86foxtrot shaving odyssey

[86-foxtrot]

Hello all,

I have been wetshaving 2012 and have tried a large variety of razors, blades, soaps, creams, and a few brushes (I have owned 5 brushes. Sold off 2). I was not fond of the Simpson synthetic brush (very scratchy on my face). Sold a Chubby 2 Best Badger. Loved it but couldn't justify the price.

I used to shave 2-3 times a week for years. Nowadays, it's daily shaving with a day off here and there.

Today's shave was a new to me razor. I have been very impressed with GEM razors lately. I have been shaving with DE since 2012, tried AC razors around 2014 and GEMs just recently.

Today's shave:

Gem Micromatic Clog Pruf
Gem Persona PTFE Blade (13)
Proraso Green shave cream
Thater Tortoise Boar brush
Bootlegger's Green Freeze aftershave
Aftershave revealed some minor irritation feedback

One small weeper on neck from ingrown hair.
8.0/10 shave rating

Going to take a few shaves to get acclimated to the Clog Pruf.
Overall, razor is in excellent shave for it's age. Love the TTO and how secure the blade is locked in.




As a side note, do ingrown hairs result from bad blade angle? I notice certain razors cause them much often to me that others.

 

[thombrogan]

Thank you for sharing your journal with us, @86-foxtrot ! GEM sure made some great TTOs.

 

[Balin]

Welcome to the journal section. I'm looking forward to following along with your journal.

 

[Guido75]

As a side note, do ingrown hairs result from bad blade angle? I notice certain razors cause them much often to me that others.

Not per say because than we would see many more reports of them! But a duller blade certainly causes it more in my experience as well as with razors that shave too close (the very blade forward ones) when used with a less sharper blade. And finally the pressure thing contributes as well.

Cheers and welcome to the journal section!

Guido

 

[86-foxtrot]

Today's shave was with the Shield Predator SS Gem razor. Been using it almost exclusively for 2 weeks.

Shield Predator GEM SS Razor
Gem Persona PTFE Blade (14)
Proraso Green shave cream
Paladin Pk-47 Select Badger Brush
Bootlegger's Green Freeze aftershave
Zero irritation

9.0/10 CCS. Not quite BBS today

Might be time to toss the blade. Very smooth shave but not cutting as close as it has. Then again, it isn't tugging at all. I think I'll ride it out and see if I can make it through the month.

In really impressed with the Predator. Very smooth for GEM format. Effortless everyday shaver as long as you ride the cap.

 

[cajunrph]

Welcome to the journaling section.

 

[86-foxtrot]

Today with shave #16 with current GEM Persona PFTE blade.

Shield Predator GEM SS Razor
Gem Persona PTFE Blade (16)
Proraso Green shave cream
Simpson Duke 3 Best Badger Brush
Bootlegger's Green Freeze aftershave
Zero irritation

10/10 DFS

Still very smooth and close shave. Great blade longivity.

 

[86-foxtrot]

Shave #17 with current GEM Persona PFTE blade.

Micromatic Clog Pruf
Gem Persona PTFE Blade (17)
Proraso Green shave cream
Thater Tortoise Boar Brush
Bootlegger's Green Freeze aftershave
Zero irritation

10/10 CCS
No cuts, no weepers.

Not as close of a shave as the Shield Predator from yesterday's shave but still very smooth.

 

[Eric_75]

Bootlegger's Green Freeze aftershave

Excellent choice, friend!

 

[86-foxtrot]

Excellent choice, friend!

Yea. It's great stuff. I've been using Proraso Green aftershave lotion splash for the last decade.

I wasn't crazy about Osage Rub or Skin Bracer on their own but mixed together they are something special.

 

[Eric_75]

I wasn't crazy about Osage Rub or Skin Bracer on their own but mixed together they are something special.

% agree, sir. A favorite of mine.

Thanks @OkieStubble

 

[OkieStubble]

Yea. It's great stuff. I've been using Proraso Green aftershave lotion splash for the last decade.

I wasn't crazy about Osage Rub or Skin Bracer on their own but mixed together they are something special.

If you ever get a hankering for cold & limey, Bootlegger’s Artic Lime Blast is pretty good also.

 

[Eric_75]

If you ever get a hankering for cold & limey, Bootlegger’s Artic Lime Blast is pretty good also.

That one is about to move back into my regular rotation soon.

 

[86-foxtrot]

Shave #18 with current GEM Persona PFTE blade.

Micromatic Clog Pruf
Gem Persona PTFE Blade (18)
Proraso Green shave cream
Paladin Pk-47 Select Badger Brush
Proraso Green aftershave lotion
Zero irritation

8.8/10

Blade seemed dull today. No drag. Had to reshave several areas. Going to palm strop and flip blade and try with Shield Predator for tomorrow's shave to see if that makes a difference.

 

[86-foxtrot]

Shave #19 with current GEM Persona PFTE blade.

Shield Predator SS Gem razor
Gem Persona PTFE Blade (19)
Proraso Green shave cream
Simpson Duke 3 Best Badger Brush
Proraso Green aftershave lotion
Minor feedback on AS

10/10 DFS

It seems the Clog Pruf requires too many touchups to get as close of a shave as the Predator.

Side note: fully ran out of shaving cream today. Only soaps left at this point. Sad day

 

[thombrogan]

Hoping your next shipment of shaving is everything you ever wanted without being inappropriately excessive

 

[86-foxtrot]

Hoping your next shipment of shaving is everything you ever wanted without being inappropriately excessive

It's going to be awhile before I make any purchases. Need to downside a bit of the things I rarely use.

 

[86-foxtrot]

Shave #20 with current GEM Persona PFTE blade.

Ran out of Proraso shaving cream from last shave. Tried out a sampler cream today.

Shield Predator SS Gem razor
Gem Persona PTFE Blade (20)
Reuzel shave cream (reminds me of AOS Sandelwood)
Thater Tortoise Boar Brush
Proraso Green aftershave lotion
No irritation from AS

The Reuzel shave cream would not lather. Slick and slimy. Going to have to mix it with another soap and try again.

Overall, great shave today minus the shaving cream. 9.5/10

 

[86-foxtrot]

Today I decided to bust out a DE razor. My DE razors have been neglected this past month. I have been itching to use one. Used my tried and true Ikon Shavecraft Tech.

Ikon Shavecraft Tech
Kai super stainless (9)
Frankensoap mix
Paladin Pk-47 Select Badger brush
2 pass shave with touchups on trouble spots on lower neck
Proraso Green aftershave lotion
Zero feedback on AS. Felt as thought I splashed cold water on my face.


Excellent BBS 11/10 shave if one existed.

Truely is my holy grail razor. Daily, weekly, the Tech is there to mow down my whiskers at a moments notice.

It doesn't get any better.

 

[Quaznoid]

% agree, sir. A favorite of mine.

Thanks @OkieStubble

Maybe I should mix the hideous Pinaud Special Reserve with SkinBracer. Couldn’t make it worse, could it ?