Sep. 12, 2023
- Brush: Yaqi 26mm Synthetic
- Razor: Karve Overlander
- Blade: Sharp Durablade
- Lather: Wholly Kaw - Nightcap - Soap
- Post Shave: Wholly Kaw - Nightcap - Aftershave
Good shave. This scent is still one of my favourites it’s just fun.
This is a community of enthusiasts, hobbyists and artisans who enjoy a traditional wet shave: brush, soap, and safety or straight razor. We are a part of the WetShaving community found on Reddit, Discord, and IRC.
New subscribers welcome!
Please visit our wiki, which is always and forever a work in progress.
https://gem.wetshaving.social - a nice modern interface
https://old.wetshaving.social - designed to look like old.reddit.com
Our sister Mastodon instance is https://wetshaving.social.
Be Respectful. Do not bully, flame, or harass others.
Malicious comments are not allowed but heated discussion and salty banter is okay.
Low effort replies and complaints about content will be removed.
Mail Calls, Simple Questions, and SOTD posts belong in the recurring weekly threads.
Posts must have sufficient content to generate a meaningful discussion.
Images, links, or videos must include additional text that summarizes the topic.
Use [First Impressions] in the title if your experience with the product is limited.
Use the [Review] in the title if you can provide comprehensive details with enough familiarity to answer follow-up questions.
Disclose how the product being reviewed was acquired (e.g., PIF, loan, or purchase). If the product was provided to you directly by the maker or vendor free of charge or at a discount, you must disclose this fact even if the item will later be returned to the maker or vendor.
Vendors are to keep marketing within the biweekly Deals/New Products threads.
Non-vendors may post topics about products if it will foster a compelling discussion.
Do not solicit donations or share fundraisers without mod approval.
All NSFW/L content must request mod approval and be flaired appropriately.
Non-shaving related NSFW/L content is not allowed.
Sep. 12, 2023
Good shave. This scent is still one of my favourites it’s just fun.
Ok, not all scent combos can be winners and this one just ends up smelling like sweet Tabac. That being said, I really enjoyed this Vulcano shave
I had completely missed @OnionMiasma@sub.wetshaving.social's post about this charity shave. Fortunately I had a smush of Embrace from @InfernalInternal@sub.wetshaving.social, so I could still take part in this event. I'm truly sorry for your loss, Onion. Losing your sister must have been so hard for you and your family, and I'm moved by how you are commemorating her. She really is forever loved and missed.
I imagine today is a very difficult day, and I hope this event can offer a bit of purpose and positive distraction.
Also belated big thanks to @mammothben@sub.wetshaving.social for your generosity!
❤
Thanks DJ
❤️
September 12, 2023
Brush: Wald Stratos Haunter 29mm A1
Razor: Ralf Aust 5/8 Full Hollow Spanish Point (Straight Shave 324)
Lather: Saponificio Varesino - 70th Anniversary - Soap (47)
Post Shave: Saponificio Varesino - 70th Anniversary - Aftershave
Post Shave: Thayers - Rose - Toner
Fragrance: Saponificio Varesino - 70th Anniversary - Eau de Parfum
3 passes. Face lather. Excellent shave.
This was the same setup as yesterday but with a refreshed edge. I'm trying a new finishing stone the Black Shadow. This is a natural slate stone, and like all whetstones, you need to learn its personality. Yesterday, I thought my shave was comfortable but should have been closer for a 3-pass shave.
So, last night I took the razor back to the Black Shadow [I mean, you gotta love that name] to see if I could get the edge sharper while maintaining the same level of smoothness.
The stone certainly had more to give. I was able to get sharpness to the same point I can get a Jnat without any degradation to overall edge quality. Today's shave was, again, very comfortable and is fully BBS.
I've seen at least one other person using water with dish soap on a stone. What's the purpose of this? Breaking the surface tension?
Yes. Exactly right. On very hard, flat stones the edge will tend to stick when using plain water. This stickiness can stop movement of the razor across the stone and always impedes a smooth sharpening motion. Many sharpeners use this as a sign that the edge is as sharp as it can get, so they stop. I interpret it as an increase in friction as water is pushed away between the edge and the stone. This messes up my feel for the edge as I move the razor. A tiny amount of dish washing detergent [I used to use glycerin] solves this problem and lets me use sharpness testing to determine where to stop.
Thanks, I see!
September 12, 2023: Equine Greatest Hits Straightember
Enjoyable three pass shave, with LGC and the TI. All good.
Have a good night!
September 12, 2023
Brut smells great, even the currently available version. The Bergamot Lavender toner ruined the Brut scent, but I just love how this stuff makes my skin feel. Maybe I'll get some unscented to use all the time.
Prep: Splash of Cool Water
Razor: Gillette - Aristocrat 15 OC (UK)
Blade: Gillette - Platinum (6)
Lather: Summer Break Soaps - Remote Learning
Brush: Declaration Grooming - B13 Dogwood/Briar Hybrid 28mm (20 uses)
Post Shave: Stirling - Scarn
Today is to try again with the slurry lather on a high density brush. Needs more work, because it took some adjustments to get right.
(Gillette - Aristocrat 15 OC - UK ::: Gillette - Platinum ‹6 uses›)
A wonderful match today. tiny bit of blade feel, but mostly just super slick glide and great comfort.
Razor and Blade Performance/Comfort Rating: 4 out of 5 (Very Good)
(Summer Break Soaps - Remote Learning)
Them: Doritos
Scent: nacho cheesy corn tortilla chips is the goal here. I imagine that's a tough challenge. While smelling the dry tub and the wet lather, what comes to me first is a cookie sweet type scent that reminds me of some cinnamon schoolbook cookies from Trader Joes. It's a nice scent, so I don't mind if my brain never switches away from that.
If I know it is supposed to be corn chips, then I can definitely see that in the scent. So that's cool.
But even if I set my brain to try to find a cheesy note in there, I really can't.
I think it might be more realistic with a hint-of-cumin type scent in there, but of course, that could make it hard on skin maybe.
While I may not really get a Doritos scent from it, I think it's a great attempt, and I know that I like shaving with it anyway.
Scent Strength: 4/10, present during shaving.
Lather... So, knowing that I had a slightly wetter tub of soap, since I had used it previously, I loaded 20seconds again, with the same very wet brush.
But it still wasn't enough soap. So I'll bump it up more next time.
But the slurry didn't form like it should for pass 1, and I think the brush may need more water in it too. So I have a few issues that need working on regarding slurry lather using a high density knot.
But after adjustments, I still got a super slick shave, enabling great protection and a razor that would glide as fast as I needed it to.
Hydration: Perfect (for me)
Bowl: No Bowl
(Declaration Grooming - B13 Dogwood/Briar Hybrid 28mm ‹20 uses›)
The luxury of this brush is a bit lost on a super wet method like the Slurry Lather, it seems.
It may not actually hold enough water to do the method justice, but further experimentation is required. I still don't think I loaded enough, so I need to get that right first.
During the Shave Feel:
Cheeks: Almost Smooth
Neck: Almost Smooth
After the Shave Closeness:
Cheeks: Near BBS - About as close as I'll ever get
Neck: Cut flush to where I just see the tips (above average for me)
Ending of Blades Ledger - entry form and the data spreadsheet