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- #2,961
A newbie’s journey into DE shaving
- Thread starter Guido75
- Start date
- Thread starter
- #2,962
| Date | 07.02.2024 |
| 366 daily shaves | 038/366 |
| Razor | Blade | Brush |
| Blackland Blackbird | Gillette Blue Blade (7) | Omega 10098 |
| Preshave | Soap | Postshave |
| Cold splash KCG Face Wash | Barrister + Mann Leviathan | Cold splash Proraso Green Balm |
| Passes | WTG XTG ATG and touch up |
| Consistency (details here) | Quality / My process |
| 9.5/10 (Significantly Consistent) | 10/10 (Clean) |
| Effectiveness | Comfort / Blade condition |
| 9/10 (BBS-) | 7/10 (Comfortable) |
| Notes: |
Summary. Back to the Blackbird for another top tier shave with this razor. Fantastic! My cheeks feel marbelous.
Razor and blade. Stropped the blade before the 7th shave with 100 laps on the Twinplex. Yesterday was actually not all that bad and I was attributing that to razors that have a medium gap with good clamping to force the blade into a fixed position. This is where the Rocca in retrospect is different: relative large gap and less clamping (to my experience), similar to the shaves with the Game Changer. Both still deliver great results, but the blade can cause more trouble. But I could be falling for that human trap of course where we want to attribute things to things that have no correlation at all just to put our minds at ease. The Blackbird for me seems to fall in that first category of smaller gap and good clamping (although I have read other stories about blade chatter). Blade exposure the same as the GC2.II - sweet spot. Superb shave with the Blackbird again. Wow. Just shy of overall marble skin.
Brush and lather. Continuing my usual of this boar and it is growing on me as a favourite. Great lather and such fun scrubbing and painting it on during my face lather.
Technique. More and more engaging from muscle memory. Love it! And I have found that adjusting just a small degree of going diagonal during ATG makes ATG even more effective.
Enjoy your shave!
- Thread starter
- #2,963
| Date | 08.02.2024 |
| 366 daily shaves | 039/366 |
| Razor | Blade | Brush |
| Greencult GC2.II | Gillette Blue Blade (8) | Omega 10098 |
| Preshave | Soap | Postshave |
| Cold splash KCG Face Wash | Barrister + Mann Leviathan | Cold splash Proraso Green Balm |
| Passes | WTG XTG ATG and touch up |
| Consistency (details here) | Quality / My process |
| 9.5/10 (Significantly Consistent) | 10/10 (Clean) |
| Effectiveness | Comfort / Blade condition |
| 8.75/10 (BBS-) | 7/10 (Comfortable) |
| Notes: |
Summary. A nice and predictable office approved shave (well, to B&B standards obviously!). Can’t go wrong with the Greencult. Or a Greencult for that matter.
Razor and blade. I can predict the reactions already, but I decided to keep the blade in for another shave. I figured I honed it so let’s not let that effort go in vein. I did choose a razor that would keep the blade under maximum control. I was undecided between the Blackbird and Greencult and merely decided on the latter because a) blade was already loaded and b) I am doing an alternating comparison shave between the two where tomorrow I will use them both in one shave. Posted with the HD handle this GC2.II is an amazing razor. Very versatile and nimble in use. Heavier than the Blackbird but not by much in this configuration. Slightly behind yesterday’s results, but that’s more on the blade and me than it is on the razor.
Brush and lather. I needed some dependable three passes so I loaded a bit more than usual these days. And boom lather! (as Mike Szorady would say). The ring of dispair showed itself again today so Leviathan is in the final stretches.
Technique. Close to carbon copying the last shave. Three passes are becoming real autopilot while the shave itself is not. Exactly what I am looking for!
Enjoy your shave!
- Thread starter
- #2,964
Learned something today. I don’t have the Razorock HD handle. Nope. It’s the Bulldog handle instead. Comments remain the same of course.
- Thread starter
- #2,965
| Date | 09.02.2024 |
| 366 daily shaves | 040/366 |
| Razor | Blade | Brush |
| Razorock Game Changer .84P | Gillette Blue Blade (9) | Omega 10098 |
| Preshave | Soap | Postshave |
| Cold splash KCG Face Wash | Barrister + Mann Leviathan | Cold splash Proraso Green Balm |
| Passes | WTG XTG ATG and touch up |
| Consistency (details here) | Quality / My process |
| 9.5/10 (Significantly Consistent) | 9.5/10 (Small redness on the neck) |
| Effectiveness | Comfort / Blade condition |
| 8.75/10 (BBS-) | 7/10 (Comfortable) |
| Notes: |
Summary. I had different plans initially, but my comparison shave can wait until Sunday. Superb shave with the Game Changer today I wanted to reach for something that connects me to @Butch Waxx - you and your family are in my thoughts and prayers.
Razor and blade. Stropped the blade yesterday and took it for a 9th shave today. I am actually starting to think that the blade is only now coming into performance. But the corners of my mouth tell me this is not the best blade I have available. The Game Changer on the other hand is definitely one of my higher praised performers. It is only my third shave and second shave with the SB plate, but so far it has been a very good almost autopilot razor. It can take nibs if you are not paying attention, but overall smooth and comfortable. Excellent! I would say that the Greencult 2.II and Blackbird are more effective, yet sometimes we don’t need that level of effectiveness.
Brush and lather. Decided to scoop soap rather than puck load today. Nice lather, but the brush is on the larger side and hogs sometimes. Overall a great brush that is definitely starting to really break in and display that softness I like.
Technique. Still very consistent patterning. Really happy with that.
Enjoy your shave!
Nibs? Small chunks of skin?
AimlessWanderer
Remember to forget me!
Nibbles maybe...?
- Thread starter
- #2,968
Should have gone with the word ‘bite’ perhaps. Just me trying to bluff my way through English I guess! Haha.
AimlessWanderer
Remember to forget me!
Don't do yourself down. You have a very good command of the language.
I completely agree with this sentiment. Not that I have any knowledge of those two razors, but I'm not a fan of feisty razors. I'd rather use my Dovo shavette than an overly greedy safety razor.
You are not the only one. I'm not from around here.
- Thread starter
- #2,971
Thanks Al - on both accounts. The Greencult and Blackbird are more blade forward than the Game Changer is. Razorock doesn’t state it’s positive blade exposure in numbers, but both the Greencult and Blackbird are at .10mm and my guess and feel is that the Game Changer is much less than that.
- Thread starter
- #2,972
| Date | 10.02.2024 |
| 366 daily shaves | 041/366 |
| Razor | Blade | Brush |
| Razorock Game Changer .84P OC | Gillette Blue Blade (10) | Omega 10098 |
| Preshave | Soap | Postshave |
| Cold splash KCG Face Wash | Barrister + Mann Leviathan | Cold splash Proraso Green Balm |
| Passes | WTG XTG ATG and touch up |
| Consistency (details here) | Quality / My process |
| 9.5/10 (Significantly Consistent) | 10/10 (Clean) |
| Effectiveness | Comfort / Blade condition |
| 8.5/10 (DFS+++) | 6.5/10 (Comfortable) |
| Notes: |
Summary. Very effective Saturday shave. Whata great razor this is. Ready for groceries and the weekend!
Razor and blade. I gave the blade a major tune up on the Allegro with 20 laps on each side of the stone making sure it was ready for today’s shave. Double digits! I would not have seen that coming after shave 2 with this blade. Who knew?! Of course my choice of razors helped very much in that respect. Not just the honing and stropping. The blade is on its last legs. I will do a final shave tomorrow to verify. I opted for the OC baseplate today which I found to be more effective and just as smooth as the SB plate. Splendid daily driver for sure! And fitted with the Barberpole handle is it also quite good to handle similar to the Bulldog handle. Based on growth I would say the smoothness has less longevity than my other highly effective razors.
Brush and lather. Scooped a tiny spoon into my dimpled lathering bowl and whipped up a very nice lather in no time.
Other news. Continued prayers for @Butch Waxx and @never-stop-learning.
Technique. All good.
Enjoy your shave!
I read it as a typo, nips, like a puppy!! Not the anatomical reference
- Thread starter
- #2,974
Hmmm...I have different connotations to nips...but this being a gentlemanly forum I will leave it at that!I read it as a typo, nips, like a puppy!! Not the anatomical reference
As do I. On balance a very versatile word I would say
.
I liked “nibs” as a new way of saying “nibbles” though I think it means something for fountain pen users, too.
- Thread starter
- #2,977
| Date | 11.02.2024 |
| 366 daily shaves | 042/366 |
| Razor | Blade | Brush |
| Blackland Blackbird & Greencult GC2.II | Gillette Blue Blade (11) | Omega 10098 |
| Preshave | Soap | Postshave |
| Cold splash KCG Face Wash | Barrister + Mann Leviathan | Cold splash Proraso Green Balm |
| Passes | WTG XTG ATG and touch up |
| Consistency (details here) | Quality / My process |
| 9.5/10 (Significantly Consistent) | 10/10 (Clean) |
| Effectiveness | Comfort / Blade condition |
| 9/10 (BBS) | 7/10 (Comfortable) |
| Notes: |
Summary. A comparison shave today with two phenomenal razors. Excellent shave!
Razors and blade. Stropped the blade on the Twinplex hoping to smoothen the edge enough for a comfortable shave. I have been looking forward to this shave off for quite some time and I will say these razors are very much performing in the same manner. There is very little difference in their effectiveness or comfort on today’s 24 hours of growth. Both are fantastic razors with the GC2 essentially being an adjustable razor in the fashion of Rockwell’s 6S. WTG Blackbird on the left and GC2.II on the right. Technicall speaking the GC2.II has my more troublesome side. Close call in results with ever so slightly better results on the jawline on the Blackbird side. XTG GC2.II on the left and Blackbird on the right. Both razors add to one another and results are very similar again. ATG Blackbird on the left again and GC2.II on the right. Using the GC2.II as touchup razor for both left and right. The Blackbird feels more comfortable going ATG, especially in the moustache area which is one of my more sensitive areas to shave. I tend to go more diagonal than head on ATG, but the Blackbird provides better protection against razor burn. The end results left and right are extremely similar and if I had to do a double blind test I would have a hard time telling which razor is which in terms of results.
Brush and lather. Scooped and lathered in the bowl before going to the face. Wonderful.
Technique. Just following my patterns.
Enjoy your shave!
Congratulations on this wonderful post, my dear friend. I've been waiting for this comparison for a while now.
Date 11.02.2024 366 daily shaves
042/366
Razor Blade Brush Blackland Blackbird &
Greencult GC2.IIGillette Blue Blade (11) Omega 10098 Preshave Soap Postshave Cold splash
KCG Face WashBarrister + Mann Leviathan
Cold splash
Proraso Green
Balm
Passes WTG XTG ATG and touch up Consistency
(details here)Quality / My process 9.5/10 (Significantly Consistent) 10/10
(Clean)Effectiveness Comfort / Blade condition 9/10
(BBS)
7/10
(Comfortable)
Notes:
Summary. A comparison shave today with two phenomenal razors. Excellent shave!
Razors and blade. Stropped the blade on the Twinplex hoping to smoothen the edge enough for a comfortable shave. I have been looking forward to this shave off for quite some time and I will say these razors are very much performing in the same manner. There is very little difference in their effectiveness or comfort on today’s 24 hours of growth. Both are fantastic razors with the GC2 essentially being an adjustable razor in the fashion of Rockwell’s 6S. WTG Blackbird on the left and GC2.II on the right. Technicall speaking the GC2.II has my more troublesome side. Close call in results with ever so slightly better results on the jawline on the Blackbird side. XTG GC2.II on the left and Blackbird on the right. Both razors add to one another and results are very similar again. ATG Blackbird on the left again and GC2.II on the right. Using the GC2.II as touchup razor for both left and right. The Blackbird feels more comfortable going ATG, especially in the moustache area which is one of my more sensitive areas to shave. I tend to go more diagonal than head on ATG, but the Blackbird provides better protection against razor burn. The end results left and right are extremely similar and if I had to do a double blind test I would have a hard time telling which razor is which in terms of results.
Brush and lather. Scooped and lathered in the bowl before going to the face. Wonderful.
Technique. Just following my patterns.
Enjoy your shave!
Thank you very much!
Cheers!
- Thread starter
- #2,979
Most welcome Beto @Beto Salatini - I kind of figured you would! 
- Thread starter
- #2,980
| Date | 12.02.2024 |
| 366 daily shaves | 043/366 |
| Razor | Blade | Brush |
| Gillette New Improved | Gillette Blue Blade (12) | Omega 10098 |
| Preshave | Soap | Postshave |
| Cold splash KCG Face Wash | Barrister + Mann Leviathan | Cold splash Proraso Green Balm |
| Passes | WTG XTG ATG and touch up |
| Consistency (details here) | Quality / My process |
| 9.5/10 (Significantly Consistent) | 9/10 (Two red spots) |
| Effectiveness | Comfort / Blade condition |
| 8.75/10 (BBS-) | 7/10 (Comfortable) |
| Notes: |
Summary. A fabulous vintage shave with a favourite open comb. Smooth all over.
Razor and blade. Stropped the blade in the Twinplex and gave it another go. I have 15 shaves in mind as (intermediate) goal. The New Improved was a gift from the Far East by @lasta. It feels like many moons ago when in actuality it was only 2022. I love it. It is in splendid condition considering it is approximately 100 years old! It has bite while also providing comfort. Just an amazing razor.
Brush and lather. I have three more shaves planned with the Omega and then I am up to 20. It feels much softer already and so it’s time to move on to the other new boar.
Technique. Wonderful autopilot passes. I noticed I did add an extra stroke across the jaw line. I need to find out if that actually adds to the shave or not.
Enjoy your shave!
