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NomadicDave's Shaving Journey

Razor: 1955 Gillette Red Tip
Brush: DG Fae B9A
Soap: WK EROE

I like this scent and WK in general is one of my favorites. I'm using only vintage razors this week to give them some love. This B9A is fantastic. The Red Tip did a great job at being smooth for this DFS. Best shave of the year so far lol.
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Razor: Gillette Executive Fatboy
Brush: Trotter T1 & TNS L4
Soap: WK Rebelle

Another WK banger! This Executive Fatboy was smooth as glass on my head.

Finally had the opportunity to put these two fantastic brushes against each other. The L4 won for my tastes but not by much. I’d buy another of both. It's crazy from a price point at how close the T1 was to the L4 in this matchup.

I got to give it to Trotter makes some gorgeous brushes.
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Face Shave

Razor: Gillette New Short Comb
Blade: Astra SP
Brush: DG Spooky B15
Soap: WK Entropy Man

I forgot that this razor demands a light touch. She reminded me a few times. Love this scent and the B15 is fantastic. WK is such a fantastic soap base I did not even realize it until I took this picture this one is their Vegan formula. I know most people don't seem to really like the DG B15 but I find it on par with my B14s.

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Head Shave

Razor: WR2 1.55
Blade: Astra SP
Brush: Sawdust Creations Boti NC
Soap: GD English Lavender

Finally in the Wolfman Club! Great relaxing head shave. The WR2 1.55 is crazy smooth and beyond efficient. English Lavender is just beautiful. I needed a really relaxing head shave today. Life has been a bit crazy and this setup hit the mark.

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Face shave

Razor: WR2 1.55
Blade: Astra SP
Brush: V&C + HOM SMASH VC02
Soap: 345 Soap Co Rhumpkin

I had to re-visit Rhumpkin today and man it's a great scent! Great soap at a great price. Based on how well 345 performed today, I decided I would go pick up their "Fleet Street Pie Shop", which is supposed to be a barbershop with a spin with the addition of apple pie. Well, I love apple pit and barbershop scents I figure why not when it is on sale. 5.8oz of it for $14 is hard to beat.

I swear this VC02 is not just stunning to look at. It has to be one of my best-looking brushes if not the best. This knot is really starting to be a competitive knot even compared to the legendary DG B14, B13, and B15. Maybe I will add another V&C brush in the future.

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Head Shave

Razor: WR2 1.55
Blade: Astra SP
Brush: TNS M1
Soap: Sterling Christmas Eve

Fantastic head shave tonight. This is my only Sterling soap and I love the scent. I also picked up another puck of this and the splash (was missing the splash). Both are on sale as well as that 345 soap from above. Got the Sterling Christmas Eve for $11 on "The Shave Supply", at that price I had to pick up a tub of it.

I know a lot of people say the TNS M1 is too dense for them but I freaking love it!!! I want another one, It's a great knot. It is a luxurious feeling, has great flow-through, does not hog lather, easy to load soap.

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Face Shave

Razor: WR2 1.55
Brush: TNS H4
Soap: GD Le Tabac

Grooming Department is an exceptional soap that creates a beautiful lather. It leaves my face supple and hydrated. I love this H4 brush! I really might get another H4 from Turn-N-Shave. I can't get over how great of a knot this and my L4 are.

GD soap is becoming a top contender in my Den and I would as of today easily say it is one of the top 3 in my Den.

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Head Shave


Razor: WR2 1.55
Brush: Mozingo ZT4
Soap: Grooming Department Ketoret

Wow, this not only is a banger scent the lather is creamy and dense. It felt very slick and hydrating. The splash is a beautiful way to finish this luxurious head shave.

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Face Shave

Razor: WR2 1.55
Brush: Mozingo ZT4
Soap: HOM Sonder

With the weather in SoCal, I needed a soap to brighten up the day.

Still breaking this ZT4 in. Can't wait to see how it does with another few shaves under it's belt.

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Head Shave

Razor: WSC Winning Razor
Brush: DG Spooky B15
Soap: DG Contemplation

A nice green scent that reminds me of spring and summer. The hardware was flawless on this head shave. Trying to break this B15 a bit more to see how it evolves compared to my illusive B15.

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Razor: Masamune
Blade: Astra SP (1)
Brush: DG Poison Pond B11
Soap: Zingari Man The Merchant

My first time using ZM and this is a killer scent. I love using the B11 as it's a well-rounded brush. Great head shave today. I can see myself adding a few more SM soaps to my den. I really liked how slick this soap was and it came together so quickly.

I love using the B11 and this one has a fantastic colorway. B11 is soft, mid backbone, and has great flow-through. The Masamune is great to use when I want an efficient yet smooth head shave. Lately, I have had a few nicks so I wanted to give my head a rest. Shaved off about 40 hours' worth of growth with ease.

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2023 Goals Update

We are only a week into 2023 and I have already crossed a few easy items off the list. The big one was the LE SV brush as it was on the pricey side. I have reached out to Milton at TNS and will be sending him the two Grizzly Bay handles I own to have the V17 knot taken out and put in two of his hand-tied knots.

This is something that has been on my mind but not on my goal list. I love the two handles but both knots feel floppy to me. Still waiting on my handle to come in to send off for a 24mm ZT4. I now own a 28mm ZT4 and I am pretty impressed with it thus far after only 2-3 uses.

I'm also considering not going the straight razor route and just sticking with my feather shavette.

I have a few items I want to get for 2023:

-Max Sprecher straight razor
-Mozingo ZT4 24mm knotting service
-TNS custom probably M4 & send in a handle for ether L4 and or H4 fan.
-Catie's Bubbles X splash, V & X backup pucks
-WK Vor V

Lastly, maybe buy the SV limited edition Shaving Brush Arlecchino
 
Razor: Masamune OC
Blade: Astra SP (2)
Brush: DG Illusive B14
Soap: Macduff’s Christmas Cabin

This is a banger scent and I love how creamy and slick the lather is. The B14 made it a luxurious shave.
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Head shave
Razor: WR2 1.55
Blade: Astra SP (1)
Brush: DG Cold B14
Soap: Macduff’s Spring Cabin

Another banger in the Cabin Series! I needed this beautiful scent on this rainy day in SoCal. This was a used Spring Cabin set I bought and I can't believe how good this scent was tonight!!! The WR2 1.55 just glided right over my dome for a seriously close shave with ease.

I really should start tossing my blades more often after the third use. Especially because I use the same blade for my head and face. So 3 uses for me is probably more like 4-5 face shaves. Trying to deiced if it's time to sell this DG Cold B14. I really enjoy it and love the look of it. But I also know someone who wants to try the B14 and likes this pour. The easiest decisions are often the hardest for me.
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Face Shave
Razor: Blackbird Ti OC
Blade: Astra SP (3)
Brush: The Varlet 27mm XD
Soap: Macduff’s Haunted Cabin

The Blackbird Ti with the OC plate is like a Pit Viper snake just waiting to strike. A lovely shave today.

Wow, the OC plate really takes the Blackbird Ti up a few notches on the aggressive side. I am happy I have the OC plate but I need more practice with it. The Varlet is a beautiful brush my only complaint is it feels a tad small. But geez is it just a pleasure to use it and it is a top three brush in my den.
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Razor: WR2 1.55
Blade: Astra SP (2)
Brush: SV 2.0 Faux Horn
Soap: Macduff’s Christmas Tree

Love this last-minute release by Macduff’s. The SV brush was nice out the gate and can whip up a dense lather. I also realize now that I should not have used my WR2 1.55 after using the Blackbird Ti OC. My skin was a little upset at me for doing that. Two-pass BBS though.

The SV brush is very nice! Supersoft, low backbone, yet still builds and releases lather with ease. It might be a hair on the low side backbone-wise for my perfect brush. But hey it was the first use. It's also a heft brush and I was not expecting that one bit. For its price, I am shocked at how good and beautiful it is!!!
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Face Shave

Razor: Henson
Blade: Astra SP (3)
Brush: DG BOK B9A+
Soap: Macduff’s Bad Santa

Bold and banging!! Love this boozy Santa scent and the B9A+ is incredible.
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Head Shave


Razor: Henson
Blade: Feather (1)
Brush: SV Faux Horn
Soap: Talbot Winter Refraction

I love this scent and the Henson paired with a feather blade got me a BBS head shave. These SV brushes are pretty killer for the price. I don't see them talked about often.
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Face Shave

Razor: WR2 1.55
Blade: Feather (2)
Brush: SV Faux Horn
Soap: Talbot Winter Refraction

I had to run this one back this morning. Love this scent, but won't be using a feather in the WR2 until I get more efficient with it.
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Head Shave

Razor: Masamune OC
Blade: Feather (1)
Brush: TNS H4 Hybrid
Soap: Talbot Winter Refraction

Another runback with this soap! I'm loving this H4 hybrid! I for sure want to get another TNS at this density level. The Masamune OC paired with the feather blade gave me a BBS in two passes. A very nice paring.
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Face Shave
Razor: 1966 Gillette Slim
Blade: Feather (2)
Brush: SV LE Arlecchino #10
Soap: GD Tobacco Oud

This was an incredibly smooth shave thanks to GD. This is a lovely scent and super hydrating. This LE SV brush is gorgeous and needs breaking in compared to my faux horn SV brush. I hope this SV brush breaks in a bit more as of right now it is a bit stiffer than I like. The irony would have it the faux horn is a bit too low of backbone and this one is a bit too high. But I think this will break in with use.

It's such a stunning brush!!!
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