Share your shave of the day!
Micromatic 1/7
- Brush: Boti Motherlode knot in laminated wooden handle, 30mm
- Razor: GEM Micromatic Open Comb (gen 1)
- Blade: Personna GEM PTFE (1)
- Lather: Highland Springs Soap Co./Australian Private Reserve - Eclipse
- Aftershave: Wholly Kaw Entropy Man
- Fragrance: Chatillon Lux Gratiot League Square
There was talk about GEM razors and specifically their Micromatic line on the lemmy and the discord these past few days, and I realised that I haven’t used mine in a while, I was busy going down the straight razor rabbit hole. So I decided to do a tour of all five generations of Micromatics in a week.
Right to left, in chronological order: (OC[MM)OC] gen 1, (OC[MM)OC] gen 2, Clog-Pruf gen 1, Clog-Pruf Gen 2 “Peerless”, Flying Wing/Bullet Tip
We start today with the first, the gen 1 MMOC/OCMM/Ockmock, and a fresh Personna GEM blade. This brass rake is the razor that I’ve used when I did my 100 shave on one GEM blade (hence the “GEMturion” title), and it’s my most used razor. By now, I’m virtually guaranteed a great shave using it, and today was no exception.
The chonky, 30mm Motherlode is a pillowy soft lather monster and looked comically large in the narrow Eclipse tub.
I’ve been wanting to use Eclipse ever since my Raconteur shave a few days ago. Each of those two scents reminds me of the respective other. Rich, warm tobacco, leather, and oud, Eclipse is a comforting blanket on a cold day. Entropy Man leans in the same warm tobacco-leather direction, but with sweet plum that takes it in a playful direction. Gratiot League Square completes a wonderful leather and tobacco-themed morning shave.
This reminds me that I’m a MMOCwhisperer. You could argue that the Gen 2 has better blade alignment than the Gen 1 but, really, the MMOC is a design that offers little for improvement. The TTO mechanism is quite elegant.
Boltzmann++;
You could argue that the Gen 2 has better blade alignment than the Gen 1 but
That should only be true if you use spineless GEM blades. With modern GEM blades, the blade bumps are without function as far as I can see.
The TTO mechanism is quite elegant.
The pinnacle of safety razor technology IMO, and a beauty of engineering. It’s a mechanism actuated by a single degree of freedom, acting on two degrees of freedom, never jams and works for nearly a century without maintenance or disassembly required. Hard to beat.
Boltzmann++;
++ Indeed
The only reason I own a Clog-Pruf is because I mentioned once that I wanted a razor with that mechanism, but had no interest in a MMOC. Someone introduced me to the Clog-Pruf, with the same mechanism but a friendlier shave.
I wanted a razor with that mechanism, but had no interest in a MMOC.
I haven’t tried a Clog-Pruf because the MMOC has always been good to me. That mechanism is worth having no matter what the razor. Whoever designed it had a very good day at the drawing board. @djundjila@sub.wetshaving.social is spot-on; a beauty of engineering.
but a friendlier shave.
The Clog-Pruf is a great razor, but it’s not actually that different a shave from the MMOC. I’m not sure why one has this great reputation and the other is described as the razor from hell when they are very similar and both great. 🤷♂️
Interesting! I think I do find the MM24 and Pushbutton more enjoyable.
I never really clicked with the Pushbutton (hehe). I thought it’s a fine shaver, but so are most GEMs.
It’s the favourite GEM of Semaj, Wyze0ne lauded it on discord the other day, and now you. Clearly I should good it a second chance
This setup looks fantastic. I’ll have to try it out soon.
It’s a really nice setup, you’ll enjoy it!
Sunday, December 10, 2023 - Rainy Day Shave
- Prep: hot shower
- Brush: Yaqi 24mm Naples Tuxedo Knot (synthetic)
- Razor: Gillette Ball-end Tech K4 (1965)
- Blade: Gillette Silver Blue (1)
- Lather: Zingari Man - The Watchman - Sego Shaving Soap
- Post Shave: Zingari Man - The Watchman - After Shave Balm
With it’s “Stormy Air and Dark Seas” subtitle, The Watchman has become a soap I reserve for rainy/stormy days, especially with how little I have left in this tub. Although I wish I didn’t have to go anywhere on this rainy day today, at least I get to use one of my favorite scents.
December 10, 2023
- Brush: AP Shave Co. - 24mm Synbad Fan
- Razor: Chiseled Face - Legacy Raw Titanium (#69)
- Blade: Gillette Stainless (3)
- Lather: Oaken Lab - Far Afield - Soap
- Post Shave: Pinaud - Clubman Musk - Aftershave
- Post Shave: House of Mammoth - Mood Indigo - Balm
- Post Shave: L de L - Retinol Men - Facial Serum
This retinol stuff is pretty much just labeled “Retinol Men”. The brand name is super tiny. I used to never use it because the little pump bottle that it came with simply didn’t work. I decided to move it into a different pump, and now it works great. I like how it makes my skin feel, but my research just now indicates that it makes your skin sensitive to sun exposure… Probably not a problem in the winter for me.
My wife also swears by retinol creams.
sun exposure… Probably not a problem in the winter
Not a skier/snowboarder, I take it?
I ski, but not often.
Spiced Sunday
- Brush: Trotter Handcrafts Souls 26mm T1 Fan Knot
- Razor: Karve Shaving Co. Christopher Bradley Aluminum, SB-E
- Blade: Gillette Nacet [3]
- Lather: Spearhead Shaving Company - Seaforth! Spiced - Soap
- Post Shave: Spearhead Shaving Company - Seaforth! Spiced - Toner
- Fragrance: Bentley - Bentley for Men Intense - Eau de Parfum
It was a very relaxing Sunday morning shave.
Rating: 4.5/5
December 10, 2023: Double Ishtar
- Preshave: Proraso Green Preshave
- Brush: Yaqi 28mm Synthetic ““Rock””
- Razor: Gillette Slim Adjustable
- Blade: Astra Superior Platinum (39)
- Lather: Abbate y la Mantia Ishtar
- Post Shave: Floid The Genuine
- Post Shave: Nivea After Shave Balm
- Fragrance: Rogue Perfumery Ishtar
Inspired by @spj_hook@sub.wetshaving.social’s shave yesterday, I got out my Slim Adjustable (, aggressive to milf 😊). I also resumed my exploration why Ishtar doesn’t lather that well. It’s not the Proraso Preshave. I used the Rock brush - really like a soft cloud on the face, but 28mm is a bit excessive. Anyways, it took some work, but I got to YouTube lather.
Lathered, Ishtar doesn’t smell anything anymore (or at least, I cannot detect anything). I combined it with Ishtar from Rogue Perfumery - which is a nice enough scent, but should really be named Flowery Balcony or something like that. Clearly, Our Lady of Nineveh wouldn’t smell like that!
Have a good night!
Awesome, it’s not every day that I inspire someone!
December 10, 2023
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Brush: Wald Nimbus Chryselephantine 29mm A1 Fan
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Razor: Thiers Issard Le Grelot 6/8 Full Hollow
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Lather: Murphy and McNeil - Gael Laoch Orange - Soap
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Toner: Thayers - Cucumber - Toner
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Aftershave: Murphy and McNeil - Gael Laoch Orange - Aftershave
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Talc: Pinaud Clubman
2 passes. Face lather. Excellent shave.
Today I used the third Murphy & McNeil soap that I have. Again, it is in the Kodiak base. Like BDLM3, it created a terrific lather. As I mentioned yesterday, this base really shows its character with a lot of hydration. The scent is a riff on Creed Viking but is not a dupe. A very relaxed and enjoyable shave today.
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