This is a community of enthusiasts, hobbyists and artisans who enjoy a traditional wet shave: brush, soap, and safety or straight razor. We are a part of the WetShaving community found on Reddit, Discord, and IRC.
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SOTD Jun 16, 2023
June 16, 2023
Second shave with BB Lite. Impressions remain same - mild-ish razor that is very skin friendly.
Tried something different today: shaving before I showered. This'd be way more convenient, but I thought it didn't work out well for me. However it finally occurred to me that was back during a long dark age where I exclusively used the same Merkur/Feather/Williams combo in a somewhat savage and very utilitarian fashion. Thankfully, my knife sharpening guy moved indirectly inspiring me to try a straight razor which lead to a whole collection and a rekindled interest in shaving general.
It went fine. In fact, I was intentionally being a bit conservative yet got a closer shave than I was aiming for, maybe the slight expansion of hydrated skin hides a tad more hair or something? Probably I just do a better job with this razor. I was lucky to find it, almost sold it for more than I'd ever have been willing to pay for it but that kind gentleman wisely asked if I was sure. I wasn't. I was far happier to have found this than I would have been if that much money just appeared out of the blue.
And in case you wonder, no, I didn't mute the toe like that, it came that way from the factory. Really. Though just as well I suppose, I don't find a spike point to be all that relaxing (though interesting now and then) so I probably get more use out of it this way. And at the time they didn't realise they were making quite the treasured heirloom this became.
Great write-up, and great find!
June 16 2023
Varen. It’s what’s for dinner.
Varen+++.
Jun. 16, 2023
Firefighter Friday shave.
Firefighter++
June 16, 2023
3 passes. Face lather. Excellent shave.
I really need to add a category of Most Excellent for those times that I use this razor.
Yesterday, the Fili 14 returned from its visit to @[email protected] . Naturally, I wanted to use it today. I viewed the edge under the microscope and was surprised at how good it looked, but I checked my records and this razor's last edge refresh was in Feb. I figured that with both of us using the razor, it was probably time for another edge refresh. So, last night I did that; using synthetic stones and my current bag of finishing tricks.
The shave was amazing! Everything you hear and read about the Fili 14 Gen 1 is true. I was really done after the second pass, but the edge feel was just so good, I decided on a third pass and was awarded an ultra-comfortable DS-BBS result.
The Gentleman's Nod soap base is interesting. I know not to load this one too heavily and loaded lightly with the Wald badger. You would never believe that the amount I loaded would be enough to satisfy three passes, but it was. This base takes an amazing amount of hydration and even when almost to the point of dripping feels a little pasty. Quite different than the silkiness of MSC, Zingari Man, or Spearhead's Highland, and not the same richness as Omnibus, or as Wholly Kaw's new Crème Fraîche. But it works. It's very slick but does not have extraordinary residual slickness.
The Zaharoff scent is awesome. There's rose in there, but there's spicyness and woody stuff as well (don't know the actual scent notes offhand). This made the whole shave a luxurious experience.
Your fili is just stunning.
Thank you! It was an eBay purchase. The fellow who sold it told me said he dropped the razor and broke the blade of his “favorite” Fili 14 and couldn’t bear seeing this one because it reminded him of the other. His photos didn’t do this one justice. I was stunned when it arrived, but I still wonder what the “favorite” looked like.
Been intrigued (mostly thanks to their cool branding) by Gentleman's Nod for a while. At some point I'll have to sus out a sample or just buy a puck... or maybe they'll make an Old Spice dupe...
It's definitely different. Both @[email protected] and I have similar experiences with the soap base. I intend to try Musashi at some point. My soap is in the C4 base and they now have a C4+ base. I don't keep track of these things, but presumably '+' means better :)
Musashi and Juniper Reverie are both excellent.
Those should hopefully be going out today!
I like Musashi quite a bit as a soap, goes great with Passiflora or Thé Noir etc Vanille aftershaves
#SOTD Friday 16 June, 2023
A quick shower shave with the ball end tech. I was a lot more careful not to add any pressure to the tech, so I got a much better shave than last time. I scraped some skin off the side of my chin. It was a bit red but there was no blood. There was no feedback from the Nivea balm - surprise! Great razor, great soap, great brush, great shave.
Enjoy smelling like a stag. I know I do. :)
It's growing on me. I like it now, whereas when it arrived I didn't. My wife says I smell like leather shoes.
A fast Friday shave. Almost six years after I received the soap, I broke through and can see the bottom of the tin….
June 16, 2023 – The Great Spice Off – Mystic Water Windjammer 2
Windjammer lathered up something fantastic today and went on my face so soft and then… nothing. I I think I needed more water or something because the slickness wasn’t there at all. My first shave I wouldn’t say it was standout but it was there, but maybe that was the milder, smoother razor I was using. Going to do a ton of water for the thrid shave with a really aggressive razor or else I think I’ll be a bloody mess.
I hadn’t used the Slim Adjustable in a while and every time I take it out I remember that Gillette kind of nailed it all those years ago. I’d like a little more weight on it but it’s just a great, easy shaver that can go to whatever level you’re feeling.
PAA 😕
Reminds me that we need to save the wiki, too
I know. I know. I bought it well before I knew their issues and don't buy from them anymore, but every so often I bust the brush out.
Me too😅
I bought a scuttle back when I didn't know.
I’ve been exploring my DEs again lately. I really like the extra weight on the Slim over the Tech. I feel it actually helps with the shaving. So far I’m 2/3 on great shaves with the Slim, looking forward to using it more when I get home.
I never tried OG Shire, but hopped on Shire 2 for the sole reason that I'm a big Tolkien fan. The description notes are full of things that I don't typically go for. My initial thoughts of Shire were that it was okay. This morning though, something in the scent just really clicked with me and I just all of sudden... Got it. The tobacco really seemed to stand out for the first time to me, and blending with the Vetiver, Spices and Violet that Hobbit hole vibe just struck me. Fantastic.
This Wade & Butcher is such a pleasure to use. Super light and the feel of the steel is just one of those "IYKYK" kind of things. Just really on a level of its own, and it takes such a keen edge. This was a wonderful way to start the day. Close and comfortable shave, no nicks or irritation.
MOAR BOAR plus Shire 2! Perfect combination!
Oh my, that razor is gorgeous!
It’s everything you said it is! :)
MOAR BOAR + Shire 2 has been my favorite shave combo lately. The only reason I don’t do it more is because I’m already blown through half a tub of Shire 2.
I really wished I liked shire 2 more. Oh well, different strokes et al.
I never used Shire 1 either. I really like Shire 2, though. If I had one comment about it is that I wish the tobacco was more forward.
I agree. I'm not sure why it stood out so much today compared to other times, but I feel like that just really elevated the entire scent.
For me the tobacco is more recognizable in the soap than in the splash and I think that may have been intentional. I also think Ben wanted the scent to be a warm weather tobacco/grassy/fresh air scent and (perhaps) was careful with the balance of tobacco with other notes.
Agreed. I find it to be a very pleasant warm weather scent. I get why Ben made that decision because the tobacco could easily overwhelm. Maybe Shire 3? Or maybe instead of tobacco he should use the scent of pipe-weed next time.
pipe-weed next time.
Of course the first Dr Jon's dupe the community suggests would be Pan's Pipe
Happy #fougerefriday!
Rating: 4/5
Another great shave with this blade and it matches quite well with this razor for me.
This shaving cream is also good. It produces copious amounts of lather and is slick enough. It is a bit of an unusual format for a shaving cream, being in a liquid form and coming in a bottle with a pump. It also takes plenty of water which perhaps wouldn't be expected with it being a thinner consistency to begin with.
I'm really enjoying the scent of this Geo F. Trumper Rose cream. Simple, warm, maybe a bit grandma-y, but in a good way. I don't think I have it really dialled in yet, and my first pass was a bit pasty vs a watery third, but even so, performance was good enough. I'm regretting that I didn't take the post shave as well but Two Kings made a nice pairing.
It felt good to shave with a straight again after a few travel days abroad.
I didn't intend to use the Stirling Lime today, but this morning my wife asked me if I could whip up a lather for her to shave her legs. How could I say no to that request? She doesn't love most heavily scented soaps so Lime it was, which is always acceptable to me as well. Of note, she doesn't have any blades for her shitty Venus razor, so it will be another attempt to convert her to a Schick injector. The DEs scare her.
Finally Friday and coffee is hot. Have a great day all!
I got a Lady Gillette for my SO and it made a huge difference in her perceived accessibility to wetshaving… She still only DE shaves when she has a lot of time, but she enjoys it when she does.
I had my wife use my Eversharp I1 and she liked it. Now if I can only keep her using it, I'll be happy man.
Jun. 16, 2023
Great shave. Grabbed a new plate for my copper razor, very happy with the solid bar. Cool morning for menthol but I’m awake now.
June 16, 2023
