Most Used Gear 2020

2020 has finally come to an end and I am wishing/hoping brighter days are ahead for everyone! 



Looking over my spreadsheet today I realized this was the most I haven't shaved since starting traditional shaving in 2016.  Obviously, it wasn't too big of a surprise considering the number of days I stayed home rather than go to the office.  But there were 41 "no shave" days reported which is 11% of the year!



As for the days I did shave, the spreadsheet notes the following:



Aftershave Brand - Chatillon Lux - no surprise as it is my favorite splash base.  But I did notice a big drop-off once he announced he wouldn't be making AS anymore...trying to save that wonderful juice!



Aftershave Scent - CL Bon Vivant - good thing I was able to pick up 2 more bottles after Shawn's announcement



Blades - absolutely no surprise here - GSBs at nearly 43% of the shaves


Razor - Again, no surprise whatsoever here - The Rockwell 6S - I know it doesnt' work for everyone, but this razor is simply amazing for me.  It's unbelievably smooth while being efficient (especially with plate 5 or 6).  That ultra-smoothness allows is fantastic for anyone who shaves daily (or for those of us determined to get our "No Shave" days under 10% )



Soap Brand - This one did surprise me.  Shannon's soaps have been a staple for me that past year or so and around the mid-part of the year Shannon's was by far my most used soap.  For whatever reason (probably because it is just an awesome soap), Mike's Natural snuck into to the lead and beat out Shannon's 52 to 49 uses.  Stirling (29), Mystic Water (26), and Eleven (24) rounded out my top five.  This was the first year Mystic Water didn't come in first.



Soap Scent - Mike's NAtural Bay Rum - not a big surprise as I used it quite often in an attempt to finish it off.  Love it so much though that I have a refill puck ready to go



Witch Hazel - not an element of the shave that is discussed often on the forum but I have 7 different scents so I thought I would include it here - Thayers Lavender (by a long shot!)



Newcomer of the Year:  The Charcoal Goods Level 1 OC - this was purchased sometime in early to mid May but accounts for 10% of the total shaves.  It has easily solidified a spot in my top three





So what was some of your most used gear for 2020?

Razor = Blackbirds
Blade = Wizamet Iridium Super (my only blade)
Soap = Mystic Water ( my only soap)
Post Shave = Unrefined Shea Butter (as a balm/moisturizer, only thing I ever use)
Fragrance = Bergamot/Vetiver EO (one drop)

Razor: Timeless .68SB SS
Blade: Astra SP
Soap: Declaration Grooming
Aftershave: Fine
Brush: Paladin x 4

1. Razor – Like you, HoosierShave, I love the Rockwell. It accounted for half of my shaves in 2020. But something weird happened in July, and I started getting a lot of irritation after shaving with this razor, even with baseplate 4. Since then I've switched to the Feather AS-D2, and lately, the Henson Al13, both very mild razors that leave me unscathed.
   
2. Blade – Last spring Lipripper660 turned me on to Astras, and I haven't hardly looked back. I'll still pop in a Feather or a Polsilver from time to time, but these Astras are now my go-to blade.
   
3. Brush – Phoenix Shaving Peregrino 24 mm. Since this brush came in the mail, it's swooped everything else aside. For me, it makes the best lather, and its flow-through is superb.
   
4. Soap Brand – Martin de Candre. I've gone bonkers on this soap this year. Load it heavy, load it light, either way it comes out rich and slick, and most of the time it even smells pretty good. I like how clean it leaves my face after the last rinse, and though at first it's a bit drying, after a couple hours the finish is excellent.
   
5. Soap – Martin de Candre Original and Rose tie. I used each seventeen times.
   
6. Scent Family – Surprisingly, citrus-scented soaps turned out to be my favorite (Martin de Candre Agrumes, Saponificio Varesino Opuntia & Mirto di Sardegna, Meißner Tremonia Dark Limes, Abbate y La Mantia Laureato, Klar Lemongrass). After that I picked out woody scents (mostly vetivers) and fougères.
   
   

No spreadsheet, just guessing.

Razor - Edwin Jagger DE87
Blade - Astra SP
Soap - probably either Proraso Red or TOBS Mr Taylors
Brush - Stirling 2-Band Synthetic
AS - Mennen Skin Bracer
Newcomer (to me) of the year HW - RazoRock SLOC
Newcomer of the year SW - RazoRock "Amici" soap and splash

For the second half of the year, I've been alternating exactly 50/50 with the blades, Astra SP and Shaverboy Super Stainless.
The Shaverboy blades are an incredible bargain at CAD$7.95 for 100 blades, tax and shipping included. I just discovered them last summer.

Great post HoosierShave!  I’ll play.  Unlike you record keepers though, I have to go by feel and man am I fickle.  

Razor: Merkur Futur just fits my face so well
Blade:  Personna Comfort Coated (laser etched not inked). The things stay sharp forever.
Soap Maker:  Sir Henrys/Black Tie.  Great scents.  Easy use.
Brush: Teton Shaves.  Not just because he’s my kid.
Post Shave: Shea butter (thx Celestino). 
Newcomer: Is Caties Dirty Prose.  That rose vetiver scent is awesome.

1. Razor – Like you, HoosierShave, I love the Rockwell. It accounted for half of my shaves in 2020. But something weird happened in July, and I started getting a lot of irritation after shaving with this razor, even with baseplate 4. Since then I've switched to the Feather AS-D2, and lately, the Henson Al13, both very mild razors that leave me unscathed.
   

I've experienced the irritation as well.  As a matter of fact, the 6S has actually bitten me a few times.  The issue, at least for me, was that I had put it into cruise control and was doing 30 mph over the speed limit...plus I was treating it more like a disposable than a DE razor. Those lapses in concentration and judgement were evident as soon as the alum block was applied.

I'll play along.

I am usually a one soap, one brush type of shaver but my usuals changed this year.

I decided to start using up some of these soaps I've acquired through the years in lot buys so my usual C/O Bigelow cream was supplanted by Stirling Vanilla Sandlewood tub soap.

On the brush I picked up a vintage Ever Ready synthetic nylon brush that has supplanted my usual badger brush for use with creams and tub soaps.

Blades and razors are not the same.

First place
My most used blade overall was a Personna injector blade but my most used razor overall was a Schick Type N1 injector with a Schick II twin blade.

Second place
My most used single edge blade was a Gem stainless steel PTFE coated blade and single edge razor a Gem Featherweight.

Third place
Feather Professional AC blade and the Razorock Hawk V3 open comb razor

Fourth place
In a distant 4th was DE blades with a Bic Chrome Platinum as the only used blade and most used DE razor a vintage French made Famex razor.

Post shave was constant with Thayers alcohol free witch hazel and apple cider vinegar.

Razor: Timeless .68SB SS
Blade: Astra SP
Soap: Declaration Grooming
Aftershave: Fine
Brush: Paladin x 4

The Timeless .68 SB is a great razor!  My wife gave me the .95 SB a few years ago and I had always reached for my .68 because it was smoother.  But something clicked with my .95 the past year or so and the .95 is providing amazing shaves...smooth, comfy, and VERY efficient

I don’t keep records so I’m going from memory. 

Razor:  Rockwell 6s plate 4 - some have commented that they’ve got irritation from this one. I’d look at your routine or technique. My only issue with the 6s is that it’s so smooth and forgiving that you can neglect your technique and get away with it mostly. Until you switch to a more technique dependent razor then you’re reminded how sloppy your technique has become. Solution? Stick with the Rockwell. 

Blade:  Feather

Brush:  Semogue Boar. 

Soap:  Grooming Dept. (probably) *

Post: Thayers witch hazel /Grooming Dept Rejeuvenating Serum / PAA Bay Rum. 

*I like to mix up my shave soap and while GD is probably my most used, my regular rotation includes T+S, Declaration Grooming, WK Siero, B&M and some PAA faves.