everything's set for Wednesday's BVWSC shave?
Next Wednesday is already the third one? Damn, October goes by fast... Thx for the reminder!
13.10.2024 - Pumpkin Spice is nice
- Prep: warm water
- Brush: RazoRock Beehive 28 mm
- Razor: RazoRock Hawk V2 w/ Superknurl handle
- Blade: KAI Protouch MG
- Lather: Southern Witchcrafts - Samhain
- Post-Shave: Southern Witchcrafts - Samhain AS; moisturizer
-> 2 pass head shave, 1 pass around the beard. A good shave, but unfortunately some skin reactions.
Today was a Sunday that just called for some Pumpkin Spice and Samhain seemed to be a great fit. I know how to lather SW perfectly, so it's always a good choice for my shave - unfortunately, there seems to be some irritation from the AS now that wasn't present 2 years ago. Granted, could be that something in the toner denatured despite it still smelling good. Unfortunately, that means one of my absolute favourite scents is now out as an aftershave option.
I did a short dermarolling session after my shave because I want to try it out for my skincare essay. I really just want to include treatments that I've tried myself. Despite the redness, it felt pretty okay. Will see if it actually does something for my old acne scars and some of the wrinkles...
22.09.2024 - bloody Strathcona
- Prep: warm water
- Brush: vintage yellow bakelite handle w/ 22 mm SynBad knot
- Razor: GEM Micromatic Open Comb MMOC
- Blade: Personna GEM PTFE
- Lather: MacDuff's Soap Co. - Old Strathcona
- Post-Shave: alum block; Thayer's Original toner; Pacific Shaving Co. Caffeinated ASB
-> 1-pass head and face shave. A bit too rough thanks to a fresh GEM blade...
So today I also wanted to try Old Strathcona again. @sahenders@sub.wetshaving.social was so generous and sent enough of a sample for 5+ shaves, I reckon. I still had a good bit left in my old wooden lid.
However, I wanted to give the Leaf a well deserved break and use another razor today - so I had to put a fresh blade into my MMOC, as the old one caught rust. Needless to say, when the alum block is listed in my Post-Shave routine - you know that it didn't went well. š«¤
I usually have a blast using the MMOC, but some of the fresh GEM blades have an edge that makes them feel like shaving with a carpet knife. In total, one big weeper and five blood spots on the scalp. Six blood spots around the face. Bless the french shaving heavens for Osma alum, as without it I'd look like I got into a fight with a cheese grater. The Thayer's toner and the PSC balm handled the rest. To say it with a meme-ified movie quote: "I shaved... but at what cost?!" š¤
Memo to myself for the future: don't use a razor you haven't used in a while with a soap that's unfamiliar to you, especially not with a fresh blade. Don't think you can manage a full head and face shave with just a tiny amount of a soap sample. Also, get yourself a proper small shaving mug or bowl for your sample shenanigans.
Now I really look forward to tomorrow's shave. Hope you fine folks had a great weekend!
First Line Shave - Life & Death
Hooray for Old Strathcona! š„³ Very interesting choices this time again. It was difficult to pick just one first spot, so I went by my gut feeling. Now I'm really looking forward to trying MacDuffs soap! The scent description sounds very intriguing already. I love barbershop scents with a unique twist, so this could be right up my alley. Thanks to everyone for voting and to @sahenders@wetshaving.social for nominating the winning soap!
Now I found myself an old wooden lid from a rituals shaving cream and will press the soap into that to simulate loading from a puck - the BVWSC shave can commence soon š
And yes, Bud Spencer++ šŖš»
26.05.2024
- Prep: head and face wash
- Razor: Leaf Thorn (Fig)
- Blade: Derby Premium half DE
- Brush: Omega Roma Colosseo 31 mm
- Lather: Barrister and Mann - The Full Measure of Man
- Post Shave: Moon Soaps Old School balm; moisturiser
Me coming back after a long hiatus is slowly but surely becoming a running gag; so yeah, I did a damn good wetshave again.
2 pass head shave. I underhydrated the lather a tiny bit, but it was still a very comfortable shave. FMoM is truly great, it's kinda close to HoM Tobacconist which is definitely in my Top 3, so I like it a lot!
After my midterm exams and working for two days, I had some time to recover now and began to engross myself in different creative things: I started seriously learning keyboard and bass guitar (yup, parallel - it's kinda crazy but it has its benefits already) and took up reading more again since I want to start writing my own stuff. Today I started American Psycho by Bret Easton Ellis in english - so far I am fine despite english only being my second language. Did you know that Patrick Bateman recommended lathering with a brush since it lifts beard hair up better? Well, now you know!
I also have tomorrow off so I'll try to do something cool. Have a great week, folks!
25.04.2024
- Prep: warm water
- Razor: Stando Perun
- Blade: BIC Chrome Platinum
- Brush: AP Shave Co. 30 mm Tuxedo Fan w/ black & clear handle
- Lather: House of Mammoth - Indigo
- Post Shave: Thayer's Cucumber facial spray; Natura Siberica ASB gel
1 pass head SOTN. I feel like I have to relearn DE safety razors. A couple of spots still feel rough; this was nowhere near a close shave.
Indigo is a good scent. Not as great as Tobacconist, but still good. Quite fitting for my current mood as it's based on a blues song. The weather is still cold, dark and rainy over here so it also fits that. Funny thing: as I was rinsing the soap out of the tub and tried to shake out the excess water, the whole puck came out and I had to clean it again. Seems like nothing goes quite as planned for me currently...
Onwards to Friday. Since some people seem to dig my song sharing, here's another one for those of you who bother to read this far: Molchat Doma - Toska
SOTD 03.01.2024
- Prep: warm water
- Razor: RazoRock Hawk V2
- Blade: KAI Captain Pink
- Brush: TGS Galaxy 26 mm
- Lather: Declaration Grooming - Unscented soap
- Post Shave: Thayer's Aloe Vera toner; Lavera Mikrosilber Creme
Meh head shave. One pass and done, it got way too late anyway.
First I thought that the Hawk with this blade doesn't really work that bad for shaving my head, but after applying the toner I saw a couple red spots of irritation. Thankfully the Lavera cream with micronized silver particles was there to calm the skin down.
First two early shifts at the new nursing home are behind me; so far it's really a different style of working: less rushed, more individual. I still miss my old co-workers, but I actually look forward to what my future assignments there will bring.
SOTD 01.01.2024
- Prep: warm water
- Razor: RazoRock Gamechanger 0.84 OC
- Blade: Voskhod
- Brush: RazoRock 400 Noir SE
- Lather: Declaration Grooming - Unscented soap
- Post Shave: Thayer's Aloe Vera toner; Aloe Vera moisturiser
First head shave of 2024! 2 passes, WTG and ATG/XTG. No scents, but a very comfortable shave.
I'd like to wish everyone here a happy new year! As for myself, unfortunately not so much happiness... Since it finally sunk in that I will not only leave my old job, but also my most precious favourite colleagues behind there's not been a single day where I haven't cried at least once. It's hard to understand for others - but nursing is one of those professions where you really grow together: you're working weekends, holidays and different shifts together. You'll start to know each other very well and you stick together. Hell, 4 of them have grown so close to me that I would consider them a second family... So it's really hard for me. Even though it's the right decision, as one of them who was my mentor will also leave the place at the end of January. So the collective would have been broken anyway...
But my heart still aches, even though we will all keep in contact and will hopefully meet up in private. Tomorrow I will have my first early shift at my new nursing home - I try to focus on the positives and will try to present myself as motivated as possible, but currently it's harsh times for me emotionally. But I refuse to give up - better days will be coming, hopefully soon!
SOTD 28.12.2023
- Prep: warm water
- Razor: Stando Perun
- Blade: BIC Chrome Platinum
- Brush: TGS Galaxy 26 mm
- Lather: Declaration Grooming - Cuir et Epices
- Post Shave: Thayer's Aloe Vera toner; Natura Siberica ASB gel
- Fragrance: Tom Ford - Ombre Leather EdP
Almost forgot to log this shave in all the trouble...
1-pass head shave, very comfortable and warm scents all around. No nicks or any irritation whatsoever. I needed some comfort scents to keep my feelings somehow balanced...
Today I had my final late shift at the old nursing home. It was a very emotional day for me... For 5 years, this was my place of work. First as an OT, now during the retraining to become an RN. I had a lot of good times there, but lately a lot has turned to shit so quitting is the right thing to do. I will miss my favourite colleagues very much; but at least I will keep them as friends and remember the good things we had together.
DaveWave94
joined 1 year ago
16.10.2024 - Buena Vista Wetshaving Social Club shave NĀ°3: LPL Narcisse š
-> 2 passes on the dome, 1 for beard contours. A relaxing and enjoyable shave.
Third edition of the BVWSC and this time we get yet another european artisan: Le Pere Lucien from France with their masculine floral Narcisse . Since narcissus is pretty common around here, I was really intrigued when it was suggested. Florals are often not my kind of thing, except for Ylang-ylang, so the combination LPL has created had a high bar to clear.
And I must say, it did so with flying colours. Once the sample arrived (side note, PB&T666's handling of samples is the new damn gold standard IMHO - great work all around!) I was already surprised how it didn't smell overly cloying or sweet. It's definitely a good scent to wear and more on the mild side in terms of fragrance. The base was quite a surprise - I already have Cedre-Patchouli (sorry francophones, can't properly do the apostrophes) and it's more leaning towards a hard soap. This felt like the same, but it really started to get a good lather going very fast and after the shave, my skin already felt good. Really nice. Judging by the botched job my translator did with the LPL website, Narcisse should also contain bergamot, tobacco and vetiver. The former two I adore, the latter is a love/hate relationship depending on how it is used. Fortunately, this here gets my seal of approval.
Finished the shave with a less fortunate floral (wisteria and rose together with honey and red wine). At least it wasn't as unbearable as SW Tres Matres, my personal least favourite floral ever. If more of them would be like Narcisse , I'd use them more often.
As always, it was a pleasure to join in for the BVWSC shave!