Pre-shave: Dr Bronner’s Liquid Peppermint Soap
Lather: Lea shavestick
Brush: BodyShop synthetic
Razors: Merkur 985CL with Wilkinson Sword
Post-shave: Cold water rinse, alum and Krampert’s Finest Bay Rum
On the Go, so shaving from the GoBag. Not my most relaxed shave, but can hardly put the blame on the tools – DFS.
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: Warm rinse
Lather: Arko shaving stick and Arko Cool Mint Cream
Brush: Turkish No6
Razors: Unknown (possible Merkur) German Bakelite Slant with a Wilkinson Sword
Post-shave: Cold water rinse, alum and Krampert’s Finest Bay Rum
Last shave for now with an interesting slant – and a DFS it was. Mixing the Arko stick and cream gave a very, very dense lather, requiring quite a bit of dipping of the brush.
Pre-shave: Dr Bronner’s liquid soap, Orange
Lather: Prairie Creations Walter shaving soap (lemon)
Brush: Semogue TSN 2012 LE boar-badger brush
Razors: Unknown (possible Merkur) German Bakelite Slant with a Wilkinson Sword
Post-shave: Cold water rinse, alum and Krampert’s Finest Bay Rum
Another DFS with an interesting razor – mild for a slant, yet picky about the angle.
Pre-shave: Dr Bronner’s liquid Tea Tree Oil
Lather: Prairie Creations KISS Tea Tree Cream
Brush: Vie-Long 14033 mixed horse-badger brush
Razors: Unknown (possible Merkur) German Bakelite Slant with a fresh Wilkinson Sword
Post-shave: Cold water rinse, alum and Krampert’s Finest Bay Rum
Back in my own den, and trying the NOS German bakelite slant for the first time. It’s a featherweight sledgehammer – mild and efficient. Gave a DFS too…
Pre-shave: Dr Bronner’s liquid Peppermint
Lather: Lea shavestick and Arko Cool Ice cream
Brush: Body Shop Synthetic
Razors: Merkur 985CL with a Lord Platinum, and Cadet TTO-13 with a Wilkinson Sword
Post-shave: Cold water rinse, travel sized alum stick and Krampert’s Finest Bay Rum
Last shave from the GoBag for a little while – mixed lather performed as well today as it did last week. A DFS all told, but I’m happy to head home and change things up a bit more again.
Pre-shave: Dr Bronner’s liquid Peppermint
Lather: Arko Cool Ice cream
Brush: Body Shop Synthetic
Razors: Merkur 985CL with a Lord Platinum, and Cadet TTO-13 with a Wilkinson Sword
Post-shave: Cold water rinse, travel sized alum stick and Krampert’s Finest Bay Rum
Still shaving from the GoBag, still getting really nice shaves out of it, and still longing for my den with it’s wider range of options.
Pre-shave: Dr Bronner’s liquid Peppermint
Lather: Lea shavestick
Brush: Body Shop Synthetic
Razors: Merkur 985CL with a Lord Platinum, and Cadet TTO-13 with a Wilkinson Sword
Post-shave: Cold water rinse, travel sized alum stick and Krampert’s Finest Bay Rum
Still on the Go, sort of, so still shaving from the GoBag. Getting some really nice shaves out of it, so I’m not complaining.
Pre-shave: Dr Bronner’s liquid Peppermint
Lather: Lea shavestick and Arko Cool Ice cream
Brush: Body Shop Synthetic
Razors: Merkur 985CL with a Lord Platinum, and Cadet TTO-13 with a Wilkinson Sword
Post-shave: Cold water rinse, travel sized alum stick and Krampert’s Finest Bay Rum
The mixed lather – shave stick on my face, a touch of cream on the brush – gave a richer, denser lather than either on their own. A very nice shave away from my main den.
Pre-shave: Warm water rinse
Lather: Arko Cool Ice cream
Brush: Body Shop Synthetic
Razors: Merkur 985CL with a Lord Platinum, and Cadet TTO-13 with a Wilkinson Sword
Post-shave: Cold water rinse, travel sized alum stick and Krampert’s Finest Bay Rum
Sort of on the go, with an extended Go Kit. A pretty good shave all around, even if I would like more time and a better mirror.