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NomadicDave's Shaving Journey

You are kind of a shaving superhero @NomadicDave. Dual Daily Shaves - you and I have a 4:1 shaving ratio difference at least. 6:1 sometimes :drool:
It's pretty crazy when I think about that I typically shave both my face and head seven days a week. It's nice in a way because I get to use every brush I own in a two week period. It also helps me with these tub kills lol.
 
Face Shave

Razor: Masamune
Blade: Feather (2)
Brush: DG B11
Soap: Catie’s Bubbles Tactical Support

The Masamune is such a great daily driver even with a sharper blade like a feather. I really enjoy B11 as a well rounded brush. I'm starting to see the bottom of this soap!
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Head Shave

Razor: Masamune
Blade: Feather (3)
Brush: The Varlet 29mm XD
Soap: Catie’s Bubbles Tactical Support

This is only my second use with this 29mm Varlet XD. I'm still unsure what to think of it. I like it, even a bit more than my 27mm XD. But I guess I was expecting to have my mind blown away with this brush but so far not so much. That is not to say it is not a great brush. It is but I guess I got caught in the hype I hear about the 29mm Varlets.
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Face Shave

Razor: WR2 1.55
Blade: Astra SP (1)
Brush: TNS H4
Soap: Catie’s Bubbles Tactical Support

Man, I really love dense, soft knots and H4 is incredible. This is in a hybrid shape and is perfect for me. Next, I have to try a fan shape. I'm curious how the fan shape vs hybrid stacks up as far as backbone and splay on these TNS brushes. There is a fine line between soft, dense knots and just floppy to me. I currently have a handle at TNS for a hand tied medium density fan shape knot. This way I can compare it to this H4 hybrid to see if there is a real noticeable difference. Maybe I'm starting to realize I prefer denser soft knots.
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Head Shave

Razor: WR2 1.55
Blade: Astra SP (2)
Brush: TanZ HMW & DG B13
Soap: Catie’s Bubbles Tactical Support

Decided to do a side-by-side to compare the TanZ & B13. Both have very little gel, are super soft, have a low backbone, and have a luxurious cloud-like feel. The B13 has a bit more backbone and is denser. Both are easy to load and release lather easily.
This was a very nice luxurious head shave.

The TanZ handle on this 28mm HMW is stunning and it color shifts in the light. This HMW is as far as I would go in the low-backbone department. Any lower and it could become floppy at this density. Ryan at TanZ is such a great guy to work with for making a custom brush and how incredible this brush turned out I'm surprised at how affordable his work is.

I really can't say enough great things about this WR2 1.55, it's just insanely smooth, looks stunning, great weight, and is very efficient. It's hands down my best razor.

This tub is going to be killed soon!!! I have been focusing on it for maybe two weeks. But I face and head shave almost everyday if not everyday. So That helps with killing a tub. Also my dense knots really where the MVP's so far at just taking that soap away. I might kill this one in another few weeks. I also did buy this tub used so it was not brand new but was nearly full when I got it.
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Razor: Masamune
Blade: Astra SP (3)
Brush: TNS L4 & The Varlet 27mm XD
Soap: Catie’s Bubbles Tactical Support

Decided it was time for the L4 & 27mm XD to be compared. Both are great brushes and the L4 is in a hybrid shape.

The Varlet 27mm XD loaded and released soap a hair easier. The TNS L4 is denser and to my surprise splayed a bit easier. Both are very soft and have great flow through.

Both are exceptional brushes and feel great in the hand and on the face.
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Razor: Blackbird Ti
Blade: Gillette Nacet (1)
Brush: V&C VC01
Soap: DG Scrooge

Wow, first off this soap is a banger!!! I forgot how great the DG base is. This is my first time using a Gillette Nacet blade and it's smooth. This three-band brush by V&C gets better with each use.

I have been using only Catie's Bubbles Tactical Support for I think it was 12 days in a row. I put a good dent in that soap but man I enjoy the ability to mix it up and have some great soaps to choose from. This Scrooge set is one I splurged on, I'm still trying not to buy any new soaps until I kill more tubs of soaps.

I have also decided to start selling some of my backup pucks as I won't be needing them anytime soon. I bought too many backup soaps thinking I would not be able to get those soaps again but that is just not true typically unless it's a special release.

I'm also starting to ponder what is a good number of soaps to have in rotation that also allows me to pick up a few new releases yet is not so much it becomes overwhelming. I do have a pretty big collection of soaps, but most are used so it will make killing some of them a bit faster/easier.
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Razor: Blackbird Ti
Blade: Gillette Nacet (2)
Brush: Wald Goldvein A1
Soap: B&M Lyssa

Another banger of a scent. I bought Lyssa used as it's not made anymore and I love this scent. This Wald is stunning and by far the best synthetic brush on the market in my opinion.

It feels really good switching up my soaps today!
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Face Shave

HAGS Week Coming In Hot!!!!

Razor: Masamune
Blade: Gillette Nacet (3)
Brush: Mozingo ZT3
Soap: HAGS Dance Macabre

This lather came together very quickly to a nice dense cream. I really enjoy HAGS soaps and the labels are dope. Donkey base for this lovely soap. This is a good scent but I would not get it again.
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Head Shave

Razor: Masamune
Blade: Gillette Nacet (4)
Brush: TanZ HMW
Soap: HAGS Resurrection

Another banger from HAGS!!! This is their Guinness base and it's simply amazing. It comes together very quickly to a creamy dense luxurious lather. The TanZ HMW is a cloud of softness and this handle is perfect! I would buy this scent again.
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Face Shave

Razor: WR2 1.55
Blade: Gillette Nacet (5)
Brush: DG B15
Soap: HAGS Voodoo

Another great soap from HAGS. I have been really impressed by every HAGS base I have tried. So far I have tried the Vegan, Donkey, and Guinness. Most of the scents are dupes of different colognes. Which I don't mind, it's not super unique but at the same time I think it works well. Incredible soap bases, dope as heck labels, and nice scents make it an overall great package.
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Head Shave

Razor: Blackbird Ti
Blade: Astra SP (2)
Brush: SV Arlecchino LE #10
Soap: B&M Hallows

Decided to switch back to Hallows I need to just get it over with and kill this tub. There is not much left in it. It has been nice to take a few days off from CB Tactical Support soap and mix things up. As soon as Hollows is killed its right back to CB.

I really enjoy using this SV brush. It's a shame that they don't offer it in other handles. Maybe there will be another LE one this year and I'll snag one of them.
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Face Shave

Razor: Blackbird Ti
Blade: Astra SP (3)
Brush: The Varlet 29mm XD
Soap: B&M Hallows

Just a nice luxurious shave.
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Head Shave

Razor: WSC Winning Razor
Blade: Feather (1)
Brush: Trotter T1
Soap: B&M Hallows

A few more shaves and this tub will be dead. This Trotter performs as exceptionally as my top-tier brushes.
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Face Shave
Razor: Masamune
Blade: Feather (2)
Brush: SV 2.0 Faux Horn
Soap: B&M Hallows

Second tub kill of 2023! I'm on a roll with killing tubs this year. The more I use my SV brushes the more I appreciate just how good they are and just a stunning brush to look at.
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Head Shave

Razor: Henson
Blade: Feather (3)
Brush: DG Sombre Hour B15
Soap: Catie’s Bubbles Tactical Support

New DG Sombre Hour B15 in my den!!! This one has some unique marks in the colorway. Sombre Hour was a colorway I have looked for and gave up on being able to get one. Then this one in a B15 fell in my lap. B14/B15 probably being my favorite knots to date.

Tactical Support is the next target on my kill list!
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2023 Goals Update

Another goal crossed off this list this week. I paid for and sent in my handle for a 24mm ZT4. I also sent in a handle from TanZ to TNS for a knotting service. Once I get that back I will get a better idea if I want to send in those two Grizzly Bay handles or just sell them.

Well I added another tub to my kill list. I also killed a PAA Cube. I went through my backup pucks of soap last weekend. Oof I had 40 backup soaps, I had no clue I had that many. My thing has been when I buy a soap if I like it I buy a backup thinking it would save me time and money or somehow I would not be able to buy that soap again.

The reality is for the most part you can always get that soap again unless it's a limited release. Plus when you have a big collection of soaps you don't use just one that fast because I rotate them. Well I sold 7-8 this week. It's a good start is the way I look at it. I'll keep slowly working on selling some more. Some of my backups I plan to keep because they are not made anymore.

Still trying to hold off on new soaps till I kill a few more tubs. Oh and be sheer luck I added another DG B15 to my collection. This is in the Sombre Hour pour which I was looking for and gave up. This one landed in my lap. I am now considering adding another Trotter T1, custom Varlet, Wald Stratos A1 Bulb, and maybe if a Wald J2 pops up to my collection. The more I use my Trotter the more I love it and thinking of getting another in a different colorway. If I can I'm considering getting on the waiting list for a Varlet, I really want to try a 30mm knot from Aldo. I love my Wald Goldvien A1 so much I kind of want a second one in the stratos shape. Lastly Wald J2 has intrigued me for a bit. I hear it and Leo's compared to a Varlet HD.

I say all this yet I still some how think and want to eventually pick 15-20 brushes to keep in my rotation. Yet here I am talking about adding more when I have 33 (I think) now. My problem is I found very specific knots from different artisans that well I love each for their very unique and different characteristics. Then I buy a few in different looking handles to get a variety. Well when you do that the collection gets fairly big rather quickly.

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 handles 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

Kill List

-Talbot Winter Refraction
-PAA Cube
-B&M Hallows
 
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Razor: 1959 Gillette Executive Fatboy
Blade: Gillette Nacet (3)
Brush: Trotter w/a L3 Knot
Soap: Catie’s Bubbles Tactical Support

I love this TNS L3 in a Trotter handle. This Executive Fatboy is simply stunning and gave me a smooth shave. Maybe this year I will send it in for a revamp.
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Just realized I missed a few days in the journal.

Face Shave
Razor: WR2 1.55
Blade: Gillette Nacet (1)
Brush: Mozingo ZT4
Soap: Catie’s Bubbles Tactical Support

What a lovely shave even though I'm feeling a bit under the weather today. The ZT4 is such a great brush. Just decided to order 100 Gillette Nacet blades on Amazon. I like them that much.
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Head Shave
Razor: WR2 1.55
Blade: Gillette Nacet (2)
Brush: DG Sombre Hour B15
Soap: Catie’s Bubbles Tactical Support

This is now my Goat B15. I still do miss my Illusive B15, B15/B14 being my top favorite knot and Illusive pour being one of my favorite. The Sombre Hour B15 is now my best B15 I have. The Spooky and Cotton Candy are killer, it's just they have less use to still need more breaking in.

I'm thankful and lucky to have been able to have so many great brushes in my den.
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Head Shave
Razor: 1959 Gillette Executive Fatboy
Blade: Gillette Nacet (4)
Brush: Mozingo ZT4
Soap: Catie’s Bubbles Tactical Support

A smooth head shave with this setup. The more I use the ZT4 the more I enjoy it. It's on my A Team of my brush rotation. I go back and forth on keeping or selling these vintage Gillette razors I have. I really should send this one in for a revamp.
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Razor: Masamune
Blade: Feather (1)
Brush: Sawdust Creations / Boti NC
Soap: Catie’s Bubbles Tactical Support

The Masamune with a Feather blade is a beautiful combination. Smooth and it just makes the hair scream. This Sawdust Creation handle is stunning and sparkles in the light. I fitted it with a Boti NC knot, and this not is incredible for how low cost it is.
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Face Shave

Razor: WR2 1.55
Blade: Gillette Nacet (1)
Brush: The Varlet 27mm XD
Soap: Catie’s Bubbles Tactical Support

A luxurious morning shave. This Varlet and my 29mm XD are incredible brushes. I love how classic they look as well.
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Head Shave

Razor: Blackbird Ti
Blade: Gillette Nacet (3)
Brush: DG Thunderhead B8
Soap: Catie’s Bubbles Tactical Support

First time using B8 and it is a soft, perfect backbone and just a pleasure to use. I love the pour on this one as well. I'm kind of taken back at how much I enjoyed the first use on this brush. I still need more time with it to get a real review of it.
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Razor: Blackbird Ti
Blade: Gillette Nacet (3)
Brush: DG Thunderhead B8
Soap: Catie’s Bubbles Tactical Support

Really enjoying this B8! It has very natural hair with minimal gel if any! It's interesting that I never hear too much talks about B8 but It's a great well rounded brush.
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Head Shave

Razor: Masamune OC
Blade: Gillette Nacet (1)
Brush: SV Arlecchino LE 10/28
Soap: Catie’s Bubbles Tactical Support

I enjoy using the OC plate on the Masamune. It's so smooth while being efficient. This LE SV brush is a pleasure to use everything from the handle to the knot is lovely. I suspect it will splay a bit easier once it's more broken in. She is a head turner for sure!!!
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