1savvyRogue
Shave Member
Hi everyone I finally made it to here.
I have been shaving in the traditional manner for almost 2 years now. My buddy never really got me into it, but he had a DE in the bathroom and my fascination was peaked.
I can barely remember my dad using a DE but I do remember them in the bathroom, 60 years have fogged my recollections. I'll have to see if those razors are still about, might find my birth year Gillette, now wouldn't that be a treat.
I've had the fortune to have held down a good job here in Alberta for the last 20 years in the oil and gas industry (the first 20 years,not so great in the wage department) and it's allowed me to acquire some reputable hardware in this hobby and my other mistress, vinyl records. My thinking is get what I need now before I'm on a fixed income (retirement or a reasonable facsimile of retirement and can't afford some of the luxuries of either hobby.)
Needless to say my acquisition disorder is in full gear lol.
So about shaving.
I stayed away from the forums in the beginning for the most part mainly to just get my own groove so to speak. I think I started with a Rockwell but lusted for that Blackland Blackbird until it was in the den. I've been shaving with it going on 2 years now and honestly not too many bad shaves and if there was it was just me not paying attention. Used nothing but Silver Blues in her then started changing it up a bit with some Balzano's. Both have worked well for me.
Soaps and brushes seem to be my, shall I say, obsession. Way to many soaps, need to get some sample jars and share. A growing battalion of brushes stands guard over them. I've curbed my enthusiasm to just four face scythes, the Blackbird, Rex Ambassador., a Karve and a Vector are in the mail. Down the road some Gillette birth years would make nice additions.
Here in Canada the choices for purchasing is definitely limited and it finds me occasionally ordering from the USA to compliment the cave, which gets rather expensive with the exchange rate but for the most part I get by with my retailers just fine.
Started watching some YouTube videos a few months ago and ran across Handlebarber Dave and really enjoyed his SV videos as I have most of them and that's when I learned of the Cadre. Joined up, but things got hectic at work with the Covid situation, so only got to lurk a bit. As it were when I did find time I started with the SOTD forum, starting from when I first embarked on my wet shaving journey back in March of last year and have been relaxing, spending the evenings perusing all of you folks gear (some very nice gear indeed I must say) and getting the lay of the land so to speak.
Work has settled in to the new normal , for now, so I thought I'd put myself out there (which I very seldom do) and share some of my thoughts and shaves and hopefully attain some solid advice and knowledge along the way.
Yours in fellowship
Dean
I've never been much for writing journals, not that I have never tried, just never stuck with it. Hopefully this won't end in the same manner.
No shave today.
Great way to start a shave journal wouldn't you say.
It appears that it's an every other day affair for me, though I've been pushing a daily ritual lately (2 months). Not going well either I might add haha. I have been trying to dial in this new Rex Ambassador the past week and the shaves have been rough. Lot's of variables, a new badger getting broke in after a synthetic binge for the last 6 months, hard water here, where I work and stay, soft water at my home (away a month at a time, most of the time) that could be causing the quality of my shaves to decline.
Intuition tells me to change blades and put the Silver Blue's back in the show and put the Feather aside. Haven't used a Feather blade up until now, probably did with the Blackbird but honestly don't recall. They are sharp like there reviews say. Adjustable's are also a new frontier for me. I am sure I will get it figured out in due course.
What I generally due on my off day is practice my lathering technique, forcing lather to its limits also trying to match soaps and different after shaves, and all the little things that make a difference in our shaves. The scents as well as the ritual are very therapeutic for me and honestly the aromatic effect has really helped with my mental health. Having an evening shave routine grounds me, eliminates the daily grind as well as grime and my sleep has improved dramatically.
Just a shout out to everyone for making me feel welcome.
I have been shaving in the traditional manner for almost 2 years now. My buddy never really got me into it, but he had a DE in the bathroom and my fascination was peaked.
I can barely remember my dad using a DE but I do remember them in the bathroom, 60 years have fogged my recollections. I'll have to see if those razors are still about, might find my birth year Gillette, now wouldn't that be a treat.
I've had the fortune to have held down a good job here in Alberta for the last 20 years in the oil and gas industry (the first 20 years,not so great in the wage department) and it's allowed me to acquire some reputable hardware in this hobby and my other mistress, vinyl records. My thinking is get what I need now before I'm on a fixed income (retirement or a reasonable facsimile of retirement and can't afford some of the luxuries of either hobby.)
Needless to say my acquisition disorder is in full gear lol.
So about shaving.
I stayed away from the forums in the beginning for the most part mainly to just get my own groove so to speak. I think I started with a Rockwell but lusted for that Blackland Blackbird until it was in the den. I've been shaving with it going on 2 years now and honestly not too many bad shaves and if there was it was just me not paying attention. Used nothing but Silver Blues in her then started changing it up a bit with some Balzano's. Both have worked well for me.
Soaps and brushes seem to be my, shall I say, obsession. Way to many soaps, need to get some sample jars and share. A growing battalion of brushes stands guard over them. I've curbed my enthusiasm to just four face scythes, the Blackbird, Rex Ambassador., a Karve and a Vector are in the mail. Down the road some Gillette birth years would make nice additions.
Here in Canada the choices for purchasing is definitely limited and it finds me occasionally ordering from the USA to compliment the cave, which gets rather expensive with the exchange rate but for the most part I get by with my retailers just fine.
Started watching some YouTube videos a few months ago and ran across Handlebarber Dave and really enjoyed his SV videos as I have most of them and that's when I learned of the Cadre. Joined up, but things got hectic at work with the Covid situation, so only got to lurk a bit. As it were when I did find time I started with the SOTD forum, starting from when I first embarked on my wet shaving journey back in March of last year and have been relaxing, spending the evenings perusing all of you folks gear (some very nice gear indeed I must say) and getting the lay of the land so to speak.
Work has settled in to the new normal , for now, so I thought I'd put myself out there (which I very seldom do) and share some of my thoughts and shaves and hopefully attain some solid advice and knowledge along the way.
Yours in fellowship
Dean
I've never been much for writing journals, not that I have never tried, just never stuck with it. Hopefully this won't end in the same manner.
No shave today.
Great way to start a shave journal wouldn't you say.
It appears that it's an every other day affair for me, though I've been pushing a daily ritual lately (2 months). Not going well either I might add haha. I have been trying to dial in this new Rex Ambassador the past week and the shaves have been rough. Lot's of variables, a new badger getting broke in after a synthetic binge for the last 6 months, hard water here, where I work and stay, soft water at my home (away a month at a time, most of the time) that could be causing the quality of my shaves to decline.
Intuition tells me to change blades and put the Silver Blue's back in the show and put the Feather aside. Haven't used a Feather blade up until now, probably did with the Blackbird but honestly don't recall. They are sharp like there reviews say. Adjustable's are also a new frontier for me. I am sure I will get it figured out in due course.
What I generally due on my off day is practice my lathering technique, forcing lather to its limits also trying to match soaps and different after shaves, and all the little things that make a difference in our shaves. The scents as well as the ritual are very therapeutic for me and honestly the aromatic effect has really helped with my mental health. Having an evening shave routine grounds me, eliminates the daily grind as well as grime and my sleep has improved dramatically.
Just a shout out to everyone for making me feel welcome.
I found the Ambassador rough but got great shaves from the Envoy. You're gonna LOVE the Vector. Favorite blade in t is the Schick Proline "P" blade. p-20 or P-30. The number designates how many in the pack. Curious to see what TSC swag you ordered ?
