What soap/cream did you use today?

I picked up Tobacco Oud in the last Grooming Dept drop, and I am very pleased with it.  But with hindsight, I may have had some dumb luck along the way.  I don't know for sure whether my experiences will help you TommyCarioca,   but I hope that they will, and so here goes.

I have very hard water, so I treat it by the sink full with citric acid crystals (1/8 tsp per sink full).  One day, not long after Tobacco Oud dropped, I noticed that the treated water took the patina off a copper brush (shown in today's photo).  I dialed back the crystals, and found that some soaps - and Tobacco Oud was one of them - became more difficult to work with.  But with the 1/8 tsp dose, building lather is in the acceptable range for me.

One last thing for the benefit of anyone with whom I have corresponded privately:  When I told you I was having no problems with Tobacco Oud (or La Rosa Profunda), it is because I was using the high dose of citric acid, so the performance was superb and any time and hydration differences were not noticeable.

I hope that helps Tommy.  Good luck! 

Man, I am all over that. 

When I was shaving with GD in KY [soft water] - had no problems.  Back in Dallas, moved all of my GD pux here, and not quite up to snuff.

Science and smart fellows like HighSpeed, Face Scraper, and Davey come to the fore.

How much volume is in your sink HighSpeed? Headed to Lowe's to get me some crystal . It may help with a few other reticent pux.



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Whenever in doubt, distilled water inexpensive and almost always does the trick with 'stubborn' soaps. Hell, if worse comes to it, DIY distill tap water. Tend to prefer that over additives.

Man, I am all over that. 

When I was shaving with GD in KY [soft water] - had no problems.  Back in Dallas, moved all of my GD pux here, and not quite up to snuff.

Science and smart fellows like HighSpeed, Face Scraper, and Davey come to the fore.

How much volume is in your sink HighSpeed? Headed to Lowe's to get me some crystal . It may help with a few other reticent pux.



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Whenever in doubt, distilled water inexpensive and almost always does the trick with 'stubborn' soaps. Hell, if worse comes to it, DIY distill tap water. Tend to prefer that over additives.

Great point. And I used to do that. Damn I am old. Forgot my own routine. Stopped about 5 years ago. Back on it with my CRYSTAL back up.

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last shave soap in my mid week shave - SV Opuntia (95F weather)
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The notes above are useful since it gives me a bit more info now that I have a copper razor. I'll be honest though, not that I care about my Carbon, but in Los Angeles, all of our areas tap water is generally pretty hard. I don't like it but when it comes to shaving because it does build up the scum in the sink as well as on the razors. My copper razor are already properly seasoned by just letting it go to the gods of my tap water. I'm totally fine with it and will probably do a little test on the finish sometime.

As already mentioned though, as a good alternative to using hard tap water to soak brushes and make lather, use filtered or distilled water. I think it makes it much easier (or quicker) in getting to the right water to product ratio. Over the years of your most used brushes (expensive/rare badger), consider how much hard water minerals you can avoid having on the natural hairs of your collection. I don't think it'll make a huge difference to most people as I seem to assume most in the hobby prefer to alternate the shave gear more frequently.

Maybe some of this thought has come from times in the past where you get brushes from people or in person if you get to handle a used brush, you comb you hand over the hair and that cloud of dust forms. Sometimes you can even see that haziness on the handle around the top of the handle where it seems like the hard water hasn't been wiped off and has built up. In the worst case scenario, there is a crust around the hairs where they meet the handle.

Saturday OCtober 1, 2022
Razor: Goodwill # 164
Blade: Wizamet
Brush: Wolf Whisker/Badger
Soap: Stirling Deton-8
AS 1: Alcoholado Eucaliptino 70
AS 2: A&E Rèvolution
Fragrance: Viktor & Rolf Spicebomb
Consecutive Daily Shaves - # 1,425

1st day of Open Comb OCtober brought out the Goodwill #164 since I used the #162 recently. Scent for today was Viktor & Rolf Spicebomb and 2 dupes of it with Stirling Deton-8 Soap with A&E Rèvolution Splash. LOVE this scent !! Have a great weekend Everyone !

Fine Accoutrements / American Blend

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Sa°Tabac °urday

Love Saturdays
C U all tomorrow

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