SOTD "FREE WEEK" August 12th - August 18th, 2019

[Jenks]

Monday shave:

• Preshave: Proraso White
• Soap: Proraso White
• Brush: Zenith Boar B30
• Razor: Merkur 23C on an iKon bulldog handle
• Blade: New Feather with one bottom shim
• After: Nivea sensitive skin balm

I decided to revisit my first safety razor to see if I my technique has gotten any better over time. I originally started shaving with a DE in order to get a closer shave than my electric but didn't want to pay for cartridges. I didn't stay long with the 23C as I could not get as close a shave as I had been getting with the electric and have since moved on to other razors. But what if I have gotten better at shaving? And what if I pimped it up? So I got the 23C out of the drawer, put the head on a solid handle, loaded a new feather blade and then shimmed it for good measure. 3 days growth and off to the races.

The result was pretty good -- a nice comfortable close shave with no complaints from the alum block. I was pretty happy with the results overall; the easy parts were as close as I could hope for but the tricky bits (scarred chin and some weird patterns on my jaw line) were not quite as close as I want.

So tomorrow is back to my regular R48 with the same feather blade (or at least half of it) to see if I really am getting better results on the tricky bits with the Focus.

Tuesday shave:

• Preshave: Proraso White
• Soap: Proraso White
• Brush: Zenith Boar B30
• Razor: Focus Dynamic R48
• Blade: 1/2 half of yesterday's Feather blade (2nd use)
• After: Nivea sensitive skin balm

My follow-up shave with my daily driver to see if my experiment of yesterday with the pimped-out 23C has told me anything. The shave today was everything I expected it to be as I do use the R48 every day and am pretty familiar with it after a year of use. The comparison did point out to me that my technique is getting better as the 23C is much closer in performance than before and, in fact, slightly better in some aspects. If anything a closer result was had on the easy bits with the 23C. But it was the tricky bits where the R48 continues to shine; the pivoting head makes it so much easier to handle the sharp curves and the imperfections (scar on chin). I also find the R48 is more tolerant of buffing and does not irritate.

I realize that it comes down to my technique. Ultimately I could get proficient enough with my angles to get the same result with the 23C or other traditional style DEs but I get that now with the R48. And, oddly, I get better results with the R48 when I use a German Wilkie rather than the Feather so I am anticipating things to be more definitive when I switch blades.

The R48 still does not do well with longer stubble. For that I will continue to experiment on Mondays when I have a 3+ day growth. Have been using a Feather AC SS with ProGuards and am liking that; even if i am not too skilled yet and generate a bit of the red stuff. Will probably revisit my X3 and see what tweaks can be done there. But for the daily maintenance shaves, it will still be the R48 for now. But who know what the future will bring!

 

[120inna55]

Smashing.

Thank you, darlin'.

 

[ram57]

Wednesday SOTD

Razor: Rex Ambassador
Blade: Parker SS Platinum (D2)
Brush: Declaration Brushworks Washington 25mm
Bowl: Supply Provision Marble 4.5"
Pre-Shave Scrub: Ginger Garden Enigma
Pre-Shave Oil: AOS Bergamot Neroli
Shave Soap: Wickham 1912 LE2019 Apricus
Balm: Wickham 1912 LE2019 Apricus
Aftershave: Extro Pirata​

 

[cyclingsteveb]

14 Aug 19
Razor: Razorock Mamba 70
Blade: Gillette Wilkinson Sword (4)
Brush: 24mm Yaqi Sagrada Familia
Pre-Shave: Shower and Clearasil face wash
Lather: Arko stick – face lather
Aftershave: The Cool fix gel
Additional Care: Jack Shave spritz

 

[ChrisVanMeer]

SOTD - Wednesday 14 August 2019

• Straight Razor: Koraat - 6/8 Full Hollow Ivory Snake Yuma
• Shaving Brush: Declaration Grooming - The Washington Unicorn Ivory B3 - 24mm Fan (Finest Badger)
• Shaving Cream: Acqua di Parma - Collezione Barbiere
• After-Shave: Acqua di Parma - Colonia Intensa - Balm
• Fragrance: Acqua di Parma - Colonia Intensa - EdC (100 ml)

 

[shm]

2019-08-14

Ikea bowl ¤ Standart Pure Badger ¤ Gillette Tech + Merkur Super
Myrsol Blue Cream, After Shave & Cologne

 

[Whilliam]

View attachment 1007442

My, but doesn't this look sprightly! Nice one.

 

[Whilliam]

SOTD - Tuesday 13 August 2019

• Safety Razor: Charcoal Goods - Level 2 Torpedo
• Blade: Kai
• Shaving Brush: Dogwood Handcrafts / Declaration Grooming - Mistique B5 - 22mm Fan (Finest Badger)
• Shaving Soap: Declaration Grooming - Mayflower

Great brush and razor, killer shot!

 

[Whilliam]

SOTD - Wednesday 14 August 2019

• Straight Razor: Koraat - 6/8 Full Hollow Ivory Snake Yuma
• Shaving Brush: Declaration Grooming - The Washington Unicorn Ivory B3 - 24mm Fan (Finest Badger)
• Shaving Cream: Acqua di Parma - Collezione Barbiere
• After-Shave: Acqua di Parma - Colonia Intensa - Balm
• Fragrance: Acqua di Parma - Colonia Intensa - EdC (100 ml)

Wow. Every time I feel lazy and not inclined to shave, I turn to SOTD for just the right spark of motivation. It's shots like this--and the many others that everyone's posted recently--that brighten my day and send me off to lather up. Thanks to all for posting!

 

[cryhavoc]

Wednesday SOTD

GEM 1912
GEM PTFE (8)
Mike's Coconut
Omega 10065 boar
Aqua Velva Ice Blue​

 

[Klinker]

Wednesday 08.14.19 SOTD
Taylor of Old Bond Street Sandalwood Pre Shave Oil
RazoRock German 37 HD handle / Parker Premium Platinum (1)
Vulfix 1016 Pure Badger
Taylor of Old Bond Street Sandalwood Shaving Cream
Taylor of Old Bond Street Sandalwood Aftershave
​

 

[CapnPanther]

Wednesday
Pre-shave: Neutrogena HydroBoost Cleansing Gel/AoS Pre-shave Oil
Razor: Schick Krona
Blade: Personna Platinum Chrome (Israeli Red)
Brush: Rudy Vey Custom w/TGN Two-Band
Soap: Mama Bear’s Hydrogen Shave Soap
Aftershave: Alum/ Kiehl’s Ultra-Facial Oil Free Toner/TOBS No. 74
Moisturizer: Brickell Facial Moisturizer

 

[Whilliam]

View attachment 1007755 Wednesday 08.14.19 SOTD
Taylor of Old Bond Street Sandalwood Pre Shave Oil
RazoRock German 37 HD handle / Parker Premium Platinum (1)
Vulfix 1016 Pure Badger
Taylor of Old Bond Street Sandalwood Shaving Cream
Taylor of Old Bond Street Sandalwood Aftershave
​

Another "warp speed" photo. Looks great!

 

[Klinker]

Another "warp speed" photo. Looks great!

Thanks. I thought it needed a little extra punch.

 

[Rabid Badger]

Ed Brice 7/8, Goodfellas Al's shaving, Dovo Silvertip

 

[HarryAU570]

Date:- 14 August 2019

Pre-shave:- Cold Water straight from the tap
Brush:- Edwin Jagger Synth. v2.0 Silvertip Fibre Faux Horn 25/58mm knot
Soap/Cream:- The Club ~ Signature
Bowl/Scuttle:- Captain's Choice
Razor/Blade:- Karve CB SS 'D' / Vintage NOS Gillette Super Stainless (spoiler) #6
Post/After-shave:- T.N. Dickinson Witch Hazel Astringent mixed into the 240ml bottle with Natural Glycerin (20), Tea Tree Antiseptic (10), Lavender (15) & Peppermint (10 drops)
Fragrance:- Dolce&Gabbana The One for Men

 

[uptown]

SBS Bulldog Handle
Astra Superior Platinum
Proraso Menthol Shave Cream
Cremo Horsehair (Vie Long)
Harry's Post Shave Balm
Cold River Citrus Maximus AS

 

[Bobcat]

Wednesday
Prep: Warm Shower-Stirling Scots Pine Sheep
Soap: WSP Rustic Mahogany
Razor: Vintage Gillette Fat Boy
Blade: Vintage Gillette Spoiler Super Stainless (2)
Brush: oscar11/TGN High Mountain White-22mmx48mm
Aftershave: YSL M7 Oud Absolu EdT

WTG-XTG-ATG (adjusted angles for my beard)

WSP Rustic Mahogany today. 20 seconds to load the oscar11/TGN High Mountain White brush. Easy, thick, slick, lather. Gillette “Spoiler” Super Stainless blade in the Gillette Fat Boy. Excellent smooth, close, shave. I finished with YSL M7 Oud Absolu EdT.

Bob

 

[PJO]

 

[PJO]

SOTD - Wednesday 14 August 2019

• Straight Razor: Koraat - 6/8 Full Hollow Ivory Snake Yuma
• Shaving Brush: Declaration Grooming - The Washington Unicorn Ivory B3 - 24mm Fan (Finest Badger)
• Shaving Cream: Acqua di Parma - Collezione Barbiere
• After-Shave: Acqua di Parma - Colonia Intensa - Balm
• Fragrance: Acqua di Parma - Colonia Intensa - EdC (100 ml)

Lush lighting — beautiful.