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Doug's Journal of Shaving Happiness v2.0

Journal Entry #261

Pre: Hot shower/splash of cool water/Williams modern soap
Razor: Colonial Razors The General Brass
Blade: Feather Pro (1)
Brush: TSC Membership brush
Soap/Cream: Abbate y La Mantia Don Jose
AS 1: Thayer's Rose Witch Hazel
AS 2: Aqua Velva Sensitive 5-in-1 ASB
AS 3: Figaro Monsieur Ambra AS
Fragrance: None

Overview
Josh's Mega PIF #16

SOTD Pic
1947

Shave Quality
This was a stellar shave. The razor skated across my face with ease leaving me BBS. I am still BBS eight hours later. The Feather Pro with the Brass General is a great combination. I am not sure if it is better than the aluminum General, so I will have to do a bit of comparison before I pass the Brass General to the next person in the list. The Don Jose soap was a nice surprise also. In the tub it the scent is a bit cloying. However, when lathered the scent lightens into a wonderful shaving experience. I was afraid I wasn't going to like it based on the scent out of the tub. I was wrong. Also, in the performance arena this gives CBL a run for the money. (However, it is more expensive than CBL and CBL is easier to get. Also, I like Chris' scents a little better so far. So, CBL is still top dog in my den, by a nose.) I also didn't take a close look at the label before shaving, so I wasn't expecting the menthol. This would make a good summer soap. I gave me a good face freeze.

Gear
The Brass General is great. I definitely need to compare it to the aluminum version.

Other Thoughts
Work is going well. I have only been on the new job for 3.5 months, but I am feeling at home. I still have lots to learn so I have some work cut out for me. I hope that this is a place where I can stay for a few years.


Thank you for reading and commenting on my journal. I hope you have a great day and stellar shaves, Cadre.
 
Great stuff. That scent is hard to come by. I've been trying with no luck. Great stuff Doug!
 
Journal Entry #262

Pre: Hot shower/splash of cool water/Williams modern soap
Razor: Colonial Razors The General Aluminum
Blade: Feather Pro (1)
Brush: TSC First Anniversary brush
Soap/Cream: Wickham Soap Co. WCS - Le Bleu
AS 1: Thayer's Rose Witch Hazel
AS 2: Aqua Velva Sensitive 5-in-1 ASB
AS 3: Wickham Soap Co. WCS - Le Bleu ASB
Fragrance: None

Overview
Josh's Mega PIF #17

SOTD Pic
none

Shave Quality
The scent of the Wickham Le Bleu is great and the shave was quite enjoyable. The soap was easy to lather and produced a rich and thick bowl of suds. The performance is not quite as good as the AyLM Don Jose. I would put it around Tier 1, Box 3 or 4. It was a good shave, but not the best that I have had. That plus the Aluminum General left me BBS in two passes. It was a wonderful Thursday shave. The Wickham ASB stung a bit when I applied it, but it left my face feeling pretty good.

Gear
The results from the aluminum General are just as good as the brass General, however the aluminum General takes a bit more work to get those results. So, the brass version is more efficient.

Other Thoughts
We watched "The Highwaymen" on Netflix tonight. It was a good movie.


Thank you for reading and commenting on my journal. I hope you have a great day and stellar shaves, Cadre.
 
Nice shave Doug. I just couldn't get a good shave with the aluminum due to it's lightness requiring pressure to get thru things. I know that isn't the case for everyone and glad to see your thoughts and outcome.
 
Journal Entry #263

Pre: Hot shower/splash of cool water/Williams modern soap
Razor: Colonial Razors The General Brass
Blade: Feather Pro (2)
Brush: TSC First Anniversary brush
Soap/Cream: Declaration Grooming/Chatillon Lux Bon Vivant
AS 1: Thayer's Rose Witch Hazel
AS 2: Aqua Velva Sensitive 5-in-1 ASB
AS 3: Declaration Grooming/Chatillon Lux Bon Vivant AS Salve
Fragrance: None

Overview
Josh's Mega PIF #18

SOTD Pic
2022

Shave Quality
I have used a few strongly scented soaps in the short time that I have been wetshaving, but I don't think I have used one that is as strongly scented as this one. The scent out of the tub is almost overpowering. Once lathered it does tone down a bit, but between the soap and the AS salve the scent has been in my nose all day. It is an interesting and complex scent, but I am not sure this one is in my wheelhouse. The performance of the soap was spectacular. It lathered easily and made about three shaves worth of suds. It was slick and protective. It is everything I want in a shave soap. I am just not sure about the scent. The shave was BBS in two passes and still is eight hours later. The Brass General was just as good on shave two with the Feather Pro as it was on shave one. It was a fantastic shave overall.

Gear
If Colonial Razors re-releases the General in brass or stainless, I will consider getting one. It would have to be at a decent price, however, because my v1 General in aluminum is a killer shaver.

My Sorrentino brushes rock. I love all three of them. I should probably get a pic of all three together.

Other Thoughts
Got on the scale this morning. 250.1! (I have a digital scale that provides one decimal point of accuracy.) This is a weight goal that I have been wanting to hit for a long time (since like 2012 or so). It will be nice if I can see 249 soon. Hopefully this means that I am also getting healthier. I certainly am starting to feel good, although I may need to buy new pants at some point in the near future.


Thank you for reading and commenting on my journal. I hope you have a great day and stellar shaves, Cadre.
 
Great shave Doug...agreed on the Bon Vivant scent. It's interesting for sure, and very strong, but it wasn't something I was going to reach for very often. But no doubting the performance of DG's bison tallow base. Even bigger is congratulations on reaching one of your weight loss goals!!! That's big!
 
Journal Entry #259
TSC Straight Shave #16 & 17

04/13/2019
Pre: Hot shower/splash of cool water/Williams modern soap
Straight: Genco Easy Aces
Strop: Tony Miller Plain Chocolate
Razor: Colonial Razors The General Brass
Blade: Feather Pro (3)
Brush: TSC Membership brush
Soap/Cream: Declaration Grooming/Chatillon Lux Unconditional Surrender
AS 1: Thayer's Rose Witch Hazel
AS 2: Aqua Velva Sensitive 5-in-1 ASB
AS 3: Declaration Grooming/Chatillon Lux Unconditional Surrender AS Salve
Fragrance: None

04/14/2019
Pre: Hot shower/splash of cool water/Williams modern soap
Straight: ZY 430
Strop: Tony Miller Plain Chocolate
Razor: Colonial Razors The General Brass
Blade: Feather Pro (4)
Brush: TSC Membership brush
Soap/Cream: Noble Otter The Trail
AS 1: Thayer's Rose Witch Hazel
AS 2: Aqua Velva Sensitive 5-in-1 ASB
AS 3: Figaro Monsieur Ambra AS
Fragrance: None

Overview
Josh's Mega PIF #19 & 20

SOTD Pic
none

Shave Quality
Saturday's shave was really good. I took two passes with the Genco Easy Aces with a cleanup pass with the Brass General. The DG lather was exceptional and I found the scent quite enjoyable. The Easy Aces has a great edge on it. The shave was DFS+ with very little residual irritation. It was a great shave.

Today's shave was a little rough with the ZY. The overall shave was DFS with just a couple of small weepers. The Noble Otter produced a great lather and the Trail scent is great. It was a good shave even with the roughness. I really like the scent of the NO Trail. It is definitely a keeper.

Gear
So, the ZY was my first attempt at honing my own straights using lapping film. I think it turned out decently. It is not the smoothest edge ever, but it worked. It was not bad for a first attempt. The lapping film worked, but I think I would rather use stones.

Other Thoughts
It was a nice weekend.


Thank you for reading and commenting on my journal. I hope you have a great day and stellar shaves, Cadre.
 
Journal Entry #265

04/15/2019
Pre: Hot shower/splash of cool water/Williams modern soap
Razor: Colonial Razors The General Brass
Blade: Feather Pro (4)
Brush: TSC 1st Anniversary Brush
Soap/Cream: Noble Otter The Trail
AS 1: Thayer's Rose Witch Hazel
AS 2: Aqua Velva Sensitive 5-in-1 ASB
AS 3: Figaro Monsieur Ambra AS
Fragrance: None

04/16/2019
No time to shave

Overview
Josh's Mega PIF #20 again

SOTD Pic
none

Shave Quality
Monday's shave was really great. The Noble Otter made a wonderful lather and the Brass General gave me a BBS shave. Now I need to clean it and pack it up for the next person on the list.

Today I had an early meeting and I got up a bit too late to shave.

Gear
I am going to give the ZY another go on the hones, but not the lapping film. Maybe I will give one of the cotis that I purchased from @paintflinger a go.

Other Thoughts
Rewatching Archer and loving it.


Thank you for reading and commenting on my journal. I hope you have a great day and stellar shaves, Cadre.
 
Nice group of shaves Doug! Both of those scents just weren't quite what I was looking for, so really glad you enjoy them both. Both are world class performers too...great stuff! soudns like you had a great experience with The General!
 
Journal Entry #266

04/17/2019
Pre: Hot shower/splash of cool water/Williams modern soap
Razor: Rockwell Razors Model-T @5.5
Blade: Voskhod (5)
Brush: TSC 1st Anniversary Brush
Soap/Cream: Vitos Sapone per Barba
AS 1: Thayer's Rose Witch Hazel
AS 2: Aqua Velva Sensitive 5-in-1 ASB
AS 3: Figaro Monsieur Ambra AS
Fragrance: None

Overview
Taking a break from Josh's PIF... to use a soap from another PIF.

SOTD Pic
none

Shave Quality
This one I received in a PIF from @Dave in KY several months ago, but hadn't gotten around to trying it out. I am glad that I finally did! This is a wonderful soap. It is not Elite level, but I think it definitely hits Tier 1. The scent was nothing to write home about. It just smells like soap to me. However, the performance is wonderful. It gives a good shave, but the post-shave is really great. My face has been feeling soft all day. Considering that this soap is packaged by the kilogram, I think it is a great deal. I will definitely be using it again after getting a two pass BBS from the Model-T with a Voskhod. Oh, and anyone out there with a Model-T, definitely give it a try with Voskhod. I think they are a great combination.

Gear
I now have two Cotis and an AB Arkie with a bunch of razors that are a mix of vintage eBay scores, Gold Dollars, and ZYs. I think there is a crap ton of honing in my future. I am going to give Dilucot a try, but I think I am also going to pickup a synth progression for some variety and also to repair a few of the vintage blades that I acquired. I have one, a Hess Hair Milk, that has a small chip out of the blade. I think I am probably going to need a coarse synth to fix it properly.

Other Thoughts
Straight razors are quite another rabbit hole in wetshaving, as are hones. Even though I have a bunch, I find myself wanting more. I guess I have SRAD and HAD... Now I just need to get a couple more JR Torreys for my collection.


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