Pre: P.A.A. Cube 2.0
Razor: Blackland Dart
Blade: Astra Superior Platinum (D1)
Soap: Stirling Soap Co. Ramblin' Man
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: Stirling Soap Co. Ramblin' Man balm
Today marks the the beginning of a love affair a long time coming.
I've wanted a Dart from the very first moment I laid eyes on one. To me it's absolutely beautiful and true piece of art. Never would I have guessed that it would be re-released. Now that I have one I couldn't be more happy and with that said, this is my maiden shave.
For today's shave I chose Stirling Soap Company's Ramblin' Man. This is a true favorite of mine. It's a blend of citrus top notes, sandalwood middle notes, and a dense base of musk, cedar, and ambergris. It's masculine and smooth! I highly recommend this one.
I paired the Dart with a brand new Astra blade and got to work. Initially I got a really smooth feel from this razor/blade combo. I was expecting the Dart to feel very aggressive with a lot of blade feel but that's not what I felt. The razor is very efficient but there is a level of deception to it. See even though it felt very smooth to me, you do have to be cautious with this razor as it can bite. If you don't play the angle right you can nick yourself.
I didn't get a ton of blade feel but that's not a bad thing at all. It's hard to describe how smooth yet efficient this razor is. All I can say is that I really do like it a lot. It's not a beginners razor though. Some experience with various razors and wet shaving in general, are recommended.
I did a three-pass shave face lathering with my trusty Omega boar brush. Being fully broken in, it was a pleasure to use. Nice and soft, and without issue.
When finished I applied the matching Ramblin' Man aftershave balm and have been basking in its awesome scent since.
So there you have it. My dream of owning a Blackland Dart has come true and I've logged my first shave with it. I feel stoked to say the least and can't wait to perfect shaving with this unique tool.
Shave on gentlemen!