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- #21
Thanks! Happy New Year!@RRGGMM , Thank you for the update and photos of your almost museum quality collection. Glad you are enjoying your shaving journey!
Happy Holidays!
I’m looking forward to your assessment of the Vector vs. Amakuni. I like to shave steep and don’t mind some bladefeel in an efficient razor. It would be interesting to know how those two fare in this regard.After joining GRUYERE, I made purchases before the cutoff date, even though I said I was good for a while. I do not blame B&B in the least because I can have a difficult time with restraint at this time of year, and that isn't just a shaving thing. I'll keep the rest of my neurodivergent tendencies to myself. Still, I ordered a Tatara Amakuni razor in stainless steel, a Muhle R41 in stainless steel, Barrister and Mann Le Grand Chypre and Lavanille soap, aftershave and EdP, Kai Captain and Pink blades, Acqua di Parma Barbiere soap and Colonia aftershave balm.
I tend to use one razor and a particular blade for extended periods before I switch, and during the next year, I plan to be better about putting all of my razors into rotation. As I mentioned, I already do a good job of using all my brushes and soaps. I can get an acceptable, if not a DFS, or better, from everything in my collection. Of course, I have my favorites. While I love my vintage Gillettes and get great shaves from them, I also greatly enjoy the heavier stainless steel Above the Tie razors. I also get fantastic results from my stainless Blackland Vector, which is considerably lighter, even if I need to exercise more caution.
For brushes, I prefer a lot of backbone, am fond of scritchiness, and like a lower loft and smallish knot. My softer brushes work well, and I enjoy the contrast, even if they aren't my top preference. My Simpson Colonel Manchurian Badger brush, Above the Tie X1 Slant, and 70th Anniversary Saponificio Varesino soap and aftershave could be my one-and-only forever. However, I love many other combinations equally and enjoy the variety in my shave routine. It is a lot of fun to pick and choose from so many options I love!
Other than a travel purchase of a ridiculously crappy Chinese-made razor when I left my kit at home, I have had very few bad experiences with shaving gear. There was an Art of Shaving badger brush more than a decade ago that shed hair with every use I eventually binned. I tried a Blackland Blackbird, but that didn't work for me. With the Blackbird, the effective shaving angle was so shallow that I had difficulty on some of the more angular parts of my face. I wanted that razor to work, but we didn't get along even though it was gorgeous. I like an aggressive razor, but in reality, I do well with something closer to the middle of the road. I like the Vector, but it can be lean aggressive, and I need to not be on autopilot when shaving with it. But I enjoy needing to be more engaged, and I very much love shaving with the Vector. I am excited to try the R41 and the Amakuni!
I first wet-shaved in the '70s, borrowing my grandfather's Gillette adjustable, likely a slim. I believe he had Proraso soap in a tube and a brush of an unknown brand to me. When I started shaving regularly, I used Gillette Good News disposables before getting on the cartridge escalator. My last cartridge experience ended when the handle had a battery to vibrate, and there were five blades in a cartridge. I recall paying $36 for four blades and not getting more than a few shaves from them before the pulling was excruciating. On some level, I was looking to save money, but I mostly was looking for a better shave and reduced ingrown hairs since I have a very curly beard. DE razors and wet shaving accomplished both tasks admirably. I am grateful I can afford to splurge a bit on shaving gear, and I have loved the journey over the last ~15 years. As I mentioned, my acquisition disorder has a lot more to do with my neurodivergence than enabling here on Badger & Blade! Whatever, you can't take it with you!
Just more rambling from me about my shaving experience and kit!
Of all the SE razors out there, when I stumbled on the latest offering from Tatara, it seemed like it fit into my line-up very well. I will definitely post a review once I have had a chance to use it a few times.I’m looking forward to your assessment of the Vector vs. Amakuni. I like to shave steep and don’t mind some bladefeel in an efficient razor. It would be interesting to know how those two fare in this regard.