Gillette (the all things Shaving Thread)

[BroSlinger]

SOTD:
Had to salvage a near disastrous shave.


Started with a local hard shaving soap. They do good work with bath and laundry soap, so I figured it would be okay. I liked the scent, but I had a feeling it wouldn't be great with the total lack of potassium hydroxide. Fast forward. Lather is kind of lackluster, but it would work. Put it on my face........Instant flamethrower burn. Horrible. GET IT OFF GET IT OFF!!!!! Cold shower! Scrub scrub scrub!!!!! Jump out of shower wet! Grab an oily shave soap that i know doesn't burn. First thing I saw was Declaration Grooming Harmony. Seemed fitting.

It saved me. I got through the shave with just some lingering burn. Got rid of the burn by the time I was done using 3 different aftershaves.

Preshave: Myrsol Electric preshave.
Razor: Karve - E plate. This is pretty darn aggressive. Probably going to put the D plate back on.
Blade: Gillette Blue Platinum. Still great
Soap: Declaration Grooming. Harmony. Awesome.
Aftershave: Stirling Arkadia Splash. Meh. Not as good as the Fine Terre D'Hermes ripoff.
Post Aftershave: Stirling Arkadia Balm. Meh. Kind of ratty smell under the phony TDH.

Considering I burned my face off for a while, I ended up with a half way decent shave.
7/10

[ajaxlepinski]

Did I really need to shave today? Nahhhh

Did I want to? Bet that ass and here's why:



Dig this stuff.....nice and light scent, plus I think if I ran out of booze I could drink it.

Thanks Ajax, much appreciated sir!

Hawk still aggressive....think you're right Gene, it IS light and that's deceptive. I got 3 weepers out of this.

How long do you get out of the Kai Milds? This was 2nd on this blade and it was grabby as fuck...

Right on! Glad the Old Salt made it to you in one piece!

[ajaxlepinski]

yeah man!

old salt in yesterday afternoon-- got so wrapped up in reviewing new mixes that i didn't have a chance to ping back--- but shaved in the eve and used it! heck yes.. man i kinda want to eat this stuff.

perfect balance of a light burn, NO lingering ITCH, which some bay rums manage real bad (ogalalla, lookin' right at ya)- and ridiculously good smell. the vanillaishness kinda just rules.

i almost don't wanna use it cause i don't wanna run out

heck yes- brian thank you! as soon as i grab a good vessel, i'm mixin ya up the NH defunk edible deodorant!

so silly the generosity and craftitude of this community-- always thankful!

Awesome! Glad you like it!!!

[BroSlinger]

Oh shoot!

My shipment from the Netherlands showed up!!

[Steinmetzify]

Noice, all TFS on the left? Also is that some Dutch weed in the top corner?

[BroSlinger]

Noice, all TFS on the left? Also is that some Dutch weed in the top corner?

It's ALL TFS.

The Hercules smells amazing, and I'm certain I've used something that smelled identical, and I can't put my finger on it. (FIGURED IT OUT. It smells like the Rossini Aftershave. It smelled so great, and burned me. This makes me happy because the soap didn't burn in my office trial)

The Dutch weed is a sample of Sottozero Forte they threw in for free. I already have that soap though.

The anniversary fern smells amazing too. Actually everything smells great in here.

BTW, I'm realizing a phenomenon.
TFS Red container
TFS Kilo
Figaro Red
Razorock Classic

Are all the same product in different containers.

[Steinmetzify]

NOW WE FUCKING KNOW ITALIANBARBER.COM!

[ajaxlepinski]

THOSE FUCKING SCALLYWAGS!!!!

[BroSlinger]

SOTD:


YEAH! Great shave today!
Preshave: used the Myrsol Electric again with some Proraso Red pre shave cream.
Razor: Blackland Blackbird. When this has a good, fresh blade (Gillette Blue Platinum), there is nothing better.
Soap: TFS Hercules. Great shave. Awesome licorice/lillac type smell. Of course, I'm fighting a cold, and couldn't smell anything. Luckily, it didn't burn!
Aftershave: Linea Intenso Tobacco. I love this stuff. It reminds me of old buildings in the 80's. Burned a tad, but nothing I can't handle.

Great shave! 9/10. Face feels awesome.

[BroSlinger]

SOTD:


sick today. can't smell shit. Soap didn't burn though.
Was in hurry. Whole family was in turmoil. Terrible shaving experience.
Since scent fades fast on this AS, I used it with no smell sense. feels good.
razor was either too gentile or too aggressive. no idea the blade.
I hate being stressed out like this.
7/10 though still

[Steinmetzify]

Dig that one.

Was supposed to have an IB shipment in yesterday; it’s apparently lost in bad weather somewhere....irked, was going to take my time today since I’m off and try some new shit.

Oh well.

[BroSlinger]

Stein,

I hope your stuff showed up! Snap a pic if possible!

SOTD:

So, with sense of smell compromised, and this old WK soap in need of hydration, I shaved iwth it again. It was awesome. Great lather. Not sure whether the scent is good or not. It doesn't burn though, so there's that.

This Karve Open Comb is pretty tight. The handle is almost too big though. I go back and forth on whether I like short or long handles. The Gillette Minora worked out well.

I'm really liking the Shannon's Lit. It's a witch hazel base instead of alcohol. Face feels great.

8/10.

[BroSlinger]

So, I got some wholly kaw fougere bouquet aftershave. Damn. This could be my signature scent. Its a great combo of manly, fresh, cheap, and expensive. It’s like clubman citrus musk.

[ajaxlepinski]

The new test tube rack arrived...


Since I had the camera out, here's my brush collection...
Turkish Boar, Italian Boar, RazoRock Synthetic, Silver Tip Badger, Horse Hair, Cheap Badger, Simpsons Wee Scott Badger

[BroSlinger]

Cool pics!! Yeah, I just got my test tube rack. Not sure what I'm going to do with it. maybe use it for razor storage in a drawer at work. ?

[Steinmetzify]

My IB order is finally in SLC; don’t know when it’s gonna show tho.

Ajax that is bad ASS!

[BroSlinger]

Killer sotd:

Blackbird razor = the only razor I own that tempts me to abandon everything else. Inspired by the sr-71. The only way to fly. Gillette Platinum = seems like 2 and done with an aggressive razor like this. No biggie.

Australian private reserve Florian soap. Big gamble here. Paid off big time. Expensive, but big wow factor on the lather and it smells clean kind of like uncle Walter. Great soap.

Wholly kaw fougere bouquet aftershave. Nice strong. Fresh, masculine. Smells like a country club locker room on a rainy spring day. Clean up after golf, meet the family for dinner when they’ve been at the pool all day. Nice menthol too. Reasonably priced at $15. Better deal than some other stuff.

Overall a 9/10. Got a weeper from going too far with this razor. Overshot my goal since it’s saturday and thought I had super powers. Pretty stoked about all of this gear.

[BroSlinger]

Sotd:
Complete disaster


I’ve decided Cade sucks. Worst shave ever

Also, I can’t buy into other people getting 100 shaves per blade. This was spent. My face is spent.

The what’sis aftershave even went on like gasoline.

3/10

[Steinmetzify]

There are people out there claiming they get 100 shaves per blade?!

I’ve decided I’m doing two passes twice on one blade and they’re getting ditched. Haven’t found one yet that holds up past that without getting grabby as hell.

[BroSlinger]

There are people out there claiming they get 100 shaves per blade?!

I’ve decided I’m doing two passes twice on one blade and they’re getting ditched. Haven’t found one yet that holds up past that without getting grabby as hell.

Yep. Me too. 2 passes 2 shaves. Done.

[newholland]

100 shaves...

sure, if you strop them after every pass.

my blades hit the bin by the end of a first shave-- generally 3-4 passes. haven't met one yet that didn't. i look like a gory mess if i try and reuse em!

[BroSlinger]

SOTD:

speaking of blades hitting the bin. USTA, Arabic for "MASTER!" Yeah, you have to be a master to shave with this window scraper. Most overrated blade EVER! Some guy has convinced half of B&B that this is a good blade. It's not. It's probably worth $.10. which is what I paid.



In a major rush. New baby's first day at daycare. total shitshow getting ready to leave. Got delayed an hour when the doc never sent the feeding form. So, I'm shaving with a window scraper in an Italian Shone open comb. Having to be careful, especially after yesterday's meat grinder fest.
Razor = great handle. not crazy about the wider teeth (vs Fatips). still good. worth the money. 'twould work better with quality blade.
blade = USTA = suck.
Soap = TFS hot pinup chick. This smells like a girl I knew in college. mixed memories. Shaved great. much better than Cade.
Aftershave = I'm really getting into this witch hazel based Shannon's lit. since the scent fades instantly, I'm wearing...

Cologne = Chatillon Lux = Lamplight penance. Kind of smells like ambergris and kerosene. Good stuff.

hmmm, considering the variables today, I'm giving this shave a solid 7/10.

[Steinmetzify]

IB order finally came in, 11 days later lol

Dug your form Gene, I'm stealing it:

Razor = RR SLOC: this thing is a badass....one shave, two passes, I'm smooth like butter and it was really enjoyable. Nice heft, shorter handle, great grip, I'm a fan.
Blade = Wilkinson Sword....these things are great for me brand new.....this was 1st with this one and I'll try one more shave with it later in the week, see what's up. Paired really well with this razor though.
Soap = TFS Stupafacente....liked this a lot.....lathered up fast and great, smells awesome, but I like UW and the scents on the other TFSs I have better. Dig it tho.
Brush = new Bruce from RR....man dude, I see what you mean about the new synthetics, this thing is fuckin GREAT...I remember reading about you 'grinding' your soap, realized I could push harder and it's been a lot faster and better lather, but my old badger is like old guitar strings.....I had no idea how old and bad it was until I tried this. Holy shit, badger went in the trash immediately....I just couldn't even see a reason to keep it. Wasn't smelly or anything, just really lacking performance wise compared to the new one. This was like ten secs of grinding, had some beautiful lather went on great and STAYED THERE. Awesome.
Aftershave = Brian's stuff....no reason for anything else, always enjoyable.
Cologne = Old Salt matches up nicely with YSL La Nuit, so I always do them up together.

9/10

Think I'm good on razors/soap for a minute....I could see doing a combo of the Baby Smooth and the SLOC for a good long while, stocking up on some Wilkinson Swords and 3017ing the TFS stuff I have; don't see any reason not to as I love all of the ones I've tried.

tl;dr....buy some Razorock shit, you'll be glad you did cause it's all awesome.

[BroSlinger]

Great read, Stein! Yeah, the synthetics are where it’s at!

Btw, you’ll notice your face feeling great using the stupefacente.

[Steinmetzify]

Great read, Stein! Yeah, the synthetics are where it’s at!

Btw, you’ll notice your face feeling great using the stupefacente.

Dude what’s the differences between the models of Wilkinson Swords?

I found a 300 pack on eBay for like $50, but they look different than the ones you sent me; they’re called Wikinson Sword Classics and they’re by Gillette, those are different, right?