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Synthetic Sundays!!!

GRUME...💪
Synthetic Sundays!
DecemBOAR the 18th (not today)

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Rockwell 6S, R4 plate (with Jagger D89 handle)
Nacet (5)
Razorock Big Bruce
Stirling Scots Pine Sheep

It's chilly in our neck of the woods!

Kathy and I are doing a skit at Church this morning so a little earlier start. Our characters are called Pearl (like Minnie Pearl) and I am her sophisticated, suave and debonaire (country bumpkin) husband Delbert.

Shaving has been so BOARing lately so Synthetic Sundays! is a nice change of pace. I face lathered and used a water mister to get the water content nice and slick. This is a nice combo and "Delbert" is going to look mighty fancy today.

Please take care of yourself and each other...Onward!

What's your thoughts on that Big Bruce fellow @tjsgarden ?
 

Date
18.12.2022
365 days of shaving355/351
(100%)
GRUME December18/30 (97%)
Discovery Blade AdventureBolzano 3/3
Timor 2/3
Eddison 2/3


Passes3
WXTG (2)first pass cheeks: CB Curve (NW-SE curving to NE-SW)
second and third pass cheeks: Gillette Slide (NW-SE | cheeks)

first pass neck: Gillette Slant (NW-SE)
second and third pass neck: Gillette Slant (SE-NW | neck)
ATG
Straight & Slanted
(SW-NE | cheeks)
(SW-NE | neck)


Razor
Blade
Brush
Gillette NEW Improved
Bolzano (4)
Kox Blue Synthetic
Pre-shave
Soap & Bowl
Post-shave
Cold splash
Proraso Green pre-shave
Haslinger Sandelholz
Face and bowl lathered
Cold splash
Proraso Green (AS)
Proraso Green Balm)


Efficiency
Quality
9/10 (~20 minutes)7/10 (couple of weepers on jaw line)
EffectivenessComfort
8.5/10 (DFS+)
7/10 (Smooth)


Notes to today’s shave:

The fourth run with the Bolzano blade and this time with my beloved NEW Improved. For me this razor has the same efficiency as a R41, but with a little bit more smoothness - despite the increased blade feel with the NEW Improved.

The first pass proved to be very, very effective indeed and quite frankly I could have really stopped right then and there and make it a comfortable CCS/DFS shave in one pass. Second pass using Gillette Slides was super smooth and very comfortable.

The end result was super slick and smooth and I was very happy with my face. So a fine shave, but I think this blade has had its peak performance already - also given its previous performances with other razors. The NEW Improved is an excellent razor, easily competing with modern top end razors if you ask me. The only minor downside is the quite extensive blade reveal /overhang to the sides.

More detailed shave notes can be found here.

Enjoy your shave today!
 
Synthetic Sundays! Woo hoo I'm on time this week 😄

RV Muhle STF!
IMG_20221218_142558.jpg
 
Date
25.12.2022
365 days of shaving362/358
(100%)
GRUME December24/30 (97%)
Discovery Blade AdventureBolzano 3/3
Timor 2/3
Eddison 2/3

Passes3
WXTG
first pass cheeks: CB Curve (NW-SE curving midway to NE-SW)
second pass cheeks: Gillette Slide (NW-SE)

first pass neck: Gillette Slant (NE-SW)
second pass neck: Gillette Slant (S-N)
ATG
Straight & Slanted
(SW-NE | cheeks)
(SW-NE | neck)

Razor
Blade
Brush
Timeless Ti95SCBEddison (16)Simpson T3 <NEW!!>
Pre-shave
Soap & Bowl
Post-shave
Cold splash
Proraso Green pre-shave
Haslinger Sandelholz
Face lathered
Cold splash
Proraso Green (AS)
Proraso Green (Balm)

Efficiency
Quality
9/10 (~20 minutes)9.5/10 (super tiny weepers)
EffectivenessComfort
9.5/10 (Marble)
10/10 (GlideFest)

Notes to today’s shave:

Excellent start of Christmas Day! WOW! I wanted a carefree shave so bright or the razor that gives me the most comfortable and effective shave. And boy did it deliver! My cheeks and chin are marble with that glass feeling. I have some stray cats in the jaw line and this is where I believe the blade had lost too much of its performance. It has been retired with 16 amazing shaves in the books!

We unpacked our presents on Christmas Eve and I unpacked my T3 which I had to use straightaway obviously. What a magnificent brush! Face lathering was never this easy! I do need to expand the stand a bit, because the handle is bulkier than I imagined. It is also wider than my Omega Roma. Very glad this one has been added to the collection!

I wish you all a Merry Christmas!! And enjoy your shave today
 
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💈 SOTD - 1.1.2023 💈

🪒 Muhle R89
🔪 Gillette Platinum (10)
🖌️ Yaqi Timberwolf 26mm
🧼 House of Mammoth Hygge
🧴 Thayers Witch Hazel + Cerave Moisturiser cream + Cien Sensitive Balm


Oh man, how I've missed this synthetic brush during DecemBOAR...Boars are good for scrubbing, but nothing lathers like a good synthetic knot. 5s under the tap, and it was ready to load some Hygge soap.
I do love lathering with synthetics, because the lather literally explodes in my face, and is so good building and shaving with a THICK and really hydrated lather...Oh man, life is good!!!! :)

Have a nice 1st of January :cheerful:
 
The 1st day of GRUME, GRUYERE, 365 Shaves and Synthetic Sundays, 2023
HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL!

Gillette Super Speed flair tip (1954)
Astra Platinum (8)
Muhle XL olive wood STF
Declaration Grooming Dirtyver

PXL_20221231_191525846.jpg


I enjoyed my replacement Muhle brush and birth year razor to start out the new year with a DFS.

Please take care of yourself and each other.
 
Date
08.01.2023
365 days of shaving8/365
(100%)
GRUYERE8/365 (100%)
GRUME January8/31 (100%)
Discovery Blade AdventureBolzano 3/3
Timor 3/3
Eddison 3/3
Other participationsJanuary Shave Yahtzee (here)

Passes3.5
WXTG (2)
C: Gillette Slide (NW-SE)
N: Gillette Slant (NE-SW)
ATG
C: Straight (S-N)
N: Slanted (SW-NE)

Razor
Blade
Brush
KCGFeather (2)Razorock Plissoft 400
Pre-shave
Soap & Bowl
Post-shave
Cold splash
Tabac
Mostly face lathered
Cold splash
KCG face wash
Floïds the Genuine (AS) and Nivea (Balm)

Efficiency
Quality
7/10 (~25 minutes)10/10 (clean)
EffectivenessComfort
7/10 (CCS+/DFS-)
10/10 (GlideFest)

Notes to today’s shave:

Still in. Zero urges.

Weirdest shave today. Shave Yahtzee presented my first razor and my sharpest blade. They got along, but the combination proved to be almost useless for shaving. The Feather was on its second run, supposedly the sharpest point for a Feather. Maybe the angle was off or maybe the operator had the shaving angle wrong and needs to keep working at his technique.

The Razorock made lather in spades and all passes were with rich slickly creamy lather. Excellent stuff!

More notes to this shave can be found here.

Enjoy your Sunday shave!
 
ANOTHER simple old-fashioned non-artisan shave

PXL_20230107_150156044.jpg


GRUME, GRUYERE and 365 Shaves
Synthetic Sundays!

Gillette OC Old Type
Astra SP (14)
Proraso white cream and balm
Brushworx with G5C knot

I am really enjoying this 100 (+ or -) year old razor. I have one other open comb razor head I am thinking about using tomorrow.
I have frequently heard the perspective that "more efficient" razors can cause less irritation than milder ones due to fewer strokes and passes. I'm still not convinced but I'm open to more experimenting. I did two gliding passes and easily got a DFS result.

BTW, yesterday I intentionally described my razor incorrectly. Today, I noticed I also reported yesterday I used a "Semogue cherry SOV" I should have said "SOC".

Please take care of yourself and each other.
 

Date
15.01.2023
365 days of shaving15/365 (100%)
GRUYERE15/365 (100%)
GRUME January15/31 (100%)
Discovery Blade AdventureBolzano 3/3
Timor 3/3
Eddison 3/3
Other participationsJanuary Shave Yahtzee (here)

Passes3
WTGC: Gillette Slide (NW-SE)
N: Gillette Slant (NW-SE in a N-S motion)
WXTG
C: Mirrored Gillette Slide / Slant (NW-SE in a NE-SW motion)
N: Mirrored Gillette Slant (NE-SW in a S-N motion)
ATG
C: Mostly straight/Slanted (S-N)
N: Slanted (SW-NE)

Razor
Blade
Brush
Gillette NEW Flat BottomGillette Blacks (3)Razorock Plissoft 400
Pre-shave
Soap & Bowl
Post-shave
Cold splash
Proraso Green
Tallow Tabac
Mostly face lathered
Cold splash
Proraso Green (AS)
Proraso Green (Balm)

Efficiency
Quality
8/10 (~20 minutes)8/10 (weepers above the upper lip)
EffectivenessComfort
9/10 (BBS+)
8/10 (smooth with harsher elements)

Notes to today’s shave:

Shave Yahtzee provided the combination that had effectiveness written all over it. This a always an effective razor no matter what blade I put in it. But likewise it can at times also be a harsher razor depending on the blade. Todays blade is one of those harsher blades. To my mind I cannot take a Gillette Black past 3-4 shaves without drawing blood - which I did. If I skip the slightly harsher shave in places and forget about the weepers the rest of the shave was absolutely lovely! I am smooth as a baby in all areas.

In hindsight the lather on the first pass might have been dryer (I had some clogged lather in my razor) and in the second pass potentially too thin (not enough protection).

The Razorock currently remains my favourite brush. It lathers to the max (if I use it right) and has a great balance between backbone for scrubbing and softness for painting.

A great start of this Sunday.

Enjoy your shave!
 
Date
22.01.2023
365 days of shaving22/365 (100%)
GRUYERE22/365 (100%)
GRUME January22/31 (100%)
Discovery Blade AdventureBolzano 3/3
Timor 3/3
Eddison 3/3
Other participationsJanuary Shave Yahtzee (here)

Passes2.5
WXTGN-S cheeks and neck
XWTGL:W-E
R:E-W
Neck: S-N
ATG
Cheeks and neck S-N

Razor
Blade
Brush
Gillette Tech EFB on @Lasta Blue handleDorco Titan (3)Simpson T3
Pre-shave
Soap & Bowl
Post-shave
Cold splashMike’s Natural Barbershop
Mostly face lathered
Cold splash
Floïds (AS)
Nivea Sensitive (Balm)

Efficiency
Quality
8.5/10 (~15 minutes)8/10 (nick under the chin)
EffectivenessComfort
7.5/10 (DFS-)
9/10 (Buttery smooth)

Notes to today’s shave:

I hadn’t used my Flat Bottom Tech for some time so I thought to bring her out for a nice Sunday shave. Paired the razor with one of my favourite blades, the Dorco Titan. Fairly few shaves on the blade.

The combination proved to be effective, but also harsher than the shaves I had throughout the week with other razors. I needed more touch ups today and even managed to nick myself under the chin. I am accounting this all on user error - I think I actually rushed the shave leading into pressurising the razor making it all less smooth.

Still good shaving results at the end of the shave and a nice post shave feel - telling me it was a close shave in places as well.

Enjoy your Sunday!
 
Synthetic Sundays!!!
STILL IN GRUME, GRUYERE and 365 Shaves, day 22

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Timeless Ti .68
Gillette Platinum (7)
B&M Nordost Smoked Orange
Omego Evo 2.o

Hey Gents
This photo was taken yesterday as I usually plan and photo a day ahead.
After seeing Guido, @JAHE use this soap last week, I just had to work it into the rotation today. 🍻
It is also Synthetic Sundays.
My Feather DX is suppose to arrive in the mail tomorrow.

Please take care of yourself and each other.
 
Simple Smooth, Soothing Satisfying Synthetic Sunday Shave

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E. Jagger 89
Muhle Rasurkultur
RR Big Bruce
D.R. Harris Lavender

Still In GRUME, GRUYERE & 365 Shaves
Today: Synthetic Sundays!!!
Feb. 1st: Start OBIF, SWS and Fruity February

Hey Guys
I wanted a simple easy peasy no fuss shave today. I got it and a DFS+ finish.

Please take care of yourself and each other.
 
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