PORTUGAL, SOTD "themed week" August 1st - August 7th 2011

The first week of this month is dedicated to Portugal! This, just like Spain, is a beautiful land with an old and very respected barbershop tradition. Many of the finest soft shaving creams and boar brushes come from here. And, during this week, you have to show us all your best Portuguese shaving tools. Therefore add in your always wonderful photos at least one item that has been "made in Portugal".

Dovo "Prima Klang" Singing Violetwood, 5/8, Full Hollow Ground, Round Point
Cyril R. Salter (Streich-Riemen) Strop
Semogue SOC
Cella, Crema Sapone Extra Extra Purissima
Alum block
Italian floid Blue
​

I've nothing from Portugal... Oh well!

Merkur Futur 701
with red Personna (2)
Semogue 830
Old Spice SC
Old Spice AS

Have a nice day!

PREP: Hot shower with conditioner in beard
BRUSH: Semogue 2010 LE #66
UBERLATHER: SRD Bulgarian Rose Otto + Cyril Salter Rose + Glycerin
RAZOR: Ern ATOR
STROP: Kanayama Cordovan
TONER: Thayers Lavender
COLOGNE: Santal Noble
RESULT: A shave to remember. I know it's blasphemy to adulterate the SRD BRO soap, but I got a sample of the CRS Rose cream and just couldn't help myself. The result, as you can imagine, was nothing short of spectacular! I had a lather that smelled divine and that was so rich and creamy I couldn't hardly believe it. The ATOR swept through that billowy cloud of moisturizing goodness with a deft ease. In two passes plus touch ups, I was left with a sticky smooth CBS! I think I'm ready for round two of interviews with one of the firms today!

Monday

Brush: Simpson Chubby 2 Best
Soap: Tabac
Razor: Merkur HD
Blade: Vintage '70's Schick Platinum Plus
A/S: None
Cologne: None

Mike

Monday Evening:

Razor: Merkur HD
Blade: Red IP (3)
Cream: Godrej Menthol Mist
Brush: Simpsons Berkeley
A/S: Adidas Deep Energy
ASB: Gaia Organic

Merkur Progress
Crystal Blade
Moss Scuttle
Semogue 2040HD
KMF
Alum block
Witch hazel
Master Bay Rum

Missed a Musgo opportunity, did I?
HD/ASR
G5
GFT Coconut soap
Cold water splash

Monday morning,

Gillette NEW Long Comb,
Gillette Bleue Extra Blade (4)
Rooney 1/1 Best Badger Brush,
Arko shave soap w/ hot water lather,
finish w/ cold water rinse. DFS!

Warm shower / CF Preshave
Abaton shaving soap
Wee Scot
39C Slant w/Feather - d1
WWR / CWR
Harris Arlington splash
Creed - Bois de Cedrat

Red Tip SS
Astra SP
TGN Finest
EJ Aloe Vera SC
4711 Splash

This is an old LUSO razor, that I found on an antique market. She was very ugly and neglected, but after restoring it, she came up pretty nice, and definitely shave ready.
I know almost nothing about this razor, except the name (printed on the lower piece of the head) and the fact that it was made in Portugal. It seems to be a copy of the Old Type razors.
What strikes me is the smoothness of this razor. Smoother than the Brit. NEWs, and I would dare to say that it is smoother than an EJ head, if that makes any sense for an open-comb razor like this.
As for the rest, all good values. Lavanda, sadly discontinued, is a great lavender-scented shaving cream, and the lost brother of Musgo Real. The balm is one of the best balms that I know of (if not the best), and the brush (fantastic) is a recent discovery made by a friend of the Portuguese community.

Have a great start of the week, gentlemen!

Alas...I don't think I have any Portuguese products to show this week

Pre-Shave: Hot shower
Brush: 26mm Rudy Vey w/TGN Grade A Silvertip Badger
Razor: 11/16" Dubl Duck "Special #1", Full Hollow Ground, Spike Point
Strop: 25/55 (HandAmerican "Old Dog" Rough leather / HandAmerican "Old Dog" Cordovan leather)
Überlather: RazoRock "Cacao" Shave Creme + Mitchell's Wool Fat Shave Soap + Glycerin
Toner: Thayer's Witch Hazel (Rose Petal, no alcohol)
Moisturizer: Trumper's Fragrance-free Moisturizer
After Shave Splash: Floïd Italian Blue AS
Cologne: Creed "Green Irish Tweed" EdT
Results: I hadn't shaved with a Duck for some time now and decided to take the Special out for a spin today. A few laps around the HandAmerican strop really brought out the edge on this razor. The RazoRock "Cacao" was a scent I was craving today and she not only fulfilled my wish, but also produced an amazing lather in collaboration with Da Fat . It was so good that I thought I had died and gone to Heaven. All shaves should be this good . BBS and ready for whatever.




Have a FANTASTIC Monday gentlemen .

Monday


Razor: Merkur 38C Barber Pole
Blade: Personna (US)
Brush: Omega Boar 10049
Soap: Williams
A/S: Ivy Club Spice
EdT: Caron's Third Man

Prep: Musgo Real Glyce Lime Oil Soap
Brush: Shavemac 177
Cream: T&H Rose
Razor: Dovo 5/8ths Best
Toner: Thayers Rose W.H.
A/S: Pinaud Clubman
Balm: Nivea Senesitive ASB
Good Stuff: Coral Skin Food

Dovo "Prima Klang" Singing Violetwood, 5/8, Full Hollow Ground, Round Point
Cyril R Salter(Streich-Riemen) Strop
Rooney 3/1 Silvertip
Manantiales de La Toja Soap
Alum Block
Manantiales de La Toja Aftershave Lotion​

Second shave today. I need practice with this straight and definitely won't have the time tomorrow morning. For the next few weeks, my shaves are switching to evenings to accommodate this new Regimen.​