Shaving notes of the MaineYooper

Today I used a soap that I hadn't used since December of 2015, when I was 1 month into learning how to properly shave with a double edge scary razor, the Merkur 34C HD!
I had a sample of Stirling Naked and Smooth. The shave notes show it went okay, but I noted my face tingled, and I ended up blaming the soap. Never used it again. Well, I bought a tub of Stirling Beeswax (unscented) and it works very well for me. I began to rethink that assessment from my third week in. I had a sample of Lime as well, and it also was recorded as causing lots of tingling. Could be an oil, could be me. But I ditched both to be safe. Fast forward to last month, and I decided to try samples of Naked & Smooth and the other unscented soap, Sheep (yup, Stirling makes three unscented soaps!!). I reread those first weeks of DE shaving notes, and realized how much I was learning, and how much my technique was changing. I thought, I bet the soap was fine, and I was over-shaving areas and using too much pressure. 

This morning, I lathered up with Naked & Smooth with my Trotter Handcrafts cashmere brush, and had a great shave with the Schick Type G injector. No tingle, just that refreshed and RCS I strive for! Color me happy! Some day I will buy a full tub, but now I have plenty of tubs. And Rod's samples are very generous, like a full ounce, cut as a nice disc that fits into an empty tub (No, not empty from a used soap! I had to buy some empty tubs  ).

Have a great final weekend day!

And here's the Timberwolf knot in what I call the Groovy handle from Trotter Handcrafts.

After I took the photo, I noted the shininess around the base of the knot, seen above. I took a look, and apparently I used a little too much silicone, as it came up on the knot all the way around. I am carefully picking at it now! When I set the knot, I felt silicone on my left hand, either on a finger and then transferred to my palm. But I couldn't see it on the brush. I don't think it will affect the lathering. Now I know, don't use too much! I do remember on this setting that I purposely added more silicone to fill in around the beer gasket/washer I used to increase the loft. Lesson learned!

After I took the photo, I noted the shininess around the base of the knot, seen above. I took a look, and apparently I used a little too much silicone, as it came up on the knot all the way around. I am carefully picking at it now! When I set the knot, I felt silicone on my left hand, either on a finger and then transferred to my palm. But I couldn't see it on the brush. I don't think it will affect the lathering. Now I know, don't use too much! I do remember on this setting that I purposely added more silicone to fill in around the beer gasket/washer I used to increase the loft. Lesson learned!

Doesn't look like it'll make any noticable difference to the shave. My guess is you'd have seen it, if so. It would have had to be enough to leak through all of the layer of bristles and create a new glue bump. This looks superficial from here.

(Nevermind, zooming in, it's mostly light, not dry glue). I think it'll still breakdown over time, too. You'll likely always have some there, but nothing affecting the shave.

I still say good job. Fwiw, my second (I think) brush has that... Oops.

After I took the photo, I noted the shininess around the base of the knot, seen above. I took a look, and apparently I used a little too much silicone, as it came up on the knot all the way around. I am carefully picking at it now! When I set the knot, I felt silicone on my left hand, either on a finger and then transferred to my palm. But I couldn't see it on the brush. I don't think it will affect the lathering. Now I know, don't use too much! I do remember on this setting that I purposely added more silicone to fill in around the beer gasket/washer I used to increase the loft. Lesson learned!

Doesn't look like it'll make any noticable difference to the shave. My guess is you'd have seen it, if so. It would have had to be enough to leak through all of the layer of bristles and create a new glue bump. This looks superficial from here.

(Nevermind, zooming in, it's mostly light, not dry glue). I think it'll still breakdown over time, too. You'll likely always have some there, but nothing affecting the shave.

I still say good job. Fwiw, my second (I think) brush has that... Oops.

Thanks, I appreciate your comments!

And here's the Timberwolf knot in what I call the Groovy handle from Trotter Handcrafts.

After I took the photo, I noted the shininess around the base of the knot, seen above. I took a look, and apparently I used a little too much silicone, as it came up on the knot all the way around. I am carefully picking at it now!  When I set the knot, I felt silicone on my left hand, either on a finger and then transferred to my palm. But I couldn't see it on the brush. I don't think it will affect the lathering. Now I know, don't use too much! I do remember on this setting that I purposely added more silicone to fill in around the beer gasket/washer I used to increase the loft. Lesson learned!

That is a Gorgeous brush!  To echo Doug (¿Paul?), if you like the shave, why not just leave it as is?

And here's the Timberwolf knot in what I call the Groovy handle from Trotter Handcrafts.

After I took the photo, I noted the shininess around the base of the knot, seen above. I took a look, and apparently I used a little too much silicone, as it came up on the knot all the way around. I am carefully picking at it now!  When I set the knot, I felt silicone on my left hand, either on a finger and then transferred to my palm. But I couldn't see it on the brush. I don't think it will affect the lathering. Now I know, don't use too much! I do remember on this setting that I purposely added more silicone to fill in around the beer gasket/washer I used to increase the loft. Lesson learned!

That is a Gorgeous brush!  To echo Doug (¿Paul?), if you like the shave, why not just leave it as is?

Yes, Paul Stubble Daddy made a wonderfully colorful handle!  I am going to leave it be, and use it later this week. Thanks to you all, I now have 4 new wonderful brushes, doubling the brush horde and overwhelming the shave drawer! The one I am thinking about redoing is the SynBad. If I can think of more stuff I need want from Maggards, then I will get a knot that Paul recommended me, the Black and White.

And here's the Timberwolf knot in what I call the Groovy handle from Trotter Handcrafts.

After I took the photo, I noted the shininess around the base of the knot, seen above. I took a look, and apparently I used a little too much silicone, as it came up on the knot all the way around. I am carefully picking at it now!  When I set the knot, I felt silicone on my left hand, either on a finger and then transferred to my palm. But I couldn't see it on the brush. I don't think it will affect the lathering. Now I know, don't use too much! I do remember on this setting that I purposely added more silicone to fill in around the beer gasket/washer I used to increase the loft. Lesson learned!

That is a Gorgeous brush!  To echo Doug (¿Paul?), if you like the shave, why not just leave it as is?

Yes, Paul Stubble Daddy made a wonderfully colorful handle!  I am going to leave it be, and use it later this week. Thanks to you all, I now have 4 new wonderful brushes, doubling the brush horde and overwhelming the shave drawer! The one I am thinking about redoing is the SynBad. If I can think of more stuff I need want from Maggards, then I will get a knot that Paul recommended me, the Black and White.

Maggards sells on ebay pretty cheap for individual knots sometimes

That is a Gorgeous brush!  To echo Doug (¿Paul?), if you like the shave, why not just leave it as is?

Yes, Paul Stubble Daddy made a wonderfully colorful handle!  I am going to leave it be, and use it later this week. Thanks to you all, I now have 4 new wonderful brushes, doubling the brush horde and overwhelming the shave drawer! The one I am thinking about redoing is the SynBad. If I can think of more stuff I need want from Maggards, then I will get a knot that Paul recommended me, the Black and White.

Maggards sells on ebay pretty cheap for individual knots sometimes

Made me look. And yup, $2 more than website, but free shipping on the 'bay!  Oh the dilemma!