SOTD 2-8 October 2022

Tuesday, October 4

Fine Fresh Vetiver~~Semogue 2012 SE~~British Red Tip/Spoiler~~Tom Ford Grey Vetiver
Have a great day!

Tabactober

Prep: P.A.A. Cube 2.0 (face wash)

Razor: Alpha Shaving Works Bandit (prototype) open comb baseplate
Blade: Gillette Nacet Stainless

Soap: Tabac (tallow)
Brush: Omega Boar 10005/80005

Post 1: P.A.A. Alum No-Slip Grip System w/ Dry Dock System
Post 2: Dickinson's Enhanced Witch Hazel Deep Cleansing Astringent w/ Menthol & Eucalyptus
Aftershave: Tabac
Post 4: Neutrogena Hydro Boost Gel-Cream Extra-Dry w/ Hyaluronic Acid


Today's shave is a special one. Not only am I using Tabac for the first time but I'm lucky enough to be in possession of a prototype for Alpha Shaving Works new razor affectionately named the "Bandit".

This is an all brass razor weighting in at 138g (4.9oz)! This definitely puts it in the heavyweight class. The handle length is 90mm (3.6"). Blade gap is 0.70mm (0.027"). Exposure is neutral to slightly positive depending on the blade used.

My first impression is that the razor has a stunning design. Not only does the handle immediately grab my attention but the head as a whole is also very beautifully shaped. The head has a nice angle built into it with no sharp edges and the teeth of the open comb are nicely rounded at their bottom most edge. Again, nothing sharp. We're taking some fantastic build quality here.

I paired this razor with a Gillette Nacet Stainless blade and went for it on two days growth. Immediately I noticed the weight. I happen to have no issues with this though as my starting razor when I entered the wet-shaving world was an Edward Jagger DE89. That one's not as heavy as this Bandit but it has some weight to it so it got me used to letting the weight of the head and gravity do the vast majority of the work.

This razor and blade combo easily mowed down my facial hair. I felt no irritation on my face and only a little bit when going against the grain on my neck. I was really enjoying putting this razor to the test.

I did a three-pass shave and found that my face was as close to bbs as I've ever felt without having done a fourth pass, against the grain. Note that I always go atg on my neck but only do it on my face when chasing a bbs finish.

The (tallow) Tabac soap worked very well. I was impressed using it for the first time. My boar brush whipped up some lather in the ceramic jar quite easily. It provided a perfectly adequate amount of slickness and it smelled fantastic! I'm seriously falling in love with the stuff.

Overall the "Bandit" is a fantastic razor that I would absolutely love to own. It looks awesome. It feels awesome. And it shaves awesomely. Even screwing the handle on felt good to me.

I finished everything off as I always do with some P.A.A. Alum, Dickinson's witch hazel, (today) some Tabac aftershave and last but not least, some Neutrogena Hydro Boost Gel-Cream.

I'm sitting here with a bbs face and am just loving basking in the scent of the Tabac aftershave. This really was a 5 star shave today.

Carry on gentlemen and enjoy your shave.

RAZOR: Blackland Blackbird Ti [SB]

BLADE: Kai SS [1]

BRUSH: Rudy Vey Chief Muehle STF 25mm

LATHER: HoM Z(70%), DG 88 Chestnut(10%), A&E Asian Pear(20%)

POST: House of Mammoth Alive Aftershave Splash

Mixing down some of my less favored scents with unscented soaps. Trying to move through these sample jars, because more are inbound  

Tuesday AM 2022-10-04
The first American volunteer fire department was established on this date in 1648, New Netherland (New York-New Jersey)


Rooney Stubby 3XL Porcelain Finest (30/52)
Crabtree & Evelyn Mysore Sandalwood shaving soap (tallow)
Wolfman WR2-SB/WRH7 Antique Bronze
Personna 74 Tungsten (5)
Aramis aftershave (vintage)

My vintage EdP has a powerful Civet scent. How's the AS?

To my aged nose it is more woody and spicy, with just a hint of civet. My wife likes it a lot when I use it.

Lupo .95 OC/Bic Chrome Platinum
Fendrihan 24mm Tuxedo Black&Clear
RR Son of Zeus soap
RR Son of Zeus a/s splash
Bois & Vetiver by Pascal Morabito

Tuesday SOTD

Z

Razor: Standard Razor

Blade: Feather (D2)

Brush: Rubberset 200-4 w Maggard SHD 24mm

Bowl:  Georgetown G12 Opal

Pre-Shave Scrub: SheaMoisture African Black Soap

Pre-Shave Balm: GroomingDept Unscented

Shave Soap: HTGAM Cavendish

Balm: HTGAM Cavendish

Aftershave: PAA Cavendish

Wednesday SOTD

A

Razor: Gillette Slim (I2) North Shore Razors

Blade: Feather (D3)

Brush: Semogue 2018 TSN LE

Scuttle:  Georgetown G12

Pre-Shave Scrub: SheaMoisture African Black Soap

Pre-Shave Balm: GroomingDept Unscented

Shave Soap: P.160 Tipo Duro

Balm: RR R-160

Aftershave: Floid Blue

Wednesday 10.05.22
RAZOR: Alpha Claymore Evolution
BLADE: Schick Proline
BRUSH: Reknotted Rubberset 22mm Synthetic
LATHER: Phoenix and Beau Albion Shaving Soap
POST: Phoenix and Beau Albion Aftershave Splash