Old Sarge's Shaving Journey

I think I understand what you just wrote...not entirely sure...I used to be very confident with my reading comprehension skills but now I am not so sure.

Well, that makes two of us then!  Two of us that's not entirely sure, that is!

HD seemed pretty happy with his 

Yes, it seems so! That whole chain of events is really amazing!

You mention in a video that you're looking for a case for your British ER 1912. HD sees it and offers to send you a case. You shoot a video shaving with the razor and thanking HD for the case. I see your video and think to myself who is this HD Shaves guy and go watch his videos and subscribe to his channel. One or two new videos later he shoots a video with his SCS LC. I think to myself, I've got one of those and send him an email with some images. We correspond and I find out he lives in Chicago, likes that my razor is branded Chicago and is looking for a case. I offer to swap razors with him and send it to him to try. He likes and sends it back with an additional razor. Not only that, but an AJ was the first vintage razor he shaved with that started him down the rabbit hole...just like how the SCS LC was what started my down the vintage SE rabbit hole. Everybody's happy. When does life work like this!?!?

I unnerstud it Bryan !

HD seemed pretty happy with his 

Yes, it seems so! That whole chain of events is really amazing!

You mention in a video that you're looking for a case for your British ER 1912. HD sees it and offers to send you a case. You shoot a video shaving with the razor and thanking HD for the case. I see your video and think to myself who is this HD Shaves guy and go watch his videos and subscribe to his channel. One or two new videos later he shoots a video with his SCS LC. I think to myself, I've got one of those and send him an email with some images. We correspond and I find out he lives in Chicago, likes that my razor is branded Chicago and is looking for a case. I offer to swap razors with him and send it to him to try. He likes and sends it back with an additional razor. Not only that, but an AJ was the first vintage razor he shaved with that started him down the rabbit hole...just like how the SCS LC was what started my down the vintage SE rabbit hole. Everybody's happy. When does life work like this!?!?

I unnerstud it Bryan ! 

You and me are two of three...but hopefully more! 

DEcemBoar!
Mitchell’s Wool “Fat” Friday!

Cold Water Shave w/ Hot Water Lather
Pre - Aloe Vera Glycerin Soap Face Wash, Noxzema Cream as Pre Shave
Razor - British Aristocrat Junior
Blade: Gillette Silver Blue (2nd Use)
Brush - Omega 66 Boar
Lather - Mitchell’s Wool Fat, Face Lathered
Post - Generic Reformed Alum Block, T.N. Dickinson’s, Clubman Pinaud After Shave, Nivea Sensitive Skin & Stubble Balm


I looked back and it had been nearly 2.5 weeks since I last shaved with a DE and only 3 times in the past month. Needless to say, I was a bit rusty and it took me a while to settle into the proper technique. Regardless, I got a successful two pass shave with this lovely new addition, a British Aristocrat Junior (AJ). The intertubes say this fellow weighs in at 71g, which helps to explain its efficiency. It was also very smooth. I've not shaved with a Red Tip, but would imagine that it would give a similar result even though its reported weight is 65g. While Nacets are my favorite blade, the Gillette Silver Blue is one of the close runners-up. Both sharp and smooth!

Researching online, some say that the mechanics of the TTO in the AJ are a bit tighter than the other Rockets, but this razor felt gunked up and required a bit of force to open/close. Over two days it got the hot bath w/ Dawn detergent treatment many times and has loosened up much better. I'm sure if I had access to an ultrasonic cleaner it would be faster, but I think if I keep at it I will get it loosened up appropriately.

With my plan to start shaving with Gillette TTOs for a week beginning on Monday, I realized shortly into today's shave that I need to further reacquaint myself with DE razors, thus will shave with a DE this weekend to dial things in.

The MWF performed great, love this soap! I added plenty of water while face lathering and the lather stayed hydrated throughout each pass. I did have to go back to the puck for a handful of swirls to get the lather just right for the second pass. I chock that up to me not loading enough the first time and that I'm still trying to dial in the proper amount for face lathering...not too little and not too much. The Omega 66 boar did its job well enough, though it is still a new brush requiring more break in time.

Another great account of The Shave! A very nice read.

Great writeup Bryan

Another great account of The Shave! A very nice read.

Great writeup Bryan

Thanks, Gents!

For me this is like lying on a shrinks couch, as I usually lie in bed and type up my report. In the Army we called it an AAR...After Action Review. I kind of feel like these detailed posts accomplish the same things for me by documenting the lessons learned, both the good and the bad. And then in the future limiting recurrence of the bad and repeating the good.

Sometimes it was fun doing AAR’s. Sometimes not so much. Haven’t thought about those (AAR) for a loooong time. 
Yes journals are the same. Good way of looking at it.

DEcemBoar!

Cold Water Shave w/ Hot Water Lather
Pre - Aloe Vera Glycerin Soap Face Wash, Noxzema Cream as Pre Shave
Razor - Gillette Flare Tip Super Speed (1962, H1)
Blade: Gillette Silver Blue (3rd Use)
Brush - Semogue SOC Boar in Taj Resin
Lather - Phoenix & Beau (Imperial Rum), Face Lathered
Post - Generic Reformed Alum Block, T.N. Dickinson’s, Aqua Velva Musk, Nivea Sensitive Balm


I was feeling cheeky today, so I went for the whole shebang...three passes knowing the '62 Super Speed is a mild shaver. Because of this, I was super conscious to go with a light touch. It served me well until the third pass where I got a bit greedy. Nothing a good post shave routine couldn't fix. More than enough lather in the Semogue SOC Boar and the Imperial Rum lathered well and smelled great. I picked this razor for today as I haven't shaved with it for some time and I will be using it next week during the TTO Spectacular.

Admin Note: Press Release officially announcing TTO Spectacular scheduled for tomorrow.

Glad to hear that Dave in KY suffered no harm in last night's storms. I saw some of the worst of it was due west of one of my ole stompin' grounds, Fort Campbell. Mother Nature can sure be unforgiving at times!

DEcemBoar!

Cold Water Shave w/ Hot Water Lather
Pre - Aloe Vera Glycerin Soap Face Wash, Noxzema Cream as Pre Shave
Razor - Gillette 40’s Style Super Speed (1947/NDC/No Notch)
Blade: Gillette Silver Blue (4th & Final Use)
Brush - Omega Pro 49 Boar
Lather - Cyril R. Salter (Indian Sandalwood), Face Lathered
Post - Generic Reformed Alum Block, T.N. Dickinson’s, Nivea Deep A/S, Nivea Sensitive Balm


Day three of using a Gillette TTO and I gotta say "I'm Lovin' It!" The 1947 SS is both smooth and efficient enough, kind of a sweet spot for a newish shaver. I'm starting to get the hang of face lathering. It's been a challenge to ensure I load enough, but not too much product...and then get enough hydration into the lather so that it doesn't dry out before the end of the pass and so as to not clog up the razor. Per my SOP, four shaves on a DE blade and out it goes. The Cyril R. Salter Indian Sandalwood cream performed great and smells wonderful! Bottom line, I'd take this shave exactly like this any day of the week!

Admin Question: The Option/2 key combo for the Mac types the "TM" trademark symbol. I wanted to use it after the "I'm Lovin' It!". I could type it and it showed up in the posting area, but when I preview the post it disappears. Any thoughts?