Pre-shave: Pure glycerine soap
Lather: Col Conks Bay Rum Soap
Brush: Semogue TSN 2012 LE badger-boar
Razors: Cadet TTO-13 and Parker 22R, both with fresh Astra Green blades
Post-shave: Cool water rinse, alum, Thayers Witch Hazel and Kramperts Finest Bay Rum
A very nice, very relaxing shave – a great start on my Yuletide vacation
Pre-shave: Dr Bronners liquid euclayptus soap
Lather: Mike’s Lavindel & Eucalyptus soap
Brush: Vie Long 14033 horse
Razors: Merkur 39C Slant and Parker 22R, both with a Rapira Super Stainless
Post-shave: Cool water rinse, Alum and Kramperts Finest Bay Rum
A nice shave on a late morning.
Brian – the guy behind the wonderfulness that is Krampert’s Finest Bay Rum (and Prototype Menthol, as well as 80 Below) – has found a more stylish way to present his aftershave; an engraved hip flask.
As much as I love Krampert’s Bay Rum, I’ve always felt that the plastic bottle – while serviceable – sold the after shave short… so when the new flasks came up I just had to get ye flask.
Pre-shave: Dr Bronners liquid orange soap
Lather: GzD shaving stick
Brush: Turkish No6
Razors: Merkur 39C Slant and Parker 22R, both with a Rapira Super Stainless
Post-shave: Cool water rinse, Witch Hazel and Kramperts Finest Bay Rum
Trying out the newly acquired witch hazel – not sure what to think about it yet. DFS otherwise.
Pre-shave: Dr Bronners liquid Peppermint soap
Lather: Mike’s Peppermint & Rosemary shaving soap
Brush: Semogue TSN LE badger-boar brush
Razors: Merkur 39C Slant and Parker 22R, both with a fresh Rapira Super Stainless
Post-shave: Cool water rinse, Alum and Kramperts Finest Bay Rum
A nice shave with a blade I havn’t tried before – not the smoothest blade, but a zen-like DFS regardless.
Pre-shave: Warm water rinse
Lather: RazoRock XXX
Brush: Vie Long 14033 mixed horse/badger brush
Razors: Merkur 25C Open Comb and Gillette ’58 TV Special TTO, both with a Feather blade
Post-shave: Cool water rinse, Alum and Kramperts Finest Bay Rum
A good shave on a cold morning.
A while ago – well, several months ago – I came up with a suggested 10$ starter kit. Now it’s time again, and I’m doubling the ante. As the last time, postage is NOT included; mostly because postage varies wildly depending on where you are in the world.
Total cost as listed is either 20.07$ or 19.52$, depending on your choice of blades. The first option will give a new wetshaver more blades to experiment with, and I have good experiences with all of them. The second option will give a new wetshaver fewer blades, and of only one brand, but it’s a very good blade – my current fall back blade in fact.
Like in the 10$ kit I have opted for the Turkish No6 – I honestly feel that you cannot beat it in the low cost end of the brush market. The quality can be a bit spotty, that is true, but the rewamped model seems to be more solidly constructed than the old one and it is a solid performer.
I have not added any pre or post shave treatments to the suggested kit – I wanted to put in a bottle of Krampert’s Finest but that would have added another 50% to the cost… but then again changing the pre and post shave isn’t critical if you’re changing from cartridges to DE. What you done so far will still work – perhaps a bit more care taken to wash and rinse before shaving.
In addition I would suggest borrowing a small bowl from the kitchen to make lather in, as well as setting aside a few hours to go online and read up on how to get a Damn Fine Shave.
Pre-shave: Goat Milk bath soap from Prairie Creations
Lather: Col Conks Bay Rum shave soap
Brush: Vie Long 14033 mixed horse/badger brush
Razors: Merkur 25C Open Comb and Gillette ’58 TV Special TTO, both with a Feather blade
Post-shave: Warm water rinse, Alum and Kramperts Finest Bay Rum
A very relaxing and zenlike shave – there is something therapeutic about the sound of stubble being cut.
Krampers – all around swell guy and the brain behind what might be best Bay Rum aftershave money can buy – asked the question on my favorite shave forum yesterday; “Is anyone else content?“
At first I didn’t quite get what he was asking, but his well written little piece slowly bumped my gray matter into motion… Gut reaction was “off course I am”.. but as I was reading I started to wonder… Given that I still keep an eye out for more razors, more brushes, more soaps and more blades.. am I content? Could I stop acquiring more gear for my den RIGHT NOW and be happy with my shave?
I wont stop keeping an eye out for treasures, but with the question is rephrased like that I realised that I am truly content with my shaves these days. More than content, in fact I am looking forward to my morning ritual; in sharp contrast to the situation back before I took up traditional wetshaving with brush, soap and a DE razor. What used to be a chore has become a peaceful breathing space in my life. What was best avoided or at best rushed trough has become something to look forward to and to enjoy.
New razors will most likely be procured – not because I believe it’ll will give me a better shave, but because it’ll add a bit of variation to my shaves. New soaps will be tried – not because I’m unhappy with the two dozen or so soaps and creams I have, but because trying soaps is fun. A new brush or two will find their way to my den at some point – not because the brushes I have now don’t make good lather, but because I think I might enjoy trying a mid-range horse or a pure badger. New after shaves… actually, no – Kramperts Finest is too good to change.
So yes, I AM content. New gear will arrive in due time, but that has more to do with the fact that I am a tinkerer at heart. I am content with my shaves, secure in the knowledge that I enjoy shaving a lot more than most people ever will.