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.
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5/2/24
Close and comfortable shave, no nicks or irritation.
Fili++;
How do you like AG 1889? Any tingling from the lather?
I love 1889. The scent, in a way, kind of reminds me of Clubman. I do actually get some tingling from it.
I really enjoy the scent, too, but I get frag burn from the lather.
Thankfully it doesn't burn me, but I definitely feel it. I've really only ever gotten frag burn from Crafter's Choice and Ghost Town Barber
Ron says GTB is not the same as the infamous Crafters Choice Barbershop (I can't remember the specific blend). GTB doesn't burn me, Stirling Barbershop does (quite a bit), and I don't recall if I've used anything with Crafters Choice...
I think that was you that was telling me about GTB in discord. I'd always thought it was a CC. I have some Fresh Cut Fade from 345, that's CC, want a smush? For science
I'm pretty sure I have a sample of Maggard Barbershop which is the same burny stuff. I'll try to remember to look for it!
I'm a fan of 1889 too. Though I have not smelled Jicky (1889 is a dupe), I suspect I would like it. While Jicky was introduced in 1889, the only downside to the name is that was also the year of Adolf Hitler's birth.
No frag burn for me, but many years of alcohol splashes may have removed all sensitivity.
many years of alcohol splashes [...] have removed all sensitivity.
So there's hope?
Starts an ethanol-based desensitisation therapy
lol -- good luck with that :)
They really got it right with the Fili 14. Of the 14 form factor razors I have, the River Razor is the closest in feel to my Fili 14. I'll be interested to hear what you think of the Iberia.
River Razor has been on my radar since you first talked to me about them. Doubly so now. I'm crazy interested to find out about the Iberia myself!
Boris is a really good guy. Very sincere and and fascinated by making the best hollow ground razors he can. We’ve talked a lot about different steels he’s tried, and different levels of temper suitable for straights.
Every Iberia I’ve seen has been expensive but with a lot of wear. Same with Palmeras. Can’t wait to hear what you think of a NOS one. I suspect it’s as good or better than my Gen 1 Fili 14.
Theme Thursday: May Flowers
Maybe my scent selection is a little on the nose for today's theme. It's an awesome scent, and I don't care.
The Vector did an amazing job, and using Milksteak two days in a row has been a treat.
Rating: 5/5
The whole April showers bring May flowers is a bust today, but the theme still looked to a wonderful floral shave with the big modern Frio.
It's difficult for me to think of better hard and software than this right here.
02.05.2024
Late night head shave. 1 pass just to clean the dome, one weeper behind the right ear suffered. I think I have something called revenge bedtime procrastination. I should be asleep by now, but there's simply no way I can see myself go to bed earlier than shortly before midnight in my time zone.
So today's shave wasn't so great. I thought I could now try different things out, see what sticks and what I could weed out. Unfortunately, both the soap and the razor didn't have their best days. I know that the biggest margin for error is usually the hand wielding the brush or razor, but considering that yesterday's MMOC shave felt milder than today is quite disappointing. I have decided that it's time to get rid of the Greencult. My experience with it was mediocre at best from the start, so - no need to cling to it any longer. Gin Tonic on the rocks wasn't really bad, but also not really stellar either. I like the scent, but unfortunately those big Stirling soaps are like a bottomless pit. I enjoyed the menthol though, even though we actually got "May showers" around my area this evening with thunderstorms and hail. I was just vaping on my balcony when all hell broke loose. Bees were flung out of the air onto the floor of my balcony from the heavy rain. I tried my best to get them to a dry area near my wall, hopefully this helped them survive.
May 2, 2024
Apparently I forgot to post my SOTD yesterday. Oh well!
May 2, 2024
Brush: Wald Stratos Haunter 29mm A1
Lather: WestMan Shaving - Alma - Soap
Toner: Thayers - Rose - Toner
Aftershave: WestMan Shaving - Alma - Aftershave Balm
Fragrance: Initio - Paragon - Eau de Parfum
Talc: Yardley Gold
2 passes. Face lather. Excellent shave.
The rose in Alma and the lavender in Paragon, supported by their respective woody notes, made for a great celebration of spring. Unfortunately, summer temperatures and humidity have arrived here on the Chesapeake Bay. C'est la vie. I mean I could be in the UK where complaining about the weather is an art form :)
