Pre-shave: Dr Bronner’s Magic Soap, Citrus
Lather: RazorRock XXX shave cream
Brush: Still new Vie-Long 14033 mixed horse-badger brush
Razors: Merkur 39C slant with “Gillette Goal Stainless”, Feather Popular with a “Feather Hi Stainless”
Post-shave: Alum block and Krampert’s Finest
Second shave and third lather with my latest brush – my brush and mine first encounter with this soft cream. Good lather, good shave, awesome aftershave – a DFS all told.
Breaking in a new brush is a process that can take time… pretty much any shaving brush needs to be used to blossom into it’s full potential.
Take for instance my latest piece of loot; my Vie-Long 14033 mixed horse-badger brush. I’ve only used it twice so far – one shave and one hand-lather – but allready it’s starting to open up and bloom more. In a few more days I’ll get an even better idea of just how well this brush will perform – it allready feels softer and holds more water than it did out of the box.
Sometimes, it seems, you have to break things to fix them.
Pre-shave: Dr Bronner’s Magic Soap, Pepperming
Lather: Mike’s Natural Peppermint & Rosemary Shaving Soap
Brush: Brand new Vie-Long 14033 mixed horse-badger brush
Razors: Merkur 39C slant and Parker 22, both with “Gillette Goal Stainless” blades
Post-shave: Alum block and Krampert’s Finest
My new Vie-Long works fine out of the box, can’t wait to see how it performs once it’s been broken in. Overall a DFS.
Pre-shave: Dr Bronner’s Magic Soap, peppermint
Lather: Rise Shave Gel
Brush: Body Shop synthetic brush
Razors: Merkur 985CL travel razor, loaded with a fresh “Shark”
Post-shave: Cold water rinse
Out and about, so shaving from the GoBag. Not my best shave, but not bad all considered.
I have been travelling this week, and as such away from my supplies. The stuff in my GoBag does cover the basics – even if my experimental replacement of the Proraso cream with the Rise Shave Gel will have to be reversed – it fails to provide me with one thing I have come to enjoy:
Choice.
Shaving is not just about getting the fuzz of my face no more. It is at least partly about staring into my shave nook, picking out what razor(s) I would like to use on any given day, then what soap I would prefer given my mood. The choice of soap gives me input on what brush to employ… and when all is over I get to pick what post shave treatment I want to pamper myself with.
On the road those choices are reduced to what I packed before leaving – and while I still get the fuzz of my face, I don’t get the full shave experience.
Such is life, I guess, at least while weight restrictions apply on flights.
Pre-shave: Dr Bronner’s Magic Soap, peppermint
Lather: Rise Shave Gel
Brush: Body Shop synthetic brush
Razors: Merkur 985CL travel razor, loaded with a fresh “Shark”
Post-shave: Cold water rinse
Out and about, so shaving from the GoBag. Not my best shave, but not bad all considered.
Pre-shave: Dr Bronner’s Magic Soap, Tea Tree (bar)
Lather: Mike’s Natural Barbershop Shaving Soap
Brush: Omega #10048 Boar Bristle Brush
Razors: Merkur 39C slant and Parker 22, both with “Gillette Goal Stainless” blades
Post-shave: Alum block and Krampert’s Finest
Mike’s soap make a very nice lather, and Brian’s Bay Rum makes for a perfect finish – and the bit in between was good too. Overall a DFS!
Pre-shave: Dr Bronner’s Magic Soap,Lavender
Lather: Mike’s Lavandin & Eucalyptus Shaving Soap
Brush: Turkish No7 horse hair brush
Razors: Merkur 39C slant and Parker 22, both with fresh “Gillette Goal Stainless” blades
Post-shave: Alum block and Krampert’s Finest
Still experimenting with the sampler pack from Turkey – these apparently is made in India, and the wrapper has an ad for a Gillette Goal DE razor on the inside… Mike’s soaps make wonderful lather, and the shave was pretty nice all told.
It is the Norwegian Constitution Day today – and while I realise far from everyone celebrates it, I want to wish everyone a very happy, very nice 17th!
I’m off to eat hot dogs and ice cream, and watch the children parade down town in my little town. Just a shame the weather is unstable, or I would have worn my bunad… well, there is always next year!