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!

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.

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 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.***

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.

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?

I GET it now!

So, I've been at this new shaving thing for a couple of weeks now. I'd heard lots of good stuff about it, and I was enjoying the whole learning and practicing thing, but I'll be perfectly honest...I wasn't enjoying the shaves. It hurt. My face was red and, sometimes, bleeding. I could see some improvement in my technique, but it was still unpleasant. Until this week. I finally learned the secret to a truly comfortable shave.

Woolfat.



Mitchell's Woolfat Shaving soap is a beautiful, beautiful thing.
It's so...old fashioned. There's no scent but CLEAN. Someone said it "Smells like my grandparents' bathroom." And that's exactly what it is. It's that old kind of soap made from things like tallow, and lanolin (that's the wool fat) and GOOD.

I tried it, and it was like a revelation. The scales fell from my eyes, and the whiskers fell from my face, and my skin cried unto the heavens "THANK YOU!"

Now, I want to shave every morning. I want to feel that smoothness, and I want my face to look as fresh as it feels.

I love this stuff.