A journal of a Cajun's life wet shaving

[cajunrph]

300+ Shaves in 2024 192 of 300+
July 2024 GRUME 24/31
Shave Date 7/29/2024
Razor: 1948 Super Speed
Blade: Gillette Platinum (5)
Pre-Shave: Leaf Pre-Shave Oil, Neutragena Facal Cleansing Soap
Soap RazoRock Mudder Focker
Brush: Zenith Unbleached Boar.
Post-shave: Alum Bock, Thayer's Witch Hazel, Mother Bear Winter Balm, Mudder Focker A/S.
Rating: 28.75/30 10 for Comfort, 10 for cuts and weepers(0), 8.75 for smoothness, neck stubble, BBS on the face, and DFS+ neck.

Notes:

It Mudder Focker Monday, and the fifth shave on the Gillette Platinum was a good'un, although I did have a bit more alum block feedback than usual. On the other hand, I shaved the problem Sea Lion fur patch on the right jawline as smoothly as it has been in a while, which is likely the reason the alum block gave more feedback on that area. I did not do any touch-up passes, but I did some extra buffing work in the area during the passes. In the end, I achieved a durn fine shave. I did not load the brush from the bowl for this soap because this is the soap some months back I noticed some different coloration on the surface of the soap. I am not sure if it was residual soap scum or the beginning of mold, but I scrapped off the offending sections and proceeded to keep this soap dry as a bone from that point forward. Today I scrapped a chunk off added it to my shave bowl and started to load the brush from the bowl. What resulted was basically a bowl lathering session as after I got most of the soap incorporated into the brush, my shave bowl runnith over with lather, which isn't a bad thing. I certainly had plenty of lather for the three passes and then plenty left over to shave a second time if needed. Although inexpensive, the RazoRock soaps surely do lather quite nicely. And the scent of Mudder Focker is a good one, a lighter scent and one that would please most noses out there.

Two more days till ARKO!!! August is upon us, I look forward to seeing how much of the ARKO!! soap I can use up in a month. It will be my daily soap as the scent is light enough to not interfere with service at mass, and almost any aftershave I have will go with it quite nicely.

'Tis all for a Monday, I wish all a blessed Monday and work week, and may all your shaves be the best.

 

[blethenstrom]

Robert Oster Fire and Ice is the ink you are referring to. The dots of the I end up red, it is a cool one.



Yes, I have too many, I enjoy writing in the various colors I have, but looking at them, over half are some shade of blue. I can pair down the ones I have and will once they run dry. But it pains me to pick a pen to set aside, what one, The LAMY Safari is too good to sit on, as is the TWSBI, what about my Faber Castell Hexo, it is also great, then My LAMY Studio and AL Star are also looking at me as if to say, "You aren't thinking of benching me, are you???" Boris, ya started something, a dilemma. First World Problems, I know.

Yep they do give you some guilty looks. that is why I clean them and put them in my pen case, err pen cases that is so they cannot give me the looks. I am back down to three pens inked.

 

[cajunrph]

Yep they do give you some guilty looks. that is why I clean them and put them in my pen case, err pen cases that is so they cannot give me the looks. I am back down to three pens inked.

I keep my LAMY Studio and my Easterbrook Jr in the cases they came in, thus they get the least use. They are still inked up. Ohh well. I could have worse problems.

 

[Flanders]

I keep my LAMY Studio and my Easterbrook Jr in the cases they came in, thus they get the least use. They are still inked up. Ohh well. I could have worse problems.

Yes, like having at least 6 gummed up pens, no time to clean them and having to use my rollerballs!

 

[blethenstrom]

I keep my LAMY Studio and my Easterbrook Jr in the cases they came in, thus they get the least use. They are still inked up. Ohh well. I could have worse problems.

Is that a vintage Esterbrook Jr? I have mine with me to work today as well. Mine is from 1938-39.

 

[blethenstrom]

Yes, like having at least 6 gummed up pens, no time to clean them and having to use my rollerballs!

Granted better than ball points.

 

[BigAlVista]

300+ Shaves in 2024 192 of 300+
July 2024 GRUME 24/31
Shave Date 7/29/2024
Razor: 1948 Super Speed
Blade: Gillette Platinum (5)
Pre-Shave: Leaf Pre-Shave Oil, Neutragena Facal Cleansing Soap
Soap RazoRock Mudder Focker
Brush: Zenith Unbleached Boar.
Post-shave: Alum Bock, Thayer's Witch Hazel, Mother Bear Winter Balm, Mudder Focker A/S.
Rating: 28.75/30 10 for Comfort, 10 for cuts and weepers(0), 8.75 for smoothness, neck stubble, BBS on the face, and DFS+ neck.

Notes:

It Mudder Focker Monday, and the fifth shave on the Gillette Platinum was a good'un, although I did have a bit more alum block feedback than usual. On the other hand, I shaved the problem Sea Lion fur patch on the right jawline as smoothly as it has been in a while, which is likely the reason the alum block gave more feedback on that area. I did not do any touch-up passes, but I did some extra buffing work in the area during the passes. In the end, I achieved a durn fine shave. I did not load the brush from the bowl for this soap because this is the soap some months back I noticed some different coloration on the surface of the soap. I am not sure if it was residual soap scum or the beginning of mold, but I scrapped off the offending sections and proceeded to keep this soap dry as a bone from that point forward. Today I scrapped a chunk off added it to my shave bowl and started to load the brush from the bowl. What resulted was basically a bowl lathering session as after I got most of the soap incorporated into the brush, my shave bowl runnith over with lather, which isn't a bad thing. I certainly had plenty of lather for the three passes and then plenty left over to shave a second time if needed. Although inexpensive, the RazoRock soaps surely do lather quite nicely. And the scent of Mudder Focker is a good one, a lighter scent and one that would please most noses out there.

Two more days till ARKO!!! August is upon us, I look forward to seeing how much of the ARKO!! soap I can use up in a month. It will be my daily soap as the scent is light enough to not interfere with service at mass, and almost any aftershave I have will go with it quite nicely.

'Tis all for a Monday, I wish all a blessed Monday and work week, and may all your shaves be the best.

View attachment 1885277

Have a great week youself!

 

[cajunrph]

Yes, like having at least 6 gummed up pens, no time to clean them and having to use my rollerballs!

The TWSBI or the LAMY will always be Ret'ta go.

Is that a vintage Esterbrook Jr? I have mine with me to work today as well. Mine is from 1938-39.

Nope, it was a Mistry Box purchase from Gold Spot, the Pen, and 4 ink samples for a Benjamin, I thought it was a good deal.

Have a great week youself!

Thank You, my friend, I hope all is well for you and the family.

 

[cajunrph]

300+ Shaves in 2024 193 of 300+
July 2024 GRUME 25/31
Shave Date 7/30/2024
Razor: 1952 Flare Tip Super Speed
Blade: Gillette Platinum (1)
Pre-Shave: Leaf Pre-Shave Oil, Neutrogena Facal Cleansing Soap
Soap Cella Crema da Barber Red
Brush: Ds Mardi Gras Swirl 24mm Badger.
Post-shave: Alum Bock, Thayer's Witch Hazel, Mother Bear Winter Balm, Pseudo Perfecto Virginia A/S.
Rating: 28/30 10 for Comfort, 10 for cuts and weepers (0), 8 for smoothness, neck stubble, BBS on the face, and DFS+ neck.

Notes:

As I was rummaging through my soaps over the weekend deciding which ones to use before the month of ARKO!!, the Cella Red looked at me and said "Hey, what about me???" "Sure, little buddy" I said and set out to use. Last night I opened the tub for the obligatory night before sniff, and it dawned on my why the little bas'tid sat for so long. Cherry scent is not one of my go to scents, in fact, I don't care for it at all. So last night I pulled out the green tub of Cella intending to use it. And set the Red tub back with the other soaps. This morning, I figured what the heck, just use it and don't be a a cry baby. So, I did, and it 'twasn't so bad. The scent is certainly there when I started to lather but as the shave progressed, I hardly noticed it. This is hardly a cream in my book, it is harder than many croaps I have on hand, therefore I loaded from the bowl with 40 swirls, I likely needed more or to bloom the tub first as the lather was a bit thin on the last past, but squeezing out all the remaining lather gave me an ample amount for the last shave.

I used my Pseudo Perfecto Virigina for the A/S, this one is based on the Bootleggers Perfecto Virginia, but two of the components are unobtanium, Masters Bay Rum has been discontinued and the Vito's Colonia Tobacco is not available state side. The workaround was Gables and Superior Bay rum 1:1 and two sprays of Cuba Orange as per instructions of our dearly departed @OkieStubble. I do have a sample left over from the generosity of Okie and mine seems to be spicier. I liked it and so did my wife, but she said I smelt spicy. I'll take that as a compliment. It is a good scent, and definitely on the spicy side. I missed out on Masters, but the Gables is a good replacement according to Okie. The Cuba Orange is likely a bit spicier, and being a spray there is no elegant way to allow the scents to mellow and age, I could pry off the spray cap from the Cuba Orange, but look at it, it's a stunning presentation for an aftershave, to pry off the cap would be a shame. I'll make do with two sprays and being spicy But I ain't complaining, I have lots of scents and this version is still a good'un.

The scratchy Ds brush needs some more work, as today it was quite scratchy, and my face is still a bit tingling from all the scratching. I have it soaking in the shave mug and in the days coming the brush will get the full new boar treatment. That treatment is 12-hour soaks in what starts off as hot water, then some lathering and 50 or so strops on the towel and back into the mug for another 12 hours. With the boars it takes about 3 days to soften them up, we shall see how the Ds is in about 3 days.

Gonna wrap it up for today, as always have a blessed Tuesday and fantastic shaves.

 

[tehnothing]

I use my empty glass hot sauce and soy sauce bottles but any glass bottle will do. It's a favorite of mine and I would love to hear your thoughts on it.

Stop by "Bootlegger's Brigands" sometime and say hi, my friend.

@Eric_75 I won the auction for the English Leather bottles. I will place my orders for all three aftershaves on Thursday when I get paid. I will let you know how I like it.

 

[Eric_75]

View attachment 1885876
@Eric_75 I won the auction for the English Leather bottles. I will place my orders for all three aftershaves on Thursday when I get paid. I will let you know how I like it.

Well done, my friend.

Looking forward to it.

 

[cajunrph]

View attachment 1885876
@Eric_75 I won the auction for the English Leather bottles. I will place my orders for all three aftershaves on Thursday when I get paid. I will let you know how I like it.

That's the Mem version of English Leather, the newer Dana Version isn't quite as strong if my memory serves me correctly. I have the newer version. Great score.

 

[tehnothing]

That's the Mem version of English Leather, the newer Dana Version isn't quite as strong if my memory serves me correctly. I have the newer version. Great score.

These are only the empty bottles, John. I have the new version in my Amazon cart. Should I be looking for the old version? I am sure to find some on eBay if I look.

I just found an auction for it.

 

[cajunrph]

These are only the empty bottles, John. I have the new version in my Amazon cart. Should I be looking for the old version? I am sure to find some on eBay if I look.

I just found an auction for it.

Nah, I have the new version, and The El Dorado is still fantastic.

 

[tehnothing]

Nah, I have the new version, and The El Dorado is still fantastic.

Thanks for letting me know. The old version may be potentially cheaper, but, I would have to wait longer to see and get it. I will stick with the one in my Amazon cart.

 

[cajunrph]

300+ Shaves in 2024 194 of 300+
July 2024 GRUME 26/31
Shave Date 7/31/2024
Razor: 1967 Gillette Slim Adj TTO
Blade: Gillette Platinum (2)
Pre-Shave: Leaf Pre-Shave Oil, Neutrogena Facal Cleansing Soap
Soap PAA The Watcher
Brush: Yaqi Caramel 26mm Two Band Badger.
Post-shave: Alum Bock, Thayer's Witch Hazel, Mother Bear Winter Balm, The Watcher A/S.
Rating: 28/30 10 for Comfort, 10 for cuts and weepers (0), 8 for smoothness, neck stubble, BBS on the face, and DFS+ neck.

Notes:

Another last moment substitution today, last night I pulled out Noble Otter Rawr for today and this morning I called an audible and picked The Watcher instead because I haven't used it in a while and it is one of my favorite scents that I have, along with Black Shroud. Once again the PAA soap provided bountiful amounts of lather, more than enough for my three passes and then some. I failed to bump up the razor to setting 9 for the first pass(WTG), which was done on setting 5. For the second pass (XTG), I put the razor on setting 7, and whilst shaving the right jawline problem sea lion fur patch, I did feel the blade quite a bit more. As a result of the extra blade feel on the second pass I bumped down the aggression on the razor to setting 4 for my last ATG pass. It worked out pretty well, I hardly felt the razor on the neck and I tried true ATG on the neck to see what I'd get. It is closer than normal but still, there was some stubble left, but this time, I had no additional irritation or red spots. I'll take that as a win.

This week is flying by with the speed of a sloth, It feels like it's Friday and it is only Wednesday. Oh well, this too shall pass. I wish all a blessed Wednesday and fantastic shaves.

 

[cajunrph]

300+ Shaves in 2024 195 of 300+
August 2024 GRUME 1/31
ARKO!!!! August 1/31 ARKO GUNG HO
Shave Date 8/1/2024
Razor: 1950 British Ball End Tech
Blade: Gillette Platinum (3)
Pre-Shave: Leaf Pre-Shave Oil, Neutrogena Facal Cleansing Soap
Soap ARKO!!!
Brush: Zenith 507-BC Blue Cobolt.
Post-shave: Alum Bock, Thayer's Witch Hazel, Mother Bear Winter Balm, British Sterling EDT Splash.
Rating: 28/30 10 for Comfort, 10 for cuts and weepers (0), 8 for smoothness, neck stubble, BBS on the face, and DFS+ neck.

Notes:

ARKO!!!! August is upon us. I intend to complete the ARKO!! Gung Ho, which is only ARKO!! for the month. ARKO!! is a well-loved soap with a "unique" scent. It has been described as a lemony scent, citronella type scent, 1970's laundry room scent, but the one that resonated in my mind this morning as I lathered it on, was our very own, Mark aka @BigAlVista, who has the gift for gab, describing it as having hints of a urinal cake scent. Let me tell ya, face-lathering with the thought of being in a Turkish men's room whizzing away at the urinal in your mind is a challenge. But I pushed through and ARKO!! delivered a fine lather, although, on the last pass, it was a bit thin, squeezing out the remaining soap from the brush allowed me to finish the shave with no issues. I will figure this soap out as the month progresses. I did about 30 swirls on the puck to load the brush this morning, I'll bump it up till I get satisfactory results.

On the last pass on the neck, I tried ATG riding the cap like I do on the cheeks, I usually go in between XTG and ATG on the neck, and ya know what, it is slightly better, only slightly. There was still stubble left on the side I tried it and it is not that far off the other side that did not see any ATG work. The stubble on the neck is not visible, only noticeable rubbing the neck ATG, rubbing WTG it is smooth as a baby's bottom, with 56-year-old skin.

I truly enjoy my boar brushes, I feel they are an outstanding value and are some of my best-performing brushes. The one today is well broken in and was a dream to use. Here is a pic of the top of the brush, split ends galore, and in a boar that is what you want.

I have quite a variety of boars to choose from and enough Badgers that I don't see another brush heading this way, maybe one will but I can surely live the rest of my days with the brushes I have.

I wonder how much of the puck I’ll use up in a month. Here’s a before pic. It’s actually a stick I shoved into an old container I had laying around.

British Sterling for the win.

I wish all a blessed Thursday and may all your shaves be the best.

 

[Jay21]

Back when I used soaps, an Arko puck would last about 6 weeks for me.

 

[BigAlVista]

Hey, John, I sorta-wanna join you for Arko August, but I'm torn. I have been trying to 3017 a jar of Hamster-hutch scented Caties Bubbles and I'm not sure I can withstand the alternating aromas of pet store and Turkish movie-theater restroom.

In fact, it might cause my wife to think I've gone a bit....kinky?

 

[cajunrph]

Hamster-hutch scented Caties Bubbles

**Makes mental note to scratch Caties Bubbles off the list of potential soaps**