SOTD: Monday April 30, 2018

Razor: Italian Barber Wunderbar

Blade: Personna Blue 

Brush: DeLuxe Shaving 30mm Silvertip 

Cream: DeLuxe Shaving Doo-Wop Barbershop Citrus 

Aftershave Balm: DeLuxe Shaving Doo-Wop Barbershop Citrus

SOTD: Sunday April 29, 2018

Razor: Karve Shaving Chris Bradley Razor (C plate, 3.5” handle)

Blade: Personna Blue (3rd use)

Brush: Bobby Moffett “Caramel Latte”

Soap: Soap Commander Ambition 

Aftershave Balm: Soap Commander Ambition

SOTD: Saturday April 28, 2018

Razor: Karve Shaving Chris Bradley Razor (C plate, 3.5” handle)

Blade: Personna Blue (2nd use)

Brush: Bobby Moffet “Caramel Latte”

Soap: River Valley Trading Frosty Bay Rum 

Aftershave: Ogallala Bay Rum & Vanilla 

Quite an ideal soap/splash pairing.

Premium Shave vs. Budget Shave

Wednesday & Thursday 

Razor: Rex Supply Co. Ambassador 

Blade: Perma-Sharp (2nd and 3rd use)

Brush: Mühle 70th Anniversary Silvertip 

Cream: Truefitt & Hill Almond 

Aftershave Balm: The Art of Shaving Unscented 

Friday 

Razor: Dorco 

Blade: Perma-Sharp (4th use)

Brush: $1.99 Boar Brush 

Soap: Williams Mug 

Aftershave: Family Dollar Spice 

Spoiler alert: I enjoyed the premium products better. 

    @vino_lance recommended a comparison of my least expensive items and my most expensive items the other day, so I thought it would make an interesting experiment. 

   The Perma-Sharp blades have been the best pairing I’ve had with the Rex Ambassador yet, with all three passes on setting 3. One thing I’ve really dialed in on is the angle on this razor. The Mühle brush has soft tips and a beautiful design, although it is probably overpriced at $180.00 (this was a frivolous gift to myself with my annual bonus). Truefitt & Hill has a wonderful almond scent that does not come off artificial at all. Although it did take me awhile to dial in product-to-water ratio with it. Clearly at $8.46 per ounce there are better value creams out there, but I can’t argue with its performance. 

   The post has been amazing AOS balm. I am guilty of dismissing it before trying based on price and commercial availability, but I can safely say it is one of the top five balms on the market. 

    The Dorco feels cheap. The longer handle is nice and it is extremely mild, but it is smooth and allowed for touch ups without nicks. Quite frankly I have no idea why I bought this other than it might have been to qualify an Amazon order for free shipping. The Wilkinson Sword Classic razor or a cheap pot metal one for a few dollars more would probably be a better value. 

    The boar brush came from a local thrift store. Unbranded and in a plain white box; it lacks the knot density that you would get from a Semogue or an Omega, but it gets the job done. 

    Williams Mug Soap. I have a nostalgic feel for this since my grandma kept a vintage box of this on display in her bathroom. As a matter of fact its probably safe to assume it’s the same box she sent me recently in a care package. It’s somewhat drying on the skin and yes, harder to whip up a lather, but I think gets an unfair shake in the hobby. 

    The Family Dollar spice is a pretty close dupe of contemporary Old Spice. A nice hack with this stuff that was suggested to me-buy a few bottles of this and rebottle it in a fancier bottles. I am going to make a point to do this. 

    At the end of the day both cut hair and produced presentable shaves, but the premium shave products were more enjoyable to use no doubt. Most of us will probably opt for products in between these price ranges so this is a more extreme comparison. I just say not to begrudge someone because they chose to save money with the budget items or because someone chose to spend their disposable income on something a little nicer.

SOTD: Wednesday April 25, 2018

@vino_lance recommended a comparison of my least expensive items and my most expensive items. I thoroughly enjoyed using the the Rex Ambassador, T&F, the AOS balm and Mühle 70th Anniversary Silvertip this morning. A full review in the next few days.

SOTD: Tuesday April 24, 2018

Razor: Standard Razor (anodized black)

Blade: Perma-Sharp (1st use)

Brush: Bobby Moffett “Caramel Latte”

Soap: Barrister & Mann Reserve Spice 

Aftershave: Barrister & Mann Reserve Spice 

This razor and blade combo has proven to be really smooth, efficient and comfortable. That combined with one of my favorite new soaps I’ve tried this year and we have an A+. The Standard Razors seem to be overlooked but they always deliver in regards of performance. I’m also a fan of the sleek minimalist design.

SOTD: Monday April 23, 2018

Razor: Mühle DE89 Rose Gold 

Blade: Perma-Sharp 

Brush: Omega Boar Hair 

Soap: D.R. Harris Marlborough Shave Stick 

Aftershave: D.R. Harris Marlborough

SOTD: Sunday April 22, 2018

Razor: Feather Artist Club 

Blade: Feather Super Professional 

Brush: Bobby Moffett “Caramel Latte”

Soap: Central Texas Soaps Weekend Rodeo

Aftershave: Ogallala Bay Rum & Vanilla 

Wonderful leather and tobacco scent. For anyone who is a fan of Declaration Grooming’s Cuir Et Espices you might be a fan of this.

Shave Travel/Dopp Kit Hack

Shave travel/dopp kit hack: This ugly little $0.99 soap dish from Target fits my Omega 13522 brush perfectly.

New Dopp Kit

I’ve been excited all week for my new Dopp Kit from Portland Leather. I even had my initials embossed on it.

SOTD: Saturday April 21, 2018

Concluding Cream Week with My Favorite Cream

Razor: Karve Shaving Chris Bradley Razor (C plate 3.5” handle)

Blade: Perma-Sharp (2nd use)

Brush: Bobby Moffett “Caramel Latte”

Cream: Antiga Barbearia de Bairro 

Aftershave Balm: Antiga Barbearia Principe Real

420 SOTD: Friday April 20, 2018

 

Razor: Standard Razor (Anodized Black)

Blade: Perma-Sharp (1st use)

Brush: Maggard Synthetic 24MM 

Soap: Mama Bear’s Soaps Cannabis 

Aftershave: Proraso Green

SOTD: Thursday April 19, 2018

Cream Week Day 4

Razor: Parker A1R Travel Razor 

Blade: Personna Blue (1st use)

Brush: Omega Boar Hair 

Cream: Coate’s Sandalwood 

Aftershave Balm: The Art of Shaving Unscented

SOTD: Wednesday April 18, 2018

Cream Week Day 3 

Razor: Timeless .95

Blade: Gillette Rubie (3rd use)

Bowl: Jay’s Clay 

Brush: Bobby Moffett “Caramel Latte”

Cream: C.O. Bigelow (rebranded Proraso Green)

Aftershave: Proraso Green 

I picked this tube up at a local Bath & Body Works, so check it out if you’re interested in trying this cream.

SOTD: Tuesday April 17, 2018

Cream Week Day 2

Razor: Parker A1R Travel Razor 

Blade: Personna Blue 

Brush: Omega Boar Hair 

Cream: Taylor of Old Bond Street Sandalwood 

Aftershave: Taylor of Old Bond Street Sandalwood Gel

SOTD: Monday April 16, 2018

Razor: Karve Shaving Chris Bradley Razor (C Plate, 3.5” Handle)

Blade: Gillette Rubie (2nd use)

Brush: Bobby Moffett “Caramel Latte”

Cream: Taylor of Old Bond Street St. James Collection 

Aftershave Balm: The Art of Shaving Unscented

SOTD: Sunday April 15, 2018

Razor: Karve Shaving Chris Bradley Razor (C Plate, 3.5” Handle)

Blade: Gillette Rubie (1st use)

Brush: Bobby Moffett “Caramel Latte” 

Soap: Lakewood Soap Cahaba Breeze 

Aftershave Balm: Lakewood Soap Cahaba Breeze 

Smooth sailing all around. Kick ass balm! Beautiful brush! 

SOTD: Saturday April 14, 2018

Lazy Saturday 

Razor: Karve Shaving Chris Bradley Razor (C Plate, 3.5” Handle)

Blade: Personna Blue 

Brush: Yaqi Boar Hair 

Soap: Committing Wet Shave Heresy with Williams Mug 

Aftershave Balm: Nivea

SOTD: Thursday April 12, 2018

Razor: Parker A1R Travel Razor 

Blade: Personna Blue (1st use) 

Brush: Omega 13522 Boar Hair 

Soap: Stirling Soap Noir 

Aftershave: Stirling Soap Noir 

Post Fragrance: Drakkar Noir 

For the sake of space this razor and brush are what ended up in my dopp bag and will stay there. I used the Noir both yesterday and today and loving the scent strength and longevity of it.

SOTD: Monday April 9, 2018

Razor: Rex Supply Co. Ambassador 

Blade: Gillette Nachet (3rd use

Brush: Turn-N-Shave 24MM Boss Knot 

Soap: Barrister & Mann Reserve Spice 

Aftershave: Barrister & Mann Reserve Spice 

A little dish soap and soft bristled toothbrush made the Ambassador shine. This combo hit it out of the park again.

SOTD: Sunday April 8, 2018

Razor: Timeless .95 

Blade: Gillette Nachet (2nd use)

Brush: Mühle 70th Anniversary Silvertip 

Cream: Truefitt & Hill Almond 

Aftershave Balm: The Art of Shaving Unscented

I do not break out the T&H enough. This is also my first time using an AOS product.

SOTD: Friday April 6, 2018

Razor: Blackland Razors Blackbird 

Blade: Gillette Nachet (1st use) 

Brush: That Darn Rob “Old Cahaba”

Soap: Lakewood Soap Cahaba Breeze 

Aftershave Balm: Lakewood Soap Cahaba Breeze 

Very impressed with the new balms. Consistency and post feel immediately hit it out of the park.

SOTD: Thursday April 5, 2018

Razor: 1983 Gillette Black Beauty 

Blade: Astra (4th use) 

Brush: That Darn Rob “Old Cahaba”

Soap: Oleo Soapworks El Caballero 

Aftershave Balm: Oleo Soapworks El Caballero 

One of my favorite artisan scents.

SOTD: Wednesday April 4, 2018

Razor:  Merkur Futur 

Blade: Astra (3rd use)

Brush: Turn-N-Shave 24MM Boss Knot 

Soap: Elvado Mayan Vanilla Almond  

Aftershave Balm: Proraso White 

It’s been too long since I’ve pulled out the Futur but it never disappoints. All three passes and setting 3.5. 

SOTD: Tuesday April 3, 2018

Razor: Mühle Rocca 

Blade: Astra (2nd use)

Brush: Mühle 70th Anniversary Silvertip 

Cream: Antiga Barbearia de Bairro 

Aftershave Balm: Antiga Barbearia Principe Real

SOTD: Monday April 2, 2018

Razor: West Coast Shaving Midnight Series 

Blade: Personna Blue (2nd use)

Brush: West Coast Shaving Beacon Black Synthetic 

Soap: D.R. Harris Marlborough Shave Stick 

Aftershave: D.R. Harris Marlborough

Much smoother shave with the closed comb versus its open comb counterpart.

SOTD: Sunday April 1, 2018

Razor: Feather Artist Club 

Blade: Feather Professional 

Brush: That Darn Rob “Old Cahaba”

Cream: Pré de Provence No. 63

Aftershave: Pré de Provence No. 63

I pulled out my brush not realizing this was a brushless cream, but what the hell, I ran with this setup anyway. The scent is spicy and somewhat earthy to my nose. It provided enough residual slickness for the shavette which has a tendency to not be so forgiving, but delivers some of the closest shaves.