Sep. 12, 2023
- Brush: Yaqi 26mm Synthetic
- Razor: Karve Overlander
- Blade: Sharp Durablade
- Lather: Wholly Kaw - Nightcap - Soap
- Post Shave: Wholly Kaw - Nightcap - Aftershave
Good shave. This scent is still one of my favourites it’s just fun.
Kinda Tabac Tuesday during Samplestraightember
- Brush: Zenith 506U N (50/50 horse mane/tail)
- Razor: Böker Abalone
- Lather: Abbate y La Mantia – Vulcano
- Post Shave: Mäurer & Wirtz – Tabac Original (mild aftershave fluid)
- Fragrance: Declaration Grooming – Bangarang
Ok, not all scent combos can be winners and this one just ends up smelling like sweet Tabac. That being said, I really enjoyed this Vulcano shave
September 12, 2023: Equine Greatest Hits Straightember
- Preshave: Proraso Green Preshave
- Brush: Zenith 506U XS Horse 🐎
- Razor: Thiers-Issard 188 7/8 ""Coq et Renard""
- Lather: Abbate y La Mantia Marduk
- Post Shave: Mennen Le Grand Large
- Post Shave: Nivea After Shave Balm
Enjoyable three pass shave, with LGC and the TI. All good.
Have a good night!
September 12, 2023
-
Brush: Wald Stratos Haunter 29mm A1
-
Razor: Ralf Aust 5/8 Full Hollow Spanish Point (Straight Shave 324)
-
Lather: Saponificio Varesino - 70th Anniversary - Soap (47)
-
Post Shave: Saponificio Varesino - 70th Anniversary - Aftershave
-
Post Shave: Thayers - Rose - Toner
-
Fragrance: Saponificio Varesino - 70th Anniversary - Eau de Parfum
3 passes. Face lather. Excellent shave.
This was the same setup as yesterday but with a refreshed edge. I'm trying a new finishing stone the Black Shadow. This is a natural slate stone, and like all whetstones, you need to learn its personality. Yesterday, I thought my shave was comfortable but should have been closer for a 3-pass shave.
So, last night I took the razor back to the Black Shadow [I mean, you gotta love that name] to see if I could get the edge sharper while maintaining the same level of smoothness.
The stone certainly had more to give. I was able to get sharpness to the same point I can get a Jnat without any degradation to overall edge quality. Today's shave was, again, very comfortable and is fully BBS.
I've seen at least one other person using water with dish soap on a stone. What's the purpose of this? Breaking the surface tension?
Yes. Exactly right. On very hard, flat stones the edge will tend to stick when using plain water. This stickiness can stop movement of the razor across the stone and always impedes a smooth sharpening motion. Many sharpeners use this as a sign that the edge is as sharp as it can get, so they stop. I interpret it as an increase in friction as water is pushed away between the edge and the stone. This messes up my feel for the edge as I move the razor. A tiny amount of dish washing detergent [I used to use glycerin] solves this problem and lets me use sharpness testing to determine where to stop.
-
Second Annual Shave Against Suicide
- Brush: Chisel and Hound Ambrosia Maple with 26 mm synthetic Maggard knot
- Razor: Victoria 4 (6/8″, half hollow, round tip, carbon steel)
- Lather: House of Mammoth – Embrace
- Post Shave: Stirling Soap Co. – Haverford
- Fragrance: Spearhead Shaving Company – Seaforth! Spiced
I had completely missed @[email protected]'s post about this charity shave. Fortunately I had a smush of Embrace from @[email protected], so I could still take part in this event. I'm truly sorry for your loss, Onion. Losing your sister must have been so hard for you and your family, and I'm moved by how you are commemorating her. She really is forever loved and missed.
I imagine today is a very difficult day, and I hope this event can offer a bit of purpose and positive distraction.
Also belated big thanks to @[email protected] for your generosity!
❤
Thanks DJ
❤️
Prep: Splash of Cool Water
Razor: Gillette - Aristocrat 15 OC (UK)
Blade: Gillette - Platinum (6)
Lather: Summer Break Soaps - Remote Learning
Brush: Declaration Grooming - B13 Dogwood/Briar Hybrid 28mm (20 uses)
Post Shave: Stirling - Scarn
䷀ General Notes
Today is to try again with the slurry lather on a high density brush. Needs more work, because it took some adjustments to get right.
䷀ Razor and Blade Notes
(Gillette - Aristocrat 15 OC - UK ::: Gillette - Platinum ‹6 uses›)
A wonderful match today. tiny bit of blade feel, but mostly just super slick glide and great comfort.
Razor and Blade Performance/Comfort Rating: 4 out of 5 (Very Good)
䷀ Soap Notes
(Summer Break Soaps - Remote Learning)
Them: Doritos
Scent: nacho cheesy corn tortilla chips is the goal here. I imagine that's a tough challenge. While smelling the dry tub and the wet lather, what comes to me first is a cookie sweet type scent that reminds me of some cinnamon schoolbook cookies from Trader Joes. It's a nice scent, so I don't mind if my brain never switches away from that.
If I know it is supposed to be corn chips, then I can definitely see that in the scent. So that's cool.
But even if I set my brain to try to find a cheesy note in there, I really can't.
I think it might be more realistic with a hint-of-cumin type scent in there, but of course, that could make it hard on skin maybe.
While I may not really get a Doritos scent from it, I think it's a great attempt, and I know that I like shaving with it anyway.
Scent Strength: 4/10, present during shaving.
Lather... So, knowing that I had a slightly wetter tub of soap, since I had used it previously, I loaded 20seconds again, with the same very wet brush.
But it still wasn't enough soap. So I'll bump it up more next time.
But the slurry didn't form like it should for pass 1, and I think the brush may need more water in it too. So I have a few issues that need working on regarding slurry lather using a high density knot.
But after adjustments, I still got a super slick shave, enabling great protection and a razor that would glide as fast as I needed it to.
Hydration: Perfect (for me)
- 7 sec load with a Very Wet brush
- = 3 passes of lather
Bowl: No Bowl
䷀ Brush Notes
(Declaration Grooming - B13 Dogwood/Briar Hybrid 28mm ‹20 uses›)
The luxury of this brush is a bit lost on a super wet method like the Slurry Lather, it seems.
It may not actually hold enough water to do the method justice, but further experimentation is required. I still don't think I loaded enough, so I need to get that right first.
During the Shave Feel:
Cheeks: Almost Smooth
Neck: Almost Smooth
After the Shave Closeness:
Cheeks: Near BBS - About as close as I'll ever get
Neck: Cut flush to where I just see the tips (above average for me)
Ending of Blades Ledger - entry form and the data spreadsheet
September 12, 2023
- Brush: AP Shave Co. - 24mm Synbad Fan
- Razor: Gillette Tech (Z-4)
- Blade: Personna 74 (38)
- Lather: Barrister & Mann - Leviathan - Soap
- Post Shave: Brut - Splash On
- Post Shave: Stirling - Bergamot Lavender - Witch Hazel & Aloe
- Fragrance: Barrister & Mann - Lavender, Interrupted - EdP
Brut smells great, even the currently available version. The Bergamot Lavender toner ruined the Brut scent, but I just love how this stuff makes my skin feel. Maybe I'll get some unscented to use all the time.
