Still in
Just received confirmation that my March purchases from Spain have arrived. MARCH!
Just received confirmation that my March purchases from Spain have arrived. MARCH!
May 2021 Gentlemanly Restraint Until Month End (GRUME)
- Thread starter FoolishMortal
- Start date
It takes longer to travel from Spain to Australia then from the Earth to the Moon but shipping is cheaper.
Still in, 12.9% complete.
Preshave: Hot washcloth
Soap: MWF
Brush: Men-U boar
Razor: GC.68 SB, Wizamet SI #6
Post-shave: Nivea Balm.
BBS face and DFS neck, but that felt a bit rough. Blades usually last me to #7, but not this one.
I find looking at my excessive stash of blades helps to keep the ADs at bay. At current burn rate, running out isn't going to happen...
Preshave: Hot washcloth
Soap: MWF
Brush: Men-U boar
Razor: GC.68 SB, Wizamet SI #6
Post-shave: Nivea Balm.
BBS face and DFS neck, but that felt a bit rough. Blades usually last me to #7, but not this one.
Plus having shiny new things keeps my little brain occupied so I don’t cave into the pressure of buying other shiny new things.
I find looking at my excessive stash of blades helps to keep the ADs at bay. At current burn rate, running out isn't going to happen...
People are living longer, you know.
If I make it to 120 and can still shave, I just might make it thru my blade stash!
Still in
Yates EH tonight, great shave
Yates EH tonight, great shave
Still in
Pre-Shave: hot water
Lather: Muhle Aloe Vera shaving stick
Razor: Merkur 34c hd
Blade: Wilkinson sword classic (1)
Brush: Simpsons Trafalgar T1
Post-shave: hot water, Styptic pencil & GFT Ecuris Skin Food
Results: Bbs, no irritation one cut. 9.5/10
Pre-Shave: hot water
Lather: Muhle Aloe Vera shaving stick
Razor: Merkur 34c hd
Blade: Wilkinson sword classic (1)
Brush: Simpsons Trafalgar T1
Post-shave: hot water, Styptic pencil & GFT Ecuris Skin Food
Results: Bbs, no irritation one cut. 9.5/10
Still in
Schick Injector Type G4 - Schick 66
Schick Injector (4)
Stirling Baker Street
Omega 10065 Boar
Pinaud Clubman
Schick Injector Type G4 - Schick 66
Schick Injector (4)
Stirling Baker Street
Omega 10065 Boar
Pinaud Clubman
Last edited:
How do you like the Schapenmelk?
Still in
Gillette New SC
RazoRock Boar
Schafmilch
Gillette New SC
RazoRock Boar
Schafmilch
I may have just discovered a way of keeping my various acquisition disorders in check. Living with a cat that has recently decided to throw up after eating anything except expensive organic cat food...My food critic kitty my start eating in to my new shaving stuff budget 
I like it, it's simple no nonsense soap. It is about medium hard, and it performs well in all categories as far as soap is concerned. The scent is a very light cologne type, also very nice.
Owen Bawn
Garden party cupcake scented
A new Gillette Silver Blue in the red tip Super Speed
Simpsons M7 synthetic
Williams Mug Soap
Booster Island Bay Rum
Today's synthetics really make a nice lather. I'm one of those guys everybody hates- I not only get it to lather easily but I put Williams on the same level as soaps like Mitchells Wool Fat and Haslinger in terms of quality of shave. Always leaves me feeling clean. And Booster bay rum has a good clean scent as well so it all fit together nicely. Still in, and still enjoying restraint.
Simpsons M7 synthetic
Williams Mug Soap
Booster Island Bay Rum
Today's synthetics really make a nice lather. I'm one of those guys everybody hates- I not only get it to lather easily but I put Williams on the same level as soaps like Mitchells Wool Fat and Haslinger in terms of quality of shave. Always leaves me feeling clean. And Booster bay rum has a good clean scent as well so it all fit together nicely. Still in, and still enjoying restraint.
Oh No! Now I will have to put Williams on the bucket list for June!
Question: Can some type of menthol additive be added to the soap with the bloom water or in the lathering bowl?
Still In
Grandslam Double Edge Safety Razor
Astra SP
Homemade Brush
AON: Nantahala Shaving Soap
Old Spice
Another great shave. Two passes today with some touchup. My chin is firming up nicely and is not nearly as easy to irritate. Still have some problems with the area right below the corners of my mouth but I am sure that will get better with time as well.
This razor was an impulse buy last year. I wanted a razor with a wooden handle so I purchased two different ones. Both of those razors have a very similar head design and the shaves are surprisingly good. I did not know it then but I think the head is a DE89 clone?
This is an incredibly smooth shaver and gets pretty close without much work. It is super easy to find the proper angle and it does allow some deviation. The scallops hold lather well and this makes buffing easier. The handle is very long, well balanced, and it fits my hand.
When the razor was new the handle kept coming apart as I was shaving and I had to put some thread locker on the different handle pieces to keep that from happening. Finish on the razor is cheaply done, you can see there were impurities on the base plate and under the cap that were chromed over. I do not get the impression it will last forever, but it is a great razor for $15.00.
Grandslam Double Edge Safety Razor
Astra SP
Homemade Brush
AON: Nantahala Shaving Soap
Old Spice
Another great shave. Two passes today with some touchup. My chin is firming up nicely and is not nearly as easy to irritate. Still have some problems with the area right below the corners of my mouth but I am sure that will get better with time as well.
This razor was an impulse buy last year. I wanted a razor with a wooden handle so I purchased two different ones. Both of those razors have a very similar head design and the shaves are surprisingly good. I did not know it then but I think the head is a DE89 clone?
This is an incredibly smooth shaver and gets pretty close without much work. It is super easy to find the proper angle and it does allow some deviation. The scallops hold lather well and this makes buffing easier. The handle is very long, well balanced, and it fits my hand.
When the razor was new the handle kept coming apart as I was shaving and I had to put some thread locker on the different handle pieces to keep that from happening. Finish on the razor is cheaply done, you can see there were impurities on the base plate and under the cap that were chromed over. I do not get the impression it will last forever, but it is a great razor for $15.00.
Menthol drops exist. I think PAA has what is essentially a salt grater filled with menthol crystals to add menthol to your lather.
I found my propensity to browse increasing yesterday. The marketing emails with the newest soaps, sales and razors didn't help, but there was very little temptation overall.
Still in.
Wolfman WR2 1.25 SB w/German Wilkinson Sword blade
Crown Shaving Co. pre-shave
Muhle STF 23mm brush
Oz Shaving Co. Tornadic soap and splash
I'm thinking of moving to an all synthetic rotation for a week. I just can't bring myself to put away my Simpsons badgers right now. I suppose that just reinforces my restraint and helps we realize that I have a lot of good gear already.
Still in.
Wolfman WR2 1.25 SB w/German Wilkinson Sword blade
Crown Shaving Co. pre-shave
Muhle STF 23mm brush
Oz Shaving Co. Tornadic soap and splash
I'm thinking of moving to an all synthetic rotation for a week. I just can't bring myself to put away my Simpsons badgers right now. I suppose that just reinforces my restraint and helps we realize that I have a lot of good gear already.
Still in.
Well, there is is. My pride and my shame. The brush that knocked me out of the April GRUME. The stone handle is great to hold, and appeals to me even more in person than it did in the picture. But was it worth it, to be knocked out of a commitment to myself, by a mere material object? Can it ever be worth it?
Anyway, I loved using the brush. It was a bit scritchy on the ends, but that may have been partly because I misunderstood the note that the seller sent me, saying he had preloaded it or something, so I shouldn't soak it. Maybe he meant that some people will get a new brush and give it a long soak? Anyway, I just ran water on it and used it, which is not what I'll do next time.
This is my second shave with the Ralf Aust, and now that I have gotten over the initial shock about how different full hollows are, I am filled with respect for this razor. It's just so no-nonsense about giving me a great shave. And it came as close to shave-ready as any razor I've ever bought. I just put it through the pasted balsa strops, then proceeded as usual, and I'll bet I could have shaved with it without even doing that. I know that if I put "my edge" on it, it will be a bit more comfortable, but it lacked nothing in competence. Very nice razor, which gave me a feeling of full control, and made it seem easy to knock out a BBS cheeks, DFS neck shave. One little slice, on the cheek of all places, reminded me that I have to be extra-careful about angles when dealing with a full hollow.
To honor the new brush, I used my wife's favorite shave soap, which is also my most expensive shave soap. You can't tell me that's a coincidence. It was as great as ever. When I'm using these hard soaps, I am fully in their camp, thinking "yeah, who needs those fatty slick soaps, this is what shave soap should be." Then I pick up something like a Declaration Grooming, and I switch sides immediately and think it's just awesome.
Speaking of DG, I tried their liniment again, but this time I had some sense and added a ton of water to it. I'm liking it a lot better.
Well, there is is. My pride and my shame. The brush that knocked me out of the April GRUME. The stone handle is great to hold, and appeals to me even more in person than it did in the picture. But was it worth it, to be knocked out of a commitment to myself, by a mere material object? Can it ever be worth it?
Anyway, I loved using the brush. It was a bit scritchy on the ends, but that may have been partly because I misunderstood the note that the seller sent me, saying he had preloaded it or something, so I shouldn't soak it. Maybe he meant that some people will get a new brush and give it a long soak? Anyway, I just ran water on it and used it, which is not what I'll do next time.
This is my second shave with the Ralf Aust, and now that I have gotten over the initial shock about how different full hollows are, I am filled with respect for this razor. It's just so no-nonsense about giving me a great shave. And it came as close to shave-ready as any razor I've ever bought. I just put it through the pasted balsa strops, then proceeded as usual, and I'll bet I could have shaved with it without even doing that. I know that if I put "my edge" on it, it will be a bit more comfortable, but it lacked nothing in competence. Very nice razor, which gave me a feeling of full control, and made it seem easy to knock out a BBS cheeks, DFS neck shave. One little slice, on the cheek of all places, reminded me that I have to be extra-careful about angles when dealing with a full hollow.
To honor the new brush, I used my wife's favorite shave soap, which is also my most expensive shave soap. You can't tell me that's a coincidence. It was as great as ever. When I'm using these hard soaps, I am fully in their camp, thinking "yeah, who needs those fatty slick soaps, this is what shave soap should be." Then I pick up something like a Declaration Grooming, and I switch sides immediately and think it's just awesome.
Speaking of DG, I tried their liniment again, but this time I had some sense and added a ton of water to it. I'm liking it a lot better.
That's most definitely a wise strategy. I have yet to try an SV soap - they are definitely on my list.
Fifth Day of GRUME...
Still In
Pre-Shave: Warm water splashes(two minutes) and Proraso white
Feather AS-D2
Feather blade (new)
Fendrihan 24 mm synthetic brush
Proraso Green with 1 drop of peppermint essential oil
Cremo Cooling balm
Davidoff Cooling Water on hands and arms
Today I focused on my shaving angle with the Feather.
I guess I don't like the feel and sound of the Feather. I tried riding the cap, the bar and angles in-between. The shave was clean and close but not as smooth as other razors. Maybe I just like a smoother razor like the Henson AL13, Rockwell 6C (plate 2) or Jagger 89 etc. As to performance, the shave was excellent! I'll move on to a different razor tomorrow and return to the Feather as my experience and technique improves.
I added another little experiment to the equation. I have been wanting to add a cooling, menthol and refreshing element to my shave. The only cream I have that fits the bill is Prosaro green. I decided to try to boost it up a notch. I added 1 drop of peppermint essential oil in my lathering bowl before mixing the lather. WOW! the peppermint hit all the right notes! The lather felt cool and refreshing. It made the post shave cold water splashes feel even better. The Cremo Cooling balm enhanced the feeling. The clincher was one hour after shaving, there was no irritation, redness or dry feeling on my face or neck.
GRUME-on
Good Day
Still In
Pre-Shave: Warm water splashes(two minutes) and Proraso white
Feather AS-D2
Feather blade (new)
Fendrihan 24 mm synthetic brush
Proraso Green with 1 drop of peppermint essential oil
Cremo Cooling balm
Davidoff Cooling Water on hands and arms
Today I focused on my shaving angle with the Feather.
I guess I don't like the feel and sound of the Feather. I tried riding the cap, the bar and angles in-between. The shave was clean and close but not as smooth as other razors. Maybe I just like a smoother razor like the Henson AL13, Rockwell 6C (plate 2) or Jagger 89 etc. As to performance, the shave was excellent! I'll move on to a different razor tomorrow and return to the Feather as my experience and technique improves.
I added another little experiment to the equation. I have been wanting to add a cooling, menthol and refreshing element to my shave. The only cream I have that fits the bill is Prosaro green. I decided to try to boost it up a notch. I added 1 drop of peppermint essential oil in my lathering bowl before mixing the lather. WOW! the peppermint hit all the right notes! The lather felt cool and refreshing. It made the post shave cold water splashes feel even better. The Cremo Cooling balm enhanced the feeling. The clincher was one hour after shaving, there was no irritation, redness or dry feeling on my face or neck.
GRUME-on
Good Day
- Thread starter
- #200
I definitely noticed that your list was heavy on the cooling! Sounds like a great early-summer shave.
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