- Thread starter
- #3,261
And I love you for it!
A newbie’s journey into DE shaving
- Thread starter Guido75
- Start date
My BAD was in remission until everyone and their brother started placing orders with ShaveMac and Semogue introduced their Pagasus line.
I was going to buy 2 Pegasus brushes and totaled up the cost and bought another SV brush instead. I might have already mentioned this on this thread. If so. I apologize. I’m working and posting in between deliveries.
I was going to buy 2 Pegasus brushes and totaled up the cost and bought another SV brush instead. I might have already mentioned this on this thread. If so. I apologize. I’m working and posting in between deliveries.
- Thread starter
- #3,263
All good Kim - any story or update from you is welcome in this journal. And please do post pictures!!
Guido
Will do. I need to improve on my photography posts. As in taking some and posting them. <eg>
- Thread starter
- #3,265
| Date | 05.04.2024 |
| 366 daily shaves | 096/366 |
| Razor | Blade | Brush |
| Gillette Single Ring | Durable Sharp Titanium (5) | Abe’s Brush Works Blutt STF |
| Preshave | Soap | Postshave |
| Cold splash KCG Face Wash | Mike’s Natural Soaps Barbershop (78) | Cold splash Proraso Green Balm |
| Passes | WTG XTG ATG and touch up |
| Process Quality (details here) | Blade Sharpness |
| 10/10 (Clean) | 5/10 (Sharp) |
| Effectiveness | Shave Comfort |
| 8.5/10 (DFS+++) | 87/10 (Comfortable) |
| Notes: |
Summary. Early shave with a very efficient razor. Excellent brush. Barely made it to the trains - but arrived as a fresh clean and close shaven gentleman nonetheless.
For extended shave notes click here.
Razor and blade. Blade is still performing. Cannot argue with that. Comfort is still below par, but feels manageable. The razor is a slicer. Ultra light and ultra effective with total control, so I didn’t feel any risk of getting bitten (and this one can if you not showing it respect). The combination was excellent this morning. Smooth, comfortable and enjoyable. I shaved somewhat in the dark as I didn’t want to wake up the family. I had to catch the early train to university.
Brush and lather. Simply amazing this morning. Loading was a breeze and as soon as I dropped my brush in for the first water addition the lather just bloomed away. Marvellous. The brush is fabulous and the Mühle STF knot feels very soft with a little (sufficient) backbone. My RR400 is the better performer in my view with more density and softness, but the Mühle is a very nice addition for sure. Especially with this handle!
Technique. Nothing specific to report. Going through the motions sounds dull and boring, but in shaving that might just be what we are looking for. Variety is not in technique but in razors, brushes and soaps. I am starting to sense that I have all bases covered.
Enjoy your shave!
Must have been a VERY comfortable shave.
He gave more than 110%. He gave 870%.Must have been a VERY comfortable shave.
- Thread starter
- #3,268
Of course you had to spot thatMust have been a VERY comfortable shave.
Naturally. Step aside...that is not correct...stay calm....I am an engineer.Of course you had to spot that
- Thread starter
- #3,270
| Date | 06.04.2024 |
| 366 daily shaves | 097/366 |
| Razor | Blade | Brush |
| Gillette Tech (US prewar) | Durable Sharp Titanium (6) | Abe’s Brush Works G5C |
| Preshave | Soap | Postshave |
| Cold splash KCG Face Wash | Mike’s Natural Soaps Barbershop (79) | Cold splash Proraso Green Balm |
| Passes | WTG XTG ATG and touch up |
| Process Quality (details here) | Blade Sharpness |
| 10/10 (Clean) | 5/10 (Sharp) |
| Effectiveness | Shave Comfort |
| 8.25/10 (DFS++) | 7/10 (Comfortable) |
| Notes: |
Summary. Calm relaxing shave this Saturday. Nice start of the weekend!
Razor and blade. I think this blade actually has some potential to go double digits, but I won’t be finding out. Sharpness remains although longevity of results is less than with a Lord blade for example. But the potential is there. I am curious about the other Durable Sharp blade in comparison - and actually hoping it has increased comfort levels. The razor is a staple in my collection brought to my doorstep by the incomparable Mitch @mgweatherly - forever in my heart for kindness, knowledge and generosity. The Tech is amazing. Smooth, comfortable and effective. Simply bliss and I am glad I got on board the vintage train after getting my first Tech (UK). This US prewar is harder to find in these parts. Strike that. Not found in these parts more likely. @lasta ‘s handle completes the picture. An absolute pleasure bar none. Combination of blade and razor was ok - slightly less than I like to achieve, but I am picky when it comes to shaving results. I would have been over the moon with these results if it was the beginning of my DE travels.
Brush and lather. The G5C is delightful in use. Really badger like but with synthetic qualities as a bonus. The handle is fantastic and provides an excellent grip for face lathering. Continuing to enjoy Mike’s. Loading is easy, blooming is easy and the scent is easy as well. All good!
Technique. Consistent application. Like it!
Enjoy your shave!
Really beautiful finishing job on your dad's brush
Date 04.04.2024 366 daily shaves
095/366
Razor Blade Brush Gillette Red Tip Durable Sharp Titanium (4) Abe’s Brush Works Saturn Synbad Preshave Soap Postshave Cold splash
KCG Face WashMike’s Natural Soaps Barbershop (77)
Cold splash
Proraso Green
Balm
Passes WTG XTG ATG and touch up Process Quality
(details here)Blade Sharpness 10/10 (Clean) 5/10 (Sharp) Effectiveness Shave Comfort 8.5/10
(DFS+++)8/10 (Smooth)
Notes:
Summary. Easy and close shave with the gorgeous Red Tip and a 4th fabulous brush by my dad.
Razor and blade. The blade is on its 4th shave which technically is more than I estimated this blade to handle, but that’s no indication that the blade is starting to smoothen out or anything. The razor has bite to it and was a good combination with the blade for a smooth and close shave.
Brush and lather. Fourth and last dad brush for the moment. The Synbad knot is silky soft yet still very capable of whipping up a lather even though there is lack of backbone. Not much but noticeable. Lather was again fantastic like it had been for a large number of shaves now. Mike’s is just an awesome soap.
Technique. Steady. Slowly but surely I feel I am really getting the hang of my pattern and I like it!
Other news. In case you have a Gold Dollar razor tucked away somewhere or wannab want to give straight razors a go, B&B’s annual Gold Dollar Mod Competition might be just the thing for you.
Enjoy your shave!
- Thread starter
- #3,272
Yeah, he likes to go all the way. So while it might have taken longer to use them because he went through multiple layers of shellac to protect the wood from water (but I clean and dry everything after each shave anyway).
Cheers,
Guido
I wonder if marine varnish would be an option for him.
Good idea. If Mr. Abe wanted to forgo varnish in the future, cedar has excellent natural properties to be a great brush handle.
True but cedar is also extremely soft and still needs to be sealed. I found this out when I was spinning handles.
- Thread starter
- #3,276
Certainly. He just had this in mind. I mentioned normal varnish as an option. But basically he can use whatever finish you would like
Or, you could buy your dad a stabilization machine
- Thread starter
- #3,278
I’ll put that on the wish list. So far he has used mahogany, ash, birch and purplewood - so these should be good for a long time.Or, you could buy your dad a stabilization machine
I did tell him about the stabilising process and he obviously knows (I think he even has the equipment to do it), but so far he has stayed away from epoxies.
- Thread starter
- #3,279
| Date | 07.04.2024 |
| 366 daily shaves | 098/366 |
| Razor | Blade | Brush |
| Eclipse Red Ring | Durable Sharp Titanium (7) | Abe’s Brush Works Synbad |
| Preshave | Soap | Postshave |
| Cold splash KCG Face Wash | Mike’s Natural Soaps Barbershop (80) | Cold splash Proraso Green Balm |
| Passes | WTG XTG ATG and touch up |
| Process Quality (details here) | Blade Sharpness |
| 10/10 (Clean) | 5/10 (Sharp) |
| Effectiveness | Shave Comfort |
| 7/10 (DFS) | 7/10 (Comfortable) |
| Notes: |
Summary. Final shave with the Sharp blade. Wonderful Sunday shave using the fabulous Red Ring.
Razor and blade. If more comfortable this blade would be amazing actually. It now sort of gets stuck midway. Overall not a bad blade at all and the first shave was luckily the worst one after which the blade came to life. The razor needs zero introduction obviously. I still need to give the razor its red ring back - it disappeared after I polished the razor. I think I was also succesful in stabilizing the cracked handle. The Red Ring's shave is always excellent. I had one notch open. This razor is an inspiration to many that came after it. In my mind/view the R41 and Athena pay homage to this great razor. The blade/razor combination left effectiveness to be wanted.
Brush and lather. This is the smallest of the four my dad made even though it has the widest knot at 26mm. But the Synbad knot is simply amazing. Soft and very splay-ful with just sufficient backbone. Mike's went into the 80s and we will hit 100 shaves end of April easily.
Technique. Consistency reigned again today. I have really settled on my shaving pattern and it is working extremely well for me so far.
Enjoy your shave!
- Thread starter
- #3,280
| Date | 08.04.2024 |
| 366 daily shaves | 099/366 |
| Razor | Blade | Brush |
| Gillette Super Speed 1975 | Lord Cool (1) | Abe’s Brush Works Smokey Bandit |
| Preshave | Soap | Postshave |
| Cold splash KCG Face Wash | Mike’s Natural Soaps Barbershop (81) | Cold splash Proraso Green Balm |
| Passes | WTG XTG ATG and touch up |
| Process Quality (details here) | Blade Sharpness |
| 7/10 (Nick) | 6/10 (Razor Sharp) |
| Effectiveness | Shave Comfort |
| 7/10 (DFS) | 8/10 (Smooth) |
| Notes: |
Summary. Effective start of the week with this birth year razor. I did step on the gas too much on my right cheek and had to pay for my ignorance.
Razor and blade. First run with the Lord Cool and I can simply state that I am turning into a Lord fan. Nice blade with good sharpness while providing that comfort and smoothness I want in a blade. The razor is a birth year black handle Super Speed and a marvellous razor. Great balance between effectiveness and comfort. It usually delivers great results and today was a confirmation of that. Gillette had gold in their hands with the Super Speed (s) like so many times before - this type of razor would service the average man who sees shaving as a chore to great extent. Not that we see the average man around these parts that much! Haha!
Brush and lather. The firmest of the for my dad made and also the one most resembling my favourite Trinity: the Plissoft brushes. The handle is fantastic and provides an excellent grip which assists in softening the backbone. Lather is going strong. Really enjoying face lathering at the moment and taking my time to prep my beard for the first WTG pass. So far I have the hallucination it makes all the difference in the end results I am getting.
Technique. I intended it to be a carbon copy as I was looking forward to another week of consistent application. But for some reason I was preoccupied with a one pass shave ATG (which I never did) and therefore was all over the place on the right cheek for which I had to pay. User error, because the rest of my face is fine.
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