JKaboom's Journey DE shaving - started September 22'

[JKaboom]

2023 GRUYERE #49 - Still in
March 2023 GRUME #23 - Still in

Date: 03.07.23
Days growth: 4

Head shaver

Razor: Schick Krona
Blade: Astra SP (3)
Brush: Parker synthetic

Pre-shave: Hot shower

Lather: Proraso white cream
Bowl: Fine Accoutrements blue/white

Passes: 2

Post Shave Routine and products:
1 - Hot rinse with microfiber towel X2
2 - Cold rinse with microfiber towel X1
3 - Alum block
4 - Cold rinse with microfiber towel X1
5 - Aftershave - Grey Flannel
6 - Balm: LEA 3in1

Time from shower on to dressed and ready: 56

NOTES:
I was about to give up on the Krona and then I realized I had only ever tried the original Schick blades. So I pulled an Astra SP from one of my other razors and used that. Wow, what a difference and I am not sure why that did not occur to me sooner... Pretty good shave except I opened up a couple blemish cuts/scrapes from my last shave.
Comfort: 8.5/10
Quality: 8.5/10
Overall: 8.5/10

 

[JKaboom]

2023 GRUYERE #49 - Still in
March 2023 GRUME #23 - Still in

Date: 03.11.23
Days growth: 4

Head shaver

Razor: Gillette Fatboy
Blade: Rapira Super Stainless
Brush: Vielong black horsehair

Pre-shave: Hot shower using Dr. Bronners Peppermint on face and head with facial scrubber

Lather: Proraso red soap
Bowl: Fine Accoutrements blue/white

Passes: 2 - 5/3

Post Shave Routine and products:
1 - Hot rinse with microfiber towel X2
2 - Cold rinse with microfiber towel X1
3 - Alum block
4 - Cold rinse with microfiber towel X1
5 - Aftershave - Clubman Whiskey Woods
6 - Balm: LEA 3in1

Time from shower on to dressed and ready: 1hr 9min - very leisurely shave.

NOTES: Just a top notch shave! I'm making a conscious effort to slow down and focus on technique. Specifically using a light touch. This is the 3rd shave on a Rapira super stainless first time trying one. It's sharp and smooth. I love the smell of the Proraso red. I like my LEA 3in1 real good, can't decide if I like that or the Nivea sensitive skin better. One small nic on my ear, no big deal. Virtually zero feedback from the alum and aftershave. A DCS/DFS+ shave!
Quality: 9.75/10
Comfort: 10/10
Overall: 9.8/10

 

[thombrogan]

Specifically using a light touch.

 

[JKaboom]

2023 GRUYERE #49 - Still in
March 2023 GRUME #23 - Still in

Date: 03.14.23
Days growth: 4

Head shaver

Razor: 1940'S Gillette Tech razor
Blade: Astra SP (4)
Brush: Parker synthetic

Pre-shave: Hot shower using baby wash on face and head.

Lather: Nivia Shave stick - face lathered

Passes: 2

Post Shave Routine and products:
1 - Hot rinse with microfiber towel X2
2 - Cold rinse with microfiber towel X1
3 - Alum block
4 - Cold rinse with microfiber towel X1
5 - Aftershave - Nivea Deep aftershave
6 - Balm: Nivea Sensitive Skin

Time from shower on to dressed and ready: Not sure, forgot to set stopwatch.

NOTES: A real nice DCS+. All Nivea software today, they perform pretty well. The Parker synthetic really lathered up the Nivea shave stick as comparted to my boar, badger, or horse brush - way nicer thicker lather! With all Nivea products, finished with a nice sport scent. Very little feedback from alum and aftershave.
Quality: 9/10
Comfort: 10/10
Overall: 9.5/10

 

[JKaboom]

023 GRUYERE #49 - Still in
March 2023 GRUME #23 - Still in

Date: 03.17.23
Days growth: 3

Head shaver

Razor: Van Der Hagen TTO
Blade: Rapira Super Stainless (4)
Brush: Parker synthetic

Pre-shave: Hot shower using Dr. Bronners Citrus on face and head with facial scrubber

Lather: Colonel Conk - Amber
Bowl: Fine Accoutrements blue/white

Passes: 4 (ridiculous)

Post Shave Routine and products:
1 - Hot rinse with microfiber towel X2
2 - Cold rinse with microfiber towel X1
3 - Alum block
4 - Cold rinse with microfiber towel X1
5 - Aftershave - Mentos Hero
6 - Balm: Nivea Sensitive skin

Time from shower on to dressed and ready:

NOTES: This shave was not very enjoyable. I needed to use a mild razor today so I chose my little used Van Der Hagen TTO with a Rapira Super Stainless (4) moved to this razor. The Colonel Conk was OKish, I think I might toss it, the lather is fairly slick but deflates quickly and the scent is very weak. I completed pass one and had a fair bit of stubble. Pass two and still stubble?? Half way through pass three and most stubble was gone but usually by now I have a very close shave. I swapped the razor out for my 1940's tech (same Rapira) and it cleaned up pretty well but the blade had in fact become dull. Dull blade with the super mild razor equaled only a SAS. I am adding a new catagory for my scoring - Enjoyment - I was rather annoyed...
Quality: 7/10
Comfort: 9/10
Enjoyment: 6/10
Total: 7.33/10 - probably the second worst shave since I started DE shaving in 09/23...

 

[thombrogan]

Hoping your next shave is all comfort, luxury, and also efficiency.

May I please ask some questions?

Is that the newer Col Conk Amber or the glycerin one?

and

probably the second worst shave since I started DE shaving in 09/23...

Are you a time traveler? Can you share the lottery drawing for tomorrow with me so I can try a puck of Col Conk Amber?

 

[JKaboom]

Hoping your next shave is all comfort, luxury, and also efficiency.

May I please ask some questions?

Is that the newer Col Conk Amber or the glycerin one?

and


Are you a time traveler? Can you share the lottery drawing for tomorrow with me so I can try a puck of Col Conk Amber?

Thank you, me too.

The Colonel Conk is glycerin based bought around October last year.

As far as being a time traveler, all i can say is maybe

 

[JKaboom]

2023 GRUYERE #49 - Still in
March 2023 GRUME #23 - Still in

Date: 03.21.23
Days growth: 4

Head shaver

Razor: 1940's Gillette Tech razor
Blade: Feather (1)
Brush: Vintage Ever Ready R40 Pure Badger - original knot

Pre-shave: Hot shower using baby wash on face and head with facial scrubber

Lather: Proraso white cream
Bowl: Fine Accoutrements blue/white

Passes: 3

Post Shave Routine and products:
1 - Hot rinse with microfiber towel X2
2 - Cold rinse with microfiber towel X1
3 - Alum block
4 - Cold rinse with microfiber towel X1
5 - Aftershave - Black Magic alcohol free
6 - Balm: Nivea Sensitive Skin

Time from shower on to dressed and ready: 53

NOTES: First time using a feather blade; I am impressed and look forward to seeing if it will go 4 or 5 good shaves like my current favorite Astra SP. Smooth, irritation free, DFS+ DCS+. No feedback from the alum or aftershave. Very pleased and very relaxing.
Quality: 9.75/10
Comfort: 10/10
Enjoyment: 10/10
Total: 9.92/10

 

[JKaboom]

2023 GRUYERE #49 - Still in
March 2023 GRUME #23 - Still in

Date: 03.24.23
Days growth: 3

Head shaver

Razor: 1940's Gillette Tech
Blade: Feather (2)
Brush: Custom Elk Antler Boar

Pre-shave: Hot shower using Dr. Bronner's Peppermint on face and head with facial scrubber

Lather: Burma Shave puck
Bowl: Burma Shave mug

Passes: 2

Post Shave Routine and products:
1 - Hot rinse with microfiber towel X2
2 - Cold rinse with microfiber towel X1
3 - Alum block
4 - Cold rinse with microfiber towel X1
5 - Aftershave - Grey Flannel EDT
6 - Balm: LEA 3in1

Time from shower on to dressed and ready: 60min.

NOTES: Second time on first feather blade that I have ever used. I am very happy, very smooth and very sharp! The Burma Shave soap is pretty good, has decent slickness and decent cushion. My boar brush worked much better than my pure badger brush that I first used with it. Easy going 2 pass shave DCS/DFS. Light feedback on right side of neck from the alum and aftershave but no big deal.
Quality: 9.5/10
Comfort: 9.5/10
Enjoyment: 9.5/10
Overall: 9.5/10

 

[JKaboom]

2023 GRUYERE #49 - Still in
March 2023 GRUME #23 - Still in

Date: 03.28.23
Days growth: 4

Head shaver

Razor: 1940's Gillette Tech Razor
Blade: Feather (3)
Brush: Vintage Ever Ready pure badger - original knot

Pre-shave: Hot shower using liquid Dual original on face and head with facial scrubber

Lather: Erasmic soap
Bowl: Fine Accoutrements blue/white

Passes: 2

Post Shave Routine and products:
1 - Hot rinse with microfiber towel X2
2 - Cold rinse with microfiber towel X1
3 - Alum block
4 - Cold rinse with microfiber towel X1
5 - Aftershave - 4711 edt
6 - Balm: Nivea sensitive skin

Time from shower on to dressed and ready: 61 min

NOTES: I added too much water to the lather so I put on the thin lather and then face lathered after reloading the brush. One small nic on the top of the ear bur no big deal. Little to no feedback from the alum or 4711. This is only the 3rd time using the Erasmic soap and realized it smells almost exactly like the 4711 so that is how today's aftershave was selected.
Quality: 9.5/10
Comfort: 9.5/10
Enjoyment: 9.0/10 due to the lather good up
Overall: 9.33/10
Very acceptable shave

 

[JKaboom]

2023 GRUYERE #49 - Still in
March 2023 GRUME #23 - Still in
Vintage April, 2023

Date: 03.30.23
Days growth: 2

Head shaver

Razor: 1940's Gillette Tech razor
Blade: Feather (4)
Brush: Parker pure badger

Pre-shave: Hot shower using Dr. Bronner's eucalyptus on face and head with facial scrubber

Lather: Proraso green
Bowl: Fine Accoutrements blue/white

Passes: 1

Post Shave Routine and products:
1 - Hot rinse with microfiber towel X2
2 - Cold rinse with microfiber towel X1
3 - Alum block
4 - Cold rinse with microfiber towel X1
5 - Aftershave - Osage rub
6 - Balm: LEA 3in1

Time from shower on to dressed and ready: 39 min

NOTES: I needed a quick invigorating shave. One nice quick pass with all menthoaled products (eucalyptus kind of but not really). A DCS/DFS, very pleased. I'm usually a 3 or 4 day shaver but needed to shave today for important personal business.
Quality: 9.75/10
Comfort: 10/10
Enjoyment: 10/10

From America's mountain

 

[flask28]

View attachment 1629783

2023 GRUYERE #49 - Still in
March 2023 GRUME #23 - Still in
Vintage April, 2023

Date: 03.30.23
Days growth: 2

Head shaver

Razor: 1940's Gillette Tech razor
Blade: Feather (4)
Brush: Parker pure badger

Pre-shave: Hot shower using Dr. Bronner's eucalyptus on face and head with facial scrubber

Lather: Proraso green
Bowl: Fine Accoutrements blue/white

Passes: 1

Post Shave Routine and products:
1 - Hot rinse with microfiber towel X2
2 - Cold rinse with microfiber towel X1
3 - Alum block
4 - Cold rinse with microfiber towel X1
5 - Aftershave - Osage rub
6 - Balm: LEA 3in1

Time from shower on to dressed and ready: 39 min

NOTES: I needed a quick invigorating shave. One nice quick pass with all menthoaled products (eucalyptus kind of but not really). A DCS/DFS, very pleased. I'm usually a 3 or 4 day shaver but needed to shave today for important personal business.
Quality: 9.75/10
Comfort: 10/10
Enjoyment: 10/10

From America's mountain

View attachment 1629784

Wow! Great photo!

 

[lasta]

Yes beautiful photo.

Of that beautiful Tech!

 

[JKaboom]

Wow! Great photo!

Thank you

 

[JKaboom]

Wow! Great photo!

Thank you

 

[JKaboom]

Yes beautiful photo.

Of that beautiful Tech!

Thank you - the tech is turning out to be my favorite razor. It's my benchmark razor when I'm trying new blades. I have a fat boy and a super speed that are also great but for whatever reason I like the tech better.

I have a slim that was free as part of a throwback Burma shave bundle but it's in an experiment right now. I scrubbed it real good with dawn and now for about 6 weeks it's been fully submerged in a jar if wd40. A lit of sediment is at the bottom now. My guess is it's from the crud inside. I'm planning to pull it this weekend and clean it with dawn again. I'll let you all know how it turns out.

 

[lasta]

Being my first DE razor, the slim is of very high sentimental value.

But...Techs are perfect. How can you beat that??

BTW, bathing in WD-40? That's pretty extreme man. If you plan on buying a lot of razors, or wear glasses, an ultrasonic cleaner might be worthwhile. It frees up dried soapscum like nothing. Even the stuff inside hollowed handles.

 

[JKaboom]

Being my first DE razor, the slim is of very high sentimental value.

But...Techs are perfect. How can you beat that??

BTW, bathing in WD-40? That's pretty extreme man. If you plan on buying a lot of razors, or wear glasses, an ultrasonic cleaner might be worthwhile. It frees up dried soapscum like nothing. Even the stuff inside hollowed handles.

Thanks @lasta do you have an ultrasonic cleaner? I'm looking at them but it seems unless you spend a lot, it's not so good?

 

[Ligeti]

What a joy to catch up on your journal and your pictures!

 

[JKaboom]

What a joy to catch up on your journal and your pictures!

Wow, thanks man!