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Deep Thoughts

Wow, I have been absent and ignoring my Journal for too long!

Another week in the books! I have started a new system, which I call the "minimal thought put into selecting gear" method. No, I don't call it that. But it basically involves using up a soap, taking a brush based on what is next in line in the brush drawer, and using a different razor every day or so. The only thought I put into this plan is what razor to use. Folks who have read my drivel over the years know I tended to the Fixed Four for a week at a time. But since before last Christmas, I have been enjoying the Use Whatever I Want method. As our buddy Dave says, Variety!

Back a few years ago, I found myself fretting over what to use and if everything was being used equally, and other silly hangups. To alleviate that, and focus on enjoying the morning's shave, I did a weekly fixed four. For me, it not only helped home in my technique, but relieved my mind of the silly stress of choosing tomorrow's set up. Seriously, in mid-shave I'd be thinking about the next shave's setup and totally missing out on the shave I was doing at that time!

With all that said, I have enjoyed many of my brushes and am not finding too many that may need to move on. Not due to the brush being inadequate, but due to my preferences for my brushes. I seem to be locking into 24mm, and more badger and synthetics. As for razors, most modern have left the razor drawer with the exceptions of some Karves, a Romulus, and a Tatara, with a Hawk maybe leaving maybe staying. But my Schicks, GEMS, and Gillettes have trimmed down to those I just love to use and get a great shave from. So this makes me happy and wanting to use them all every day!

Today was my Enders Speed Shaver with the adapter from HC&C and a Schick Proline B-20 blade, Stirling Sheep (I have a hole in the bottom but probably a couple dozen more shaves), and an AP Cashmere (26mm, bucking the pattern!) in a Trotter layered birch handle that I just love to look at!

20230208_121953.jpg
 
Wow, I have been absent and ignoring my Journal for too long!

Another week in the books! I have started a new system, which I call the "minimal thought put into selecting gear" method. No, I don't call it that. But it basically involves using up a soap, taking a brush based on what is next in line in the brush drawer, and using a different razor every day or so. The only thought I put into this plan is what razor to use. Folks who have read my drivel over the years know I tended to the Fixed Four for a week at a time. But since before last Christmas, I have been enjoying the Use Whatever I Want method. As our buddy Dave says, Variety!

Back a few years ago, I found myself fretting over what to use and if everything was being used equally, and other silly hangups. To alleviate that, and focus on enjoying the morning's shave, I did a weekly fixed four. For me, it not only helped home in my technique, but relieved my mind of the silly stress of choosing tomorrow's set up. Seriously, in mid-shave I'd be thinking about the next shave's setup and totally missing out on the shave I was doing at that time!

With all that said, I have enjoyed many of my brushes and am not finding too many that may need to move on. Not due to the brush being inadequate, but due to my preferences for my brushes. I seem to be locking into 24mm, and more badger and synthetics. As for razors, most modern have left the razor drawer with the exceptions of some Karves, a Romulus, and a Tatara, with a Hawk maybe leaving maybe staying. But my Schicks, GEMS, and Gillettes have trimmed down to those I just love to use and get a great shave from. So this makes me happy and wanting to use them all every day!

Today was my Enders Speed Shaver with the adapter from HC&C and a Schick Proline B-20 blade, Stirling Sheep (I have a hole in the bottom but probably a couple dozen more shaves), and an AP Cashmere (26mm, bucking the pattern!) in a Trotter layered birch handle that I just love to look at!

View attachment 1820878
That is a gorgeous handle!! Natures Disco Haze 😁
 

thombrogan

Lounging On The Isle Of Tugsley.
Eric, we need your brain, please!

@Jay21 wants more unscented hard soaps (as opposed to croaps and creams). The only one I could think of was Canada Shaving Soap (because MdC is has added fragrance that can be irritating and LpL might also and absorbs water unevenly if used daily). What else is there and would you recommend it?

Im a fan of Stirling Unscented With Beeswax (the only Stirling shave soap without squeakin’ lanolin), but it’s also a softish soap.

Please and thank you if you will.
 
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Jay21

Collecting wife bonus parts
Eric, we need your brain, please!

@Jay21 wants more unscented hard soaps (as opposed to croaps and creams). The only one I could think of was Canada Shaving Soap (because MdC is has added fragrance that can be irritating and LpL might also and absorbs water unevenly if used daily). What else is there and would you recommend it?

Im a fan of Stirling Unscented With Beeswax (the only Stirling shave soap without squeakin’ lanolin), but it’s also a softish soap.

Please and thank you if you will.
I was just reading about Stirling unscented with bees wax. No lanolin! I may have to order a puck.
 
@Jay21 and @thombrogan, the Canada Shaving Soap is the only hard soap I have. All the others are like Stirling, Mike's, and the rest. Some are softer but still not a cream. Vintage Williams is hard, and because of its age, it is practically unscented! I am not sure about Haslingers, it might be harder than most but not in the same category as Canada Shaving Soap. Don't think that helped much, sorry!
 

Raven Koenes

My precious!
Eric, we need your brain, please!

@Jay21 wants more unscented hard soaps (as opposed to croaps and creams). The only one I could think of was Canada Shaving Soap (because MdC is has added fragrance that can be irritating and LpL might also and absorbs water unevenly if used daily). What else is there and would you recommend it?

Im a fan of Stirling Unscented With Beeswax (the only Stirling shave soap without squeakin’ lanolin), but it’s also a softish soap.

Please and thank you if you will.
 
I over-indulged my scentless soap fixation during 2021 and 2022, and even a wee bit into 2023. Well, Since July of last year, I have been using just on "old" soap until the tub is empty AND I have tried to refrain from any more soap purchases. Here is an almost 1 year update.

There were 8 soaps purchased in 2021. Of those, 6 are now empty and the 7th is almost empty. The 8th will be around for some time and I don't plan to use it exclusively until gone. That 8th soap is the Canada Shaving Soap, and since it is a "hard" soap, it will be used in rotation once the soap drawer is down to a smaller amount of soaps!

From 2022, 6 different soaps were purchased. Of those, I donated 2 to a residential rehab facility for men trying to get sober.

And in 2023, I purchased 2 more different soaps. That was when I ran out of room in my soap drawer and counted 16 different unscented soaps!! I am pleased to report the drawer currently has 8 different soaps now, but I expect by next week I'll have used up the Zingari Man soap and will be able to delve into the 2022 purchases.

Now, of those almost 7 tubs, some will definitely be replaced. But first, I need to use up the 2022 purchases. And while not all will be replaced, all that I am using have been great soaps. I just like others more and those will be the ones I replace. Sometime this year I will sit down and read over my notes to see if my older favorites are still on the Buy More list or will some others take their place. And I need to figure out how many tubs I am comfortable having at one time.

Who knew shaving would make me so analytical?? (or is it anal only?!!)

Here is what I have been up to shave wise

IMG_2024-01-03-121025.jpgIMG_2024-01-06-135146.jpgIMG_2024-02-19-084250.jpgIMG_2024-05-16-135833.jpgIMG_2024-05-21-123741.jpg
 
Nicely done Eric! So you have used about 7 soaps in 3 years, is that correct? You are also a daily shaver so I was looking at this from a longevity point of view with roughly 3 soaps a year averaging 4 months per soaps then. That’s good information when restocking.

Cheers,

Guido
 
Nicely done Eric! So you have used about 7 soaps in 3 years, is that correct? You are also a daily shaver so I was looking at this from a longevity point of view with roughly 3 soaps a year averaging 4 months per soaps then. That’s good information when restocking.

Cheers,

Guido
I had to think about this and you are right, I am averaging 3 soaps a year. Following that math, I should not need more soap for almost 3 more years!
 

musicman1951

three-tu-tu, three-tu-tu
Eric, we need your brain, please!

@Jay21 wants more unscented hard soaps (as opposed to croaps and creams). The only one I could think of was Canada Shaving Soap (because MdC is has added fragrance that can be irritating and LpL might also and absorbs water unevenly if used daily). What else is there and would you recommend it?

Im a fan of Stirling Unscented With Beeswax (the only Stirling shave soap without squeakin’ lanolin), but it’s also a softish soap.

Please and thank you if you will.
The Stirling is good stuff. MdC Nature has no fragrance added and has been my favorite for many years. A few years back I used Wholly Kaw Bare Naked and remember it being a nice soap.
 
Wanna guess how I knew that?! Haha! I fear I am in the same boat, but the funny thing is that the more I commit to 3017ing soap the more people are gifting me soaps!!
This very thing happened to me yesterday! A good friend gifted me a tub of soap as he knew I like it so much!

IMG_2024-05-25-123447.jpg


I have an "only used 3x" tub already, but it is a favorite and I do appreciate the kindness!
 
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