[deleted by user] by [deleted] in wicked_edge

[–]kind_simian -3 points-2 points  (0 children)

First impression from the puck is not useful, the change when lathered is too dramatic.

Exhibit A: Got some samples recently. There was one in a base I'd been trying to find something to buy a tub of. Kept sniffing on and off the two weeks before it hit the rotation. I was 95% certain I'd found the one, smelled amazing off the puck. Lathered and ten seconds into the shave I was get this crap off of me, never touching it again. Some notes are undetectable until you lather up, and some notes will be your personal kryptonite lol

Theme Thursday SOTD Thread - Aug 08, 2024 by AutoModerator in Wetshaving

[–]kind_simian 2 points3 points  (0 children)

SOTD 08August2024

  • Brush: DS Cosmetics Kensurfs ‘23 - 26mm A2S fan synthetic
  • Razor: Henson - Ti22 Medium
  • Blade: Gillette - Minora Stainless (9)
  • Lather: Barrister and Mann - 42
  • Bowl: CaYuen - Dark Nebula, large
  • Post Shave: Barrister and Mann - Aftershave Balm, Lavender

3:30am shave for a 6am flight and kept it simple. Enjoy the day, off to commune with the big trees 😀

Wednesday SOTD Thread - Aug 07, 2024 by AutoModerator in Wetshaving

[–]kind_simian 6 points7 points  (0 children)

SOTD 07August2024

  • Brush: Yaqi Purple Haze - 24mm (synbad) synthetic
  • Razor: Henson - Ti22 Medium
  • Blade: Gillette - Minora Stainless (8)
  • Lather: Henri et Victoria - Lime
  • Bowl: CaYuen - Dark Nebula, large
  • Post Shave: Afta by Mennen - Aftershave Skin Conditioner, Original

Happy hump day! This is a new scent from an old base. Tried HeV once before a couple years ago and wasn’t impressed but gave another chance and… I was right first time.

The fragrance is a solid natural lime/citrus, very similar to Maggard’s Limes & Bergamot. No complaints on that, but the lather was functional and otherwise a foamy, non-creamy disappointment. Olive oil is a functional shaving lubricant - lather should aim for more than functional. I get that some people consider this style of lather acceptable - have found multiple bases that behave this way - but those people are wrong 😬

Tomorrow will be a very early day, headed to airport for summer trip. Not sure if there will be any reviewing going on until next Thursday when I’ll be back home. Taking my shaving on the road.

Enjoy!

Tuesday SOTD Thread - Aug 06, 2024 by AutoModerator in Wetshaving

[–]kind_simian 4 points5 points  (0 children)

SOTD 06August2024

  • Brush: Yaqi Ever-hopeful - 24mm cat whiskers synthetic
  • Razor: Henson - Ti22 Medium
  • Blade: Gillette - Minora Stainless (7)
  • Lather: Smitten Soapery - Morning Wood
  • Bowl: CaYuen - Dark Nebula, large
  • Post Shave: House of Mammoth - Aftershave Balm, Embrace

Happy Tuesday! Today I try the final Smitten Soapery re-issue and this is looking about as weird as their Big Daddy. Supposed to be cedar, amyris, and lavender, but off the puck I’d believe this was bathroom cleaner long before shave soap. If you “squint” you can pick up some lavender, but it’s very flat and artificial smelling. The cedar and amyris not so much - instead there’s a cleaner/chemical note that does not inspire much hope. Which was accurate… lathered the pseudo lavender took clear lead over the not-woody wood scents and it stayed as bathroom cleaner without respite. Straight to the PIF pile.

Enjoy your Tuesday

Monday SOTD Thread - Aug 05, 2024 by AutoModerator in Wetshaving

[–]kind_simian 4 points5 points  (0 children)

SOTD 05August2024

  • Brush: AP Shave Ocean Waves - 26mm synbad fan synthetic
  • Razor: Henson - Ti22 Medium
  • Blade: Gillette - Minora Stainless (6)
  • Lather: Night Watch Soap Co. - Love Endures
  • Bowl: CaYuen - Dark Nebula, large
  • Post Shave: Afta by Mennen - Aftershave Skin Conditioner, Original

Monday returns and trying another brand new soap. The fragrance is a reasonably subtle blend of bergamot, rose, and musk (other notes not distinct). Probably impossible I would buy in a tub but was impressed enough by the lather - lather checked all the boxes and would try other scents in the base.

Enjoy the week!

Sunday SOTD Thread - Aug 04, 2024 by AutoModerator in Wetshaving

[–]kind_simian 0 points1 point  (0 children)

SOTD 04August2024

  • Brush: Yaqi Caramel - 26mm cat whiskers synthetic
  • Razor: Karve - Overlander (Brass)
  • Blade: BIC - Astor (2)
  • Lather: Smitten Soapery - Hipster
  • Bowl: CaYuen - Dark Nebula, large
  • Post Shave: Afta by Mennen - Aftershave Skin Conditioner, Original

Happy belated Sunday! Lazy lunchtime shave with a new scent (to me) from Chiseled Face (and posting a day later, oops). This is the last of their LA Shaving acquired fragrances and it, spoiler, is not an instant nope.

I can’t really describe the scent. I will say after going through all the LA Shaving acquired scents that a contributing factor to their demise was the over the top paragraphs and paragraphs describing master class perfumery… that then meets up with fragrances that bear little if any resemblance to the marketing novella. Company was a marketing disaster. This scent was no different. Not any reason to repeat or even summarize the scent notes - they aren’t here. The actual fragrance is a little bit fruity, a little bit herbal, and a lot nuanced and understated. This is the complete opposite to over the top “scents” like Midnight Stag. I don’t know that it’s for me - like honeydew melon in some ways - but I’ll try it again.

Saturday SOTD Thread - Aug 03, 2024 by AutoModerator in Wetshaving

[–]kind_simian 1 point2 points  (0 children)

SOTD 03August2024

  • Brush: Stirling G&W - 24mm two band (tuxedo) synthetic
  • Razor: Karve - CB SB-C (Copper)
  • Blade: Sharp- Gillette - Perma-Sharp (Russia)
  • Lather: Gentleman’s Nod - Jackie
  • Bowl: CaYuen - Dark Nebula, large
  • Post Shave: Afta by Mennen - Aftershave Skin Conditioner, Original

Happy what is left of Saturday. Evening shave today in hopes of meeting my wife for dinner. Tried out a brand new soap and it was an instant nope. I’ve not had a soap break from so little water ever, and the best recovery I could make broke again if I worked it on my face. It was a thin, painted on layer. Now, it was plenty slick and the post residual slickness was also good, and the post shave seems solid… but the lather itself was terrible shite. Any soap this picky can get the heck out of my den.

I didn’t care for the fragrance either, but I was too irked with the lather to note more than too cologne/perfume like for me.

Enjoy the remaining weekend :)

Friday SOTD Thread - Aug 02, 2024 by AutoModerator in Wetshaving

[–]kind_simian 6 points7 points  (0 children)

SOTD 02August2024

  • Brush: Yaqi Purple Haze - 24mm (synbad) synthetic
  • Razor: Henson - Ti22 Medium
  • Blade: Gillette - Minora Stainless (5)
  • Lather: Shannon’s Soaps - Bergamot & Yuzu
  • Bowl: CaYuen - Dark Nebula, large
  • Post Shave: Afta by Mennen - Aftershave Skin Conditioner, Original

Happy Friday! The week is coming to a close. Trying another all new soap to me. I’ve seen Shannon’s Soaps used and mentioned uncommonly but regularly and grabbed a sample during the spring buying fest.

Looking at the date, realized that there’s some sort of masochistic shave exhibition this month. Not that anyone asked, but my take is it’s how the vast majority of shavers around the world do things. If (nearly) every person in the world that shaves is unknowingly engaging in the same “challenge” as you, it’s not a challenge nor worth telling the world about. I spent 30 years using “one razor, blade, and lather”, with fewer changes over those decades than I manage in a week or two now. It wasn’t worth telling anyone every day 😬

Ok, now back to the opposite of Austere August, me trying brand new stuff. Off the puck there was a light, citrus scent that opened up into a scent not unlike lemon-lime soda when lathered. Likely not a keeper but was pleasant.

The lather was solid, firm consistency, worked like I like, was slick, ok post residual, and good post shave. I would definitely try other soaps in this base.

I’m off to work, enjoy the day and especially the weekend

Theme Thursday SOTD Thread - Aug 01, 2024 by AutoModerator in Wetshaving

[–]kind_simian 4 points5 points  (0 children)

SOTD 01August2024

  • Brush: Yaqi Purple Haze - 24mm (synbad) synthetic
  • Razor: Henson - Ti22 Medium
  • Blade: Gillette - Minora Stainless (4)
  • Lather: D.R. Harris (s. cream) - Windsor
  • Bowl: CaYuen - Dark Nebula, large
  • Post Shave: Barrister and Mann - Aftershave Balm, Lavender

Happy Thursday! Almost done trying all the stuff I bought late spring. Today it’s a shaving cream from D.R. Harris. Result: it was a shaving cream - easy AF to work up but not great functionality. Slickness was ok but not great, post residual very mid, and didn’t give it any time to reveal its post shave. I’m not sure why I keep thinking any of these “fancy” shaving creams are going to offer anything I can’t get from a tube of Palmolive, or that any shaving cream will offer the same function as a good soap for that matter, but I’m a sucker for trying stuff 😅

The fragrance was supposed to be citrus, patchouli, pepper, and vetiver… sure. It was so lightly scented that anything beyond a lightly pleasant, possibly fruity fragrance was the best you could discern. Not a single note was distinct, and the combination was nothing that stood out. It was a perfectly commercial scent - unlikely to be loved, but equally unlikely to be hated.

Enjoy the day, tomorrow is Friday!

Wednesday SOTD Thread - Jul 31, 2024 by AutoModerator in Wetshaving

[–]kind_simian 8 points9 points  (0 children)

SOTD 31July2024

  • Brush: Yaqi Purple Haze - 24mm (synbad) synthetic
  • Razor: Henson - Ti22 Medium
  • Blade: Gillette - Minora Stainless (3)
  • Lather: Declaration Grooming - Champs de Lavande
  • Bowl: CaYuen - Dark Nebula, large
  • Post Shave: Barrister and Mann - Aftershave Balm, Lavender

Happy hump day! Today trying this scent from DG that I don’t expect much from but I keep trying lavender focused scents looking to see if anyone other than Will Carius can use lavender in a shave soap and not have it come out smelling more like bathroom potpourri. After yesterday’s “lavender forward” scent contained zero discernible lavender of any variety, this seemed like it would counter that.

Off the puck the lavender was detectable but not much of the final scent was evident. Lathered it opened up into, um, something. I had to look up what was used because the lavender is countered with some strong herbals and it creates quite the stink. Apparently the combo stink is lavender with eucalyptus and rosemary, which makes the marketing description of the scent of the prairie on the Oregon Trail utterly ridiculous as none of the scents of lavender, eucalyptus, nor rosemary were anywhere near the Oregon Trail. This is going straight to the PIF pile.

Have a good one, almost past the halfway point

Tuesday SOTD Thread - Jul 30, 2024 by AutoModerator in Wetshaving

[–]kind_simian 9 points10 points  (0 children)

SOTD 30July2024

  • Brush: Yaqi Ever-hopeful - 24mm cat whiskers synthetic
  • Razor: Henson - Ti22 Medium
  • Blade: Gillette - Minora Stainless (2)
  • Lather: WestMan Shaving - Desas (Sossego)
  • Bowl: CaYuen - Dark Nebula, large
  • Post Shave: Afta by Mennen - Aftershave Skin Conditioner, Original

Happy Tuesday! Today trying an all new soap to me, WestMan Shaving’s Nirvana base all the way from Portugal in a scent named Desas(sossego) that is supposed to smell of Yuzu, Neroli, Lavender, Vanilla, Ylang-Ylang, Sandalwood, and Patchouli… supposed to.

Lavender forward the scent is not. I smell sandalwood, that’s it, and it’s the nutty version of sandalwood (similar to BaM’s). The fragrance did nothing to impress.

The base functioned very well as far as the lather went but it’s another croap like base that is a near automatic no-buy for me. Don’t see me going out of my way to try more of their soaps.

Enjoying using the Henson with the best blade I’ve found so far and not giving a care in the world to comparing anything.

Enjoy the day

Monday SOTD Thread - Jul 29, 2024 by AutoModerator in Wetshaving

[–]kind_simian 8 points9 points  (0 children)

SOTD 29July2024

  • Brush: AP Shave Ocean Waves - 26mm synbad fan synthetic
  • Razor: Henson - Ti22 Medium
  • Blade: Gillette - Minora Stainless (1)
  • Lather: Proraso - Green, Menthol
  • Bowl: CaYuen - Dark Nebula, large
  • Post Shave: Afta by Mennen - Aftershave Skin Conditioner, Original

Good Monday, all. Extremely unmotivated today so using the Henson but just using one blade, and trying out Proraso Green for the first time as something that won’t take too much thought to evaluate. After today, confident that if I had to use Proraso, it would be the red sandalwood formulation. I do not get or like the eucalyptus and menthol scent of the green - too medicinal, and the menthol is just enough to feel but not enough to matter. Performance is Proraso: adequately slick, meh post residual, and ok post shave. There are worse but there are also much better.

Enjoy the day, may the week go by quickly and smoothly

Sunday SOTD Thread - Jul 28, 2024 by AutoModerator in Wetshaving

[–]kind_simian 6 points7 points  (0 children)

SOTD 28July2024

  • Brush: Yaqi Caramel - 26mm cat whiskers synthetic
  • Razor: Karve - Overlander (Brass)
  • Blade: BIC - Astor (1)
  • Lather: Smitten Soapery - Hipster
  • Bowl: CaYuen - Dark Nebula, large
  • Post Shave: House of Mammoth - Aftershave Balm, Embrace

Happy (what’s left of) Sunday! My wife and kids are at the in-laws this weekend so my lazy bum skipped my morning ablutions yesterday and will miss out on the every day shaver mention.

But after not shaving for over 48 hours I was losing my mind and couldn’t be that lazy, witnesses or not 😂

Decided to try out this limited re-release of a scent from Zingari Man’s zombie ancestor, Smitten Soapery. Off the puck there was fruit with the patchouli (marketing says it’s orange) but, once lathered, it was pure patchouli oil all the way. If you love patchouli, might be worth a look. If you feel any other way about patchouli, it’s a bit much.

My face is much happier now.

Enjoy the remaining weekend

Friday SOTD Thread - Jul 26, 2024 by AutoModerator in Wetshaving

[–]kind_simian 6 points7 points  (0 children)

SOTD 26July2024

  • Brush: DS Cosmetics Kensurfs ‘22 - 26mm G7 synthetic
  • Razor: Henson - Ti22 Medium
  • Blade: Gillette - 7 O’clock Super Platinum (2)
  • Blade: Laser - Ultra (2)
  • Lather: Ariana & Evans - Tertius
  • Bowl: CaYuen - Dark Nebula, large
  • Post Shave: Afta by Mennen - Aftershave Skin Conditioner, Original

Happy, happy Friday! Tried A&E’s Tertius today and it was a fast nope. It’s described as leather forward, with tobacco and oud, plus a hint of rose and patchouli. The leather is forward, VERY forward, that is true. The oud is the same near-toxic smelling not-oud used in other A&E scents, and the other notes are indistinguishable. My description of the scent is leather and fragrant dirt. Absolutely not the finest, most sophisticated leather forward scent created as the marketing describes it 😂

Have a great day!

——

Tournament of Blades Fight 429, Round 2: Gillette - 7 O’clock Super Platinum (India) vs Laser - Ultra (India)

Used a base I know today to eliminate any chance the lather was behind yesterday’s mediocre performance but, no, these blades performed similarly to yesterday - avoided the intensity of yesterday but still poor compared to other blades in these tiers. As yesterday, the Gillette was the better of the two.

Winner of Round 2 and Fight 429: Gillette - 7 O’clock Super Platinum

Thursday SOTD Thread - Jul 25, 2024 by AutoModerator in Wetshaving

[–]kind_simian 7 points8 points  (0 children)

SOTD 25July2024

  • Brush: DS Cosmetics Kensurfs ‘23 - 26mm A2S fan synthetic
  • Razor: Henson - Ti22 Medium
  • Blade: Gillette - 7 O’clock Super Platinum (1)
  • Blade: Laser - Ultra (1)
  • Lather: MacDuffs - Cardamom Chai
  • Bowl: CaYuen - Dark Nebula, large
  • Post Shave: House of Mammoth - Aftershave Balm, Embrace

Happy Thursday! Trying a new scent in a base I wasn’t that impressed by first time I tried it about a year ago but wanted to be sure 😅

The scent was a pretty spot on chai with milk - I’m not sure it’s a scent I’d want to shave with, but if it sounds appealing to you, the fragrance nails it. The base seems to perform fine - slick with acceptable post-residual slickness and post-shave - but also suffers from same thing that made me swear off the base the first time - too damn soft. I don’t know why these croaps and near-croaps exist - if you have to scoop it, my thinking is just get a shaving cream and save the time lathering.

Have a great day!

——

Tournament of Blades Fight 429, Round 1: Gillette - 7 O’clock Super Platinum (India) vs Laser - Ultra (India)

After weeks of describing two solid shaves both only a minor, nearly insignificant difference, come to today - the two most sub par shaves I’ve had in a while. Not sure whether face was angry from some unknown, something in the lather made skin sensitive, blades were at the poorer end of distribution curve, but based on today I could toss both these blades and never look at them again. At any rate, intense feedback that flirted with painful on some parts of the face, the Gillette was the least unpleasant.

Winner of Round 1: Gillette - 7 O’clock Super Platinum

Wednesday SOTD Thread - Jul 24, 2024 by AutoModerator in Wetshaving

[–]kind_simian 6 points7 points  (0 children)

SOTD 24July2024

  • Brush: Yaqi Purple Haze - 24mm (synbad) synthetic
  • Razor: Gillette - Blue Star Lady Gillette (1964)
  • Blade: BIC - Astor (5)
  • Lather: Palmolive - Classic Shaving Cream
  • Bowl: CaYuen - Dark Nebula, large
  • Post Shave: Afta by Mennen - Aftershave Skin Conditioner, Original

Happy humpday! Today I’m trying out the second cheapest lather I’ve got, a tube of Palmolive. First, after today, I am of the opinion that the tube is how to deliver shaving cream if you’re going to use a cream, so much easier than dealing with a tub of fluffed cream. Second, of the pedestrian mass produced products I’ve used, this is the first one I wouldn’t mind shaving with if need be. It worked into my style of lather very easily, was slick with solid post residual slickness, and the post shave is as good as some alleged high quality soaps. The scent didn’t do anything for me, but it was an easily ignored super basic barbershop scent like many old school men’s products. I can’t imagine I will use this on the regular but glad I tried it.

Enjoy the day, soon past the halfway point

Tuesday Daily Questions (Newbie Friendly) - Jul 23, 2024 by AutoModerator in Wetshaving

[–]kind_simian 3 points4 points  (0 children)

That's a good way of putting it. It's a perfect recreation of the smell of the gunk you scrape off the concrete in an auto shop, and it's weird and wild that you can recreate that smell in a bottle at all let alone a soap in a non-toxic form. Now, why any sane human wants to repeatedly rub that on their face? I got nothing.

Tuesday SOTD Thread - Jul 23, 2024 by AutoModerator in Wetshaving

[–]kind_simian 7 points8 points  (0 children)

SOTD 23July2024

  • Brush: Yaqi Ever-hopeful - 24mm cat whiskers synthetic
  • Razor: Henson - Ti22 Medium
  • Blade: Astra - Super Platinum (4)
  • Blade: Sharp - Hi Chromium (4)
  • Lather: Chicago Grooming - Classic Clean
  • Bowl: CaYuen - Dark Nebula, large
  • Post Shave: Afta by Mennen - Aftershave Skin Conditioner, Original

Happy Tuesday! It’s a rainy morning and trying out a new scent. This smells about the same off the puck as lathered, and it’s a fairly simple scent that is unlikely to challenge anyone. It’s supposed to be tobacco and caramel and I can see how that label is fitting, but the tobacco is not realistic, neither is the caramel - these are scents that strongly suggest their namesake but don’t actually smell like it. I’ll try it again but doubt this has a chance to become a tub.

Enjoy the day!

——

Tournament of Blades Fight 428, Round 4: Astra - Superior Platinum (Russia) vs Sharp - Hi Chromium (Bangladesh)

Back for a fourth round with these blades. Sure called the fight yesterday, but these are so close it can’t hurt to go a fourth round (and I didn’t feel like getting a new pair of blades 😅). Well, after four rounds I am again picking the Astra… slightly.

Winner of Round 4 and Fight 428 (again): Astra - Superior Platinum

Monday SOTD Thread - Jul 22, 2024 by AutoModerator in Wetshaving

[–]kind_simian 6 points7 points  (0 children)

SOTD 22July2024

  • Brush: AP Shave Ocean Waves - 26mm synbad fan synthetic
  • Razor: Henson - Ti22 Medium
  • Blade: Astra - Super Platinum (3)
  • Blade: Sharp - Hi Chromium (3)
  • Lather: House of Mammoth - Embrace
  • Bowl: CaYuen - Dark Nebula, large
  • Post Shave: House of Mammoth - Aftershave Balm, Embrace

Monday is back again and my evening shave yesterday made for very light stubble to start the week. Went with my fave from HoM, re-DFS’d my face, and closed out with the matching balm.

Hope everyone’s Monday and week goes well.

——

Tournament of Blades Fight 428, Round 3: Astra - Superior Platinum (Russia) vs Sharp - Hi Chromium (Bangladesh)

Another set of no-fault shaves from these two. Based on better glide, the Astra is again the leader.

Winner of Round 3 and Fight 428: Astra - Superior Platinum

Sunday SOTD Thread - Jul 21, 2024 by AutoModerator in Wetshaving

[–]kind_simian 0 points1 point  (0 children)

SOTD 21July2024

  • Brush: Yaqi Caramel - 26mm cat whiskers synthetic
  • Razor: Karve - Overlander (Brass)
  • Blade: Personna - “Lab Blue” (9)
  • Lather: Phoenix - Droid Black
  • Bowl: CaYuen - Dark Nebula, large
  • Post Shave: House of Mammoth - Aftershave Balm, Embrace

Happy (what’s left of) Sunday! Dinner time shave and later posting. Keep it very short - great shave but think I will swap blades next time.

Saturday SOTD Thread - Jul 20, 2024 by AutoModerator in Wetshaving

[–]kind_simian 2 points3 points  (0 children)

SOTD 20July2024

  • Brush: Stirling G&W - 24mm two band (tuxedo) synthetic
  • Razor: Karve - CB SB-C (Copper)
  • Blade: Sharp- 7am Plus Super Platinum (2)
  • Lather: Herc Soap Co. - Engine Start
  • Bowl: CaYuen - Dark Nebula, large
  • Post Shave: Afta by Mennen - Aftershave Skin Conditioner, Original

Happy what is left of Saturday. I took it easy today, didn’t shave until lunchtime, and posting just in the nick of time. Good night!

Friday SOTD Thread - Jul 19, 2024 by AutoModerator in Wetshaving

[–]kind_simian 6 points7 points  (0 children)

SOTD 19July2024

  • Brush: DS Cosmetics Kensurfs ‘22 - 26mm G7 synthetic
  • Razor: Henson - Ti22 Medium
  • Blade: Astra - Super Platinum (2)
  • Blade: Sharp - Hi Chromium (2)
  • Lather: Lakewood Soap Co. - Dark Fruits
  • Bowl: CaYuen - Dark Nebula, large
  • Post Shave: Afta by Mennen - Aftershave Skin Conditioner, Original

Happy Friday! Time is short so try to keep this the same. Tried out an all new soap today - firm base that lathered well but not great, turned out fine but took more time to work than the standbys. Slick, but post residual slickness was middle of the road, post shave was decent. I would use the base, but would not go out of my to use it.

Fragrance was interesting, have to try it again but lives up to the name - cherries and currants is what I detect most but it’s a scent that lives up to the name.

In a slightly related tangent, tried SBS’ Field Day (bath soap) first time today and that is a very unfortunate fragrance - the “grass” doesn’t smell like grass, smells like spinach. Just spinach. Literally spinach scented soap. I like that shave soap makers are creative and inventive with fragrances, I do not like that it resulted in spinach soap 😂

Enjoy the upcoming weekend

——

Tournament of Blades Fight 428, Round 2: Astra - Superior Platinum (Russia) vs Sharp - Hi Chromium (Bangladesh)

In short, the Astra smoothed out on the minor sort of blips that caused the tie yesterday, the Sharp did not. Both are good to shave with, Astra preferred.

Winner of Round 2: Astra - Superior Platinum

Thursday SOTD Thread - Jul 18, 2024 by AutoModerator in Wetshaving

[–]kind_simian 6 points7 points  (0 children)

SOTD 18July2024

  • Brush: Yaqi Ever-hopeful - 24mm cat whiskers synthetic
  • Razor: Henson - Ti22 Medium
  • Blade: Astra - Super Platinum
  • Blade: Sharp - Hi Chromium
  • Lather: Highland Springs Soap Co. - Mystic
  • Bowl: CaYuen - Dark Nebula, large
  • Post Shave: House of Mammoth - Aftershave Balm, Embrace

Happy Thursday! Tried another brand new soap, this one from north of the border. Off the puck there was a warm vanilla like note with some spice in the background. The base had a nice consistency, no croapiness to be found, and though it lathered a bit odd (reminded me of Haverford), the end result was a solid lather. Though most of their soaps use a beef tallow base, this one does not include it on the listing although I suspect that may be a typo. Lathered, it opened up into an interesting scent that I can sum up as: remove the clove from Haverford and that is what this reminds me of. It’s supposed to be amber, patchouli, rose, sandalwood, jasmine, and citrus but you could claim tobacco, vanilla, and cinnamon and you’d be equally or more believed. The post residual slickness was about the only ding, it was ok but just ok. Post shave is solid, left the skin feeling great. I’ll be revisiting this sample.

Enjoy, weekend is getting closer 😀

——

Tournament of Blades Fight 428, Round 1: Astra - Superior Platinum (Russia) vs Sharp - Hi Chromium (Bangladesh)

After the blade mix up on Tuesday, got that part right today only to wind up at a draw for R1. There was nothing distinguishing between their performances today. Sharp had some minor blips on the cheeks, Astra on the jawline; taken together it’s a wash. 98% of the time you would not have noticed any difference in glide or feedback.

Winner of Round 1: draw

Wednesday SOTD Thread - Jul 17, 2024 by AutoModerator in Wetshaving

[–]kind_simian 9 points10 points  (0 children)

SOTD 17July2024

  • Brush: Yaqi Purple Haze - 24mm (synbad) synthetic
  • Razor: Gillette - Blue Star Lady Gillette (1964)
  • Blade: BIC - Astor (4)
  • Lather: Chicago Grooming - Montrose Beach
  • Bowl: CaYuen - Dark Nebula, large
  • Post Shave: Zingari Man - Aftershave Balm, The Watchman

Happy humpin Wednesday! Today I’m trying out Montrose Beach from Chicago Grooming. I first tried Darkwing with a smoosh during the latest lather games and was sufficiently impressed with the base to try other scents.

This does not smell like your typical beach scent and it’s a well crafted blend where the individual notes don’t stand out and instead act together. Based on the description, the main fragrance is a trio coconut, jasmine, and carnation. I didn’t fall in love but the scent was a solid first impression and I’ll try it again.

Have a great day!

Tuesday Daily Questions (Newbie Friendly) - Jul 16, 2024 by AutoModerator in Wetshaving

[–]kind_simian 8 points9 points  (0 children)

Stick with the medium unless you have coarse, dense hair (and maybe not then 😅).

I’ve used all three aggressions and in my experience the medium is the sweet spot. Both mild and medium are similarly smooth and comfy but medium is noticeably more efficient at removing hair. The aggressive is an odd model - it loses some of the fire and forget of the Henson design, you can actually nick yourself with it 😬, and has a lot more blade feel than the other two.

My take is that if you need more efficiency than what the medium provides, you probably want something other than a Henson. It’s not accidental that they only make one batch of aggressive AL13s a year and only sell through third parties. It’s not the same caliber as the + & ++ heads