NomadicDave's Shaving Journey

[NomadicDave]

Razor: WR2 1.55
Blade: Astra SP (1)
Brush: Trotter Handle w/a TNS L3
Brush: TNS L4 Hybrid
Soap: PAA Ciderhouse Five

I have been craving an apple scent today so I reached for this banger. I wanted to do a side-by-side on the L3 & L4. Both brushes are excellent.

I have been looking at my brush collection and trying to really see what brushes I want to keep and what to let go to a new home. Today's comparison was to see if I would let go of the L3 or L4. But honestly, they both are excellent and align with my taste in brushes. Also, both have to my eyes beautiful handles.

 

[NomadicDave]

Razor: Blackbird Ti OC
Blade: Astra SP (2)
Brush: Trotter T1
Soap: 345 Soap Co Fleet Street Pie Shop

I enjoyed this barbershop with a background of apple pie scent tonight. The Trotter T1 is an exceptional brush I'm glad to have in my collection. Paul not only makes exceptional colorways I love how well this handle fits in my hand. The T1 is a well-rounded knot to top off this brush.

 

[NomadicDave]

Razor: Henson
Blade: Astra SP (3)
Brush: Varlet 27mm XD
Soap: Hoffmans Rio Grande

A nice smooth shave today. I had a bit of trouble loading the soap for the first time. Not sure why, it was odd. But in the end, still had good results.

I really love this Varlet but always wished it was a bit larger. I found a 29mm Varlet XD today and pulled the trigger and bought it. It's the same Ranger shape and is in the low-light white colorway.

 

[NomadicDave]

Not sure if this is a true kill or not. Took the little bit at the bottom and transferred it to my other tub. But it's the first empty tub of 2023.

 

[NomadicDave]

Razor: WR2 1.55
Blade: Astra SP (1)
Brush: DG Deja Blue B11
Soap: Catie's Bubbles Tactical Support

I love this B11 and Catie’s Bubbles soap is always excellent.

 

[NomadicDave]

Razor: WR2 1.55
Blade: Astra SP (2)
Brush: V&C + HOM SMASH VC01
Soap: Catie’s Bubbles Tactical Support

Smooth and easy was the motto for today's shave. With every use, I swear this brush gets softer.

 

[NomadicDave]

Razor: Blackbird Ti OC
Blade: Astra SP (1)
Brush: DG BOK B9A+
Soap: Catie’s Bubbles Tactical Support

An incredibly smooth and glorious head shave. I really am loving this CB soap. It comes together so effortlessly and it smells great. The Blackbird Ti OC really takes off all the hair with ease. The B9A+ is such a great batch of hair and the Blood of Kings pour is stunning to my eyes.

 

[NomadicDave]

Razor: Blackbird Ti OC
Blade: Astra SP (2)
Brush: TNS L4 Hybrid
Soap: Catie’s Bubbles Tactical Support

This L4 hybrid is starting to break in nicely, I'm still working down this soap.

 

[NomadicDave]

Face Shave

Razor: WR2 1.55
Blade: Astra SP (1)
Brush: DG Magic Hour B11
Soap: Catie’s Bubbles Tactical Support

This Magic Hour B11 is the goat. This is my third B11 brush and man this one after one use might be my favorite. The WR2 1.55 amazes me each time I use it. I'm baffled at how buttery smooth and efficient it is while being so well-balanced.

Head Shave

Razor: Masamune
Blade: Astra SP (2)
Brush: DG Cotton Candy B15
Soap: Catie’s Bubbles Tactical Support

This was a luxurious & smooth head shave. B15 is an incredible batch. I now have three B15 brushes (one might be leaving) and I swear all three are different. I like all three and bought this Cotton Candy and my Illsuive used. My Spooky is the only brand-new one and it's my least favorite of the three. It's still a killer brush just needs a bit more time to get as soft as the other two.

It's been a bit since I have used the SB on the Masamune. I forgot at how smooth and easy this razor cuts down the hair on autopilot with the SB. When I use the OC I have to pay a bit more attention as to not give myself any weepers.

 

[NomadicDave]

Face Shave

Razor: Masamune
Blade: Astra SP (3)
Brush: The Varlet 29mm XD
Soap: Catie’s Bubbles Tactical Support

First, use with the new to me 29mm Varlet XD. I love this brush, simple yet elegant. I'm still curious how the XD stacks up against the HD. I don't find the XD to be very dense but I do love very dense knots. I had to get this when it came up on the used market. I have been keeping an eye out for a 29mm Varlet for a bit. First shave and I enjoyed it very much. Will be getting more time with it this week to get a better feel for the knot.

Head Shave

Razor: Masamune
Blade: Astra SP (4)
Brush: SV Arlecchino LE #10
Soap: Catie’s Bubbles Tactical Support

I love this SV limited edition 30mm brush. This brush is quickly becoming one of my favorites which took me by surprise. It's denser than my SV 2.0 Faux Horn brush. I did not think it would be such a top-tier brush with all the exceptionally nice brushes I own. But this one had made its way to the top rather fast. It is still breaking in and I can only see it getting better with a bit more time. I almost want to buy another but not sure If I want another handle that looks the same.

 

[flask28]

You have a simply stunning collection of brushes my man. I don't know how you'd go about picking winners and thinning that heard of top-tier and unobtanium.

It's very interesting to hear your new SV LE is climbing to the top of that pack. Is the 30mm size part of the equation do you think?

 

[NomadicDave]

You have a simply stunning collection of brushes my man. I don't know how you'd go about picking winners and thinning that heard of top-tier and unobtanium.

It's very interesting to hear your new SV LE is climbing to the top of that pack. Is the 30mm size part of the equation do you think?

Thank you for the kind words. I think the size is part of it but the knot is just incredible. Very well balanced in every aspect and the handle fits so nicely in my hand I love the fact that it's real wood.

I have often thought about how could I get this brush collection down to 10-15 of my favorite. But the more I look at it the more I don't see that happening. I really enjoy and love each one. But it's still a journey of looking at them every few weeks and re-evaluating them and only keeping what I love. I could downsize if I get rid of brushes with the same knots but different handles but I love the knot and it's fun to me having a few different handles with knots I love.

 

[NomadicDave]

Razor: Feather Kamasori Style Shavette
Blade: Feather Professional (2)
Brush: DG Spooky B15
Soap: Catie’s Bubbles Tactical Support

A very close shave with this shavette today. I enjoy B15 more each time I use it. I'm now down to this Spooky B15 and my Cotton Candy B15. I got rid of my Illusive B15 this week in a trade. I also sold a Merman B14 but I had two of that pour in B14. I have no desire to add any more DG B14s or B15s to my den.

Still working on killing this tub of soap, and the goal is to kill a few more before I look to try any new soaps.

 

[flask28]

But it's still a journey of looking at them every few weeks and re-evaluating them and only keeping what I love.

Exactly!! This is the best, and the worst, part of the hobby I'm discovering .

 

[NomadicDave]

Exactly!! This is the best, and the worst, part of the hobby I'm discovering .

It really is! I need to get better at doing this with my soaps as well. But that is a whole other topic lol.

 

[NomadicDave]

2023 Goals Update

Another goal crossed off this list this week. I paid for and sent in my handle for a 24mm ZT4. I also sent in a handle from TanZ to TNS for a knotting service. Once I get that back I will get a better idea if I want to send in those two Grizzly Bay handles or just sell them.

I have one tub kill so far and working on killing my tub of Catie's Bubbles Tactical Support. It's been a long time since I have used the same soap and splash for multiple days in a row. This was the first solid week of using only that soap and splash. Shaving twice a day really helps and I can see the dent in it growing. I'm on a sort of soap-buying ban until I kill a few more tubs. I am only buying soaps I love that they don't make anymore (if one pops up on BST) or a release that is limited and has to gain my interest.

Almost killed my first PAA Cube. But I have two more in my backup bin. I also have quite a few backup pucks of soaps I liked/loved and FOMO got the better of me. I even have two backup pucks of some of my soaps. I need to go through these and sell some of them and stop being lazy.

I'm also considering not going the straight razor route and just sticking with my feather shavette.

I have a few items I want to get for 2023:

-Max Sprecher straight razor
-Mozingo ZT4 24mm knotting service
-TNS custom probably M4 & send in a handles for ether L4 and or H4 fan.
-Catie's Bubbles X splash, V & X backup pucks
-WK Vor V

Lastly, maybe buy the SV limited edition Shaving Brush Arlecchino

Kill List

-Talbot Winter Refraction

 

[flask28]

Almost killed my first PAA Cube. But I have two more in my backup bin. I also have quite a few backup pucks of soaps I liked/loved and FOMO got the better of me. I even have two backup pucks of some of my soaps. I need to go through these and sell some of them and stop being lazy.

 

[NomadicDave]

Face Shave

Razor: Masamune
Blade: Feather (2)
Brush: SV 2.0 Faux Horn
Soap: Catie’s Bubbles Tactical Support

For the price these SV brushes are killer. I'm very happy with this purchase and highly recommend them.

Head Shave

Razor: Masamune
Blade: Feather (3)
Brush: TNS Gold Nugget M2
Soap: Catie’s Bubbles Tactical Support

Every time I think about letting go of this brush I use it and am reminded why I like it so much. It's soft with zero gel, loads + releases the soap with ease, and is super dense. Milton has some kind of Voodo brush-making skills.

This is one of my tub killer brushes as it's super dense and eats a lot of soap. Which for someone like me that has ton of soap this is a good thing.

 

[NomadicDave]

Face Shave

Razor: Blackbird Ti
Blade: Astra SP (1)
Brush: Trotter T1
Soap: Catie’s Bubbles Tactical Support

I really love this Totter brush and need to get another one soon. Paul does some amazing work. This brush is honestly only getting better the more I use it. Another killer brush for the price. It's brushes like these that make me wonder if I should sell some of my more expensive ones.

Head Shave

Razor: Blackbird Ti
Blade: Astra SP (2)
Brush: DG B14
Soap: Catie’s Bubbles Tactical Support

Needed a luxurious head shave tonight and this setup delivered it. This is a new B14 added to my den I got by trading my Illusive B15. I loved that B15 but I also like to help others and the person was looking for that shape and I have another Illusive DG pour in a B14. But I already miss that B15 it was my goat B15. I'm hoping the other two B15s I have become just as soft with more use.

I love these batches of hair as they have a luxurious feel and quality to them on both my face and head. Varlets, TNS, and Mozingo are also in this category. But man My Trotter and SV brushes are right on the heels of these brushes for luxurious feel and are quit the bit cheaper. It really makes me question value of the brushes. Just some random thoughts I have had on my mind the last few days.

 

[NomadicDave]

Face Shave

Razor: WR2 1.55
Blade: Astra SP (3)
Brush: DG B15
Soap: Catie’s Bubbles Tactical Support

This B15 is breaking in very nicely. I love this bright colorful pour. I might be in the minority but I really love B15 just as much as I love B14.

Head Shave

Razor: Masamune
Blade: Feather (1)
Brush: TanZ 26mm HMW
Soap: Catie’s Bubbles Tactical Support

This TanZ brush is stunning and luxuriously soft. First use with this brush, it has way less backbone than I was expecting. I need to put it against my B13s and SV 2.0 Faux Horn. Those two brushes have the least amount of backbone that I enjoy. So I'm curious if this TanZ HMW is on par with them or maybe less backbone. I know it is almost at that line where I would not enjoy it from being to little backbone. After the first use I think this is where I would draw the line of any less backbone than this and I would get rid of the brush.

I finally killed a PAA Cube. But I have two back up Cubes.