So it’s 2020 and I really don’t want to think (or talk) about all the bad news that we are hearing everywhere. And I know it’s been a while since I post here...literally, years.
During this time many things have happened... sadly, I stopped using my straight razors due to lack of time, for starters I became a father and now that he’s older it’s a bit easier to have some time to myself. I also got a DE razor and stared using that instead of the straight edge. Both faster and more convenient. (Not to mention a bit safer than having an open blade with a toddler)
I’ve been jumping around the DE and cartridge razors just because it’s faster. Doing some den cleaning always helps as I got rid of a bunch of tubes I didn’t use and I’ve been jumping between some Art of shaving creams and an old jar of Crabtree & Evelyn that my father gave me. I munch prefer the C&E over the AOS ones but that one is gone and both are better than the Cade from L’Occitane (at least for me). Last December I started a new job in which I have to be at work by 8am and with an hour long commute I have to leave home at 7, which means getting up at least at 6 if I want to have time to shower and have some breakfast so I was shaving at nights.
During the past weeks with everything that’s happening around the world we’ve been told to work from home (which is a whole different adventure with a toddler 24/7) but the point is that I’m already used to getting up early and with no commute...I have more time to enjoy my mornings... which also means that I ended up falling into the rabbit hole again with a bunch of new things. (Remember... I just cleaned my den)
First new addition is a marble shaving bowl, which for $20 bucks was quite a good deal... I also got myself a new jar of Taylor of Old Bond St. Mr. Taylor’s shaving cream, which is definitely my favourite scent. I also got the after shave splash and absolutely love it, now I’m jumping between that, a crown shaving Co. splash and of course, captain’s choice bay rum. Now I need a lighter scent for summer...still looking for one but I don’t want to spend more so I think I’ll just use the traditional Turkish lemon cologne.
I also got a Rockwell 6C and I can’t wait for mornings to shave...I’m truly enjoying it and falling in love with this all over again. I’m changing some of my shave routines, techniques and products. I’ve added a pre-shave oil and an alum block to my collection (which I didn’t have) and I’m finding the best blade for the 6C. So far I tried the Rockwell blade that came with the razor, Astra greens, Gillette Platinum Blue and Feather (the last three have been my go-to blades for a while)
Finally, I’m waiting for a tube of Triumph & Disaster old fashioned cream as for what I’ve read, it’s a light citrus scent which might be good for summer and a Fulton & Roark one...although the later is a foamless cream I do like their solid cologne so we’ll see how it turns out. If not, it could be the one I keep on my travel bag (which I’m not sure when I’ll use it) I’ve never used a foamless cream before so we’ll see what happens there and lastly, a Baxter of California after shave tonic.
I definitely ended up spending a bit more than what I expected but as we’ve been staying at home, I’m not spending money on anything else either so it balances out. I can’t remember where I read it, but as someone put it... the worst thing about shaving is that you can only do it once a day and now I’m definitely getting that feeling.
For now my routine has been the ToBS cream, the Rockwell on plate 4 for the first pass and on 2 for the second and third ones. Cold water splash, the alum block (only twice a week) the Kiehl’s post-shave repair gel and finally the after shave once.
During this time many things have happened... sadly, I stopped using my straight razors due to lack of time, for starters I became a father and now that he’s older it’s a bit easier to have some time to myself. I also got a DE razor and stared using that instead of the straight edge. Both faster and more convenient. (Not to mention a bit safer than having an open blade with a toddler)
I’ve been jumping around the DE and cartridge razors just because it’s faster. Doing some den cleaning always helps as I got rid of a bunch of tubes I didn’t use and I’ve been jumping between some Art of shaving creams and an old jar of Crabtree & Evelyn that my father gave me. I munch prefer the C&E over the AOS ones but that one is gone and both are better than the Cade from L’Occitane (at least for me). Last December I started a new job in which I have to be at work by 8am and with an hour long commute I have to leave home at 7, which means getting up at least at 6 if I want to have time to shower and have some breakfast so I was shaving at nights.
During the past weeks with everything that’s happening around the world we’ve been told to work from home (which is a whole different adventure with a toddler 24/7) but the point is that I’m already used to getting up early and with no commute...I have more time to enjoy my mornings... which also means that I ended up falling into the rabbit hole again with a bunch of new things. (Remember... I just cleaned my den)
First new addition is a marble shaving bowl, which for $20 bucks was quite a good deal... I also got myself a new jar of Taylor of Old Bond St. Mr. Taylor’s shaving cream, which is definitely my favourite scent. I also got the after shave splash and absolutely love it, now I’m jumping between that, a crown shaving Co. splash and of course, captain’s choice bay rum. Now I need a lighter scent for summer...still looking for one but I don’t want to spend more so I think I’ll just use the traditional Turkish lemon cologne.
I also got a Rockwell 6C and I can’t wait for mornings to shave...I’m truly enjoying it and falling in love with this all over again. I’m changing some of my shave routines, techniques and products. I’ve added a pre-shave oil and an alum block to my collection (which I didn’t have) and I’m finding the best blade for the 6C. So far I tried the Rockwell blade that came with the razor, Astra greens, Gillette Platinum Blue and Feather (the last three have been my go-to blades for a while)
Finally, I’m waiting for a tube of Triumph & Disaster old fashioned cream as for what I’ve read, it’s a light citrus scent which might be good for summer and a Fulton & Roark one...although the later is a foamless cream I do like their solid cologne so we’ll see how it turns out. If not, it could be the one I keep on my travel bag (which I’m not sure when I’ll use it) I’ve never used a foamless cream before so we’ll see what happens there and lastly, a Baxter of California after shave tonic.
I definitely ended up spending a bit more than what I expected but as we’ve been staying at home, I’m not spending money on anything else either so it balances out. I can’t remember where I read it, but as someone put it... the worst thing about shaving is that you can only do it once a day and now I’m definitely getting that feeling.
For now my routine has been the ToBS cream, the Rockwell on plate 4 for the first pass and on 2 for the second and third ones. Cold water splash, the alum block (only twice a week) the Kiehl’s post-shave repair gel and finally the after shave once.