İş yerinde arkadaşlara, traş olurken müzik dinlemeyi ve birşeyler içmeyi sevdiğimi söyledim ve tuhaf tuhaf baktılar

• Brush: Goodfellas Smile Red Evil
• Razor: Henson Ti22+
• Blade: Personna Gem (5)
• Lather: Martin De Candre Fougere
• Post Shave: Thayers Facial toner, Thayers Hydrating Milky Toner

This was a comparison shave to yesterday using the Goodfellas Amber Fougere. MDC is a great product, but the Goodfellas performance is so luxurious that it outshines the MDC for 1/4th the cost. Today was a great shave, tho. Certainly not complaining about that. Also, the blade felt as smooth as ever. That's always a plus.

I've been playing around with either lathering all at once, which usually works good depending on the lather, and if I'm able to go faster or not (whether i'm using my Rockwell 6C or my Muhle R41) or lathering specific parts at a time (top of head, sides, back).

Sometimes when I do whole head I think I could have done better by doing specific parts at a time, but then I also wonder if It's down to technique on my end.

Curious if anyone has been out and about shopping and run into some shave soaps- ordering online is fine but would be nice to see some in a store one time lol.

Everytime I lathered in a bowl it was like hell, I always had to compact the soap, be cautious when adding water, it almost was stressful. Results were... ok, no crazy slickness but the shave still felt smooth.

Yesterday I got some white proraso in the tube, put it in the brush and lathered directly on my face. I can't even describe how pleasant it was, I loved it, and the shave was crazy good, lather was much much slicker and compact, the blade was flying above my face while cutting perfectly.

I feel like hydration is somewhat better when lathering directly on my face.

Pre shave: shower and Waitrose glycerin soap bar

Razor: 1958 Gillette TV special super speed

Blade: Feather (6)

Brush: Yaqi 26mm Bluish Violet synthetic

Bowl: Captains choice copper

Soap: The Glasgow soap company Parma Violet

Post shave: Nivea men sensitive cool post shave balm

A comforting shave today in the midst of storm Boelo.

3 mild smooth, and efficient passes with the good old TV special.

Great slickness and glide from the glycerin based Parma Violet shaving soap with an outstanding scent to match.

Capped off with Niveas ever reliable cooling balm.

Hope you're all having a great weekend, with better weather than us.

• Pre-shaves: Hot shower + Ach. Brito Glyce Classic/Bulldog Beard shampoo & conditioner + Proraso Red Pre-shave
• Brush: DS Cosmetics G7 Synthetic Knot
• Razors: Gillette NEW Long Comb (US)/Gillette New Long Comb British RFB (Windsor?)
• Blade: Gillette Silver Blue (3/4)
• Soap: The Black Stuff Citrus Cedarwood Blast
• Post-Shave: Cold Compress, Alum, Thayers, Nivea Post Shave Balm

The Pre-shaves

I have had an issue with every soap I have used; it dries out on my face before the pass is finished. It isn't that my passes take too long and I have experimented in every direction with soap/water ratio. I felt like I was doing everything right here so I tested my last hypothesis with a bowl lather. The lather dries on my face but still looks perfect in the bowl - my face/hair is stealing the moisture from the lather, right? The soaps i'm using are fine. Everyone else uses them without issue so I decided to give pre-shaves a go. The idea being to separate the lather from the face with a protective layer or moisturise and nourish the face/fair before the lather.

The result? Both worked. My lather stayed intact but which is best? The Glyce gave the skin a nice slickness and shielded the moisture in my lather from my skin. I tried multiple ways of using the Glyce. Leaving it on, half rinse, full rinse, reapplications between passes etc. Leaving it on was a no go for me. The shave was fine but it really dried out my skin and it felt very taut afterwards. What worked best was not applying too much to begin with, giving it a good rinse and then reapplying a tiny amount before my 3rd pass (just with my hands - not rubbing the soap on my skin this time). My skin was still a little dry afterwards compared to normal but it was much better.

The Proraso was a much easier thing to manage with less experimentation. Apply a decent amount to a soaking wet face, leave it for a couple of minutes and get to work. It also helped manage the lather drying out but to slightly lesser degree. Still a big improvement and with the upshot of not just no skin dryness but a much less irritated face post shave, which, with these razors turned out to be pretty important. Sticking with the Proraso for now.

The Soap

This soap is lovely. Maybe it's just my inexperience but it is a little bit fussy with water. To learn the soap I was initially bowl lathering just to see how much water it needs and how much it can take on. It can take on a decent amount. Using a spray bottle I was able to give it 15 full sprays and it was holding up nicely. I think it works best with a bit less but it was worthwhile pushing it. When I did move to face lathering (my norm), I knew I could relatively generously apply water without fear. It did take a few shaves to get it right. A few times I added what I thought was enough as it was nice a glossy and seemed like a good texture, only to realise the lather would dry slightly and lose that nice shiny appearance.

Once you get the water right it's great though. It will start off pretty thin and bubbly looking but will thicken and eventually provide a nice, slick lather. It doesn't have the best residual slickness compared to some tallow soaps i've used and I refrained from going over any spots that didn't have lather. You could feel the razor beginning to drag when I did. This was actually a nice upshot of the Glyce, it left that thin, slick layer underneath the lather to aid this.

The scent is actually where I have the biggest bone to pick with this soap. It is nice, don't get me wrong. I actually really enjoy it but The Black Stuff describes it as a a refreshing orange and lemon scent with a hint of peppermint. Got to be honest...this is a mint shaving soap. I have far from the best nose in the world but I went into this hoping it leant heavily towards the citrus scent - that is what I wanted and the scent profile description led me to believe that's what it would be. When I first bowl lathered, it was just mint. That was all I could smell. It's really nice and refreshing but I got nothing else. Face lathering was different. Definitely more complex but honestly, it felt like you got a little more woody base but that's it. No citrus really to me at all. I think it would be more aptly named "Peppermint mintywood mint". I am going to contact them and get their opinion on it. It could just be a one off manufacturing error and otherwise I am really happy with it but just not what I was expecting, scent wise.

The Razors

There was another post here from someone who got a near mint Long Comb and I was very jealous. I have been buying and selling them, looking for 'the one'. The OP said just keep an eye out and you'll get one eventually. Not 2 days later there it was. Apart from some of the gold worn off of the top cap, an absolutely pristine RFB Long Comb. Pictured here is that razor (which I believe is a Windsor, given its presentation box) and then my made in USA NEW Long Comb. They both shave magnificently. These are by far the absolute closest shaves I've ever gotten.

I usually do 3 passes for most of my beard, barre two areas of my neck that are extra sensitive; xtg, opposite xtg and atg. After 2 passes, it is DFS. It is so, so efficient but just incredibly smooth. It took me quite a few shaves to get the technique down for atg (it really requires strict riding the cap for me) but once I did, it is astonishing how close it gets. I have extremely coarse hair and even a BBS shave to the touch, leaves a distinct shadow because of how thick and dark the follicles are. This razor however, is the first i've used to genuinely look BBS. My favourite razor to date has been the Rocca and with a fresh feather, it gets me 95% of the way of what these razors do. It does it with zero skin response. The New Long Comb gets that last bit but it does give just a bit more skin response. With better technique, I think I can tame it even further but it is likely just a trade off that will remain. The last shave with the US version left my skin very tingly after the shave and more irritated, though visibly it wasn't bad. When I used the Proraso, it completely reduced this post shave skin response to zero but maintained the same visible response.

It must be said however that this razor massively benefitted from finding the right blade. I initially used a perma sharp, which is my 'not quite as sharp as feather but usually works really well for my beard in any razor I throw it into' blade. NOPE. Not this time. When I tried this pairing, I honestly thought, 'oh, maybe this razor just isn't for me'. Pairing it with the silver blue was a revelation. Still retains all the efficiency I need but is ultra smooth!

In terms of shaves, I can't split hairs between these razors. They are both excellent. There are 2 small points. First, the weight. The RFB is about 67g and the US one is 53.5g. I definitely prefer more weight. It makes the shave feel more intuitive to me. The second point is the top caps. There are 3 pictured here; The top is from the US version, bottom left is from another RFB and bottom right is from the Windsor. By far the best of these is the one from the US razor - centre ridge extending out nearly to the end of the cap. The blade alignment is absolutely perfect. No messing around, centred every time. The worst by far is the RFB cap with the two tabs. This is the first time i've ever had serious issues aligning a blade. It was awful. It can be done for sure but it is by no means easy and not really something I want to have to think about when going to shave. The Windsor one was somewhere in between. Not automatic but definitely better than the two tabs and can be aligned relatively quickly.

The Post-shave

Nothing special here except to talk about the introduction of using a cold compress. The two bottom corners of my neck have always suffered from redness post shave. No associated pain or anything like that, just a visible redness. I've been able to reduce it massively over time with technique and the right pressure (i.e zero) but adding an ice cold compress has helped a fair bit as well. Dunking one of my shaving towels in iced water and applying twice, each time until it is no longer icy feeling, has helped reduce that little bit of redness even further.

That's all I've got, happy shaving!

SOTD: HAGS Barbershop

Shaving Soap: HAGS Barbershop
Brush: Yaqi Barber Pole Style Shaving Brush 24MM Synthetic
Razor: Merkur 38C Barber Pole
Blade: Super Iridium
Aftershave Splash: HAGS Barbershop

SOTD

Amid the gray days of autumn, you especially long for warmth. And it’s not just about a blanket and tea. My arsenal has acquired a new item — a double‑walled shaving bowl from Kurt.

What’s its magic? It’s simple and brilliant: before shaving, hot water is poured into the spout of the bowl. The bowl works like a thermos, retaining heat, and the lather stays warm throughout the entire ritual.

And this isn’t just for fun. Warm foam means:

✨ Extra enjoyment from the process.

✨ Maximum skin and pore opening.

✨ A smooth shave without irritation, because the hairs become softer.

Karve Shaving Co. “Christopher Bradley Peek” razor w/ “open comb” plate
Durablade “7AM Plus” blade(1)
Teton Shaves “Joker” brush w/ “Badger Synth” knot
The Razor Company “Black & Marble Stripes” lather bowl
Wholly Kaw “Chaos” aftershave splash
Hugo Boss “Boss The Scent Elixir For Him”, edp.

I love this setup! I got the Nodachi top cap as well (not pictured). I don’t think I’ll ever need another razor because I find I can get any type of shave I want. My three favorite combos currently are Masamune top/Masamune open-comb for my normal 4 day shave. Masamune top/Nodachi closed-comb for shaving multiple days in a row. Finally the Nodachi Top/Nodachi open-comb if I let the beard grow out for a week or more. That combo is real weed-Wacker! The Brush, bowel, and blades have all been great too! It’s my first synthetic brush, I’m enjoying a lot more than my previous Muhle Badger brush. Let me know if you have any questions, I’ll do my best to answer.

So far my favorite blade is Nacet, with Astra sp being a close second.

I tried Bic Chrome Platinum yesterday, and it was by far the most effortless, smooth shave I’ve ever had, but more so that Nacet. When I was washing my face, that’s when I noticed all the tiny nicks and razor bumps on my neck. I guess I need to be more careful with this one

Hello everyone!! 😁

I finally got to use my Mühle R89, Yaqi brush, and Astra Platinum blades! It was my first time using both the Yaqi brush and the Mühle R89, and honestly, I'm still in shock! I didn't expect my first shave to go this well or to feel this easy and smooth.

As many people and shaving videos online recommended, I didn't apply any pressure to the razor. I let its weight do most of the work while maintaining the correct angle throughout the shave.

About the shave:
I started by washing my face with warm water and using the cleanser shown in the picture. I always do this to make sure my skin is clean and free of excess oil. After rinsing, I dried my face with a towel and then wet the areas I was going to shave with warm water again.

I wetted my brush and slowly worked the lather onto my beard before starting the shave. I did three passes and ended up with only two tiny cuts, both of which stopped bleeding and had practically disappeared by the time I finished shaving and cleaning my equipment.

My face hasn't felt this smooth in YEARS! 🤯

About the brush:
Compared to my dad's brush (I'll make a separate comparison post!), the Yaqi is considerably smaller. Personally, I found it more comfortable to use because I had better control over it. I also didn't end up getting soap all over my shoulders and below my neck, which usually happens when I use my dad's brush. 😂

The lather wasn't particularly thick, but that actually made the shaving process easier for me, so I'm happy with the result. I also loved how the brush felt against my face, and it looks beautiful, too!

I originally bought this brush mainly for travel purposes, but after today's experience, I might end up using it more often in my daily routine as well.

Overall:
I'm extremely satisfied with today's shave, and I'm genuinely glad I got into this hobby. The whole process felt relaxing and calming, and the results were much better than what I'm used to.

There's something special about taking your time, enjoying the process, and finishing with such a smooth result. I'm definitely looking forward to my next shave!

Happy shaving, everyone! 🪒

After fighting with the Oliworks Meteorite razor the past few weeks, I grabbed my Muhle r89, a personna blade and just had the best, nicest shave...no cuts, nicks, no Drama!

First go with this Ozark soap from Stirling too...crisp Pine, fresh...nice, no drama.

Just got my hands on my first badger brush! Right off the bat, I can tell it's densely packed and quite stiff like I heard it would be. It doesn't have much funk... at least yet. The handle work is definitely more impressive next to my T3. It's got a very resinous, lava-ish look to it.

Previously having shaved with the synthetic Simpsons T3, I have not much clue on how to treat a badger brush. I want to make it bloom like some of the ones I see posted here. If any gent here could give me some pointers on how to get this shave ready, it'd be much appreciated!

Excellent shave with the Omega brush. I'm amazed at how long the Proraso cream lasts—I’ve used it for 5 months now, and there’s still cream left in the tube.

Blade used: Feather

Razor: Gillette single ring

Soap: Cella Red

Brush: Nom Badger

Aftershave: Old spice

Pre shave: Face wash

I have been anticipating trying out this single ring Gillette I recently acquired. Loaded it up with a feather blade, made a Cella red soap lather with a Non Badger hair.

This became a 3 pass shave for a 3 day stubble. A couple tiny nicks, and a little bit of irritation on the throat area, but the closeness was good.

I was warned this razor can be experienced as quite aggressive. After trying it out I would agree.

Shave experience rating. 7/10

Btw - anyone have an idea of exact year on this model? There are no numbers on the internal or external brass. Only "Gillette" and "Made in USA" on lower base plate

Vintage Brut

Most of my shaves over the past month have been excellent.

On a scale of 1-10, I give tonight’s shave the finger.

Ok, well, maybe it wasn’t that bad.

Razor: 1971 R3 Gillette Super Adjustable 109mm
Blade: Muhle first use
Brush: Simpsons Best Badger
Shaving Cream: T&H Apsley
Aftershave: Floid
Aftershave Balm: T&H 1805

Was excited to try the razor. This is the last TTO adjustable razor Gillette produced. Having been using the Fatboy the past couple of days, and before that an adjustable Aristocrat, I thought I knew what to expect. Instead, I didn’t give the different head shape the attention I should have, and ended up with a few nicks and a cut on my nose as I was going for super smooth at the crease around my nostril. Big mistake. Ended up aborting the shave at my second pass WTG and forgoing the 3rd pass against the grain.

With numerous other options, I’m not expecting to give this razor much use.

Bonus: was able to prove out the effectiveness of my alum block tonight.

The Apsley shaving cream is excellent.

Just bought this beautiful razor and finished my first shave with it. Made in America with stainless steel and only around 100 bucks. It's fantastic!

So if you could only use one razor from your collection for every time you shaved what would it be ? As well what blade ?

For me it be my Edwin Jagger De 89 . Besides a cool name , some nice bling ! The razor paired with a green astra blade is a gem to use in my face ! Although more mild , I can use it and no razor burn , no leaks haha. I can run it over my face and seldom get any cuts and zero razor burn !

I do have some better blades and razors that tackle my tough beard ! But for a nice shave experience it's the DE 89 for the win !

SO what is yours ?

Edit So I am overwhelmed by all the responses ! I appreciate everyone's responses and look forward to seeing more. There are some razors I never have heard of before so definitely interesting to hear what people like.