Menlo Shaving Nealon Razor - DFS Pass Around

Quick impression after a couple shaves. The packaging for the razor is simple and effective. A nicely designed package with foam fitted inside to tightly hold and protect the razor. The razor itself has a high polish, even in the scallops of the top cap which is a nice touch. The handles are simple but have enough knurling to provide adequate grip. The razor is handle heavy, with a very light nimble head. First shave was on 4 days of growth with a new Gillette platinum blade. Soap was FLS Kituwah along with matching AS. First pass removed everything well, but had some irritation. Second pass worsened the irritation, but I did not sustain any bloodshed. My lather was not on point and did not seem as protective as usual. After the shave I noticed the water softener had run out of salt and needed a refill, which could very likely be the cause of the poor shave.

Second shave this morning on just over 12 hours growth. Debated shaving so closely following a poor shave, but wanted to clean up a bit before work. Same setup for the razor, switched to Ethos Succeś soap and skin food. Just did a one pass WTG shave. Similar result, decent efficiency with irritation. Alum stung like hell and my face is still a little sore hours later. This could all be my fault and I'm not blaming this on the razor just yet. I probably should have let my face heal a bit longer from the first poor shave before shaving again. Now ill wait 3 days and try a different blade before making any conclusions. 

The razor shaves very smoothly and seems to favor a steep angle. I like the characteristics shown while shaving, but not the end result. More to come!

Third shave today on two days growth. I used Summer Break Soap "Rope Swing", switched to a new astra SP, and had proraso green as my AS. Switched to the shorter handle as well. Lather was much better than the first shave now that the water is "softer". This shave went much better than the first two. I realized pretty quick that I need a fairly steep angle with this razor. If I start getting shallower as I shave, the blade feel increases and I start to get irritation. Keeping a steep angle I had a comfortable close two pass shave. Slight alum sting, but nothing like the first two shaves. The handle did feel a bit slippery when covered in soap since it has no knurling, but I was still able to control the razor and didn't have the feeling of it slipping out of my hands. Although the head looks to be on the larger side, it feels very nimble and has no issues getting into tight spots. To quickly touch on the soap, Summer Breaks soap base is great. Slick creamy lather. Rope swing hits the nail on the head with the scent. Sweeter dandelion forward scent that reminds me of swimming in summer. The cooling aspect is nice and refreshing as well. Post shave is very good and leaves the face feeling moisturized without being overly greasy. If you haven't tried any of their soaps out, highly reccomend grabbing some samples.

Ill fit one more shave in tomorrow morning before sending the razor off to the next participant.

Razor was shipped out last week and should be delivered to the next participant by now.

This razor is very well made and beautifully finished. It is an efficient shaver that can be smooth as long as the proper angle is kept. The scalloped top cap sets it apart from the competition with its unique look. The head is very light due to the tight machining and thin guard. The handles are heavy and the knurling is right at the balance point of the razor. One thing I think could be improved on is adding more grip to the handles, but these ones work fine and never felt dangerously slippery. Unfortunately this razor didn't bring anything new to my den, so there is no reason for me to purchase one. If you're looking for an efficient razor to add to your den, the Menlo Nealon should definately be a contender. Thank you to ALI and Menlo Shaving for making this passaround a possibility!

1.Dave in KY (Completed)
2. gvw755 (WA state) (Completed)
3. Whisker Whacker (TX state)(Completed)
4. Keto (MO) (Completed)
5. Shavemd (Ohio) removed at my request
6. slantman (Florida) (Completed)
7. OptoCritic (Maine) advised to pass to next person due to out of town commitments
8. Marhos24 (Michigan) (Completed)
9. Razorman (New Jersey) Removed at my request
10. drdeemanda (MA) (en route)
11. cino (Georgia)
12. bobmsp (Minnesota)
13. vadim (Maryland)
14. gwsmallwood (AZ)
15. Ketotrader (VA)
16. Enahabedian (MA)
17.

drdeemanda is razor in your possession? Thx

1.Dave in KY (Completed)
2. gvw755 (WA state) (Completed)
3. Whisker Whacker (TX state)(Completed)
4. Keto (MO) (Completed)
5. Shavemd (Ohio) removed at my request
6. slantman (Florida) (Completed)
7. OptoCritic (Maine) advised to pass to next person due to out of town commitments
8. Marhos24 (Michigan) (Completed)
9. Razorman (New Jersey) Removed at my request
10. drdeemanda (MA) (Completed)
11. cino (Georgia) Removed at by request
12. bobmsp (Minnesota) (ready to ship)
13. vadim (Maryland)
14. gwsmallwood (AZ)
15. Ketotrader (VA)
16. Enahabedian (MA)
17.

Below are my thoughts on the Menlo razor after having used it for a week. I should note that I won't waste your time with a long, drawn out review. I'll get right to the point and will keep it short and sweet.

Overall build quality:
A well made, stunning razor that's beautifully finished. Tolerances were tight with no noticeable flaws. I love how it looks and feels in my hands. Nice heft without feeling like a brick.

The shave (the important stuff):
The Menlo razor is incredibly efficient but it's not for beginners. I've used many razors and this one feels exactly like a Merkur Futur on it's highest setting (6+), hence the efficiency. Was it smooth? Yes, but i had to be very careful with this one w/ each pass. I'm typically a daily shaver, and I would not consider this to be a daily driver. My daily drivers are Rockwell 6S w/ 2 plate or a Yates w/ H plate.

I had to be mindful of my technique when using it, but I was rewarded with crazy close BBS shaves after two passes. During my first shave, I'll admit that I was a bit intimidated by it given the significant blade gap and blade feel. However, I was surprised that I finished the shave without even the slightest sting after throwing on some alcohol-based splash.

Final thoughts:
Is this razor for me? I wish it was. As a daily shaver, I prefer razors that are a bit milder. In fact, if the blade gap was reduced a bit, I wouldn't think twice about purchasing one. If you prefer razors with significant blade feel that are highly efficient, get it. If you absolutely love your Merkur Futur on the highest setting, this is a must have razor. It also reminded me of a charcoal goods lvl 3. The menlo checked all the boxes for me (Price, tolerances, finish, ergonomics, etc) but I cant justify using it as a daily driver. It's just too much for my tastes.

Any updates?

Received the razor on Wednesday and had my first shave yesterday with a new Gillette Platinum. Generally a great shave but had some irritation in a usual spot. Will post more as my week progresses.

1.Dave in KY (Completed)
2. gvw755 (WA state) (Completed)
3. Whisker Whacker (TX state)(Completed)
4. Keto (MO) (Completed)
5. Shavemd (Ohio) removed at my request
6. slantman (Florida) (Completed)
7. OptoCritic (Maine) advised to pass to next person due to out of town commitments
8. Marhos24 (Michigan) (Completed)
9. Razorman (New Jersey) Removed at my request
10. drdeemanda (MA) (Completed)
11. cino (Georgia) Removed at by request
12. bobmsp (Minnesota) - current user
13. vadim (Maryland)
14. gwsmallwood (AZ)
15. Ketotrader (VA)
16. Enahabedian (MA)
17.