Shave of the day 31st July

A nice midweek shave to wrap up the month.

  • Razor: Gillette Slim
  • Blade: Astra Green
  • Brush: Vie-Long #13051M
  • Pre-Shave: Proraso Pre Shave Cream
  • Lather: Mike’s Natural Soaps Peppermint & Rosemary
  • Aftershave: Barber No3 Marmara
  • Additional Care: Alum Block

The Big Fellow

The Big Fellow. A new – in 1920 – Old Type. Even if no one called it an Old Type back then, because the New Type wasn’t even a twinkle in Gillette’s eye.

So what is a Big Fellow, and how did I learn about it? Especially seeing as how I’ve not heard the term before, at least not used on a razor?

Continue reading

Shave of the day 29th July 2024

A Monday shave is a magnificent way to start a new week.

  • Razor: Gillette Slim
  • Blade: Astra Green
  • Brush: Omega #10048
  • Pre-Shave: Proraso Pre Shave Cream
  • Lather: Mike’s Natural Soaps Pine & Cedarwood
  • Aftershave: Barber No3 Marmara
  • Additional Care: Alum Block

Shave of the day 26th July 2024

A fine and slightly experimental Friday shave.

  • Razor: Gillette 1958 TV Special
  • Blade: Lord Platinum
  • Brush: Semogue TSN LE 2012
  • Pre-Shave: Peanut Oil
  • Lather: Arko Shavestick
  • Aftershave: Barber No3 Marmara
  • Additional Care: Alum Block

While using peanut oil as a preshave worked well enough, it was messy enough that I won’t do it again.

No shadow of doubt…

No shadow of doubt ever exists in the mind of a man who uses a –

Gillette Safety Razor.

Continue reading

Shave of the day 24th July 2024

Another fine midweek shave.

  • Razor: Gillette 1958 TV Special
  • Blade: Lord Platinum
  • Brush: Artesania Romera Manchurian Badger, imitation horn
  • Pre-Shave: Proraso Pre Shave Cream
  • Lather: Pereira Shavery Orange Blossom w/ activated charcoal
  • Aftershave: Barber No3 Marmara
  • Additional Care: Alum Block

Shaving brush with interchangeable bristles

I have pointed it out before. Perfection is not achieved when there is nothing more to add – but rather when there is nothing more to remove. Seen through that lens, John B Lydiards 2020 patent for a shaving brush with interchangeable bristles is far from perfect.

The idea is simple enough. Different shaving brush knots have different qualities, and people prefer different knots. Some likes the softness of badger, some prefer a scritchy boar. Me, I like a good horse. But to get back on track, let us see what John had to say in the patent text

Continue reading

Shave of the day 22nd July 2024

A fine shave on a rainy Monday.

  • Razor: Gillette 1958 TV Special
  • Blade: Lord Platinum
  • Brush: Vie-Long #12705B
  • Pre-Shave: Proraso Pre Shave Cream
  • Lather: Crabtree & Evelyn Sandalwood
  • Aftershave: Barber No3 Marmara
  • Additional Care: Alum Block

Shave of the day 19 July 2024

A great shave to wrap up the week and get me ready for the weekend.

  • Razor: Parker 22R
  • Blade: Lord Platinum
  • Brush: Vie-Long #14033
  • Pre-Shave: Proraso Pre Shave Cream
  • Lather: Mike’s Natural Soaps Hungarian Lavender
  • Aftershave: Barber No3 Marmara
  • Additional Care: Alum Block

A brush with a notch, with soap cup and lathering bowl

One would thing there would be little left to invent, at least as far as shaving brushes goes. One would be wrong. Over in Japan, Mrs 由美子 井上 – or Yumiko Inoue for those of us who don’t read Japanese – recently got a patent for a shaving brush with a notch.

Continue reading