Shave of the Day: Sunday December 30, 2018 and Monday December 31, 2018

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

Blade: Perma-Sharp (2nd use)

Brush: Rich Man Shaving “Halloween”

Soap: Barrister & Mann Seville 

Aftershave: Barrister & Mann Seville 

Post Fragrance EDT: Barrister & Mann Seville 

Just knocked out two days growth. I will keep this out for tomorrow’s New Years Eve shave too.

Shave of the Day: Friday December 28, 2018

Razor: Parker Variant (restored by Delta Echo)

Blade: Perma-Sharp (2nd use)

Brush: Rich Man Shaving with Motherload Knot 

Cream: Taylor of Old Bond Street St. James Collection 

Aftershave Balm: The Art of Shaving Unscented

Shave of the Day: Wednesday December 26, 2018

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

Blade: Personna Blue (3rd use)

Brush: DC Cosmetics Synthetic  

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

Aftershave: Proraso Green

Christmas Shave of the Day: Tuesday December 25, 2018

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

Blade: Personna Blue (2nd use)

Brush: DC Cosmetics Synthetic 

Soap: Lakewood Soap Chestnuts & Brown Sugar  

Aftershave Balm: The Art of Shaving Unscented

Shave of the Day: Saturday December 22, 2018

I asked Rich Hansen a.k.a. Rich Man Shaving if I could borrow both Timeless bronze plates that are on the market right now, and not only was he generous enough to let me borrow those but offered up a new soap and his new innovator knot to try out. 

So there is a few new things to unpack here.

Timeless Bronze .78 vs. .38: I wanted to try both versions before I took the plunge bonus time next year and bought one. I’ve heard the .78 is on “R41 level” but I found it to be more like it’s .95 sibling-more smooth and forgiving than the R41. Although the .38 was efficient and has very minimal blade feel it would be more ideal for those with sensitive skin, beginners, a daily driver or buffing. From what I noticed the bronze lineup relies more on blade exposure versus blade gap that the stainless steel and titanium lineups relies on. Both delivered efficient shaves but at the end of the day my personal preference would be the .78 version. 

Crown King CK6: The consistency, slickness and protection are all there. My success with this base came as I slowly added water as needed and it took the water like a pro! A little thirstier than what my other PAA soaps seem to be (but maybe someone with a little more experience can chime in). Doppelgänger is a nice clean cologne-like scent and I was surprised at the residual scent strength for some time after the shave. An hour or so after the shave I got a good gauge of the awesome post feel and the moisturizing effect of the soap base and Star Jelly as the initial tackiness subsided. Overall I really enjoyed this and see why people rave about the CK6 formula. 

Rich Man Shaving Finest Innovator Knot: My intention was to borrow this brush and I ended up purchasing it on the spot. The knot is an equal mixture of finest badger and synthetic giving you the best of both worlds. A good deal of heat retention and ability to exfoliate without being such a lather hog. Eyeballing it I guessed it was 24mm but Rich confirmed it was 26mm. I’m bigger guy with long fingers and found this is to be in that ideal range for comfort. I enjoyed the brush but I need to use it with some soap bases I’m a little more used to get a good gauge of it.

Shave of the Day: Friday December 21, 2018

Razor: Above the Tie (R plate) 

Blade: Astra Green (1st use)

Brush: Haircut & Shave Co. Synthetic 

Cream: Haircut & Shave Co. Bergamot 

Aftershave Balm: The Art of Shaving Unscented

Shave of the Day: Wednesday December 18, 2018

Razor: Hone Type 15

Blade: Personna Blue (1st use)

Brush:  Rich Man Shaving Handle, Motherload Knot from Strike Gold Shave 

Soap: Strike Gold Shave Clinton

Aftershave: Strike Gold Shave Clinton

EDT: Strike Gold Shave Clinton

Shave of the Day: Tuesday December 18, 2018

Razor: Timeless (.95 blade gap)

Blade: Bolzano (3rd use)

Brush: Turn-N-Shave “Serpent” 

Soap: Reef Point Soaps Classic Barbershop 

Aftershave: Reef Point Soaps Classic Barbershop

Shave of the Day: Sunday December 16, 2018 and Monday December 17, 2018

Razor: Timeless .95 Titanium 

Blade: Bolzano (1st use and 2nd use)

Brush: Turn-N-Shave “Serpent”

Cream: Baume.be

Aftershave Balm: Baume.be

Shave of the Day: Saturday December 15, 2018

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

Blade: Personna Blue (1st use)

Brush: Saw Dust Creations “Caramel Latte”

Soap: Wholly Kaw Monaco Royale

Aftershave: Wholly Kaw Monaco Royale

Shave of the Day: Friday December 14, 2018

Razor: 1959 Gillette $1.95 “Fatboy”

Blade: Personna Blue (1st use)

Brush: Vintage Ever-Ready 

Cream: Old Spice Musk 

Aftershave: Aqua Velva Musk

Shave of the Day: Wednesday December 12, 2018

Razor: Merkur 34C 

Blade: Perma-Sharp (4th use)

Brush: Maggard Synthetic 22mm Brush 

Cream: Baume.be

Aftershave Balm: Baume.be

Shave of the Day: Sunday December 9, 2018

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

Blade: Perma-Sharp (1st use)

Brush: Frank Shaving Two Band Badger  

Soap: Soap Commander Confidence 

Aftershave Balm: Soap Commander Confidence

Shave of the Day: Saturday December 8, 2018

Razor: Feather Artist Club 

Blade: Kai Captain Titan Mild (2nd use)

Brush: Turn-N-Shave “Wicked”

Soap: Black Ship Grooming Two Bits 

Aftershave: Black Ship Grooming Two Bits

Shave of the Day: Friday December 7, 2018

Razor: Feather Artist Club

Blade: Kai Captain Titan Mild (1st use)

Brush: Turn-N- Shave “Serpent”

Soap: Barrister & Mann Reserve Spice 

Aftershave: Barrister & Mann Reserve Spice

So far my favorite blades in this razor have been the mild Kai Captains. It helps mitigate it’s less-than-forgiving nature.

Shave of the Day: Thursday December 6, 2018

Razor: Yintal 

Blade: BIC Chrome Platinum (2nd use)

Brush: Maggard Synthetic 22mm in Bronze 

Soap: Strike Gold Shave Ike Shave Stick 

Aftershave: Strike Gold Shave Ike 

EDT: Strike Gold Shave Ike

I haven’t used these blades in a couple years but they seem to be better than I remember (although they still don’t crack top tier).

Shave of the Day: Tuesday December 4, 2018 and Wednesday December 5, 2018

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

Blade:  Gillette Silver Blue (3rd and 4th use)

Brush: Rich Man Shaving Handle, Motherload Knot from Strike Gold Shave 

Cream: Taylor of Old Bond Street Cedarwood 

Aftershave: Barbedeaux

Shave of the Day: Sunday December 2, 2018

Razor: 1983 Gillette Black Beauty 

Blade: Gillette Silver Blue (2nd use)

Brush: Vintage Ever-Ready  

Soap: Strike Gold Shave The Gipper

Aftershave: Strike Gold Shave The Gipper

Shave of the Day: Saturday December 1, 2018

Razor: Karve (C plate, 3.5” handle)

Blade: Gillette Silver Blue (1st use)

Brush: Rich Man Shaving Handle, Motherload Knot from Strike Gold Shave 

Soap: Cherry City Shave Products Roasted Oatmeal Stout 

Aftershave: Barbedeux