22.09.2024 - bloody Strathcona

• Prep: warm water
• Brush: vintage yellow bakelite handle w/ 22 mm SynBad knot
• Razor: GEM Micromatic Open Comb MMOC
• Blade: Personna GEM PTFE
• Lather: MacDuff’s Soap Co. - Old Strathcona
• Post-Shave: alum block; Thayer’s Original toner; Pacific Shaving Co. Caffeinated ASB

-> 1-pass head and face shave. A bit too rough thanks to a fresh GEM blade…

So today I also wanted to try Old Strathcona again. @sahenders@sub.wetshaving.social was so generous and sent enough of a sample for 5+ shaves, I reckon. I still had a good bit left in my old wooden lid.

However, I wanted to give the Leaf a well deserved break and use another razor today - so I had to put a fresh blade into my MMOC, as the old one caught rust. Needless to say, when the alum block is listed in my Post-Shave routine - you know that it didn’t went well. 🫤

I usually have a blast using the MMOC, but some of the fresh GEM blades have an edge that makes them feel like shaving with a carpet knife. In total, one big weeper and five blood spots on the scalp. Six blood spots around the face. Bless the french shaving heavens for Osma alum, as without it I’d look like I got into a fight with a cheese grater. The Thayer’s toner and the PSC balm handled the rest. To say it with a meme-ified movie quote: “I shaved… but at what cost?!” 🤔

Memo to myself for the future: don’t use a razor you haven’t used in a while with a soap that’s unfamiliar to you, especially not with a fresh blade. Don’t think you can manage a full head and face shave with just a tiny amount of a soap sample. Also, get yourself a proper small shaving mug or bowl for your sample shenanigans.

Now I really look forward to tomorrow’s shave. Hope you fine folks had a great weekend!

September 22, 2024

• Brush: Zenith B40 28mm Boar

• Razor: Filarmonica 12 Doble Temple 5/8" Full Hollow

• Lather: Faena - Taurus - Soap

• Toner: Thayers - Rose - Toner

• Aftershave: Unilever - Brut - Aftershave

2 passes. Face lather. Excellent shave.

I got a Covid-19 vaccine last night. Totally out of it today. Great shave this morning, though.

September 22, 2024

• Brush: Maggard 24mm Tuxedo Synthetic
• Razor: Chiseled Face - Legacy Raw Titanium (#69)
• Blade: Bolzano Superinox (Egypt) (7)
• Lather: MacDuff’s Soap Company - Old Strathcona - Soap
• Post Shave: Barrister & Mann - Petrichor - Aftershave
• Post Shave: allMan - Refined - Balm
• Fragrance: Barrister & Mann - Lavanille - EdP

Good stuff. I wanted to revisit the MacDuff’s base after the BVWSC (or is it BVWSSC?) event, during which I had a bit of a rough shave. At the time I blamed it on the blade, and I was right! This shave was much better. Easy to lather, works great, smells great.

Sep 22, 2024 - Bay Rumday

• Brush: Maritime Brush Co Box Puffer 24mm M5C Synthentic Knot
• Razor: Mühle Rocca R94
• Blade: Gillette 7 O’Clock Super Stainless (Green) [6]
• Lather: Barrister and Mann - Bay Rum - Soap (Excelsior)
• Post Shave: Abbate y La Mantia - Laureato - Aftershave
• Fragrance: Chicago Grooming Co. - El Caballero - Eau de Parfum

I’m not a big fan of Excelsior, but it’s the B+M base that I started with. It does the job, but it just takes me a little longer to dial in.

This was a nice range of Bay Rum scents to get the day going.

Rating: 4/5

Sun 22 Sep 2024

• Brush: Dogclaration LG 2022 Mystery Brush (B16)
• Razor: Koraat Sparschweinchen (7/8", “Sheffield-style” full hollow, carbon steel)
• Lather: Spearhead Shaving Company Seaforth! Black Watch
• Post Shave: Spearhead Shaving Company Seaforth! Black Watch
• Fragrance: Spearhead Shaving Company Seaforth! Black Watch

The positive reception of Operation Moarteen has been a relief (I had been worried it might fall flat). Now I’m super hyped about it and I just had to bring out my Sparschweinchen.

Just a wonderful shave today with delicious Black Watch and some great hardware.

Sunday, September 22, 2024: Sunday

• Preshave: Proraso Green Preshave
• Brush: Muninn Woodworks Gloire de France with Zenith 505BC Boar 🐗
• Razor: Thiers-Issard 188 7/8 ‘Coq et Renard’
• Lather: Southern Witchcraft Autumn Ash
• Postshave: Naissance 702 Witch Hazel
• Postshave: TFS Witch Hazel & Oak
• Postshave: Nivea After Shave Balm

I put Autumn Ash back into the cabinet – and it’s on the to-kill block. The base is really great, even though the sweetness is a bit much for me now.

Have a good day!

~Shared via emacs & sotd.el~