SOTD: Friday August 31, 2018

Frugal Friday 

Razor: Parker 87R

Blade: Feather (1st use)

Brush: Frank Shaving Two Band Badger 

Soap: Proraso White 

Aftershave Balm: Proraso White

SOTD: Thursday August 30, 2018

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

Blade: Bolzano (4th use)

Brush: Frank Shaving Two Band Badger 

Cream: Baume.be

Aftershave Balm: Baume.be

SOTD: Tuesday August 28, 2018

Razor: Timeless .95

Blade: Personna Red (1st use)

Brush: Saw Dust Creations “Caramel Latte”

Soap: Strike Gold Shave Taft

Aftershave: Strike Gold Shave Taft

SOTD: Sunday August 26, 2018 and Monday August 27, 2018

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

Blade:  Bolzano (2nd and 3rd use)

Brush: Frank Shaving 26mm Silvertip 

Cream: Taylor of Old Bond Street Cedarwood 

Aftershave: Barbedeaux

SOTD: Saturday August 25, 2018

Razor: Parker Variant (restored by Delta Echo)

Blade: Bolzano (1st use)

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

Soap: Central Texas Soaps Weekend Rodeo

Aftershave: Barbedeux 

I forgot how good the lather consistency is on this soap. I bowl lathered mine (like I do with all softer soaps) in my Jay’s Clay shaving bowl. Anyone who is a fan of Declaration Grooming’s Cuir et Épices would probably be a fan of this since they share the same top notes notably tobacco and leather.

SOTD: Friday August 24, 2018

Razor: Merkur Futur 

Blade: Bolzano (5th use)

Brush: Frank Shaving Two Band Badger 

Cream: Taylor of Old Bond Street Coconut 

Aftershave Balm: The Art of Shaving Unscented

Deciding to revisit some old products that fell out of my regular rotation. Like yesterday with the Rex Ambassador the first two passes were done on setting 2 and the final pass on setting 1.

SOTD: Thursday August 23, 2018

Razor: Rex Ambassador 

Blade: Bolzano (4th use)

Brush: Turn-N-Shave “Wicked”

Soap: WSP Black Amber Vanille 

Aftershave: WSP Black Amber Vanille

EDP: WSP Black Amber Vanille

First two passes on setting 2 (with he grain and across the grain) and final pass (against the grain) on setting 1. I’ve determined for me the Ambassador’s smoothest shaves are on the lower settings without sacrificing comfort or closeness.

SOTD: Wednesday August 22, 2018

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

Blade: Bolzano (3rd use)

Brush: Omega Boar Hair 

Cream: Antiga Barbearia de Bairro 

Aftershave Balm: Antiga Barbearia Principe Real

SOTD: Monday August 20, 2018 and Tuesday August 21, 2018

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

Blade: Bolzano (1st and 2nd use)

Brush: Frank Shaving Two Band Badger 

Soap: Strike Gold Shave Taft

Aftershave: Strike Gold Shave Taft 

My second favorite scent from Strike Gold Shave (Clinton reigns supreme).

SOTD: Sunday August 19, 2018

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

Blade: Family Dollar Brand  (2nd use)

Brush: Saw Dust Creations “Caramel Latte”

Cream: Baume.be

Aftershave Balm: Baume.be

SOTD: Saturday August 18, 2018

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

Blade: Family Dollar Brand (1st use)

Brush: Rich Man Shaving, Motherload Knot 

Soap: Lakewood Soap Teakwood 

Aftershave: Barbedeaux

SOTD: Friday August 17, 2018

Razor: Timeless (.95 blade gap)

Blade: Gillette Wilkinson Sword (3rd use)

Brush: Saw Dust Creations “Caramel Latte”

Soap: WSP Black Amber Vanille 

Aftershave: WSP Black Amber Vanille

EDP: WSP Black Amber Vanille

SOTD: Thursday August 16, 2018

Razor: Timeless (.95 blade gap)

Blade: Gillette Wilkinson Sword (2nd use)

Brush: Turn-N-Shave “Wicked) 

Soap: Barrister & Mann Night Music 

Aftershave: Barrister & Mann Night Music

Listening to the Queen of Soul all this morning while cleaning house. One of the all time greats.

Budget SOTD: Wednesday August 15, 2018

Razor: Yintal 

Blade: Souplex (3rd use)

Brush: Omega Boar Hair 

Cream: Omega Eucalipto 

Aftershave: Clubman Pinaud  

I’ve heard this cream is similar to Proraso Green but I don’t pick up on that at all. This comes off more like Vicks Vapor Rub (but I actually find this more enjoyable believe it or not).

SOTD: Tuesday August 14, 2018

Late Afternoon Shave 

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

Blade: Gillette Wilkinson Sword (1st use)

Brush: Saw Dust Creations “Caramel Latte”

Soap: The Shaving Shop Barbershop Poivre Rosé

Aftershave: The Shaving Shop Barbershop Poivre Rosé

I’ve been telling Peter Charkalis “Charky” for years this is one of my favorite scents.

SOTD: Monday August 13, 2018

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

Blade: Gillette Silver Blue (4th use)

Brush: Frank Shaving Two Band Badger 

Soap: Stirling Sharp Dressed Man 

Aftershave: Stirling Sharp Dressed Man 

Beard Oil: Stirling Sharp Dressed Man 

Back to one of my favorite artisan produced scents. I must say this brush is fantastic. The handle is very comfortable and knot is in that sweet spot of sizes. The beard oil has given my dirty blonde goatee a lively amount of sheen.

SOTD: Sunday August 12, 2018

Razor: Blackland Blackbird (polished, open comb)

Blade: Gillette Silver Blue (3rd use)

Brush: Frank Shaving Two Band Badger 

Cream: Baume.be

Aftershave Balm: Baume.be 

Post Fragrance: Drakkar Noir

Near baby butt smooth with one pass.

SOTD: Saturday August 11, 2018

Razor: Rex Ambassador 

Blade: Gillette Silver Blue (2nd use)

Brush: Frank Shaving Two Band Badger 

Cream: DeLuxe Shaving Doo-Wop Barbershop Citrus 

Aftershave Balm: DeLuxe Shaving Doo-Wop Barbershop Citrus

Bowl: Jay’s Clay

Vintage SOTD: Friday August 10, 2018

Razor: 1929 to 1931 Gillette Big Boy/Fellow 

Blade: Gillette Silver Blue 

Brush: Vintage Rubberset?

Soap: Contemporary Williams Mug 

Aftershave: Aqua Velva Musk
Bowl: Jay’s Clay

I have a puck of vintage Williams sent from my Grandma but when I went to open the box it was still in the wrapping (this stuff had wrapping?!) so I am keeping it unopened and unused for now.

SOTD: Thursday August 9, 2018

Razor: Timeless .95 

Blade: Souplex (2nd use)

Brush: Vulfix Pure Badger 

Cream: Baume.be

Aftershave Balm: Baume.be 

Post Fragrance: Drakkar Noir

The Souplex blades seem to be smooth and mid-range on sharpness; not the worst I’ve tried nor the best I’ve tried. I’ve already worked my way through the top layer of this jar of Baume.be.

SOTD: Wednesday August 8, 2018

Razor: Yintal 

Blade: Souplex (1st use)

Brush: Maggard Synthetic 22mm in Bronze 

Soap: WSP Black Amber Vanille 

Aftershave: WSP Black Amber Vanille 

EDT: WSP Black Amber Vanille

Using this razor while on vacation I found myself mastering one pass plus a touch up with it (due to time constraints). Today I did the same thing versus the usual two or three pass and found the shave I got to be rather close and comfortable. This razor is amazingly efficient. 

SOTD: Tuesday August 7, 2018

Razor: Rex Ambassador 

Blade: Personna Red (4th use)

Brush: Turn-N-Shave “Wicked”

Cream: Baume.be

Aftershave: Baume.be

Baume.be is becoming more of daily driver for me. I maintain this is the best cream on the market.

Razor Review: Standard Razor

 In 2015 when I started this hobby this was one of the first three razors I purchased and for the most part it got lost in my rotation with the occasional effort to use it, but lately it’s working it’s way back in to regular use.

 First a little background: The company is based out of Los Angeles, CA and the razor itself is produced in China out of aircraft grade aluminum. It’s a very minimalistic design and available in three colors through an anodizing process (raw, gun metal and black).

 I always associated the head design with the visually similar and commonly replicated DE89, but this has more blade exposure making it a more efficient experience. The blade gap itself seems to be the same or maybe the Standard Razor has a slight amount more than the DE89. Although I hesitate to use the word “aggressive” since the shaving experience is pretty forgiving and doesn’t require quite the steady hand let’s say a R41 or even a Timeless .95 might; I would personally rate this on the more efficient side of mid-range. With the right blade pairing it performs smoothly and glides along with no resistance or drag. One unique component to this razor is the thread is on the handle versus the head essentially making them proprietary to one another, or to at least to a majority of razors on the market. For someone like me who doesn’t typically do the whole “Frankenrazor” or mix-and-matching of heads and handles this is not a problem. I also haven’t found the lack of knurling to be an issue either. Made of aluminum naturally it falls on the lighter side and might not work for those who prefer a little heft.

 Due to it’s level of efficiency there is significant stubble reduction on the first pass making this one of the few razors I can put in the “one pass wonder” category or one that gives a comfortable three pass. 

SOTD: Monday August 6, 2018

Razor: Standard Razor (anodized black)

Blade: Personna Red (3rd use)

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

Soap: Barrister & Mann Reserve Spice 

Aftershave: Barrister & Mann Reserve Spice

SOTD: Sunday August 5, 2018

Razor: Standard Razor 

Blade: Personna Red (2nd use)

Brush: Turn-N-Shave “Wicked”

Soap: Denman Jack Dean 

Aftershave: Denman Jack Dean 

I wanted a more pleasant and less medicinal eucalyptus scent after using the Omega tube cream yesterday (although a great performer for the price). I would venture to say this is the best eucalyptus scented product I own (not necessarily the best on the market) and then paired with the C.O. Bigelow Exlixir Green cologne. The Standard Razor did not disappoint and is becoming more of a staple in my rotation. I always associated the head design with the visually similar DE89 but this has more blade exposure and is more efficient.

SOTD: Saturday August 4, 2018

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

Blade: Personna Red (1st use)

Brush: Omega Boar Hair 

Cream: Omega Eucalipto 

Aftershave: Proraso Green

I sense a beginning of an eucalyptus kick. This cream is pleasant and has adequate performance for its price range but has that artificial eucalyptus scent that reminds one of Vicks Vapor Rub. 

SOTD: Friday August 3, 2018

Razor: Yintal 

Blade: Polsilver (4th use)

Brush: Maggard Synthetic 22mm in Bronze 

Soap: Tabac Shave Stick 

Aftershave: Tabac 

Aftershave Balm: Tabac 

Dopp Kit: Portland Leather

SOTD: Thursday August 2, 2018

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

Blade: Polsilver (3rd use) 

Brush: Saw Dust Creations “Caramel Latte”

Soap: Reef Point Soaps Espresso 

Aftershave: Reef Point Soaps Espresso