.
Do yourselves a big favour guys - take a spin up to https://colonialrazors.com - the small amount that a General head costs will reward you more richly than you can imagine, and will very likely change your shaving life forever!
Happy shaves,
Draco
Nice to see you around @Draco Noir. The General looks a great razor. If your straights and Kamis are feeling unloved I'm happy to take them off your handsThe Best Razor in the World?
Pre-shave : Myrsol Pre-shave Emulsion
Brush : Semogue 2017 Barbearo Classico Limited Edition Synthetic
Soap : Saponificio Bignoli Agrumi Del Mediterraneo
Razor : Colonial General (Aluminium)
Blade : Kai "Pink" [2]
Aftershave : Speick AS Lotion
Fragrance : Frapin 1270 EDP
Just an ordinary shave today - that is to say "absolutely superb", which is what I've become used to for my daily shaves over the last 8 or 9 weeks. Among a cast of wonderful products that contributed to today's shave, the MVP was without a doubt the razor.
Many of you know me as a committed wielder of exotic kamisoris and straight razors, but I've gone through a bit of a sea change of late. I've always been a big fan of the Feather and Kai "Artist Club" type blades - they represent what may be the sole bit of innovation in razor blade design and manufacture for decades now. They offer superior longevity (10-25 shaves per blade for most users), superior sharpness and are about twice as thick as an average DE blade, which means that vibration and chatter are effectively eliminated. They also both offer the amazing "guarded" blades, where both sides of the blade have an extremely thin "comb" spot welded to them, which helps in keeping the actual cutting edge a few microns away from the skin. The problem though has always been the lack of razors in which to wield these wonderful blades. Cobras and Mongooses have been the only choices other than the Feather straight, and both of the safety type razors have been harder to obtain than rocking horse droppings.
Fortunately this has changed in a big way over the last 12 months or so, with offerings available from Above the Tie, Ikon, Razorock, Rocnel, Claymore, Colonial, Asylum and others. I've tried almost all of these, and one razor has shone more brightly than any other - the General, made by the Colonial Razor Co in the USA. Colonial is run by twin brothers Kirk and Kyle, and they are both shavers first and foremost, so you can be confident that they understand what we wet shavers want and need. They also have a philosophy of bringing high quality razors to market at a very reasonable price.
@Lifes a Peach and @Osman have both obtained Generals too, so the three of us have done a lot of discussion, testing and experimentation. Our Generals are made from aircraft grade aluminium and are priced remarkably cheaply. A head only (top cap and baseplate) cost us a mere U$24.99 on sale (now still only U$29.99) and my full razor in black was only U$58.99
As the photo above shows, the General is certainly a handsome razor - smooth minimalist curves are unspoiled by unnecessary "bling", allowing the attractive lines to speak for themselves. What the photo can't show though, is the extraordinary performance the razor offers : the design is really ergonomic and well balanced, making it totally comfortable in the hand. Then there's the shave - the General takes the concept of "smooth but very efficient" to a whole new level - it offers a near perfect balance of efficiency/aggression and comfort/smoothness. It is also an amazingly forgiving shaver : as @Lifes a Peach put it so well "the General lets me do things and go places that I've never been or even considered before. Shaving against the grain on the chin and under the jawline, and buffing anywhere at all with never a hint of skin irritation. No other razor has ever let me do that before". @Osman and I can endorse these comments 100% - total BBS has become the daily norm for us all, rather than an occasional achievement that includes the probable penalty of razor burn and skin irritation. The razor also offers fantastic manoeuvrability - it's akin to driving a sports car compared to the more truck style handling of many other razors.
The other wondrous attribute of this razor is how transparent it is to different blades : from the Kai Protouch (mildest) all the way up to the Feather Super Pro (most efficient), the quality of the shave is almost exactly the same in terms of comfort. The only difference is in how close the selected blade shaves. With most other razors, the performance varies considerably depending on blade. Not so with the General. This plus the ease of finding the right angle make the General so friendly and versatile that I would have no hesitation recommending it to a novice shaver, while knowing also that it will meet every need that a more experienced shaver might have.
So the long and short of it - is the Colonial General the best razor in the world at the moment? For me the answer is an emphatic "Yes! It's by far the best I've used". And I know that both @Osman and @Lifes a Peach agree with me enthusiastically.
Do yourselves a big favour guys - take a spin up to https://colonialrazors.com - the small amount that a General head costs will reward you more richly than you can imagine, and will very likely change your shaving life forever!
Happy shaves,
Draco
Exactly right @TomG - smell is such a complex sense - not only in individual perception of the smell, but in what that particular smell means to a particular person and what memories it evokes - very powerful.That is what is great about this Forum - one man can love a product, another not so. And feel free to say so.
Shaving gear (and scents even more so) are very subjective. I love the scent of Toivo Pine Tar soap, but I wouldn't mind a dollar for every potential buyer who has taken one whiff and said "You've got to be joking!"
And I thought I would love the Euro-classic Pino Silvestre, as I really like the various Stirling pine scents, but when I tested out the PS, it smelt to me like a cat with a bad kidney.
Hear, hear! Well said @TomGThat is what is great about this Forum - one man can love a product, another not so. And feel free to say so.
Shaving gear (and scents even more so) are very subjective. I love the scent of Toivo Pine Tar soap, but I wouldn't mind a dollar for every potential buyer who has taken one whiff and said "You've got to be joking!"
And I thought I would love the Euro-classic Pino Silvestre, as I really like the various Stirling pine scents, but when I tested out the PS, it smelt to me like a cat with a bad kidney.
After trying various single edge razors over the last few months I would like to agree with @Draco Noir about the colonial general. It was a revelation and provided bbs shaves day after day with no irritation. If your after a different experience from de or straight give it a try. The price point is very agreeable and the artist club blades just last and last.The Best Razor in the World?
Pre-shave : Myrsol Pre-shave Emulsion
Brush : Semogue 2017 Barbearo Classico Limited Edition Synthetic
Soap : Saponificio Bignoli Agrumi Del Mediterraneo
Razor : Colonial General (Aluminium)
Blade : Kai "Pink" [2]
Aftershave : Speick AS Lotion
Fragrance : Frapin 1270 EDP
Just an ordinary shave today - that is to say "absolutely superb", which is what I've become used to for my daily shaves over the last 8 or 9 weeks. Among a cast of wonderful products that contributed to today's shave, the MVP was without a doubt the razor.
Many of you know me as a committed wielder of exotic kamisoris and straight razors, but I've gone through a bit of a sea change of late. I've always been a big fan of the Feather and Kai "Artist Club" type blades - they represent what may be the sole bit of innovation in razor blade design and manufacture for decades now. They offer superior longevity (10-25 shaves per blade for most users), superior sharpness and are about twice as thick as an average DE blade, which means that vibration and chatter are effectively eliminated. They also both offer the amazing "guarded" blades, where both sides of the blade have an extremely thin "comb" spot welded to them, which helps in keeping the actual cutting edge a few microns away from the skin. The problem though has always been the lack of razors in which to wield these wonderful blades. Cobras and Mongooses have been the only choices other than the Feather straight, and both of the safety type razors have been harder to obtain than rocking horse droppings.
Fortunately this has changed in a big way over the last 12 months or so, with offerings available from Above the Tie, Ikon, Razorock, Rocnel, Claymore, Colonial, Asylum and others. I've tried almost all of these, and one razor has shone more brightly than any other - the General, made by the Colonial Razor Co in the USA. Colonial is run by twin brothers Kirk and Kyle, and they are both shavers first and foremost, so you can be confident that they understand what we wet shavers want and need. They also have a philosophy of bringing high quality razors to market at a very reasonable price.
@Lifes a Peach and @Osman have both obtained Generals too, so the three of us have done a lot of discussion, testing and experimentation. Our Generals are made from aircraft grade aluminium and are priced remarkably cheaply. A head only (top cap and baseplate) cost us a mere U$24.99 on sale (now still only U$29.99) and my full razor in black was only U$58.99
As the photo above shows, the General is certainly a handsome razor - smooth minimalist curves are unspoiled by unnecessary "bling", allowing the attractive lines to speak for themselves. What the photo can't show though, is the extraordinary performance the razor offers : the design is really ergonomic and well balanced, making it totally comfortable in the hand. Then there's the shave - the General takes the concept of "smooth but very efficient" to a whole new level - it offers a near perfect balance of efficiency/aggression and comfort/smoothness. It is also an amazingly forgiving shaver : as @Lifes a Peach put it so well "the General lets me do things and go places that I've never been or even considered before. Shaving against the grain on the chin and under the jawline, and buffing anywhere at all with never a hint of skin irritation. No other razor has ever let me do that before". @Osman and I can endorse these comments 100% - total BBS has become the daily norm for us all, rather than an occasional achievement that includes the probable penalty of razor burn and skin irritation. The razor also offers fantastic manoeuvrability - it's akin to driving a sports car compared to the more truck style handling of many other razors.
The other wondrous attribute of this razor is how transparent it is to different blades : from the Kai Protouch (mildest) all the way up to the Feather Super Pro (most efficient), the quality of the shave is almost exactly the same in terms of comfort. The only difference is in how close the selected blade shaves. With most other razors, the performance varies considerably depending on blade. Not so with the General. This plus the ease of finding the right angle make the General so friendly and versatile that I would have no hesitation recommending it to a novice shaver, while knowing also that it will meet every need that a more experienced shaver might have.
So the long and short of it - is the Colonial General the best razor in the world at the moment? For me the answer is an emphatic "Yes! It's by far the best I've used". And I know that both @Osman and @Lifes a Peach agree with me enthusiastically.
Do yourselves a big favour guys - take a spin up to https://colonialrazors.com - the small amount that a General head costs will reward you more richly than you can imagine, and will very likely change your shaving life forever!
Happy shaves,
Draco
All good mate
I've got a razorock hawk which is a nice se in its own right.
