Pre-shave: Pure glycerine soap
Lather: Proraso Eucalyptus Menthol Cream
Brush: BodyShop Synthetic
Razors: Cadets TP-01 Open Comb and TTO-13 Twist To Open, both with a Green Astra
Post-shave: Cold water rinse, alum, and Proraso Liquid After Shave Cream
Monthly Archives: September 2013
Shave of the day 13th September
Pre-shave: Dr Bronner’s Liquid Lavender Soap
Lather: RazoRock XXX
Brush: Vie Long 14033
Razors: Cadets TP-01 Open Comb and TTO-13 Twist To Open, both with a Green Astra
Post-shave: Cold water rinse, alum, and Proraso Liquid After Shave Cream
More YouTube fun
Shave of the day 11th September
Pre-shave: Dr Bronners Liquid Peppermint Soap
Lather: Lea shave stick
Brush: Omega 50014
Razors: Merkur 985CL travel razor with a Wilkinson Sword blade
Post-shave: Cold water rinse, tiny alum stick and Krampert’s Finest Bay Rum
Review of Prairie Creations KISS Cream
Some time ago I bought some KISS Cream from Prairie Creations, and while I use it only infrequently it is not because it’s a substandard product. On the contrary it’s a very nice cream, but I ordered it with tea tree oil for those days my face needs that.
The KISS cream is simple and straightforward… just as it says on the label. And while it can be somewhat hard to get out of the jar, Krissy sent a spoon along with the jar to help dish it out.
The cream is not tallow-based but the main ingredient is aloe vera juice, so there is plenty of skincare to be had – even more so when combined with the tea tree oil, which is claimed to have antiviral, antibacterial, antifungal and antiseptic properties.
Being a rather stiff cream – or possible croap – it can be a little tricky to lather, and in my experience it’s best done in a bowl. It also needs a little more water than you might expect, but once the lather is done it’s working well. Plenty of slip and cushion, and as mentioned the skin care is very nice too. It also stays fluffy – I had to leave my den once to see what the cat was up to, and the lather was just as good when I returned.
Overall I can recommend the KISS cream – it’s simple and straightforward.
PS: Some people online reports a bit of trouble shopping with Prairie Creations; that is the near opposite of my experience. Yes, it can take a bit of time from you order until it’s shipped – but it’s artisan soap, not a big company. It’s worth the wait.
Shave of the day 09 September
Pre-shave: Dr Bronner’s Liquid Teatree Soap
Lather: Prairie Creation’s KISS Teatree Cream
Brush: Turkish No6
Razors: Cadets TP-01 Open Comb and TTO-13 Twist To Open, both with a fresh Green Astra
Post-shave: Cold water rinse, alum, and Krampert’s Finest Bay Rum
Review of Derby Lavender Shave Cream
Another of those previously unknown to me products from webshops in the far corners of the world… Derby Lavender Shave Cream at least is from a slightly more familiar brand – if by familiar you mean “have heard of before”. It is somewhat easier to find than the Dalan Cream I talked about previously, hence somewhat easier to find reviews online… but the two products are rather similar.
Overall the Derby makes an average lather, perhaps a bit above. It performs better than my glycerine soaps, but less so than my tallow pucks. It has a distinct lavender scent to it, and although it fades quickly it should last you for a three pass shave.
Decent slip and cushion, and okay as far as moisturising goes. Like most creams it’s really easy to whip up copious amounts of lather, and it don’t collapse between passes either. It’s a thirsty cream though, so for once the solution to any lather issues is to add more water, not more cream.
Overall a good choice if you want a cream and don’t want to spend too much – something for the traveller on a budget perhaps, or for your back-up den?
Shave of the day 4th September
Pre-shave: Dr Bronner’s Liquid LavenderSoap
Lather: Derby Lavender Cream
Brush: Vie Long 14033
Razors: Merkur (?) Bakelite Slant and Merkur 45C Bakelite, both with a Derby blade
Post-shave: Cold water rinse, alum, and Krampert’s Finest Bay Rum
Review of Dalan d’Men Energetic Shave Cream
One of the wonderful aspects of viewing traditional shaving as a hobby is that I have no trouble picking up previously unknown products from webshops in the far corners of the world… Dalan d’Men Energetic Shave Cream is one of those. It’s a not much spoken off online, but most of what is said is good.
Overall it makes an average lather, perhaps a bit above. It performs better than my glycerine soaps, but less so than my tallow pucks. It has a hint of menthol, but don’t bite – unlike my more heavily mentholated soaps.
Decent slip and cushion, and pretty okay as far as moisturising goes. Like most creams it’s really easy to whip up copious amounts of lather, and it don’t collapse between passes either. It can leave a little bit of residue, but a good rinse fixes that.
Overall a good choice if you want a cream and don’t want to spend too much – something for the traveller on a budget perhaps, or for your back-up den?
Shave of the day 2nd September
Pre-shave: Dr Bronner’s Liquid Teatree Soap
Lather: Dalan d’Men Energetic Cream
Brush: Semogue 2012 LE
Razors: Merkur (?) Bakelite Slant and Merkur 45C Bakelite, both with a Derby blade
Post-shave: Cold water rinse, alum, and Krampert’s Finest Bay Rum