After a mammoth 5 and a half week wait for it to be delivered I got the DLC halo handle .95 razor and .72 base plate here to Ireland. I have yet to shave with them but they look really good!.
Nice review! Regarding the irritation on the lower neck, allow me to share a few thoughts as I have been very focused on solving this problem for myself for a long time now: blade choice is more important here than I originally realized; try beard mapping this area AGAIN, on closer inspection I learned the hair at the bottom of my neck changes directions almost at a right angle giving almost a U-shaped pattern on each side of the neck; finally--and I think this one is the kicker--try bullfrogging: instead of stretching your skin by tilting your chin up, relax the skin by tilting your chin down, this one was a real breakthrough for me.Initial shave on the .72 with 53 hrs growth. First impressions and all but it's a keeper. I don't really chase BBS, usually just 2 pass and touch up but this turned into a 3 pass because the razor just feels so good. Seems a wee bit more efficient than my GC 84 SB... maybe getting close to 84 OC territory. I used the 84 OC Wednesday and the smoothness is pretty close.
The alum bar is not my regular routine but using it right after showed slight irritation at a spot on my left lower neck... the Achilles Heel of my shaves as it were. It baffles me, perhaps since I shave right-handed?
Anyway, a great razor for the price. To be truthful, I've been a Razorock fan ever since I picked up the GC back in August. Started with the 68 sb but quickly learned the 84 sb was my sweet spot along with the OC baseplate to add variety now and again. I have the Timeless SS 68 sb, Rex Envoy, Fatip, Parker TTO and 3 piece, Merkur Progress and a fairly nice vintage collection and enjoy them all but when time to shave, 7 out 10 chance goes to the GC 84 sb. I just love the small, nimble head design, perfect blade placement and reveal (I can be OCD) and the smoothness but... given a few more shaves under my belt and the Lupo 72 sb may dethrone the King for my favorite daily shaver. I perceive there may be a Lupo .95 in my future also.
That's all I got... cheers
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Tried something a bit different today, and I LIKED it. 3 day growth; warm shower prior; Shave Secret oil as preshave; aerosol shave gel (Walmart Equate) - none of that unprecedented. What was different is I only shaved with the grain, particularly with the .95SB side. First pass WTG with .72OC side; second pass again WTG with .95SB. This left me with very minor cleanups that were accomplished XTG mostly with .72OC and minor ATG still with the .72OC. REALLY comfortable close shave. I'll be interested to see how long it lasts.
Very intriguing the options this DC offers - it really opens up a lot of options to explore.
A faint memory from the past ,
when my granddad placed his
razor in the drawer.
My 75 years old father told me
lately ,that his dad had only one razor ,the one that I still remember placing it in the drawer .
“-Had it for more than 50 years.
It had become a projection of his hand.”
What a bliss to have
and use a single razor.
The One !
No matter the price ,
but the One with the
highest value .
The One that gives the best shaves.
The One that has adapted to the hand and the hand knows how to tame it.
The One that will age along .
Just the One.
I still rotate few selected soaps and few selected blades.
But ,what a bliss to have found the
One !
I received a 72 stainless today from italianbarber. I will give it a spin this week and see how it shakes out. From all the positive press, I am sure I will like it. I am a fan of the GC 84P-SB, so this is probably going to work out just fine.
For the same reason I always cut a sandwich not quite on a perfect diagonal and the same reason Frank Sinatra always wore his head tilted at a slightly rakish angle.
My last few purchases from IB I've been opting for the UPS $6.99 option to try and avoid the recent USPS problems. Well worth the extra few dollars to help my stress levels.Nice review FloppyJoe ! I'm still tracking my SS Lupo .72 with Bamboo handle, ordered from IB on Tuesday 2/23,
and shipped out to me on Wednesday 2/24. The package left the "Usorda, USA" customs station, and is now in the
"regular" Chicago post office, on its way to my mailbox .... expected delivery next Tuesday. I'm pretty excited about
getting it, after reading all the glowing reviews on this thread.