Fifth Day of TabOKtoberfest

• Brush: Dogwood Handcrafts Tabak Oridjinal
• Razor: Heljestrand MK N° 10
• Lather: Mäurer & Wirtz – Tabac Original
• Post Shave: Mäurer & Wirtz – Tabac Original
• Fragrance: Mäurer & Wirtz – Tabac Original

I refreshed the edge on this Heljestrand using the same method (trailing strokes only, deburring on a loaded canvas strop, followed by normal stropping) that magically transformed my Bismarck into a smooth implement of face pampering, but this edge feels tuggy by comparison. Back to the hone and hopefully a better edge tomorrow.

Stank++;

Oct. 5, 2023

• Brush: Yaqi 26mm Synthetic
• Razor: Karve CB SB D
• Blade: Gillette 7oclock Green
• Lather: Spearhead - Sea Ice Lime - Soap
• Post Shave: Spearhead - Sea Ice Lime - Aftershave

Great shave. Wow thats got some chill to it, Love this scent.

SOTD 05.10.2023

• Prep: warm water
• Razor: Stando Perun
• Blade: Voskhod
• Brush: RazoRock Beehive 28 mm
• Lather: Wholly Kaw - King of Bourbon
• Post Shave: Thayer's toner; Pacific Shaving Caffeinated ASB
• Fragrance: Trussardi Riflesso Blue Vibe EDT

I'm getting in the unfortunate habit of posting way too late. Anyways, this was actually a single pass WTG head shave - yep, finally did it again. My eczema didn't take it so well, but whatever. I started to look older than Jason Statham and that man is in his mid-50s...

Today's scent combo was really going well, both King of Bourbon as well as Riflesso Blue Vibe have a slightly sweet, slightly boozy profile.

Stando's Perun is slowly becoming my favourite DE - it's very mild, but with a really sharp blade it could also shine. This Voskhod is more on the mild side, as I hoped this would yield less irritation. Unfortunately that wasn't the case. Better luck next time.

September 35, 2023

• Brush: Wald Stratos Goldvein 29mm A1 Fan
• Razor: Filarmonica 14 Doble Temple Gen 1 (Straight Shave 347)
• Lather: Saponificio Varesino - 70th Anniversary - Soap (70)
• Post Shave: Saponificio Varesino - 70th Anniversary - Aftershave
• Post Shave: Thayers - Rose - Toner
• Fragrance: Saponificio Varesino - 70th Anniversary - Eau de Parfum
   

2 passes. Face lather. Excellent shave.

And there we have it! The end of Settantisemo Straightember. 70 shaves on Saponificio Varesino 70th Anniversary in the year of my personal 70th anniversary. Wonderful experience.

Now there's the stress of what to use for tomorrow's shave :0

Fifth Evening of TabOKtoberfest - Second Luxury Shave

• Brush: Chisel and Hound Ambrosia Maple with 26 mm synthetic Maggard knot
• Razor: Heljestrand MK N° 10
• Lather: Mäurer & Wirtz – Tabac Original cream
• Post Shave: Mäurer & Wirtz – Tabac Original balm

@gcgallant@sub.wetshaving.social a.k.a. u/gallant has called it, and he was right, much to my delight.

I started by killing the edge, went through the 3k -> 10k progression (again trailing edge strokes only), deburred the edge on loaded canvas, and the Heljestrand really came alive! Incomparable to this morning's meh shave, the razor is now smooth and cuts close. A real treat.

I was wondering about the etymology of the euphonious name "Heljestrand" (derived of the Heljestrands' hometown's name "Helgesta" = holy place, BTW), and the search led me to Carl Viktor Heljestrand's Swedish wikipedia page where I learned two interesting titbits:

1. Carl Victor went to work in the Sheffield steel industry and travelled Germany before starting the production of straight razors in Eskiltuna. I thought that made a lot of sense.
2. His great nephew's name is Mjolner Heljestrand. As in Thor's hammer. You can tell the Heljestrands were all blacksmiths at heart.

TubeStank++;

October 5, 2023

• Brush: Zenith B03-A26 (B2)
• Razor: Blackland Era - Level 3 SB
• Blade: Personna Lab Blue (4)
• Lather: Noble Otter - Hamami - Soap
• Post Shave: Noble Otter - Hamami - Aftershave
• Fragrance: Noble Otter - Hamami - EdP

Hamami doesn't always smell good to me, but some days it hits just right. I decided to toss the Personna 74 that I've been using, so it made it to 41 shaves. I have 9 more of them I think.

Something that I'm starting to notice with boar brushes is that I don't have to add as much water to the lather, because it already starts with a healthy amount, even after shaking it out. Starting with a similar amount of water in a synthetic or even a badger would result in the load being too sloppy.

Oct 5, 2023 - Theme Thursday: Football

• Brush: AP Shave Co. Honey Ebonite 26mm G5C Fan Knot
• Razor: Aylsworth Razors Drakkant Plus
• Blade: Gillette Platinum [6]
• Lather: Declaration Grooming - Dirtyver - Soap
• Post Shave: MacDuffs Soap Company - American Vintage - Aftershave (Alcohol Free)
• Fragrance: Lalique - Encre Noire A L'Extreme - Eau de Parfum

Dirty, grassy, and leathery scents being on theme, the first thing that came to mind was Dirtyver and American Vintage. Great shave!

Rating: 4.5/5

October 5, 2023: The End of War, Beginning of the Pig

• Preshave: Proraso Green Preshave
• Brush: Yaqi Aqua 24mm Synthetic
• Razor: Koraat Spaarschweinchen (on loan from @djundjila@sub.wetshaving.social )
• Lather: Barrister & Mann War
• Post Shave: Floid The Genuine
• Post Shave: Nivea After Shave Balm

Here come my first impressions from the Koraat Sparschweinchen: the edge on this razor is way better than the one on my own razors; this gives me something to strive for. Congratulations to @djundjila@sub.wetshaving.social! The shave was very nice and comfortable; I avoided mutilation with the pointy end.

The Sparschweinchen smiles more than I had thought from seeing the photos, and I am not really used to shaving with a smiling blade. It was no problem though, even if I was tempted to apply pressure to get more surface area where the blade touches the skin. The Koraat feels considerably heavier than the Tiers-Issard or the Parker razor (I didn't weigh them, but it's noticeable) – but the balance is very good, and it's not that my arm felt exhausted after the shave or anything. I don't know whether this is because the steel is heavier, or if there is simply more of it on the razor.

On the lather front, once again, I got a luxurious lather with a good boom-shakalaka. I tried to tell myself a dad joke at the beginning, but I the volume was off, and I spoke so softly that I didn't really understand.

All in all, a very good first try of the Koraat!

Have a good evening!