Your journal is interesting. Enjoy your shaves!
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A view from the UK - ajc347’s Shaving Journal
- Thread starter ajc347
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ajc347
Jr. Shave Member
Last Night’s SOTN:
Razor: Rex Envoy
Brush: Alpha Bulldog
Soap: Officina Artigiana
ASB: Extro Freddo
Pre-shave oil: Bedfordshire Beard Co Mango
Balde: Sputnik
This was my first shave with the Rex, the Alpha Brush and the Officina Artigiana soap.
Starting with the soap. It has a scent I'm struggling to describe. It is by no means unpleasant and I quite like it. I am, though, at a loss as to how to describe it as it's a very complex scent. The soap lathered very well and a bit of glycerin and Proraso gave me a very thick, slick and cushioning lather.
The brush was simply outstanding. The handle fitted my hand perfectly and the matte black anodised finish gave a very non-slip feel. I really like these G4 knots. They're up there with Muhle STF v.2 in terms of quality and have a strong backbone. I suspect that this is caused by the large glue bump and lower effective loft more than anything else. As I only ever bowl lather this doesn't present as a problem for me and I really enjoyed using it.
Finally, onto the razor. I've been on the fence regarding the Envoy since it was released and recently had the change to trade for a mint condition one. I'm really pleased that I did and it gave a much better shave than I thought it would. I compared in against my Rex Ambassador on the 2nd and 3rd passes and would agree with the comments I have read regarding the Envoy being equivalent to the Ambassador on setting 3. It also has a draggy feeling which I quite like in a razor, so that was a definite bonus for me.
All in all, this was a shave that I thoroughly enjoyed. [emoji41]
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Razor: Rex Envoy
Brush: Alpha Bulldog
Soap: Officina Artigiana
ASB: Extro Freddo
Pre-shave oil: Bedfordshire Beard Co Mango
Balde: Sputnik
This was my first shave with the Rex, the Alpha Brush and the Officina Artigiana soap.
Starting with the soap. It has a scent I'm struggling to describe. It is by no means unpleasant and I quite like it. I am, though, at a loss as to how to describe it as it's a very complex scent. The soap lathered very well and a bit of glycerin and Proraso gave me a very thick, slick and cushioning lather.
The brush was simply outstanding. The handle fitted my hand perfectly and the matte black anodised finish gave a very non-slip feel. I really like these G4 knots. They're up there with Muhle STF v.2 in terms of quality and have a strong backbone. I suspect that this is caused by the large glue bump and lower effective loft more than anything else. As I only ever bowl lather this doesn't present as a problem for me and I really enjoyed using it.
Finally, onto the razor. I've been on the fence regarding the Envoy since it was released and recently had the change to trade for a mint condition one. I'm really pleased that I did and it gave a much better shave than I thought it would. I compared in against my Rex Ambassador on the 2nd and 3rd passes and would agree with the comments I have read regarding the Envoy being equivalent to the Ambassador on setting 3. It also has a draggy feeling which I quite like in a razor, so that was a definite bonus for me.
All in all, this was a shave that I thoroughly enjoyed. [emoji41]
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Nice shave! And I'm with Tim...that matte handle looks boss on the brush!
Those are definitely nice looking brushes!
Nice gear. I'm always interested in what our overseas Cadre use.
ajc347
Jr. Shave Member
A few new additions have arrived over the last few days, most notably a Fatip Lo Storto Original slant (as I enjoyed the Gentile version so much) and an Alpha T-400 SE brush.
The brush arrived in the UK from Hong Kong, four days after being posted and it’s stunning to look at. Steve fitted it with a G4 knot and, like the Lo Storto Origanale, will have its first outing later this evening.
Have a great weekend guys. [emoji106]
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
The brush arrived in the UK from Hong Kong, four days after being posted and it’s stunning to look at. Steve fitted it with a G4 knot and, like the Lo Storto Origanale, will have its first outing later this evening.
Have a great weekend guys. [emoji106]
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
That brush is a beauty!
ajc347
Jr. Shave Member
I had a first try of both the Fatip Lo Storto Origanale OC and the T-400 SE last night. The soap I used was TOBS Jermyn Street with a bit of Proraso and Glycerin.
I really enjoyed using the FOCS. It’s a very smooth shave and, whilst having more blade feel than the Gentile, it often felt that no blade was present. I compared it directly against the Gentile on the 3rd pass and can confirm that that the Gentile feels a touch milder and is slightly draggier in use.
Onto the brush. There’s little I can say, other than this brush felt the closet I have ever felt a synthetic feel to a top-end Silvertip badger. It’s a great brush and I’m mightily impressed with it.
The FOCS felt like it’s every bit as good as the Gentile, and I thoroughly enjoyed using the brush. I really look forward to using them both again very soon. [emoji846]
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
I really enjoyed using the FOCS. It’s a very smooth shave and, whilst having more blade feel than the Gentile, it often felt that no blade was present. I compared it directly against the Gentile on the 3rd pass and can confirm that that the Gentile feels a touch milder and is slightly draggier in use.
Onto the brush. There’s little I can say, other than this brush felt the closet I have ever felt a synthetic feel to a top-end Silvertip badger. It’s a great brush and I’m mightily impressed with it.
The FOCS felt like it’s every bit as good as the Gentile, and I thoroughly enjoyed using the brush. I really look forward to using them both again very soon. [emoji846]
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Dave in KY
Shave Newbie
Nice slant shave
ajc347
Jr. Shave Member
It’s been quite a while since my last journal entry.
My day job as a Psychiatric Nurse has been manic and my Martial Arts teaching has finally restarted after a Covid-19 enforced hiatus.
A lot has happened on the Shaving front since then - I’ve had a Carbon Cx with + and ++ baseplate on a forum pass around trial and am currently trialling a Homelike Shaving Colibri.
These brushes have also arrived in the last few weeks:
Simpson’s M7 synthetic in Tortiseshell.
I sold off all my top end Badger brushes a couple of years ago and moved over to synthetics. The M7 is one brush I’ve always wanted to get back in my collection and I couldn’t resist when this was listed on Simpson’s website at a bargain price.
Alpha Evergoose.
This brush has a G4 knot and performs brilliantly. I’ve really enjoyed using this brush and it performs excellently. As with all Alpha brushes, I can not recommend it enough. [emoji846]
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
My day job as a Psychiatric Nurse has been manic and my Martial Arts teaching has finally restarted after a Covid-19 enforced hiatus.
A lot has happened on the Shaving front since then - I’ve had a Carbon Cx with + and ++ baseplate on a forum pass around trial and am currently trialling a Homelike Shaving Colibri.
These brushes have also arrived in the last few weeks:
Simpson’s M7 synthetic in Tortiseshell.
I sold off all my top end Badger brushes a couple of years ago and moved over to synthetics. The M7 is one brush I’ve always wanted to get back in my collection and I couldn’t resist when this was listed on Simpson’s website at a bargain price.
Alpha Evergoose.
This brush has a G4 knot and performs brilliantly. I’ve really enjoyed using this brush and it performs excellently. As with all Alpha brushes, I can not recommend it enough. [emoji846]
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
ajc347
Jr. Shave Member
Thanks mate.
Thankfully the UK government have issued advice that masks should only be worn when exercising upon specific medical advice as they can restrict breathing. We do, though, have to adopt full social distancing measures at all times, maximise airflow in the hall and ensure that appropriate sanitisation of equipment takes place. The organisers that I rent the hall from have been brilliant in helping enabling this.
None of this presents as too much of a hardship as the arts I teach are weapon heavy styles and with some adaptation and innovation we can practice around 75% of the syllabus in one form or another. Anything that breaches social distancing is a an absolute non-starter, so that rules out much of my empty hand syllabus other than solo form practice. Again, this is something I can happily live with given that it's a bonus that we are able to practice at all in the current climate.
ajc347
Jr. Shave Member
After a long week of socially distanced martial arts gradings (both of my own and my students) whilst on annual leave, I finally had some time to purchase a few more shave related things.
To start things off, I bought a couple of Henson razors last night and I topped the week off by purchasing one of these brushes today. In case you’re wondering, it’s called Albert. [emoji846]
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
To start things off, I bought a couple of Henson razors last night and I topped the week off by purchasing one of these brushes today. In case you’re wondering, it’s called Albert. [emoji846]
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
GearNoir
“The Disney Princess’s Apprentice”
Very nice! I appreciate that (at least from the pictures) the knot setting doesn’t stick out like a sore thumb in the translucent resin.After a long week of socially distanced martial arts gradings (both of my own and my students) whilst on annual leave, I finally had some time to purchase a few more shave related things.
To start things off, I bought a couple of Henson razors last night and I topped the week off by purchasing one of these brushes today. In case you’re wondering, it’s called Albert. [emoji846]
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk