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Doug's Journal of Shaving Happiness v2.0

Journal Entry #459
2020 Shaves (DE: 28, SE: 4, Straight: 3, Cart: 0)

02/04/2020
Pre: Hot shower/splash of cool water/Stirling unscented pre-shave oil
Razor: Parker Variant @2.5
Blade: Treet Black Carbon (4)
Bowl: Fine Lather Bowl
Brush: Yaqi 26mm Rainbow Handle, Brown Hair Synthetic
Soap/Cream: LEA Classic (1)
AS 1: 365 Everyday Rose Petal Face Toner + Lucky TIger AS & Face Tonic
AS 2: Aqua Velva Sensitive 5-in-1 ASB & Lucky Tiger Disappearing Cream
AS 3: LEA Classic (1)
Fragrance: none

Overview
I have found another winner.

SOTD Pic
None

Shave Quality
The puck started out very (and I mean bone) dry when I opened it last night. I put some water on it, then dumped it off right away, at that time to start softening it up. This morning I bloomed it during my shower. It didn't look like I loaded very heavy, but it turned into a more than acceptable volume of lather, easily 5 or 6 passes of lather. The first pass was a little dry, but good. I added more water for pass two and was blown away. The lather was slick and very protective. The shave is BBS with almost zero irritation. The alum gave next to no feedback.

Gear
After just a single shave, I am surprised this soap doesn't get more love on the Interwebz. It loads well. It whips up easily. It has really great performance. I would put this soap on the same level as Tabac, which for me is top tier. It is also similar to CBL Tonsorial, but with more conditioning things like lanolin. It left my face feeling very soft and conditioned. The tiny hit of menthol is refreshing. It also smells wonderful. The puck is one of those hard, milled pucks so it is possibly going to take me a while to 3017, but it should be a really nice bunch of shaves.

Other Thoughts
Working from home today due to the weather. Having to sit through a bunch of presentations online. Trying to stay awake.


Thank you for reading and commenting on my journal. I hope you have a great day and stellar shaves, Cadre.
 
I've used LEA shaving cream, and was pretty impressed with it. The soap sounds like a winner for sure.
 
Journal Entry #460
2020 Shaves (DE: 29, SE: 4, Straight: 3, Cart: 0)

02/05/2020
Pre: Hot shower/splash of cool water/Stirling unscented pre-shave oil
Razor: Parker Variant @3.0
Blade: Treet Black Carbon (5)
Bowl: Fine Lather Bowl
Brush: Yaqi 26mm Rainbow Handle, Brown Hair Synthetic
Soap/Cream: LEA Classic (2)
AS 1: 365 Everyday Rose Petal Face Toner + Lucky TIger AS & Face Tonic
AS 2: Aqua Velva Sensitive 5-in-1 ASB & Lucky Tiger Disappearing Cream
AS 3: LEA Classic (2)
Fragrance: none

Overview
Fast but good.

SOTD Pic
None

Shave Quality
The shave was good today, but too fast. I was pressed for time so I had to go fast. Because of that the shave was a little more irritating today than yesterday. It was still a great shave leaving me in the neighborhood of BBS. The soap is still great, but could have used a tiny bit more water today. The biggest downside to today's shave was nicking my ear with the blade tab. I wasn't careful enough during my first stroke and ran the tab right into my ear. I felt a little dumb after that.

Gear
The Variant is a really well made razor. I am very happy with it.

The Treet Black blade is going strong and giving great shaves. I didn't get a chance to strop it this morning, so I will have to do that before I shave next. I really love this blade.

Other Thoughts
Day two of PI (Program Increment) Planning today. (My office is an Agile shop. SAFe to be specific.) PI Planning is kind of like a mini-vacation where you are bored out of your mind most of the time. Too many briefings to sit through.


Thank you for reading and commenting on my journal. I hope you have a great day and stellar shaves, Cadre.
 
That is the first time I have seen that soap, but I am very intrigued by it now. I think the scent profile would be right up my alley.
 
Journal Entry #461
2020 Shaves (DE: 30, SE: 4, Straight: 3, Cart: 0)

02/06/2020
Pre: Hot shower/splash of cool water/Stirling unscented pre-shave oil
Razor: Parker Variant @3.5
Blade: Treet Black Carbon (6)
Bowl: Fine Lather Bowl
Brush: VIG Shaving 24mm Silvertip Badger
Soap/Cream: LEA Classic (3)
AS 1: 365 Everyday Rose Petal Face Toner + Lucky TIger AS & Face Tonic
AS 2: Aqua Velva Sensitive 5-in-1 ASB & Lucky Tiger Disappearing Cream
AS 3: LEA Classic (3)
Fragrance: none

Overview
Thursday...

SOTD Pic
None

Shave Quality
The Variant scraped me up a bit today. I think that the Treet Black likes a milder razor or a lower setting on an adjustable. I will try it in a couple of other razors. The lather was great. I walked away BBS-. If I weren't feeling the residual irritation it would have been a really excellent shave.

Gear
The LEA Classic is working well for me. It produced a great lather with the VIG shaving Silvertip brush. This is going to be a really great 3017.

Other Thoughts
Had a really shitty night last night and woke up angry. I really don't want to be at work right now.


Thank you for reading and commenting on my journal. I hope you have a great day and stellar shaves, Cadre.
 
Last edited by a moderator:
Journal Entry #462
2020 Shaves (DE: 31, SE: 4, Straight: 3, Cart: 0)

02/07/2020
Pre: Hot shower/splash of cool water/Stirling unscented pre-shave oil
Razor: Parker Variant @4.0
Blade: Treet Black Carbon (7)
Bowl: Fine Lather Bowl
Brush: Yaqi 24mm Two Band Silvertip, mountain lake handle
Soap/Cream: LEA Classic (4)
AS 1: 365 Everyday Rose Petal Face Toner + Lucky TIger AS & Face Tonic
AS 2: Aqua Velva Sensitive 5-in-1 ASB & Lucky Tiger Disappearing Cream
AS 3: LEA Classic (4)
Fragrance: none

Overview
Happy Friday...

SOTD Pic
None

Shave Quality
Shave was good today. Got a thinner lather, but it was still slick. Kinda BBS-. It feels like the Treet Black may be losing its edge a bit. The shaves are still good so I will keep going with it.

Gear
So, it looks like I may need to pull out the blade bakelite stropper that I have in my collection of DE hones soon. We will see if it can recover the edge. I might also want to pickup a Kriss Kross stropper at some point, if I can find one where the leather is still in good condition that is.

Other Thoughts
Looking at a three day week next week and a four day week the following week. Should be nice.


Thank you for reading and commenting on my journal. I hope you have a great day and stellar shaves, Cadre.
 
Since your first shave with the Lea, have you dialed back the loading time (since you had 5-6 passes of lather on that one)?
 
beginish said:
Since your first shave with the Lea, have you dialed back the loading time (since you had 5-6 passes of lather on that one)?
Click to expand...
I am still loading it heavily, but the amount of loading does vary some. I don't mind wasting a bit of soap if it means I will get a better lather easier.
 
Journal Entry #463
2020 Shaves (DE: 32, SE: 4, Straight: 3, Cart: 0)

02/08/2020
Pre: Hot shower/splash of cool water/Stirling unscented pre-shave oil
Razor: Rockwell 6C w/ R1 plate
Blade: Treet Black Carbon (8)
Bowl: Fine Lather Bowl
Brush: Yaqi 24mm R1818 Aqua High Mountain Silvertip Badger
Soap/Cream: LEA Classic (5)
AS 1: 365 Everyday Rose Petal Face Toner + Lucky TIger AS & Face Tonic
AS 2: Aqua Velva Sensitive 5-in-1 ASB & Lucky Tiger Disappearing Cream
AS 3: LEA Classic (5)
Fragrance: none

Overview
The best LEA shave yet!

SOTD Pic
None

Shave Quality
I think I may have this one dialed in. As usual the secret is load it like you hate it and use lots of water. The Yaqi R1818 HMW holds onto quite a bit of water. I added a tiny bit extra while loading the soap. I also loaded hard, as is my usual when 3017ing. The lather was as close to perfect as a person can get. In fact this was the slickest shave that I have had in a long time. The residual slickness was off the charts. I was able to do some cleanup work with no lather on my face, it was that slick. And absolutely zero alum feedback after three full passes, with cleanup, and a half cleanup pass on my neck. I couldn't feel the blade on my face throughout the shave. In fact the alum block was rougher on my face than the razor was today. The blade didn't do as good of a job of removing stubble from my face as I would have liked. I only got to DFS, but it was a superb DFS. I will try the blade in a higher numbered plate and see if it does better. I stropped it on my bakelite stropper last night, but that doesn't seem to have helped. Perhaps I need to use an actual hone on it?

Gear
The LEA Classic soap proved today that it is elite tier. Like many non-artisan soaps it takes some time to dial in, but man is it worth it. Paired with the Rockwell 6C it is a thing of beauty.

The Treet Black is a smooth blade. I think I can make one go the entire month, but it may take some work.

Other Thoughts
Making a D&D character tonight at the cigar shop. Fun stuff!


Thank you for reading and commenting on my journal. I hope you have a great day and stellar shaves, Cadre.
 
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