I'm out of town, but I'm loaded for bear.
I'm headed to the volcaninc landscape of Mt. Aso in Kyushu...hot springs, dairy farms and famous chimpanzees.
I'll be trying out MWF with my Duke 3, and a nice little J2 Schick Injector. I'll be in touch.
To the Lava!
Sunday, December 28, 2008
Saturday, December 27, 2008
My Preeeecioussss....
I got a new toy! A New SHINY toy! Wanna see it? Huh?
Well...let's see...
Pretty paper!
I wonder what's inside?
It's a box! A wooden box!
And like Pandora, I open the box...
It's STEEEELLL!!
I got me a new Japanese straight. It's a shaver, not a collector, so it's in the lower range of Japanese razors...I didn't feel quite up to spening $300 on a Handcrafted Iwasaki. But it's still fine steel...
Yay!
Well...let's see...
Pretty paper!
I wonder what's inside?
It's a box! A wooden box!
And like Pandora, I open the box...
It's STEEEELLL!!
I got me a new Japanese straight. It's a shaver, not a collector, so it's in the lower range of Japanese razors...I didn't feel quite up to spening $300 on a Handcrafted Iwasaki. But it's still fine steel...
Yay!
Friday, December 26, 2008
Fools Rush in...
something something something...
I have jumped into the straight razor pool with both feet.
That's not a pretty image, is it?
I started out simple. I picked up a Double Arrow off of eBay. $9.50+$4 shipping to Japan. Not shave ready, but not a huge investment, so I could afford to tinker with learning to hone.
Of course, to learn to hone, I need a shave ready monster to give me an idea of what to aim for. Soooo...I picked up a shave ready vintage Kropp off of B&B.
And, of course, I need a strop, so I picked up a cheap one from a guy on SRP.
And Now I'm looking for hones, a pasted paddle strop, and a book on care and feeding of straight razors....and I've never even touched one yet! I wonder what's next?
The fuse is lit, kids, and I feel like Slim Pickens at the end of Dr. Strangelove... I plan to ride this baby to the bottom!
Yeee HAAAWW!!!!
I have jumped into the straight razor pool with both feet.
That's not a pretty image, is it?
I started out simple. I picked up a Double Arrow off of eBay. $9.50+$4 shipping to Japan. Not shave ready, but not a huge investment, so I could afford to tinker with learning to hone.
Of course, to learn to hone, I need a shave ready monster to give me an idea of what to aim for. Soooo...I picked up a shave ready vintage Kropp off of B&B.
And, of course, I need a strop, so I picked up a cheap one from a guy on SRP.
And Now I'm looking for hones, a pasted paddle strop, and a book on care and feeding of straight razors....and I've never even touched one yet! I wonder what's next?
The fuse is lit, kids, and I feel like Slim Pickens at the end of Dr. Strangelove... I plan to ride this baby to the bottom!
Yeee HAAAWW!!!!
Thursday, December 25, 2008
Review: Kim Son Brush In Use
This will be an ongoing commentary on how this brush performs in use. I will update a few times before making a final judgment in a couple of weeks.
So, let's see how she goes...
The First Lather...
So, I started out using this brush with a test lather. I used TBS MACA Root Cream in a bowl, just to see how it worked--I'm a face latherer by nature, so bowls aren't my bag, usually.
I snurdled in the bowl, wet the brush in the running sink (no soak this time) and shook it about three times. I started to lather--and it just exploded. I didn't need to add any extra water to make a good, slick cream. However, as you can see from looking at this lather in the picture, it maybe could have used a touch more work with the brush, but like I said...I'm not a bowl latherer.
Here is the knot after use, still wet, with more bloom:
No shed hairs on this lather.
*****
The First Shave...(Christmas!)
For my first shave with the brush, I decided on Cella Crema Da Sapone. I don't have any good soap pucks right now, so this was the closest I had to a soap--they load similarly, but when my VB Luxury Shave Soap gets here, I can give a better indication of soap performance.
I soaked the brush while I showered (I know this isn't necessary for Badger brushes, but some people do it, and this is a test so I went for it.) After my shower, I shook the brush out a good four times, getting all the excess water out, and loaded the brush. I had no problems getting a good load of soap on the bristles. They have a good backbone for this--I don't anticipate any big problems with soaps. After loading, there was one hair left in the Cella.
For the shave, I face lathered as it is my main MO. And...this was a very pleasant brush. The bristles were smooth and soft, with no hint of scritch or scrubbiness at all. It was stiff enough to lather the crema with no extra work, and made a good lather quickly. I personally found it much easier to use than the Shavemac Silvertip I tried, which was much silkier, but (or therefore?) much more difficult to gauge as far as water content and loading goes.
I had to dip the bristles once, as I might have overshaken the brush in the beginning, but it was overall a very easy, intuitive brush to use, and exremely comfortable.
I got enough lather to last for 3.5 shaves, though I had to squeeze the knot a bit for the last touch up pass.
Another hair was shed when I was drying the brush on a towel after the shave, for a total of 2 hairs shed.
Nope, nothing wrong here!
(Sorry I didn't get any pictures of the shave, but I don't like the idea of using the Camera in the bathroom...)
***
Second Shave...(Dec. 26)
Switched to Castle Forbes Lime Oil Cream today, love the smell. Again, face lathering after the shower. I didn't soak the brush today, just let it get nice and wet, and the performance was the same as yesterday. It holds a lot of water, but is fairly easy to adjust.
Today, I kind of felt that the density was a bit low for my tastes. Holding the knot with thre fingers, like they teach you in the barber books, my finges really sank in. It's not a big problem, as the hairs hold up pretty well in the lathering, but it is there...
The knot doesn't splay out too much, and it hilds a nice big god of lather for your shave.
3 Hairs shed today--I still don't think it's anything to worry about, but if it continues too long it might be a problem.
Last update this week...Be back next year with a thorough report!
***
Dec. 27--I know I said I'd be back in a week, but I got a puck of Vintage Blades Soap yesterday, so I had to give it a try.
Great lather, easy loading--no problems with soap! Again, this brush seems a little too soft, maybe not dense enough, for me. I like a stiff brush, with lots of backbone. But it's got more backbone than the Shavemac, though it isn't as dense.
1 shed hair today.
***
Dec 28--2 hairs shed. A little weak with MWF...hmmm....
So, let's see how she goes...
The First Lather...
So, I started out using this brush with a test lather. I used TBS MACA Root Cream in a bowl, just to see how it worked--I'm a face latherer by nature, so bowls aren't my bag, usually.
I snurdled in the bowl, wet the brush in the running sink (no soak this time) and shook it about three times. I started to lather--and it just exploded. I didn't need to add any extra water to make a good, slick cream. However, as you can see from looking at this lather in the picture, it maybe could have used a touch more work with the brush, but like I said...I'm not a bowl latherer.
Here is the knot after use, still wet, with more bloom:
No shed hairs on this lather.
*****
The First Shave...(Christmas!)
For my first shave with the brush, I decided on Cella Crema Da Sapone. I don't have any good soap pucks right now, so this was the closest I had to a soap--they load similarly, but when my VB Luxury Shave Soap gets here, I can give a better indication of soap performance.
I soaked the brush while I showered (I know this isn't necessary for Badger brushes, but some people do it, and this is a test so I went for it.) After my shower, I shook the brush out a good four times, getting all the excess water out, and loaded the brush. I had no problems getting a good load of soap on the bristles. They have a good backbone for this--I don't anticipate any big problems with soaps. After loading, there was one hair left in the Cella.
For the shave, I face lathered as it is my main MO. And...this was a very pleasant brush. The bristles were smooth and soft, with no hint of scritch or scrubbiness at all. It was stiff enough to lather the crema with no extra work, and made a good lather quickly. I personally found it much easier to use than the Shavemac Silvertip I tried, which was much silkier, but (or therefore?) much more difficult to gauge as far as water content and loading goes.
I had to dip the bristles once, as I might have overshaken the brush in the beginning, but it was overall a very easy, intuitive brush to use, and exremely comfortable.
I got enough lather to last for 3.5 shaves, though I had to squeeze the knot a bit for the last touch up pass.
Another hair was shed when I was drying the brush on a towel after the shave, for a total of 2 hairs shed.
Nope, nothing wrong here!
(Sorry I didn't get any pictures of the shave, but I don't like the idea of using the Camera in the bathroom...)
***
Second Shave...(Dec. 26)
Switched to Castle Forbes Lime Oil Cream today, love the smell. Again, face lathering after the shower. I didn't soak the brush today, just let it get nice and wet, and the performance was the same as yesterday. It holds a lot of water, but is fairly easy to adjust.
Today, I kind of felt that the density was a bit low for my tastes. Holding the knot with thre fingers, like they teach you in the barber books, my finges really sank in. It's not a big problem, as the hairs hold up pretty well in the lathering, but it is there...
The knot doesn't splay out too much, and it hilds a nice big god of lather for your shave.
3 Hairs shed today--I still don't think it's anything to worry about, but if it continues too long it might be a problem.
Last update this week...Be back next year with a thorough report!
***
Dec. 27--I know I said I'd be back in a week, but I got a puck of Vintage Blades Soap yesterday, so I had to give it a try.
Great lather, easy loading--no problems with soap! Again, this brush seems a little too soft, maybe not dense enough, for me. I like a stiff brush, with lots of backbone. But it's got more backbone than the Shavemac, though it isn't as dense.
1 shed hair today.
***
Dec 28--2 hairs shed. A little weak with MWF...hmmm....
Wednesday, December 24, 2008
Special Review: Kim Son Horn Handle Brush **UPDATE**
A Vietnamese company, Kim Son Handicrafts, has recently gotten into the shaving brush game, and they sent me a sample of their work to review. Here are my first impressions.
I got this brush in the mail today from Vu Kim Son. Vu represents Kim Son Handicrafts, a company specializing in handmade genuine horn products. The have a huge range of products, from shoehorns and combs (which Vu also generously included) to pistol grips and razor handles.
Kim Son has been making brush handles for some time, having done work with Savemac in Germany on custom brush handles (Correction: Apparently, the custom brush was for SRP, NOT B&B. Sorry about the mixup.), and now they have begun supplying complete brushes in Silvertip badger.
But enough talk, here it is:
This is an attempt to give you a view of the darker side of the handle. The handle is a lovely marbled horn--just beautiful.
Another view, with different lighting, showing the lighter side. The Knot here is just out of the package--it was rather tightly bound, so it hasn't bloomed at all.
It is quite a large brush--here it is in comparison with some other brushes I have; a Simpsons Duke 3 (which is 92mm tall, with a 23mm knot) and an Omega Travel 21047 travel brush (a TINY boar brush):
Here's the knot after some rest and a little blooming, from above:
It's rather dense. It feels firm to the touch, with a bit more bounce-back that the only other silvertip I've tried up to this point--a 23mm Shavemac; it seems to have a bit more backbone, but is not as densely filled. The hair might be of a slightly lower grade than the Shavemac, I'm not sure.
Vu says that his knots are sourced from India, which is unusual. The knot looks fairly dense and has a nice springy feel to the hand. I haven't tried it in the shave yet, but I am looking forward to it tomorrow. I've also sent some specific detail questions to Vu, and will post his answers when I get them.
**UPDATE**
Here are my questions, and Vu's answers.
1. What knot size is this brush--that means, how wide is the hair where it goes into the handle? 23mm? And can you make other sizes?
The Knot size is 23-21 mm the wide of hair could do custom follow customer.
(Ed. I need to measure this...it looks like the knot is closer to 25mm to me.)
2. How tall is the brush total? How tall is the handle, and how tall is the hair loft?
About the tall , I don’t measure when I send them but your samples is standard . Let me discuss with my father next day.
(Ed. I just eyeballed with my trusty pink plastic ruler--it looks like the brush is just under 11 cm tall, with a 49mm handle and a 58mm loft...!!!)
3. Where (what country) did you get the hair from? Was the knot (this is the word we use for the hair in the brush) hand tied, or machine tied?
The hair come from Asia , specially from India and I also looking for best resource . As you know, I do business with 1st is quality and customer feedback not the big sale. Later in the email, he also said that the source uses hand tied knots, as per his request.
4. Can you make brushes in different grades? There is silvertip, Pure Badger, Best Badger, etc.
Of course , I could provide Silver Badger , Pure or Best Badger . But I think the horn handle come with the Silver badger is the best because my supplier said the silver badger is the best quality. I will listen your comment and put the option for customer choice when they order. They could choice the Silver , Pure , Best etc.
My initial impressions are, on a purely visual level, very favorable. I will be making periodic updates with my progress with this brush, and giving a final verdict in a couple of weeks, so please check in often!
I got this brush in the mail today from Vu Kim Son. Vu represents Kim Son Handicrafts, a company specializing in handmade genuine horn products. The have a huge range of products, from shoehorns and combs (which Vu also generously included) to pistol grips and razor handles.
Kim Son has been making brush handles for some time, having done work with Savemac in Germany on custom brush handles (Correction: Apparently, the custom brush was for SRP, NOT B&B. Sorry about the mixup.), and now they have begun supplying complete brushes in Silvertip badger.
But enough talk, here it is:
This is an attempt to give you a view of the darker side of the handle. The handle is a lovely marbled horn--just beautiful.
Another view, with different lighting, showing the lighter side. The Knot here is just out of the package--it was rather tightly bound, so it hasn't bloomed at all.
It is quite a large brush--here it is in comparison with some other brushes I have; a Simpsons Duke 3 (which is 92mm tall, with a 23mm knot) and an Omega Travel 21047 travel brush (a TINY boar brush):
Here's the knot after some rest and a little blooming, from above:
It's rather dense. It feels firm to the touch, with a bit more bounce-back that the only other silvertip I've tried up to this point--a 23mm Shavemac; it seems to have a bit more backbone, but is not as densely filled. The hair might be of a slightly lower grade than the Shavemac, I'm not sure.
Vu says that his knots are sourced from India, which is unusual. The knot looks fairly dense and has a nice springy feel to the hand. I haven't tried it in the shave yet, but I am looking forward to it tomorrow. I've also sent some specific detail questions to Vu, and will post his answers when I get them.
**UPDATE**
Here are my questions, and Vu's answers.
1. What knot size is this brush--that means, how wide is the hair where it goes into the handle? 23mm? And can you make other sizes?
The Knot size is 23-21 mm the wide of hair could do custom follow customer.
(Ed. I need to measure this...it looks like the knot is closer to 25mm to me.)
2. How tall is the brush total? How tall is the handle, and how tall is the hair loft?
About the tall , I don’t measure when I send them but your samples is standard . Let me discuss with my father next day.
(Ed. I just eyeballed with my trusty pink plastic ruler--it looks like the brush is just under 11 cm tall, with a 49mm handle and a 58mm loft...!!!)
3. Where (what country) did you get the hair from? Was the knot (this is the word we use for the hair in the brush) hand tied, or machine tied?
The hair come from Asia , specially from India and I also looking for best resource . As you know, I do business with 1st is quality and customer feedback not the big sale. Later in the email, he also said that the source uses hand tied knots, as per his request.
4. Can you make brushes in different grades? There is silvertip, Pure Badger, Best Badger, etc.
Of course , I could provide Silver Badger , Pure or Best Badger . But I think the horn handle come with the Silver badger is the best because my supplier said the silver badger is the best quality. I will listen your comment and put the option for customer choice when they order. They could choice the Silver , Pure , Best etc.
My initial impressions are, on a purely visual level, very favorable. I will be making periodic updates with my progress with this brush, and giving a final verdict in a couple of weeks, so please check in often!
Tuesday, December 23, 2008
L'Ultima Setola...
So, I've been working on getting a custom Boar brush made up. Why, you ask? Because they told me I COULDN'T!!!
L'Ultima Setola will be the culmination of all of man's hopes and dreams, from the earliest days of recorded history, mankind has dreamt of a quality boar knot in a quality, custom handle.
I have made it my goal to see this dream come to life.
I have made the first step. Due to a generous donation from a member at The Shave Den forum, I got an Omega brush and removed the knot.
This is an Omega 10048, I believe.
Here's the removed knot.
It's set in plastic...we'll see if that needs to be removed.
The next step is to get it off to Rodd, of knotty badger fame, to get the custom handle turned and the knot reset.
And then, Valhalla AND Nirvana will be within reach!
Hail the might boar!!!
L'Ultima Setola will be the culmination of all of man's hopes and dreams, from the earliest days of recorded history, mankind has dreamt of a quality boar knot in a quality, custom handle.
I have made it my goal to see this dream come to life.
I have made the first step. Due to a generous donation from a member at The Shave Den forum, I got an Omega brush and removed the knot.
This is an Omega 10048, I believe.
Here's the removed knot.
It's set in plastic...we'll see if that needs to be removed.
The next step is to get it off to Rodd, of knotty badger fame, to get the custom handle turned and the knot reset.
And then, Valhalla AND Nirvana will be within reach!
Hail the might boar!!!
Monday, December 22, 2008
A Rose by any Other Name..
Wow. So, I finally tried a top shelf English cream. Man. I can see the appeal!
Taylor's of Old Bond Street Rose. Fantastic stuff.
The scent was a bit on the strong side...lathering up it felt like someone had stuffed a bouquet of twelve long stems up my nose. And the pink is, well....pink. But the lather! I whipped enough thick, cushiony lather for 4 passes--USING A BOAR BRUSH! No nicks, no cuts, no razor burn and a DFS. It was almost too easy!
Of course, I just came off a term of using Cella Crema da Sapone, which is also a fantastic product. Lovely Almond smell, rich creamy lather and smooth shaving. It's been a good week!
This whole shaving this is just great!
Taylor's of Old Bond Street Rose. Fantastic stuff.
The scent was a bit on the strong side...lathering up it felt like someone had stuffed a bouquet of twelve long stems up my nose. And the pink is, well....pink. But the lather! I whipped enough thick, cushiony lather for 4 passes--USING A BOAR BRUSH! No nicks, no cuts, no razor burn and a DFS. It was almost too easy!
Of course, I just came off a term of using Cella Crema da Sapone, which is also a fantastic product. Lovely Almond smell, rich creamy lather and smooth shaving. It's been a good week!
This whole shaving this is just great!
Friday, December 19, 2008
Best Stay Away, It's Catching...
I caught this shaving disease from some random comment (NOT EVEN A POST!) on John Scalzi's blog Whatever, and it has rapidly taken control of my central nervous system. Now, my poor poor friend in Scotland has become infected with the same dread plague....Be careful, for you may be next.
Apart from the acquisitiveness, apart from the obsession with shaving that leads me to try it twice a day, apart from the almost insane amount of attention I am paying to my skin these days, it is the intense progression of the disease that frightens me. Me, who until very recently spent 4 minutes a day with a buzzing electric beast against my face, am now taking twenty minutes with a brush, soap and mind-numbingly sharp blade to scrape away my whiskers...and just now, JUST NOW, I found myself reading a guide to straight razor shaving.
STRAIGHT RAZORS!!!! Folding KNIVES that you drag across your skin! By all that is holy, what has happened to me? And how did this new thing come to me, this new symptom of the shaving measles?
By reading the Goddamned Internet...just like YOU ARE DOING RIGHT NOW!!!
So, does anyone have a half-hollow solingen and a strop they'd like to sell me?
Apart from the acquisitiveness, apart from the obsession with shaving that leads me to try it twice a day, apart from the almost insane amount of attention I am paying to my skin these days, it is the intense progression of the disease that frightens me. Me, who until very recently spent 4 minutes a day with a buzzing electric beast against my face, am now taking twenty minutes with a brush, soap and mind-numbingly sharp blade to scrape away my whiskers...and just now, JUST NOW, I found myself reading a guide to straight razor shaving.
STRAIGHT RAZORS!!!! Folding KNIVES that you drag across your skin! By all that is holy, what has happened to me? And how did this new thing come to me, this new symptom of the shaving measles?
By reading the Goddamned Internet...just like YOU ARE DOING RIGHT NOW!!!
So, does anyone have a half-hollow solingen and a strop they'd like to sell me?
Tuesday, December 16, 2008
Back in the saddle again!
Ok, so things are back to normal on the vast open plains of my face.
On the recommendation of a good friend, I returned to the warm, wooly bosom of Mitchell's Wool Fat, and the lanolin did work a charm. My face feels better after last week's shenanigans, and shaving is once more a pleasure.
What's more, the very day that my last drop of that sweet, sweet TSD Aftershave milk went, I got a new shipment in. This time Old Spice Type, Bourbon Vanilla and Mayan Gold (I couldn't resist...it's just so tasty!). I wasn't sure about the Old Spice, but my wife seems to like it so there you go.
I also got in some shave soap from Susie's Bubbles--Citrus Sage with Shea Butter and Honey Almond with Goat's Milk. The scents on these soaps is something else. Sweet and fragrant....like candy. I'll let the MWF take care of me for a few more days, and then see how these guys shave. Thanks Suzie!
In other news, I am working with the famous "Swede".
No, not that one...
Gillette Super Platinums, commonly known as "Swedish Gillettes", are some of the priciest, and well loved, DE blades around. They are reputed to be smooth, sharp blades that last forever; one gentleman of note claims that he got 30 good shaves out of one--and, as most good blades give about 5-6, that is something else. I find them sharp, but smooth...hmmm. I'm not ready to give up on my yellow/green 7 O'Clocks yet.
So that's the current state of affairs. In the near future, expect an extended series of Brush reviews as I get a silvertip in a hand-carved genuine horn handle from Kimson Handicrafts in Viet Nam, and a pre-Vulfix Simpsons Duke 3 to try out. Yay!
On the recommendation of a good friend, I returned to the warm, wooly bosom of Mitchell's Wool Fat, and the lanolin did work a charm. My face feels better after last week's shenanigans, and shaving is once more a pleasure.
What's more, the very day that my last drop of that sweet, sweet TSD Aftershave milk went, I got a new shipment in. This time Old Spice Type, Bourbon Vanilla and Mayan Gold (I couldn't resist...it's just so tasty!). I wasn't sure about the Old Spice, but my wife seems to like it so there you go.
I also got in some shave soap from Susie's Bubbles--Citrus Sage with Shea Butter and Honey Almond with Goat's Milk. The scents on these soaps is something else. Sweet and fragrant....like candy. I'll let the MWF take care of me for a few more days, and then see how these guys shave. Thanks Suzie!
In other news, I am working with the famous "Swede".
No, not that one...
Gillette Super Platinums, commonly known as "Swedish Gillettes", are some of the priciest, and well loved, DE blades around. They are reputed to be smooth, sharp blades that last forever; one gentleman of note claims that he got 30 good shaves out of one--and, as most good blades give about 5-6, that is something else. I find them sharp, but smooth...hmmm. I'm not ready to give up on my yellow/green 7 O'Clocks yet.
So that's the current state of affairs. In the near future, expect an extended series of Brush reviews as I get a silvertip in a hand-carved genuine horn handle from Kimson Handicrafts in Viet Nam, and a pre-Vulfix Simpsons Duke 3 to try out. Yay!
Sunday, December 14, 2008
Takin' 'Er Easy...
You might have noticed, if you are very perceptive, that I haven't updated my "Daily Shave" for a couple of days. The reason is, this was a hard shave week for me. I didn't want to tell you , well, I didn't want anyone to worry. No, no, I'm ok, please, don't cry...It's just, well...I have some bad news.
Since I started shaving with a brush, soap and a DE razor, I have found that my skin is WAY more sensitive than I ever thought it was. I don't know if this is a thing that was always true and I was never in a position to notice it, or if it's caused by all the random things I've been doing to my face for the past couple of months, but there have been some...issues.
First, there were the infamous Japanese Shaving creams...Enough said.
Then, things went ok until I tried the Feather. Bad news, but not too bad.
Smooth sailing for a while, improving technique, getting better supplies, and then BANG! Institut Karite happened.
IK is billed as a soap for sensitive skin, gentle and loaded with moisturizing shea butter. When I read about this, I drooled..."MMMmmmmmm" I said, "Buuuu-tteeeeer..... SO I acquired some (4 pucks actually...) and tried it. It burned me. And when I sayburned, not like "Oh, my, that's slithly irritating..." but more like "Dear god, I can't touch my face for two days...".
And that, I think, is where it started. Because I couldn't let it rest. I had to keep scraping that sharpened steel across my face. In the process, I learned that C&E Sienna is also a No No (Dammit! I LOVE the scent!). And now, this last week, I think I did another bad thing.
This last week I tried a Gillette Super Platinum from India, in the black pack. It was sharp. And I just kept scraping. And my skin kept getting rawer. What's worse, I kept putting Musgo Real on it...Musgo real is another one of those products I was drooling after, an old fashioned European cream, loaded with lanolin and a lovely green scent (It is also a fantastic latherer, and gave a great shave...if you aren't sensitive to it, I highly recommend it). But it is also lightly mentholated, and at the end of my third pass it left my skin raw and painful. Not enough to make me give up right away, but eventually I realized there was no way I could continue using it. Just oo much irritation.
I used it for four shaves, with the Blackpack, and...well, let's just say that last Friday my face said "Stop it." I got 5 nicks and serious burn from my Swede, which hasn't happened to me for ages. So yesterday and today I did not shave. Even though I got some new Cella Crema from my mom for Christmas. Even though I have unopened soaps waiting for me. I gotta let it go. For now.
But I'll be back.
Since I started shaving with a brush, soap and a DE razor, I have found that my skin is WAY more sensitive than I ever thought it was. I don't know if this is a thing that was always true and I was never in a position to notice it, or if it's caused by all the random things I've been doing to my face for the past couple of months, but there have been some...issues.
First, there were the infamous Japanese Shaving creams...Enough said.
Then, things went ok until I tried the Feather. Bad news, but not too bad.
Smooth sailing for a while, improving technique, getting better supplies, and then BANG! Institut Karite happened.
IK is billed as a soap for sensitive skin, gentle and loaded with moisturizing shea butter. When I read about this, I drooled..."MMMmmmmmm" I said, "Buuuu-tteeeeer..... SO I acquired some (4 pucks actually...) and tried it. It burned me. And when I sayburned, not like "Oh, my, that's slithly irritating..." but more like "Dear god, I can't touch my face for two days...".
And that, I think, is where it started. Because I couldn't let it rest. I had to keep scraping that sharpened steel across my face. In the process, I learned that C&E Sienna is also a No No (Dammit! I LOVE the scent!). And now, this last week, I think I did another bad thing.
This last week I tried a Gillette Super Platinum from India, in the black pack. It was sharp. And I just kept scraping. And my skin kept getting rawer. What's worse, I kept putting Musgo Real on it...Musgo real is another one of those products I was drooling after, an old fashioned European cream, loaded with lanolin and a lovely green scent (It is also a fantastic latherer, and gave a great shave...if you aren't sensitive to it, I highly recommend it). But it is also lightly mentholated, and at the end of my third pass it left my skin raw and painful. Not enough to make me give up right away, but eventually I realized there was no way I could continue using it. Just oo much irritation.
I used it for four shaves, with the Blackpack, and...well, let's just say that last Friday my face said "Stop it." I got 5 nicks and serious burn from my Swede, which hasn't happened to me for ages. So yesterday and today I did not shave. Even though I got some new Cella Crema from my mom for Christmas. Even though I have unopened soaps waiting for me. I gotta let it go. For now.
But I'll be back.
Thursday, December 11, 2008
I feel special!
So, a while back, when I first got into this gig, I sent an Email to Omega, the boar brush company, asking for information about their brushes, and wondering about how to get a brush "for review purposes" (hey, I was new!). Looki what they sent me!
I got what has to be their ENTIRE sales catalogue, with posters, brochures, sales info...all their professional brochures! It's nice, in that old-fashioned Italian barbershop kind of way. And, of course, I found something I want. Several somethings, in fact...
So, Thanks Omega! And well done, I'm gonna buy!
I got what has to be their ENTIRE sales catalogue, with posters, brochures, sales info...all their professional brochures! It's nice, in that old-fashioned Italian barbershop kind of way. And, of course, I found something I want. Several somethings, in fact...
So, Thanks Omega! And well done, I'm gonna buy!
Tuesday, December 9, 2008
Yeah...
It was the Williams.
The blade is sharp, and not quite as balanced as the yellows, but yep...yesterday's fiasco was very likely the Williams.
Hmmm...might not even be worth the trouble of trying it again.
The blade is sharp, and not quite as balanced as the yellows, but yep...yesterday's fiasco was very likely the Williams.
Hmmm...might not even be worth the trouble of trying it again.
Monday, December 8, 2008
Ouch...
Tried out a new shave set today...Williams Mug soap and Gillette 7 O'Clock Blacks. Things...didn't go well...
It was my first time with both the soap and the blade. I'd heard good things about the Black:
That it is sharper and smoother than the Yellow's I've been using, which I love. Well, after today's shave I certainly think the first is true...Luckily they had a few pints in my type at the blood bank...
As for Williams.
Hmmm. I don't know what to think. That's the problem with introducing two new elements at the same time--you don't know which one blindsided you. Either that Gillette Black is a monster, featherlike in its deadliness, or Williams gave me all the benefit of shaving with warm spit. Either way, today's shave sucked the big one.
Ok, so, the blade nicked and cut and burned me. The soap lathered (apparently) fine. Not quite as slick as I like, and the scent was a bit off for me; reminiscent of ARKO, though not quite as penetrating. I don't know what I should do...I want to give this pair a good try, but I DON'T want a repeat of today's performance. Maybe I should switch out the Williams for it's brother-in-bargainhood (Williams is about $1 a puck), VDH, and let the Black have another go at my face. Let's just hope it's bloodthirst was slaked with this morning's sacrifice.
Yeah, let's do that.
It was my first time with both the soap and the blade. I'd heard good things about the Black:
That it is sharper and smoother than the Yellow's I've been using, which I love. Well, after today's shave I certainly think the first is true...Luckily they had a few pints in my type at the blood bank...
As for Williams.
Hmmm. I don't know what to think. That's the problem with introducing two new elements at the same time--you don't know which one blindsided you. Either that Gillette Black is a monster, featherlike in its deadliness, or Williams gave me all the benefit of shaving with warm spit. Either way, today's shave sucked the big one.
Ok, so, the blade nicked and cut and burned me. The soap lathered (apparently) fine. Not quite as slick as I like, and the scent was a bit off for me; reminiscent of ARKO, though not quite as penetrating. I don't know what I should do...I want to give this pair a good try, but I DON'T want a repeat of today's performance. Maybe I should switch out the Williams for it's brother-in-bargainhood (Williams is about $1 a puck), VDH, and let the Black have another go at my face. Let's just hope it's bloodthirst was slaked with this morning's sacrifice.
Yeah, let's do that.
Saturday, December 6, 2008
Productive Product Reviews: Auslese Trocken Skin Conditioner
Icy winter is just around the corner, even in balmy Hikari. It snowed today, and the wind blew dry and searing. It's time to get serious about a topic vital to everyone: MOISTNESS!!!!
I gets some mighty dry skin in the winter, and although my TSD Aftershave milk does a good job of taking care of my skin, I feel like I should use it more sparingly as it is an import...and imports are special.
So, when I was standing in the drug store the other day with some yen burning a hole in my pocket, and the men's skin care shelf passed before my eyes, I took an interest.
In this:
Look at that. What a bottle. What style. Man, that is one PRETTY bottle of skin conditioner. I couldn't help but pick it up. Reading the back, it looked like this was a soothing, slightly medicated moisturizing lotion for use after washing or shaving--just what I was looking for.
Ingredients (Maybe, this was a tough one...):
Dikalium Glycyrrhizin (Anti-inflammatory), d-alpha tocopheryl acetate (vitamin E), Aloe Extract, dipropylene Glycol, Water, Ethanol, Ethylhexyl palmitate, methylphenylpolysiloxane, Polyoxyethylene, Polyoxypropylene decyl tetradecyl ethyl, Cetanol, Carboxyvinyl polymer, Sorbitan Sesquioleate, Sodium hydroxyl, Polyacryl alkyl, Trisodium Edetate, Propylene Glycol, Paraben, Fragrance
The "Trocken" in the name is, in keeping with the Auslese, German. It means "dry", as in "dry white wine" or "dry sherry". Dry as in not sweet, slightly bitter...And the label says that the scent is "A gentle, non-sweet fragrance..." There's a whole line in this scent, Colognes, AS Lotions, Hair Tonics, and I had such good results from the Original Auslese I figured this was a good bet.
So I got that puppy home and took her to town.
My first reaction when I opened the bottle was, "What scent?" This is a SUBTLE fragrance. Even when applying it, I could hardly make it out--it was like walking into a room that had just been occupied by someone wearing a very tasteful cologne. There's a touch of floral scent to it, perhaps Rose or Lavender, but it is fleeting, and almost imaginary. Subtle. Not a reason to buy this product, but a nice touch.
The product itself is VERY thick; the shaker on the bottle is almost too small, it's kind of hard to get anything out, but that's fine. As with most milks/lotions, a little goes a long way. The product absorbed fast and did not leave any sticky or oily residue. Plus.
Now, as for the effects...Hmmm... This contains Aloe, which is good, it is pretty soothing after a bad shave (luckily, I don't get those too often, it as it goes, I got one today...) and it calms razor burn pretty well. However...it really isn't moisturizing enough for me. It is better than nothing, and certainly better than an alcohol based splash, but in both the soothing/healing and moisturizing aspects, it is not quite to the level of the TSD milk, which is my gold standard. It's better than The Gentleman's Refinery Aftershave Balm, in my opinion, if that helps, but not immensely.
I will use it as a moisturizer at night, to save my AS Milk, but it won't be my daily-use aftershave.
So, with an almost imperceptible scent, and slightly above mediocre results, I can't wholeheartedly recommend Auslese Trocken Skin Conditioner. But man, WHAT A BOTTLE.
I gets some mighty dry skin in the winter, and although my TSD Aftershave milk does a good job of taking care of my skin, I feel like I should use it more sparingly as it is an import...and imports are special.
So, when I was standing in the drug store the other day with some yen burning a hole in my pocket, and the men's skin care shelf passed before my eyes, I took an interest.
In this:
Look at that. What a bottle. What style. Man, that is one PRETTY bottle of skin conditioner. I couldn't help but pick it up. Reading the back, it looked like this was a soothing, slightly medicated moisturizing lotion for use after washing or shaving--just what I was looking for.
Ingredients (Maybe, this was a tough one...):
Dikalium Glycyrrhizin (Anti-inflammatory), d-alpha tocopheryl acetate (vitamin E), Aloe Extract, dipropylene Glycol, Water, Ethanol, Ethylhexyl palmitate, methylphenylpolysiloxane, Polyoxyethylene, Polyoxypropylene decyl tetradecyl ethyl, Cetanol, Carboxyvinyl polymer, Sorbitan Sesquioleate, Sodium hydroxyl, Polyacryl alkyl, Trisodium Edetate, Propylene Glycol, Paraben, Fragrance
The "Trocken" in the name is, in keeping with the Auslese, German. It means "dry", as in "dry white wine" or "dry sherry". Dry as in not sweet, slightly bitter...And the label says that the scent is "A gentle, non-sweet fragrance..." There's a whole line in this scent, Colognes, AS Lotions, Hair Tonics, and I had such good results from the Original Auslese I figured this was a good bet.
So I got that puppy home and took her to town.
My first reaction when I opened the bottle was, "What scent?" This is a SUBTLE fragrance. Even when applying it, I could hardly make it out--it was like walking into a room that had just been occupied by someone wearing a very tasteful cologne. There's a touch of floral scent to it, perhaps Rose or Lavender, but it is fleeting, and almost imaginary. Subtle. Not a reason to buy this product, but a nice touch.
The product itself is VERY thick; the shaker on the bottle is almost too small, it's kind of hard to get anything out, but that's fine. As with most milks/lotions, a little goes a long way. The product absorbed fast and did not leave any sticky or oily residue. Plus.
Now, as for the effects...Hmmm... This contains Aloe, which is good, it is pretty soothing after a bad shave (luckily, I don't get those too often, it as it goes, I got one today...) and it calms razor burn pretty well. However...it really isn't moisturizing enough for me. It is better than nothing, and certainly better than an alcohol based splash, but in both the soothing/healing and moisturizing aspects, it is not quite to the level of the TSD milk, which is my gold standard. It's better than The Gentleman's Refinery Aftershave Balm, in my opinion, if that helps, but not immensely.
I will use it as a moisturizer at night, to save my AS Milk, but it won't be my daily-use aftershave.
So, with an almost imperceptible scent, and slightly above mediocre results, I can't wholeheartedly recommend Auslese Trocken Skin Conditioner. But man, WHAT A BOTTLE.
Monday, December 1, 2008
Behold, a Stick Is Born!
I love me some Mitchell's Wool Fat. Great, great soap. Lovely smell, fantastic shave, excellent skin care. It was my first soap, and remains my favorite. However, I have found that since I first started this shaving bidness, I prefer shave sticks to soap pucks.
What's a boy to do?
Put the two loves together!
Inspired by a thread on B&B about turning a Tabac Puck into the highly coveted Tabac stick, I went to work on my battle-scarred puck.
First, I shaved the puck down into slivers using a vegetable peeler. I dropped the slivers into a glass bowl and tried a little "double boiling". The heat and steam softened the slivers a bit, allowing them to be reformed. I dropped the slivers into an empty "twister" deodorant stick and tamped them down with a marker. I added a few drops (DROPS! not splashes) of water now and again to add to the softness. Soon, I had this:
A MWF STICK!
After the stick set for a while, I tried it out.
Unfortunately, the soap set up too hard in the stick,and the twist-action broke when I tried to use it. I had to cut the bottom out and push up with my thumbs. Apart from this little mechanical trouble, the soap performs beautifully!
I've shaved with it and the lather was pure MWF. The shaving/tamping caused no permanent changes, and the stick form is PERFECT for lathering this notoriously difficult soap.
Score!!!
What's a boy to do?
Put the two loves together!
Inspired by a thread on B&B about turning a Tabac Puck into the highly coveted Tabac stick, I went to work on my battle-scarred puck.
First, I shaved the puck down into slivers using a vegetable peeler. I dropped the slivers into a glass bowl and tried a little "double boiling". The heat and steam softened the slivers a bit, allowing them to be reformed. I dropped the slivers into an empty "twister" deodorant stick and tamped them down with a marker. I added a few drops (DROPS! not splashes) of water now and again to add to the softness. Soon, I had this:
A MWF STICK!
After the stick set for a while, I tried it out.
Unfortunately, the soap set up too hard in the stick,and the twist-action broke when I tried to use it. I had to cut the bottom out and push up with my thumbs. Apart from this little mechanical trouble, the soap performs beautifully!
I've shaved with it and the lather was pure MWF. The shaving/tamping caused no permanent changes, and the stick form is PERFECT for lathering this notoriously difficult soap.
Score!!!
A Research Shopping Trip
My Wife and I got a new car (YAY!) and it showed up the day before yesterday. We took a road trip to The Big City, and while we were there I checked out the shaving goods available.
It wasn't pretty.
We went to Kokura, which is a nice big city in northern Kyushu. It's not huge, but it has some major department stores, which are about the only places to find good shaving supplies in Japan.
First, I went to The Body Shop. I was finally able to pick up a tube of their Maca Root Shave cream for 1,630 yen, about $16. Not bad...
Next, to a big department store--Izutsuya. Shaving supplies are usually found in the cutlery sections, cased along with row after row of fine hand-forged Japanese knives. Maybe it's to help justify the prices...Apart from the usual Schick and Gillette multi-blade cartridge shavers, they had ONE DE razor, a Merkur Futur. For 11,000 yen. That's 110 bucks. For a razor that retails in the US and Europe for around $55-$60. Eep.
They also had Merkur DE blades for 825 yen a pack, and a no-name Tanuki hair brush for 7,000. (Their no-name boar was 3000...). Eep again.
SO we moved on, to the big Isetan department store next to the station...which, in the year since we had last been to Kokura, had been bought out by Izutsuya. D'Oh!
The cutlery section again...and there's a bit more selection this time.
There was Futur again (same price as before) and also a gold Merkur Slant Bar.
For 11,000 yen. Which is odd, as the Slant usually sells for quite a bit less than the Futur...
They also had a couple of Plisson brushes. This Pure Black hexagon (Retail 40 Euros) was selling for 12,000 yen:
And this one (I think) for the same price:
Over priced, over priced over priced. I guess products ARE available, if you are willing to pay double the price of importing them from the US or Europe. Thank God for the internet, is all I can say.
It wasn't pretty.
We went to Kokura, which is a nice big city in northern Kyushu. It's not huge, but it has some major department stores, which are about the only places to find good shaving supplies in Japan.
First, I went to The Body Shop. I was finally able to pick up a tube of their Maca Root Shave cream for 1,630 yen, about $16. Not bad...
Next, to a big department store--Izutsuya. Shaving supplies are usually found in the cutlery sections, cased along with row after row of fine hand-forged Japanese knives. Maybe it's to help justify the prices...Apart from the usual Schick and Gillette multi-blade cartridge shavers, they had ONE DE razor, a Merkur Futur. For 11,000 yen. That's 110 bucks. For a razor that retails in the US and Europe for around $55-$60. Eep.
They also had Merkur DE blades for 825 yen a pack, and a no-name Tanuki hair brush for 7,000. (Their no-name boar was 3000...). Eep again.
SO we moved on, to the big Isetan department store next to the station...which, in the year since we had last been to Kokura, had been bought out by Izutsuya. D'Oh!
The cutlery section again...and there's a bit more selection this time.
There was Futur again (same price as before) and also a gold Merkur Slant Bar.
For 11,000 yen. Which is odd, as the Slant usually sells for quite a bit less than the Futur...
They also had a couple of Plisson brushes. This Pure Black hexagon (Retail 40 Euros) was selling for 12,000 yen:
And this one (I think) for the same price:
Over priced, over priced over priced. I guess products ARE available, if you are willing to pay double the price of importing them from the US or Europe. Thank God for the internet, is all I can say.
Friday, November 28, 2008
New Features!
Sooo. There's a couple of new things popping up here. Though I might draw your attention to them...Take a looksee!
First, a little bit down on the ol' left side, is "My Daily Shave." Pretty self explanatory, these are the things that I am using now...I update this daily, and as new things pop up, I'll post reviews or link to past ones. Because, you know, I was getting TONS of email begging to know what I was using to shave with every day. Cause that's just how cool I am.
Second, and perhaps more pathetic, is the "Followers" gadget, aka "People Who Might Like Me." This is a little widget that people can use to add themselves to the teeming hordes of avid readers I have. Like, all three of you ;). Really, though, if you have a Blogger account and if you like what you see here, add yourself. You'll get automatic updates of my posts and stuff on your dashboard, and maybe you'll come back to see me. This also helps me put a face to people who take the time to read my blog, so I can know who I'm writing for.
So go ahead and add yourself; you can be anonymous if you want, but it makes me feel good.
Like I said, pathetic...
Later!
First, a little bit down on the ol' left side, is "My Daily Shave." Pretty self explanatory, these are the things that I am using now...I update this daily, and as new things pop up, I'll post reviews or link to past ones. Because, you know, I was getting TONS of email begging to know what I was using to shave with every day. Cause that's just how cool I am.
Second, and perhaps more pathetic, is the "Followers" gadget, aka "People Who Might Like Me." This is a little widget that people can use to add themselves to the teeming hordes of avid readers I have. Like, all three of you ;). Really, though, if you have a Blogger account and if you like what you see here, add yourself. You'll get automatic updates of my posts and stuff on your dashboard, and maybe you'll come back to see me. This also helps me put a face to people who take the time to read my blog, so I can know who I'm writing for.
So go ahead and add yourself; you can be anonymous if you want, but it makes me feel good.
Like I said, pathetic...
Later!
Turkish Delight...?
So, a while ago, I tried a week of shaving with an ARKO Stick, from Turkey. I am a stick fan (Just wait till you see what I've got in my fridge...!!) and when I got this one for free with an order from Giovanni at Razor and Brush, I reckoned I had to try it. Now, in the fullness of time, I think I'm ready to give my opinion.
(image from Razor and Brush).
ARKO sticks are fairly polarizing. There are those (like Giovanni) that love them--they say the lather is thick, luxurious and plentiful, far outperforming the measly $2 price tag. There are those that hate the stuff --the primary complaint is the scent...
My reaction? They're both right.
The stick is plain jane, wrapped in paper and with no plastic base/holder like is found on the others I have tried. The graphics are kind of nice in a kitschy way. I felt like my shave was blessed by J.R. "Bob" Dobbs.
But even before I saw the stick, the first thing I noticed was the scent. In fact, the entire package I ordered smelled like this stuff...The stick's detractors, and there are many, say that this soap smells like a urinal puck. I don't think that's quite right. I think it smells like ten urinal pucks. This is a potent aroma...I was afraid to leave it in my bathroom, that it might turn the place into the John at a cheap bar. But luckily, with a day or two of air the stick calms down and the smell loses part of its penetrating edge.
So, then, the important part? Well...my first shave with this was a bit disappointing. Make no mistake, it lathered like a monster. My Omega brought forth MOUNDS of creamy lather in no time. But the shave wasn't that great. It was draggy and left my skin feeling dry and slightly razor burnt.
My second shave was similar. Then I realized, the lather was coming too easily--I wasn't adding enough water, seeing the big mounds of foam made me stop too soon. The reaction to the brush was deceptive. This soap needs quite a bit of water to get a good lather, even though it'll whip up a dry one with no trouble at all. Once I found the right water ratio, I got some pretty good shaves.
Pretty good. Not great. After 5 shaves, the bottom line was that I wanted to use something else. This was not true of the Valobra Stick or MWF...with those, I have to make myself stop, to give some other product a chance. With ARKO, I gave it a shot, thought "OK, that's not bad" and moved on.
Now, this is not a bad product. I can definitely see the appeal--it's cheap, it's easy to whip up a good lather, and it's cheap. But given the overpowering scent, and the lack of a really outstanding shave (not as good as VDH Deluxe, for instance), I can't see this one being a re-purchase. I am glad I tried it though, and I will probably give it another chance in a while, when the smell has faded from my mind's nose...
(image from Razor and Brush).ARKO sticks are fairly polarizing. There are those (like Giovanni) that love them--they say the lather is thick, luxurious and plentiful, far outperforming the measly $2 price tag. There are those that hate the stuff --the primary complaint is the scent...
My reaction? They're both right.
The stick is plain jane, wrapped in paper and with no plastic base/holder like is found on the others I have tried. The graphics are kind of nice in a kitschy way. I felt like my shave was blessed by J.R. "Bob" Dobbs.
But even before I saw the stick, the first thing I noticed was the scent. In fact, the entire package I ordered smelled like this stuff...The stick's detractors, and there are many, say that this soap smells like a urinal puck. I don't think that's quite right. I think it smells like ten urinal pucks. This is a potent aroma...I was afraid to leave it in my bathroom, that it might turn the place into the John at a cheap bar. But luckily, with a day or two of air the stick calms down and the smell loses part of its penetrating edge.
So, then, the important part? Well...my first shave with this was a bit disappointing. Make no mistake, it lathered like a monster. My Omega brought forth MOUNDS of creamy lather in no time. But the shave wasn't that great. It was draggy and left my skin feeling dry and slightly razor burnt.
My second shave was similar. Then I realized, the lather was coming too easily--I wasn't adding enough water, seeing the big mounds of foam made me stop too soon. The reaction to the brush was deceptive. This soap needs quite a bit of water to get a good lather, even though it'll whip up a dry one with no trouble at all. Once I found the right water ratio, I got some pretty good shaves.
Pretty good. Not great. After 5 shaves, the bottom line was that I wanted to use something else. This was not true of the Valobra Stick or MWF...with those, I have to make myself stop, to give some other product a chance. With ARKO, I gave it a shot, thought "OK, that's not bad" and moved on.
Now, this is not a bad product. I can definitely see the appeal--it's cheap, it's easy to whip up a good lather, and it's cheap. But given the overpowering scent, and the lack of a really outstanding shave (not as good as VDH Deluxe, for instance), I can't see this one being a re-purchase. I am glad I tried it though, and I will probably give it another chance in a while, when the smell has faded from my mind's nose...
Wednesday, November 26, 2008
A Guide: Single Edge Blades and The Spines Who Love Them
So, I have been involved with these Feather SE blades, and now that they are finding their way into the public, people are wanting to use them. How odd! Unfortunately, there is a bit of work involved with them, as they are not exactly designed for the common SE shavers we have. Basically, they need a spine from another blade; the removal and installation of that spine can be tricky, if you don't like blood loss. I have a fairly safe way to do it.
Come! Let me show you my world!
First off, what you need.
The Tools:
That's a pair of endcut pliers and a pair of needlenose pliers. I use the endcut pliers because I saw them in another video, and they were 100 yen at Daiso. You could probably get away with regular grip pliers, though.
First, adding a spine to a blade. Not too tricky...
Be Careful:
Grip the blade with the needlenose and get the spine centered on the blade. You can leave the paper on or off; off works a bit better for me. Make sure that you don't get the pliers near the cutting edge, you don't want to ruing the blade.
A No Brainer:
Press the blade spine onto a hard surface, gripping the blade tightly. The blade should fit snug into the spine, with the two indentations on each end of the spine fitting into the slots at the top of the blade.
Now, taking the spine off.
Grip the spine with the end cut pliers, being careful to catch only the edge; you don't want to be gripping the blade with the spine, it's counterproductive. Grip it slightly off center, I find it works best.
Slowly...
Grip the blade with the needlenose, aligning the edge of the jaws with the spine. Grip firmly, but not too tight, there should be a tiny amount of slide. Slowly pull the END of the blade outward, using the tip of the needlenose pliers as a fulcrum, levering the blade out of the spine one end at a time. Don't try to pull the blade straight out, it could fly out and cause some damage.
Once one end is out, it's easy! Just pull them apart with the pliers.
Good luck!
Come! Let me show you my world!
First off, what you need.
The Tools:
That's a pair of endcut pliers and a pair of needlenose pliers. I use the endcut pliers because I saw them in another video, and they were 100 yen at Daiso. You could probably get away with regular grip pliers, though.
First, adding a spine to a blade. Not too tricky...
Be Careful:
Grip the blade with the needlenose and get the spine centered on the blade. You can leave the paper on or off; off works a bit better for me. Make sure that you don't get the pliers near the cutting edge, you don't want to ruing the blade.
A No Brainer:
Press the blade spine onto a hard surface, gripping the blade tightly. The blade should fit snug into the spine, with the two indentations on each end of the spine fitting into the slots at the top of the blade.
Now, taking the spine off.
Grip the spine with the end cut pliers, being careful to catch only the edge; you don't want to be gripping the blade with the spine, it's counterproductive. Grip it slightly off center, I find it works best.
Slowly...
Grip the blade with the needlenose, aligning the edge of the jaws with the spine. Grip firmly, but not too tight, there should be a tiny amount of slide. Slowly pull the END of the blade outward, using the tip of the needlenose pliers as a fulcrum, levering the blade out of the spine one end at a time. Don't try to pull the blade straight out, it could fly out and cause some damage.
Once one end is out, it's easy! Just pull them apart with the pliers.
Good luck!
Olde and Newe...
I got a package from Merrye Olde Englande (From Paul Mayhew at Connaught Shaving--Thanks Paul!) last night (well, two actually...) and one of them contained a bit of modern engineering and a bit of old fashioned quality.
That is a Merkur Futur Razor (TSD Review Here), from the Merkur Razor company in Solingen Germany. It is resting atop a boxed tube of Musgo Real shaving cream (TSD Review Here), from Portugal. Cutting edge (pun fully intended) design and old world charm. I wish I could take better pictures.
The Futur is a beautiful, beautiful razor. The old Gillettes are miracles of engineering and functionality, lasting well past any reasonable expectation, but this is like some kind of Bauhaus art piece--smooth lines and pure functionality distilled into one wicked shaving machine. It's adjustable, meaning you can change how much space there is between the guard and the blade, allowing for ever closer, and more dangerous, shaves. It is also HEAVY--meaning you have to work less to get the blade to cut. Just awesome.
I can't wait to use it this morning!
The Musgo Real is a much more traditional product. It is a good old fashioned shave cream from Portugal, rich in Lanolin--meaning it should leave my face all nice and soft, even in the dry, heater filled winter. Which is why I bought it. The lovely, simple design on the box doesn't hurt. I'm going to save using this one until I get a decent cream brush. My Omega is wicked with soaps, but creams are another story...
Man, this stuff is just too much fun!
I'll report back with results of using these two lovelies...
That is a Merkur Futur Razor (TSD Review Here), from the Merkur Razor company in Solingen Germany. It is resting atop a boxed tube of Musgo Real shaving cream (TSD Review Here), from Portugal. Cutting edge (pun fully intended) design and old world charm. I wish I could take better pictures.
The Futur is a beautiful, beautiful razor. The old Gillettes are miracles of engineering and functionality, lasting well past any reasonable expectation, but this is like some kind of Bauhaus art piece--smooth lines and pure functionality distilled into one wicked shaving machine. It's adjustable, meaning you can change how much space there is between the guard and the blade, allowing for ever closer, and more dangerous, shaves. It is also HEAVY--meaning you have to work less to get the blade to cut. Just awesome.
I can't wait to use it this morning!
The Musgo Real is a much more traditional product. It is a good old fashioned shave cream from Portugal, rich in Lanolin--meaning it should leave my face all nice and soft, even in the dry, heater filled winter. Which is why I bought it. The lovely, simple design on the box doesn't hurt. I'm going to save using this one until I get a decent cream brush. My Omega is wicked with soaps, but creams are another story...
Man, this stuff is just too much fun!
I'll report back with results of using these two lovelies...
Saturday, November 22, 2008
Acquisitiveness....
So this whole shaving thing...It's got its dark side. Its dirty little secret.
That secret? Getting stuff.
When I started this, there were people telling me it was cheaper than using a cartridge. It was a way to economise in today's disposable world. All you need is an old, cheap razor, some decent blades, a brush and your choice of soap.
Look at this.
I didn't have room to fit all the blades in...or the sample sizes...
Less than two months, I've been doing this. And I have three more soaps, another razor and a brush on the way. And I just realized I have two pucks of soap and a stick that I left out of this picture! Dear God!
And this is nothing. Compared to some of the guys on the forums, this is kid's stuff, a single weekend's purchasing...
They have a cute little name for it. "Acquisition Disorder". I call it future grounds for divorce. I mean, I KNOW I don't need all this, but I see it, and I want it... And when I get it, I like it so much I want more! My wife, bless her, wants me to be happy so she does nothing to stop me. SHE DOES NOTHING! So, in a way, it's all her fault and I have nothing to feel guilty about, right?
Right?
Sooo...Where's that credit card? I need a new brush, I think...
**Update**
And...A little over a week later, this is what it looks like. Can you spot the changes?
In ONE DAY, I got three packages:
That secret? Getting stuff.
When I started this, there were people telling me it was cheaper than using a cartridge. It was a way to economise in today's disposable world. All you need is an old, cheap razor, some decent blades, a brush and your choice of soap.
Look at this.
I didn't have room to fit all the blades in...or the sample sizes...
Less than two months, I've been doing this. And I have three more soaps, another razor and a brush on the way. And I just realized I have two pucks of soap and a stick that I left out of this picture! Dear God!
And this is nothing. Compared to some of the guys on the forums, this is kid's stuff, a single weekend's purchasing...
They have a cute little name for it. "Acquisition Disorder". I call it future grounds for divorce. I mean, I KNOW I don't need all this, but I see it, and I want it... And when I get it, I like it so much I want more! My wife, bless her, wants me to be happy so she does nothing to stop me. SHE DOES NOTHING! So, in a way, it's all her fault and I have nothing to feel guilty about, right?
Right?
Sooo...Where's that credit card? I need a new brush, I think...
**Update**
And...A little over a week later, this is what it looks like. Can you spot the changes?
In ONE DAY, I got three packages:
Sunday, November 16, 2008
Consider your Date Upped.
So, I realize I have been remiss in my blogging recently. I've been car shopping, and man, car shopping in Japanese takes it out of you.
I do have things to share, though...
First, I realize I never updated you on The Gentlemans [sic] Refinery. First, Any company that doesn't proofread its own name gets one strike from the get go. It took me a while to actually realize it wasn't just the little pamphlet they sent me...The actual company name is wrong.
Ouch.
As for the products....I gave the shaving cream, preshave oil and AS Balm three shaves. Ok, well, the cream got 2.5. And they were promptly pitched. The shaves were ok...at best. The cream left my face feeling dry, and the AS Balm offered little to no soothing properties in the long run. The moisturizer is good, though, still using it. But for the prices these guys charge... $40 for the Balm? Nope. Go to The Shave Den and get some Aftershave Milk instead. MUCH better performance, for less than half the price. And you can choose your scent (I recommend Mayan Gold, samples are available)!
-------------------
The Van Der Hagen stick gave me fantastic shaves for a good week. Then I realized how quickly it was disappearing and discovered the benefits of the expensive soaps. They last FOREVER. Seriously. My puck of Mitchell's Wool Fat has lasted me for months and the only change in size is where I broke off a chunk to give to a friend. So, there you go. The money does have a place...
So I have put the stick away to try some other products.
-------------------
Like this:
Valobra. Valobra Valobra Valobra. How Italian. How romantic. How smooth and moist! This is a shave stick with belly...it has a very mild understated scent (the tallow comes through, which I think is Good Stuff.) and what a shaver! It's got vitamin E and Soy Lecithin for my skin, and my skin says YES. Paired with its Paisano, my Omega boar brush, the lather is thick, rich and smooth. The shaves are close and comfortable, and the moisturizing is great. I will be using and buying again.
(Available From Giovanni at Razor and brush or Paul at Connaught Shaving.)
I do have things to share, though...
First, I realize I never updated you on The Gentlemans [sic] Refinery. First, Any company that doesn't proofread its own name gets one strike from the get go. It took me a while to actually realize it wasn't just the little pamphlet they sent me...The actual company name is wrong.
Ouch.
As for the products....I gave the shaving cream, preshave oil and AS Balm three shaves. Ok, well, the cream got 2.5. And they were promptly pitched. The shaves were ok...at best. The cream left my face feeling dry, and the AS Balm offered little to no soothing properties in the long run. The moisturizer is good, though, still using it. But for the prices these guys charge... $40 for the Balm? Nope. Go to The Shave Den and get some Aftershave Milk instead. MUCH better performance, for less than half the price. And you can choose your scent (I recommend Mayan Gold, samples are available)!
-------------------
The Van Der Hagen stick gave me fantastic shaves for a good week. Then I realized how quickly it was disappearing and discovered the benefits of the expensive soaps. They last FOREVER. Seriously. My puck of Mitchell's Wool Fat has lasted me for months and the only change in size is where I broke off a chunk to give to a friend. So, there you go. The money does have a place...
So I have put the stick away to try some other products.
-------------------
Like this:
Valobra. Valobra Valobra Valobra. How Italian. How romantic. How smooth and moist! This is a shave stick with belly...it has a very mild understated scent (the tallow comes through, which I think is Good Stuff.) and what a shaver! It's got vitamin E and Soy Lecithin for my skin, and my skin says YES. Paired with its Paisano, my Omega boar brush, the lather is thick, rich and smooth. The shaves are close and comfortable, and the moisturizing is great. I will be using and buying again.
(Available From Giovanni at Razor and brush or Paul at Connaught Shaving.)
Wednesday, November 12, 2008
For the love o' PETE! (Soap Review)
So I have tried a few high quality shaving creams and soaps now. The Gentlemen's Refinery, Mitchell's Wool Fat, Speick Shaving Stick...but yesterday I got one of the best shaves I have ever had, from a $2 puck of Wal-Mart shaving soap.
Van Der Hagen soap is a widely available, dirt cheap shaving soap. You can get this at almost any drug store in the States. It is, therefore, widely reviled as worthless by the shaving community. However...it isn't. It's actually good. It's pretty DAMN good, in fact, if my shaves yesterday and today are any indication.
The soap is surprisingly soft--when I held the puck, it felt like a slightly warmed cheese...a pink, floral smelling cheese. The particular specimen was Van Der Hagen Deluxe, "for dry skin and heavy beards." Like me.
I got this soap and, as I once read on Shave My Face, I decided to make a shave stick. So I got a shave stick container from JoAnna at The Shave Den, got my puck of VDH, cut it into tiny pieces and dropped the pieces into the shave stick container. a couple of 10-second bursts in the microwave and VOILA! Shave stick!
I tried the soap for the first time yesterday, and I was frankly astonished. I soaped up with the stick and hit it with my Omega brush. The stuff EXPLODED into lather...and it felt really, really good. I used my Tech with a third-shave Gillette 7 O'Clock Permasharp and it was just great. Smooth, comfortable...and moisturized. Not QUITE as moisturzed as an MWF shave, but up there.
And it's only $2. Man. I gotta reexamine some stuff....
Definitely a winner....
Van Der Hagen soap is a widely available, dirt cheap shaving soap. You can get this at almost any drug store in the States. It is, therefore, widely reviled as worthless by the shaving community. However...it isn't. It's actually good. It's pretty DAMN good, in fact, if my shaves yesterday and today are any indication.
The soap is surprisingly soft--when I held the puck, it felt like a slightly warmed cheese...a pink, floral smelling cheese. The particular specimen was Van Der Hagen Deluxe, "for dry skin and heavy beards." Like me.
I got this soap and, as I once read on Shave My Face, I decided to make a shave stick. So I got a shave stick container from JoAnna at The Shave Den, got my puck of VDH, cut it into tiny pieces and dropped the pieces into the shave stick container. a couple of 10-second bursts in the microwave and VOILA! Shave stick!
I tried the soap for the first time yesterday, and I was frankly astonished. I soaped up with the stick and hit it with my Omega brush. The stuff EXPLODED into lather...and it felt really, really good. I used my Tech with a third-shave Gillette 7 O'Clock Permasharp and it was just great. Smooth, comfortable...and moisturized. Not QUITE as moisturzed as an MWF shave, but up there.
And it's only $2. Man. I gotta reexamine some stuff....
Definitely a winner....
Saturday, November 8, 2008
It Was a Very Good Week...
One thing about this hobby is, since you can't shave all the time, people make up for it by getting acquisitive...And I am no exception.
I got a whole lot of stuff this week.
This all came in this week, in 4 separate shipments:
WAY TOO MUCH. Four shave sticks, a brush, and blades out the ass.
What's a boy to do?
Shave, I reckon.
The most exciting thing is the Brush.
That's an Omega Professional 10083 model Boar brush (available for purchase, by the way, at Razor and Brush). Stiff and smooth, great for soaps...and smelly. WHEW. Wet pig hair...
I gave it a try this morning, lathering up some Vetiver soap from TSD. A great shave, but a little getting used to--the water control is a bit different from the badger I've been using, but this is definitely a quality tool. The handle is smooth and a bit heavier than I was expecting, as it's an injection molded plastic handle.
People say that Boar brushes are no good with creams, but I'm not sure I agree.
Here are some shots of handlathered Lider cream from Poland.
The brush:
And the Hand:
The lather was very good--it was quite thick, maybe a little dry. But slick and smooth, better than I've been getting with my little badger! I will admit, the brush itself didn't hold a large amount of lather inside it, but I think that with a little more practice this brush will be a lather monster.
And it's only $15!!
I got a whole lot of stuff this week.
This all came in this week, in 4 separate shipments:
WAY TOO MUCH. Four shave sticks, a brush, and blades out the ass.
What's a boy to do?
Shave, I reckon.
The most exciting thing is the Brush.
That's an Omega Professional 10083 model Boar brush (available for purchase, by the way, at Razor and Brush). Stiff and smooth, great for soaps...and smelly. WHEW. Wet pig hair...
I gave it a try this morning, lathering up some Vetiver soap from TSD. A great shave, but a little getting used to--the water control is a bit different from the badger I've been using, but this is definitely a quality tool. The handle is smooth and a bit heavier than I was expecting, as it's an injection molded plastic handle.
People say that Boar brushes are no good with creams, but I'm not sure I agree.
Here are some shots of handlathered Lider cream from Poland.
The brush:
And the Hand:
The lather was very good--it was quite thick, maybe a little dry. But slick and smooth, better than I've been getting with my little badger! I will admit, the brush itself didn't hold a large amount of lather inside it, but I think that with a little more practice this brush will be a lather monster.
And it's only $15!!
Thursday, November 6, 2008
Jim's Guide To International Shipping (US edition)
So, I have been getting a lot of "Holy cow, you live in Japan! I can't send you this pack of blades because the shipping will be a killer!" lately, and I'm getting a little frustrated. It's not that I don't understand the concern, it's just that I dislike ignorance in all its shapes and sizes. So, as a service to the wetshaving community, here is Jim's guide to International shipping from the US.
Useful sites: USPS Postal Price Calculator, Online Customs form printer, Oz to Gram conversion table (for those pesky European soaps and stuff)
First, of course, the most important thing to remember about shipping internationally is it's all about weight. This means know how much your product weights, and how much your packaging weighs. This also brings us to the second important thing: pack smart. Don't pack a single razor in a 12x12x12 box--it's unnecessary and wasteful.
Another good point to remember: You MUST fill out a customs declaration on international packages. This is usually the small, green c22 form, printable here (2976). Be sure to write the contents and approximate value--this is used for tax purposes in the receiving country. If the value of the products is of a certain level (differs for each country) the receiver will have to pay duties. It's good to be aware of this, for all parties involved, to avoid surprises. If you are selling the items mark "commercial use", otherwise it's fine to mark "gift".
One note: for soaps, lotions etc. I have heard, and seen on packages I've received, that it's fine to write "toiletries" in the contents box. I am not entirely sure if this is the right thing to do, but my packages have all gotten through with it.
Let's start with a hypothetical example:
I have a Gillette j2 Slim Adjustable, no box or packaging. It weighs 75 grams, that's about 2.5 oz. To ship this, I would:
*Wrap in bubblewrap
*Pack in lightly crumpled newspaper/tissue paper
*Pack in a small (6x2x2) cardboard box. Plenty safe.
The total package weighs in at just under 5 oz. I go to the USPS international postage page and check the price:
*Choose Japan (I tried 8 different random countries, they were all the same rate--but there are a lot of them out there so...)
*Enter the weight (go for 5 oz, just to be safe)
*Calculate.
Price: $4.60 for first class mail international package.
Yes, there are plenty of more expensive ways to ship, but you don't need them unless you have something REALLY valuable, in which case shipping shouldn't be your main concern.
The domestic price? First class mail package: $1.85, Priority Mail $4.80
Ok, so let's talk soaps. Average soap pucks (MWF, Tabac) are 125 grams, or 4.4 oz. These guys are tough, so a simple bubblepack envelope should be enough. Again, 5 oz, $4.60. No worries!
Some real life examples: a single pack of ten blades in the plastic holder, small bubble pack envelope: $1.20
Large box containing 3 shave sticks, a 100 gram block of alum, 45 blades, a pack of Styptic matches (weight 1lb 2oz): $11.95
If we check, we will find that for most packages, international shipping is a little over twice the domestic price. This is not insignificant, but it is certainly not the huge cost that most people seem to think it is.
I hope this helps!
Useful sites: USPS Postal Price Calculator, Online Customs form printer, Oz to Gram conversion table (for those pesky European soaps and stuff)
First, of course, the most important thing to remember about shipping internationally is it's all about weight. This means know how much your product weights, and how much your packaging weighs. This also brings us to the second important thing: pack smart. Don't pack a single razor in a 12x12x12 box--it's unnecessary and wasteful.
Another good point to remember: You MUST fill out a customs declaration on international packages. This is usually the small, green c22 form, printable here (2976). Be sure to write the contents and approximate value--this is used for tax purposes in the receiving country. If the value of the products is of a certain level (differs for each country) the receiver will have to pay duties. It's good to be aware of this, for all parties involved, to avoid surprises. If you are selling the items mark "commercial use", otherwise it's fine to mark "gift".
One note: for soaps, lotions etc. I have heard, and seen on packages I've received, that it's fine to write "toiletries" in the contents box. I am not entirely sure if this is the right thing to do, but my packages have all gotten through with it.
Let's start with a hypothetical example:
I have a Gillette j2 Slim Adjustable, no box or packaging. It weighs 75 grams, that's about 2.5 oz. To ship this, I would:
*Wrap in bubblewrap
*Pack in lightly crumpled newspaper/tissue paper
*Pack in a small (6x2x2) cardboard box. Plenty safe.
The total package weighs in at just under 5 oz. I go to the USPS international postage page and check the price:
*Choose Japan (I tried 8 different random countries, they were all the same rate--but there are a lot of them out there so...)
*Enter the weight (go for 5 oz, just to be safe)
*Calculate.
Price: $4.60 for first class mail international package.
Yes, there are plenty of more expensive ways to ship, but you don't need them unless you have something REALLY valuable, in which case shipping shouldn't be your main concern.
The domestic price? First class mail package: $1.85, Priority Mail $4.80
Ok, so let's talk soaps. Average soap pucks (MWF, Tabac) are 125 grams, or 4.4 oz. These guys are tough, so a simple bubblepack envelope should be enough. Again, 5 oz, $4.60. No worries!
Some real life examples: a single pack of ten blades in the plastic holder, small bubble pack envelope: $1.20
Large box containing 3 shave sticks, a 100 gram block of alum, 45 blades, a pack of Styptic matches (weight 1lb 2oz): $11.95
If we check, we will find that for most packages, international shipping is a little over twice the domestic price. This is not insignificant, but it is certainly not the huge cost that most people seem to think it is.
I hope this helps!
Wednesday, November 5, 2008
This Gentleman has been Refined...
It's been a big week in my shaving world. I switched from my Tech to a Gillette Slim Adjustable, I got a big shipment from Giovanni at Razor and Brush, including some new shave sticks I'm eager to try out, and last night I got a few free samples from The Gentleman's Refinery--shipped all the way to Japan, might I add!
I reckoned the least I could do was try them out and see what's up.
The Spread:
They sent me four little vials--Preshave oil, "The Standard" moisturizer and two after shave balms--"The Standard" and unscented. They also included three shaving cream samples--"The Standard", "Black Ice (Anise)" and unscented. Unfortunately, I absolutely hate the smell of anise so I'm not even opening that one.
Because the weather is drying out, and my skin has been feeling it, I decided to start last night with the moisturizer before bed.
The Moisturizer:
This is a very, very good product. Really. I put a dab on my hands and spread it around my face, and it INSTANTLY felt smoother and more supple. The cream absorbed into my skin within a couple of minutes, without any tackiness or greasy feeling at all; this is very important to me, as I hate the feel of stuff on my skin--I'm a hand washer. I didn't mind this at all, though.
The smell was pleasant (though the website says it is unscented...must be the essential oils and such?), I thought--sweet and fruity, with a familiar tang to it. My wife, however, didn't like it--she said it reminded her of Chinese herbal medicine. The wife wins on this one, I'm afraid, cause, well...She's my wife. The effects, however, are quite nice. When I woke up, my face felt better than it had for days.
This morning when I woke up, I decided to go try the shaving products. I went for the pre-shave oil (a first time for me), and The Standard Shave Cream and AS Balm.
I did my usual routine, hot shower with plenty of hydration for my beard. Then, I applied a few drops of the oil and spread it around. Using my massive Daiso mug (NOT optimal, I think) I whipped up some lather with the cream.
I am not usually a cream man. I like soaps, and I like face lathering. However, this whipped up nicely into a very slick, very cushiony lather in just a minute or so. My brush is small, but it did a fine job with this stuff.
I lathered up and went for my first pass with my Slim adjustable on 2, running a 3-shave-old Gillette 7 O'Clock Sharp Edge.
Silk. The shave just...glided. I couldn't even feel the blade. I had to keep touching my face to check that I had shaved...and I had. I did a normal 3 pass WTG, XTG XTG shave, and my face felt fantastic. 0 irritation, smooth and soft. My alum went on without a twinge, and then I rinsed and applied the standard AS balm.
The scent on this is the same as the moisturizer, so I'll probably have to move to the unscented for my wife. It went on smooth again, though it took a little longer than the moisturizer to sink in. Afterward, my face felt good...but not stellar. After the hype I'd read about this balm, and the great moisturizer, I was expecting fireworks. What I got was a smooth, fairly well moisturized face (not quite as well moisturized as, say, an MWF face) with none of the feedback of an alcohol AS splash.
I'm going to give these products a couple more days. I'll keep at the same routine for another three shaves or so, and come back to tell you my final verdict. Based on my initial experiences, though, I think I might have some shopping to do....If the wife says ok.
I reckoned the least I could do was try them out and see what's up.
The Spread:
They sent me four little vials--Preshave oil, "The Standard" moisturizer and two after shave balms--"The Standard" and unscented. They also included three shaving cream samples--"The Standard", "Black Ice (Anise)" and unscented. Unfortunately, I absolutely hate the smell of anise so I'm not even opening that one.
Because the weather is drying out, and my skin has been feeling it, I decided to start last night with the moisturizer before bed.
The Moisturizer:
This is a very, very good product. Really. I put a dab on my hands and spread it around my face, and it INSTANTLY felt smoother and more supple. The cream absorbed into my skin within a couple of minutes, without any tackiness or greasy feeling at all; this is very important to me, as I hate the feel of stuff on my skin--I'm a hand washer. I didn't mind this at all, though.
The smell was pleasant (though the website says it is unscented...must be the essential oils and such?), I thought--sweet and fruity, with a familiar tang to it. My wife, however, didn't like it--she said it reminded her of Chinese herbal medicine. The wife wins on this one, I'm afraid, cause, well...She's my wife. The effects, however, are quite nice. When I woke up, my face felt better than it had for days.
This morning when I woke up, I decided to go try the shaving products. I went for the pre-shave oil (a first time for me), and The Standard Shave Cream and AS Balm.
I did my usual routine, hot shower with plenty of hydration for my beard. Then, I applied a few drops of the oil and spread it around. Using my massive Daiso mug (NOT optimal, I think) I whipped up some lather with the cream.
I am not usually a cream man. I like soaps, and I like face lathering. However, this whipped up nicely into a very slick, very cushiony lather in just a minute or so. My brush is small, but it did a fine job with this stuff.
I lathered up and went for my first pass with my Slim adjustable on 2, running a 3-shave-old Gillette 7 O'Clock Sharp Edge.
Silk. The shave just...glided. I couldn't even feel the blade. I had to keep touching my face to check that I had shaved...and I had. I did a normal 3 pass WTG, XTG XTG shave, and my face felt fantastic. 0 irritation, smooth and soft. My alum went on without a twinge, and then I rinsed and applied the standard AS balm.
The scent on this is the same as the moisturizer, so I'll probably have to move to the unscented for my wife. It went on smooth again, though it took a little longer than the moisturizer to sink in. Afterward, my face felt good...but not stellar. After the hype I'd read about this balm, and the great moisturizer, I was expecting fireworks. What I got was a smooth, fairly well moisturized face (not quite as well moisturized as, say, an MWF face) with none of the feedback of an alcohol AS splash.
I'm going to give these products a couple more days. I'll keep at the same routine for another three shaves or so, and come back to tell you my final verdict. Based on my initial experiences, though, I think I might have some shopping to do....If the wife says ok.
Friday, October 31, 2008
The First Sign of Addiction
I got a puck of Tabac in the mail last night.
This stuff gets tons of love on the shaving forums, so when I saw it for sale with free shipping, I had to get a puck. I thinks it's a law somewhere. However, when I got it last night, I looked at it a bit, sniffed it, thought "Man, that's a nice looking box, it sure smells nice," and promptly put it in a drawer and forgot about it.
I'm a Mitchell's Wool Fat man...I might have a problem.
Especially if my wife figures out how much soap I have, and how little I use.
And there's still more in the mail! Damn!
This stuff gets tons of love on the shaving forums, so when I saw it for sale with free shipping, I had to get a puck. I thinks it's a law somewhere. However, when I got it last night, I looked at it a bit, sniffed it, thought "Man, that's a nice looking box, it sure smells nice," and promptly put it in a drawer and forgot about it.
I'm a Mitchell's Wool Fat man...I might have a problem.
Especially if my wife figures out how much soap I have, and how little I use.
And there's still more in the mail! Damn!
Thursday, October 30, 2008
Accidental Smooth
So....I got a BBS shave today, and I didn't even realize it till later.
This morning, I did my usual shave routine.
Hot shower, a bit of my wife's moisturizing hair treatment to soften up my beard, and the shave. I had a 2nd shave Redpack Israeli Personna in my Tech, and I lathered up with my MWF (I've been picking it up and using it like a shave stick--makes it much easier to get the right amount of soap for the lather) and did my usual 3 pass, WTG ATG ATG shave. Afterwards, thinking about the dry weather lately, I used my remaining lather as a face wash, and skipped the Alum. The Eroika burned a buit more than usual--the lack of alum?--but my face felt great, smooth and moisturized.
Then, when I got to work, I put my chin in my hands and realized...This is the best shave I've ever had. I can't figure out why...maybe my Lather was a bit more hydrated? My technique a touch better? Dunno, but I keep feeling my face and I LIKE IT.
On another note...I really like those redpack personnas. I might have found my blades...we'll see when i get my blades from Giovanni at Razor and Brush.
This morning, I did my usual shave routine.
Hot shower, a bit of my wife's moisturizing hair treatment to soften up my beard, and the shave. I had a 2nd shave Redpack Israeli Personna in my Tech, and I lathered up with my MWF (I've been picking it up and using it like a shave stick--makes it much easier to get the right amount of soap for the lather) and did my usual 3 pass, WTG ATG ATG shave. Afterwards, thinking about the dry weather lately, I used my remaining lather as a face wash, and skipped the Alum. The Eroika burned a buit more than usual--the lack of alum?--but my face felt great, smooth and moisturized.
Then, when I got to work, I put my chin in my hands and realized...This is the best shave I've ever had. I can't figure out why...maybe my Lather was a bit more hydrated? My technique a touch better? Dunno, but I keep feeling my face and I LIKE IT.
On another note...I really like those redpack personnas. I might have found my blades...we'll see when i get my blades from Giovanni at Razor and Brush.
Monday, October 27, 2008
Productive Product Reviews: Auslese Aftershave by Shiseido
Today we have yet another Japanese Aftershave. I had such good luck with the ones up to now, I figured we should try another!
This one presents in a lovely glass bottle, all nice and angular. The name is German, commonly known from the wine designation and meaning "Select" or "Choice". Sounds hopeful!
The ingredients list is even longer than the Bravas, with some familiar faces:
Dikalium Glycyrrhizin (Anti-inflammatory), d-alpha tocopheryl acetate (vitamin E), Aloe Extract, Glycerin Concentrate, Ethanol, Water, Polyoxyethylene, Polyoxypropylene decyl tetradecyl ethyl (Those three were all run together into one wore in Japanese...WHAT??? When I searched I found stuff about Contact lens solution...), 2-Ethyl Hexyl Para Methoxy Cinnamate (sunscreen?), Sodium Citrate, Citric Acid, Trisodium Edetate, Propylene Glycol, Fragrance, I-menthol, Yellow 203 and Blue #1.
Wow. Again, my Japanese chemistry vocabulary is growing by leaps and bounds...
So, as they say, the proof is in the putting on...
After my shave today, I shook some out and splashed it on. My very first reaction was "Hey, Brut!" I haven't smelled Brut since I was in high school and my aunt gave me a bottle for Christmas. I didn't like it at the time, but now...A very nice touch!
Then the very light Brut-ish scent faded, and a powdery note came through. Kind of sweet and baby-powderish, it is very, VERY nice! Delicate, but still masculine, with the slightest reminder of that traditional "cologny" smell. I keep getting whiffs of it, and it makes me smile each time.
The feel was soothing, and very calm. Very little alcohol sting, and the menthol was barely noticeable. It isn't quite as moisturizing as I might like, but then winter is coming on and demands are rising in that department--I might need to move to balm or milk soon. But, all in all, the feel is good. Not as nice as the smell, but good.
So....
Japanese After Shaves are AWESOME!!! This one is about twice the price of Eroika, which has been my favorite up to now...but I would say it's worth it.
Definitely a thumbs up.
This one presents in a lovely glass bottle, all nice and angular. The name is German, commonly known from the wine designation and meaning "Select" or "Choice". Sounds hopeful!
The ingredients list is even longer than the Bravas, with some familiar faces:
Dikalium Glycyrrhizin (Anti-inflammatory), d-alpha tocopheryl acetate (vitamin E), Aloe Extract, Glycerin Concentrate, Ethanol, Water, Polyoxyethylene, Polyoxypropylene decyl tetradecyl ethyl (Those three were all run together into one wore in Japanese...WHAT??? When I searched I found stuff about Contact lens solution...), 2-Ethyl Hexyl Para Methoxy Cinnamate (sunscreen?), Sodium Citrate, Citric Acid, Trisodium Edetate, Propylene Glycol, Fragrance, I-menthol, Yellow 203 and Blue #1.
Wow. Again, my Japanese chemistry vocabulary is growing by leaps and bounds...
So, as they say, the proof is in the putting on...
After my shave today, I shook some out and splashed it on. My very first reaction was "Hey, Brut!" I haven't smelled Brut since I was in high school and my aunt gave me a bottle for Christmas. I didn't like it at the time, but now...A very nice touch!
Then the very light Brut-ish scent faded, and a powdery note came through. Kind of sweet and baby-powderish, it is very, VERY nice! Delicate, but still masculine, with the slightest reminder of that traditional "cologny" smell. I keep getting whiffs of it, and it makes me smile each time.
The feel was soothing, and very calm. Very little alcohol sting, and the menthol was barely noticeable. It isn't quite as moisturizing as I might like, but then winter is coming on and demands are rising in that department--I might need to move to balm or milk soon. But, all in all, the feel is good. Not as nice as the smell, but good.
So....
Japanese After Shaves are AWESOME!!! This one is about twice the price of Eroika, which has been my favorite up to now...but I would say it's worth it.
Definitely a thumbs up.
Tuesday, October 21, 2008
This little piggy...Product Review
Well, I'll be. In a previous post, I mentioned that I had found a cheap brush at Daiso. I thought it was Synthetic, but upon further inspection, it turns out to be...Boar!
The plot thickens!
Boar doesn't get much love on the wetshaving forums. Sure, there are a few threads about it, but overall the badger is the king of the brush club. However, boar brushes have a long and celebrated history--your grandfather probably lathered up with a boar brush, unless he was named Rockefeller.
The main reasons for the badger fancy are:
1. Badger hair is softer and holds more water, so it is easier to get a lather going, especially with creams.
2. Boar hair is usually stiffer than badger, so it feels harsher on sensitive skin.
3. Badger is a luxury item. People can brag about their massive Plisson Horn Handle High White Mountain that cost $560, but their $15 pig hair brush? Not so much.
Nevertheless, I have been intrigued by reports of quality boar hair. I liked the price, and as I am a soap man, stiffer bristles mean better lather. So I started looking for a boar brush--never knowing that I already had one.
I was looking through my gym bag for some socks when I stumbled on that brush. I had stuffed it there for some odd reason...who knows why. But as I was looking at it, I realized that the bristles looked a lot like those I had seen in pictures of boar brushes. On closer inspection, they were tapered and not exactly uniform, which I thought odd for a synthetic brush. And then, when I got it wet it smelled like a wet dog!
I had boar!
Now, even with this grand revelation, I didn't have high expectations. We are talking about a 98 cent brush, here. But hey, you never know.
The brush is wood-handled, about 10 centimeters tall. The knot is about 2 centimeters, and it looks like it is set into a black plastic setting, which is then set into the beige wood handle. There are no markings, stickers or any other identifying features.
After a good warm water soak, the hair did soften up a bit. Enough so that when applied to the face it wasn't noticeably scratchier than my "St. James of London" badger brush (not, in and of itself, the most luxurious of brushes).
I tried it out lathering Mitchell's Wool Fat in my hand. The brush very clearly did not hold as much water as the badger, as I had to sprinkle more into my hand in the lathering process. It did, however, whip up a very nice, slick lather. It didn't hold as much volume in itself as the badger, but it created more lather, faster--most of it stayed on my hand, is all.
On face lathering, I had similar results. A good, fast lather, though the brush did not hold enough for a second pass.
Surprisingly, the brush only shed about 2 hairs. I was expecting much worse. At one point, the plastic knot setting did feel a little loose. After it had dried, a couple of spots of superglue fixed that right up.
All in all, I would say that I am pleasantly surprised by this product. For the price, you can't ask for much, but the brush delivered a completely acceptable performance. Would I recommend this to someone looking for a good brush to use for life? No. But if someone said to me "Hey, Jim, I got a couple bucks and I'm looking for a cheap travel brush, any ideas?" I'd say "Have I got a deal for you!"
It's a keeper!
**Update: I used the brush again, that would make it the third try. It fell apart. I mean, this was beyond shedding---it's like my brush had radiation poisoning! Big clumps of bristles started falling out and sticking to my face. Maybe the glue is water soluble...Soooo, recommendation retracted. Folks, stay away from this one.***
The plot thickens!
Boar doesn't get much love on the wetshaving forums. Sure, there are a few threads about it, but overall the badger is the king of the brush club. However, boar brushes have a long and celebrated history--your grandfather probably lathered up with a boar brush, unless he was named Rockefeller.
The main reasons for the badger fancy are:
1. Badger hair is softer and holds more water, so it is easier to get a lather going, especially with creams.
2. Boar hair is usually stiffer than badger, so it feels harsher on sensitive skin.
3. Badger is a luxury item. People can brag about their massive Plisson Horn Handle High White Mountain that cost $560, but their $15 pig hair brush? Not so much.
Nevertheless, I have been intrigued by reports of quality boar hair. I liked the price, and as I am a soap man, stiffer bristles mean better lather. So I started looking for a boar brush--never knowing that I already had one.
I was looking through my gym bag for some socks when I stumbled on that brush. I had stuffed it there for some odd reason...who knows why. But as I was looking at it, I realized that the bristles looked a lot like those I had seen in pictures of boar brushes. On closer inspection, they were tapered and not exactly uniform, which I thought odd for a synthetic brush. And then, when I got it wet it smelled like a wet dog!
I had boar!
Now, even with this grand revelation, I didn't have high expectations. We are talking about a 98 cent brush, here. But hey, you never know.
The brush is wood-handled, about 10 centimeters tall. The knot is about 2 centimeters, and it looks like it is set into a black plastic setting, which is then set into the beige wood handle. There are no markings, stickers or any other identifying features.
After a good warm water soak, the hair did soften up a bit. Enough so that when applied to the face it wasn't noticeably scratchier than my "St. James of London" badger brush (not, in and of itself, the most luxurious of brushes).
I tried it out lathering Mitchell's Wool Fat in my hand. The brush very clearly did not hold as much water as the badger, as I had to sprinkle more into my hand in the lathering process. It did, however, whip up a very nice, slick lather. It didn't hold as much volume in itself as the badger, but it created more lather, faster--most of it stayed on my hand, is all.
On face lathering, I had similar results. A good, fast lather, though the brush did not hold enough for a second pass.
Surprisingly, the brush only shed about 2 hairs. I was expecting much worse. At one point, the plastic knot setting did feel a little loose. After it had dried, a couple of spots of superglue fixed that right up.
All in all, I would say that I am pleasantly surprised by this product. For the price, you can't ask for much, but the brush delivered a completely acceptable performance. Would I recommend this to someone looking for a good brush to use for life? No. But if someone said to me "Hey, Jim, I got a couple bucks and I'm looking for a cheap travel brush, any ideas?" I'd say "Have I got a deal for you!"
It's a keeper!
**Update: I used the brush again, that would make it the third try. It fell apart. I mean, this was beyond shedding---it's like my brush had radiation poisoning! Big clumps of bristles started falling out and sticking to my face. Maybe the glue is water soluble...Soooo, recommendation retracted. Folks, stay away from this one.***
Thursday, October 16, 2008
Light as a Feather, Sharp as a...Feather?
This week I have been experimenting with a new kind of blade...Feather New Hi-Stainless DE razor blades. They've got a bit of a reputation for being unbelievably sharp, and a bit on the cutty side. After a week of trying them out, I think that reputation is probably well earned.
Up to now I have been using a set of sample blades that were included with my first razor, a gift from a generous forum member at SMF. Now that I have used all the other blades, I am down to the Feathers.
These blades are made in Japan, and readily available at drug stores and groceries all over. I was really hoping that I would be able to use these all the time, because of their ready availability. Unfortunately, I didn't have much luck.
Feather blades are widely regarded as the sharpest blades available. Calling a razor sharp may seem like calling water wet, but these are a bit further than most blades. They approach scalpel-edge levels, and that sharpness means you have to be DAMNED careful when using them, or you will bleed.
I bled. I was careful, but my skills just aren't that hot yet. Four days shaving with a Feather meant four days of painful, bloody, REALLY smooth shaves. Many people swear by these blades. They offer a close shave, true enough, but they are just sooo unforgiving. Not worth the pain for me. Other blades, like Derby or Dorco ST301, offer smooth shaves without all the nicking; the equation just doesn't add up.
UNTIL yesterday. I've been involved in a deal with another forum member at SMF, getting some more blades from Feather. Single Edged blades.
Single edge blades are REALLY old fashioned. I thought I was retro with the DE blades, but these guys--they were popular before my grandma was born! Nowadays, most single edge blades are used for crafts, so there aren't too many who use them to shave.
There are enough,however, to warrant the existence of the Feather New Hi-Stainless Platinum and Resin double coated Single Edge blades.
I tried one of these yesterday, in a Gem Countour II, and...it was great. An easy, smooth, comfortable shave. Very little redness, even on my neck, and I even went ATG on my jawline without cutting! Amazing shavers, these guys, sharp but not hideously so, and talk about Traditional!
This morning, another great shave from the Feather SE, and I may be a convert. How silly, really.
Up to now I have been using a set of sample blades that were included with my first razor, a gift from a generous forum member at SMF. Now that I have used all the other blades, I am down to the Feathers.
These blades are made in Japan, and readily available at drug stores and groceries all over. I was really hoping that I would be able to use these all the time, because of their ready availability. Unfortunately, I didn't have much luck.
Feather blades are widely regarded as the sharpest blades available. Calling a razor sharp may seem like calling water wet, but these are a bit further than most blades. They approach scalpel-edge levels, and that sharpness means you have to be DAMNED careful when using them, or you will bleed.
I bled. I was careful, but my skills just aren't that hot yet. Four days shaving with a Feather meant four days of painful, bloody, REALLY smooth shaves. Many people swear by these blades. They offer a close shave, true enough, but they are just sooo unforgiving. Not worth the pain for me. Other blades, like Derby or Dorco ST301, offer smooth shaves without all the nicking; the equation just doesn't add up.
UNTIL yesterday. I've been involved in a deal with another forum member at SMF, getting some more blades from Feather. Single Edged blades.
Single edge blades are REALLY old fashioned. I thought I was retro with the DE blades, but these guys--they were popular before my grandma was born! Nowadays, most single edge blades are used for crafts, so there aren't too many who use them to shave.
There are enough,however, to warrant the existence of the Feather New Hi-Stainless Platinum and Resin double coated Single Edge blades.
I tried one of these yesterday, in a Gem Countour II, and...it was great. An easy, smooth, comfortable shave. Very little redness, even on my neck, and I even went ATG on my jawline without cutting! Amazing shavers, these guys, sharp but not hideously so, and talk about Traditional!
This morning, another great shave from the Feather SE, and I may be a convert. How silly, really.
Monday, October 6, 2008
Productive Product Reviews: Bravas Aftershave by Shiseido
Well well well...Another Japanese Aftershave. And this one looks like mouthwash!
Be still my heart.
Bravas is sold in a fine glass bottle, with a classic logo and a nifty gold colored cap. If there's one thing I can say about Japanese aftershaves, they've got good packaging. Nice and masculine. Hell, there's even one called "Mandom"!
This one is in a clear bottle, allowing the bluish-green color of the splash to show...It's kind of Listerine-ish. Not a good recommendation, I know.
A glance at the label shows...gibberish. Oh dear. Time for the translator...
The ingredients include: Ethanol, Water, DPG, Menthol, Allantoin, PPG-20 Decyl-tetra decanol-10 (???), octyl methoxycinnamate (WHAT?), BHT, tocopherol, Fragrance, Blue 203 and Yellow 3.
More than a few mouthfuls. And I don't like the look of that menthol (we all know how that goes.) But we'll let give it a try.
I picked this one up in a travel size, as someone on SMF recommended, because it was cheap and if it sucked I wouldn't be out too much money. In short, I regret this decision.
This morning I had another lovely, smooth shave with my MWF and a newly loaded Dorco 300 in my Tech (Daiso blades, baby! Yeah!) and after the relatively sting-free alum application--there was on nick at the corner of my mouth, but it cleared up with the alum--I splashed a bit of this in my hand and slapped it on.
Even though alcohol is the first ingredient, there wasn't really a sting at all, even on the nick. And the smell! When I first opened the bottle at home (the bottle came wrapped in plastic, so I couldn't check the scent at the shop), I was a bit leery. From the bottle it was kind of harsh and cloying, like I remember Brut from when I was a kid. But in small amounts, splashed on the face? Lovely!
It's a light, bright citrusy smell, very summery and clean. The menthol is very understated, enough to cool the face down without numbing or (god forbid) burning. The smell faded rather quickly, which is too bad, but if you like to wear another scent have no worries about this one.
It also left my face feeling very nice. Like I said, my shave was smooth so I can't really say how soothing this is for irritated skin, but with the low alcohol kick and the allantoin skin soother, it's probably pretty good.
I was worried, at first, with the plastic wrapping and the neon color, but now I wish I'd picked up a bigger bottle. It's definitely a summery product, though, with the menthol and the sunscreen elements (apparently, that's what octyl methoxycinnamate is).
I like this one. More than I thought I would, for sure.
Japanese Aftershaves are now 2 for 2!
Let's not mention the creams again, ok?
Be still my heart.
Bravas is sold in a fine glass bottle, with a classic logo and a nifty gold colored cap. If there's one thing I can say about Japanese aftershaves, they've got good packaging. Nice and masculine. Hell, there's even one called "Mandom"!
This one is in a clear bottle, allowing the bluish-green color of the splash to show...It's kind of Listerine-ish. Not a good recommendation, I know.
A glance at the label shows...gibberish. Oh dear. Time for the translator...
The ingredients include: Ethanol, Water, DPG, Menthol, Allantoin, PPG-20 Decyl-tetra decanol-10 (???), octyl methoxycinnamate (WHAT?), BHT, tocopherol, Fragrance, Blue 203 and Yellow 3.
More than a few mouthfuls. And I don't like the look of that menthol (we all know how that goes.) But we'll let give it a try.
I picked this one up in a travel size, as someone on SMF recommended, because it was cheap and if it sucked I wouldn't be out too much money. In short, I regret this decision.
This morning I had another lovely, smooth shave with my MWF and a newly loaded Dorco 300 in my Tech (Daiso blades, baby! Yeah!) and after the relatively sting-free alum application--there was on nick at the corner of my mouth, but it cleared up with the alum--I splashed a bit of this in my hand and slapped it on.
Even though alcohol is the first ingredient, there wasn't really a sting at all, even on the nick. And the smell! When I first opened the bottle at home (the bottle came wrapped in plastic, so I couldn't check the scent at the shop), I was a bit leery. From the bottle it was kind of harsh and cloying, like I remember Brut from when I was a kid. But in small amounts, splashed on the face? Lovely!
It's a light, bright citrusy smell, very summery and clean. The menthol is very understated, enough to cool the face down without numbing or (god forbid) burning. The smell faded rather quickly, which is too bad, but if you like to wear another scent have no worries about this one.
It also left my face feeling very nice. Like I said, my shave was smooth so I can't really say how soothing this is for irritated skin, but with the low alcohol kick and the allantoin skin soother, it's probably pretty good.
I was worried, at first, with the plastic wrapping and the neon color, but now I wish I'd picked up a bigger bottle. It's definitely a summery product, though, with the menthol and the sunscreen elements (apparently, that's what octyl methoxycinnamate is).
I like this one. More than I thought I would, for sure.
Japanese Aftershaves are now 2 for 2!
Let's not mention the creams again, ok?
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)