There is a very interesting thread going on at my favourite shaving forum right now; people discussing the positive and negative changes and development in the wet shaving community over the last decade or so.
Well worth a read – I suggest y’all head over there and look at the thread.
Pre-shave: Dr Bronners Peppermint Soap
Lather: Brutalt Bra Barbersåpe TSN SE “Norwegian Wood”
Brush: Vie-Long #13051M unbleached pure horse
Razor: Cadet TTO-11 Twist To Open Open Comb with a fresh Green Astra
Post-shave: Cool water rinse, alum, BullDog Oil Control Moisturiser
Beard care: BullDog Original Beard Balm, and Big Red No7 Beard Comb
Pre-shave: Dr Bronners Peppermint Soap
Lather: Proraso Eucalyptus & Menthol Soap
Brush: Omega #10048
Razor: Cadet TP-01 long handled open comb with a Personna Platinum
Post-shave: Cool water rinse, alum, Proraso Liquid Cream After Shave
Beard care: BullDog Original Beard Balm, and Big Red No7 Beard Comb
Pre-shave: Dr Bronners Tea Tree Soap
Lather: Prairie Creations KISS
Brush: Vie-Long #12705B natural white pure horse
Razor: Cadet TP-01 long handled open comb with a fresh Personna Platinum
Post-shave: Cool water rinse, alum, Nivea Sensitive Cooling After Shave Balm
Beard care: Scotch Porter Beard Balm, and Big Red No7 Beard Comb
A couple of months ago I received the best care package ever from Phil of BullGoose – known on my favorite shave forum as “The Enabler” – and one of the items in the package was a Artisania Romera Manchurian Badger brush with a faux horn handle.
The 28mm Romera is the first high end badger I’ve owned – my only other experience with badger is two mixed brushes (horse-badger and boar-badger) and a cheap badger I picked up in a Spanish super marked. With that in mind, perhaps I’m somewhat biased… although looking at what other people say about Romera brushes I don’t think my experience differs all that much
Short version? The Artisania Romera Manchurian Badger is an awesome brush. Soft tips, enough backbone to whip up copious lather – but not a lather hog, it gives it right back – comfortable handle. It simply feels right to pick this one up in the morning and enjoy my moment of Zen.
For various reasons I’ve always gravitated towards the smaller knots when I buy brushes – cost is but one side of that equation – but unlike my Omega 48 the Romera is small enough to easily load in most soap tins.
In short, I can recommend getting a Artisania Romera Manchurian Badger. The artisan can – allegedly – be hard to communicate with, but the end result is worth it.
Pre-shave: Dr Bronners Peppermint Soap
Lather: Asylum Shave Work Frankincense & Myrrh
Brush: Artisania Romera Manchurian Badger
Razor: Cadet TP-01 long handled open comb with a fresh Personna Platinum
Post-shave: Cool water rinse, alum, Asylum Shave Work Frankincense & Myrrh
Beard care: Scotch Porter Beard Balm, and Big Red No7 Beard Comb
Pre-shave: Dr Bronners Peppermint Soap
Lather: Mike’s Natural Soap, Peppermint & Rosemary.
Brush: Semogue “The Shave Nook 2012 Limited Edition” mixed boar-badger
Razor: Schick “Lady Eversharp” Injector with a Schick
Post-shave: Cool water rinse, alum, Myrsol Agua Balsamico
Beard care: Scotch Porter Beard Balm, and Big Red No7 Beard Comb
Pre-shave: Dr Bronners Peppermint Soap
Lather: Wet Shaving Products pre-production soap
Brush: Vie-Long #14033 mixed horse-badger
Razor: Schick “Lady Eversharp” Injector with a Schick
Post-shave: Cool water rinse, alum, Proraso Liquid Cream After Shave
Beard care: Scotch Porter Beard Balm, and Big Red No7 Beard Comb