Hello B&B! I have been MIA from the forums for a while after an extended acquisition period, and I wanted to provide a brief update.
I own fifteen great vintage Gillette razors and love them all. Occasionally, I use an adjustable Slim or Ranger, but recently, I have been on a stretch of using a double edge Above the Tie SSRH or an X1 Slant. I also use my stainless Blackland Vector. The ATT and Blackland razors see 95% of my shaving action, and I have four ATT double-edge base plates, and three handles. I have open and closed comb base plates for the Vector. I have 12 brushes and rotate through nearly all of them, as with my 20 soaps. I have a deep selection of double-edge blades, but recently, I have only used a Gillette 7 O'Clock until that supply is finished. The 7 O'Clock is a perfectly suitable blade, and I use them as long as possible. Only three or four shaves before I am not in love with them. I use Feather Super blades in my single-edge razors and get at least a dozen shaves per blade before I get tired of the performance. Maybe more, since I don't keep track. I have a lot of Saponificio Varesino soaps with the corresponding aftershave, some Barrister & Mann with aftershave, a few DR Harris soaps and aftershaves, Grooming Department with aftershaves, Mitchell's Wool Fat (old recipe) and some croap with a nice Captain's Choice copper bowl. I do a good job of rotating through my soap, but my go-to's are the SV, Barrister & Mann, and Grooming Department soaps and aftershaves.
My brushes are mostly badger with a boar, mixed boar, and one synthetic. The synthetic is my travel brush, and it isn't anything to write home about, but it gets the job done. My badgers are a mix of Rudy Vey, Shavemac, Semogue, and Simpsons. My favorite brushes are the Rudy Vey B&B members Persian jar with a Shavemac knot, my Simpsons Manchurian Colonel, another Rudy Vey flat top, and all of the Semogue brushes.
My routine consists of soaking my brush in hot water while I shower and running a small amount of hot water over the day's soap to help it bloom. I pour off the water from the soap, shake out the brush a bit, and load directly from the puck before face lathering. I am a "blade buffer" and do a single pass. My shaves are always good, sometimes great, although my neck requires a little extra attention because of hair growth patterns. I have learned that trying to achieve a BBS shave creates irritation, and I go for an acceptable shave that is nearly BBS on most of my face. Lately, I have shaved daily for short stretches since my girlfriend doesn't like stubble, but most of the time, I am every other day, give or take.
My fragrance selection is around 30 bottles, give or take, and I use them most days. Occasionally, I get compliments, and hands down, my most complimented fragrance is Parfum de Marly Herod. Some women have commented that they don't like fragrances on men, but my girlfriend does, and that is all I care about. I enjoy the selection very much!
I haven't posted on the forum in a few months since I am quite happy with what I have, and my supply will last me several years or more. I will try to use my vintage Gillette razors more, and I do like them a lot. But the heavier ATT razors and the lighter single-edge Vector are wonderful. I have zero regrets about what I purchased; having the selection at hand is comforting.
I will continue using the tools I have and enjoying my shaving and the selection at hand, and I probably won't be checking in here all that much. While I enjoy wet shaving and researching different options, I have a large selection (for me!), and I am not compelled to acquire anything more. I will note that my Barrister & Mann soaps seem to have a quicker burn rate than my other soap options, and I will likely replace them when they run out.
Happy shaves, and Happy New Year! I included some teaser pictures of my collection.
I own fifteen great vintage Gillette razors and love them all. Occasionally, I use an adjustable Slim or Ranger, but recently, I have been on a stretch of using a double edge Above the Tie SSRH or an X1 Slant. I also use my stainless Blackland Vector. The ATT and Blackland razors see 95% of my shaving action, and I have four ATT double-edge base plates, and three handles. I have open and closed comb base plates for the Vector. I have 12 brushes and rotate through nearly all of them, as with my 20 soaps. I have a deep selection of double-edge blades, but recently, I have only used a Gillette 7 O'Clock until that supply is finished. The 7 O'Clock is a perfectly suitable blade, and I use them as long as possible. Only three or four shaves before I am not in love with them. I use Feather Super blades in my single-edge razors and get at least a dozen shaves per blade before I get tired of the performance. Maybe more, since I don't keep track. I have a lot of Saponificio Varesino soaps with the corresponding aftershave, some Barrister & Mann with aftershave, a few DR Harris soaps and aftershaves, Grooming Department with aftershaves, Mitchell's Wool Fat (old recipe) and some croap with a nice Captain's Choice copper bowl. I do a good job of rotating through my soap, but my go-to's are the SV, Barrister & Mann, and Grooming Department soaps and aftershaves.
My brushes are mostly badger with a boar, mixed boar, and one synthetic. The synthetic is my travel brush, and it isn't anything to write home about, but it gets the job done. My badgers are a mix of Rudy Vey, Shavemac, Semogue, and Simpsons. My favorite brushes are the Rudy Vey B&B members Persian jar with a Shavemac knot, my Simpsons Manchurian Colonel, another Rudy Vey flat top, and all of the Semogue brushes.
My routine consists of soaking my brush in hot water while I shower and running a small amount of hot water over the day's soap to help it bloom. I pour off the water from the soap, shake out the brush a bit, and load directly from the puck before face lathering. I am a "blade buffer" and do a single pass. My shaves are always good, sometimes great, although my neck requires a little extra attention because of hair growth patterns. I have learned that trying to achieve a BBS shave creates irritation, and I go for an acceptable shave that is nearly BBS on most of my face. Lately, I have shaved daily for short stretches since my girlfriend doesn't like stubble, but most of the time, I am every other day, give or take.
My fragrance selection is around 30 bottles, give or take, and I use them most days. Occasionally, I get compliments, and hands down, my most complimented fragrance is Parfum de Marly Herod. Some women have commented that they don't like fragrances on men, but my girlfriend does, and that is all I care about. I enjoy the selection very much!
I haven't posted on the forum in a few months since I am quite happy with what I have, and my supply will last me several years or more. I will try to use my vintage Gillette razors more, and I do like them a lot. But the heavier ATT razors and the lighter single-edge Vector are wonderful. I have zero regrets about what I purchased; having the selection at hand is comforting.
I will continue using the tools I have and enjoying my shaving and the selection at hand, and I probably won't be checking in here all that much. While I enjoy wet shaving and researching different options, I have a large selection (for me!), and I am not compelled to acquire anything more. I will note that my Barrister & Mann soaps seem to have a quicker burn rate than my other soap options, and I will likely replace them when they run out.
Happy shaves, and Happy New Year! I included some teaser pictures of my collection.
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