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- Thread starter GearNoir
- Start date
Many are enjoying Wickham Soaps...but I agree...the veggie/vegan soaps seem to come up lacking...even just a little.
GearNoir
“The Disney Princess’s Apprentice”
Smells more like 7up/Sprite (lemon lime) to me. I’m not sure what an actual kola but smells or tastes like, if it is actually anything close to our Western cola products (Pepsi / Coke) or not.
GearNoir
“The Disney Princess’s Apprentice”
Thanks Craig!
GearNoir
“The Disney Princess’s Apprentice”
Open blade shave #153:
Gear: Feather AC SS, Feather Pro blade (11), RR Game Changer, Astra SP blade (11), RV Shavemac D01 Silvertip, Cella, and CC Venture to finish!
Typical 3 shave passes today.
I brought the RV Shavemac back out, soaked it while in the shower, bloomed the Cella, and loaded about 30 seconds. I was able to work the first pass lather to a very nice point, but once again, the second and third pass lathers came up lacking. They were fairly thin applications, though it seemed like the brush was still hanging in to some lather. This brush may be a bowl lather only brush, I’ll have to try it for the next use.
For the passes, I did ease off a bit on the ATG for the upper lip. The Astra is edging closer to its limit I think, so trying true ATG was a bit rough. I modified the pass to an ATG/XTG hybrid and it was ultra smooth, no problems.
Good shave overall, finishing with a 95%+ BBS.
In other things, regular work day today. We are going to have a busy Sat/Sun as not only are there services Sun, but Sat a huge wedding is taking place...they estimate 600ish attendees! It’s going to be quite the event...and clean up, lol.
A couple more weeks of summer schedule, and then normal weeks kick back in with groups meeting most hours of the day, most every day of the week, and general hustle and bustle. The lul has been nice!
Happy Thursday all!
Gear: Feather AC SS, Feather Pro blade (11), RR Game Changer, Astra SP blade (11), RV Shavemac D01 Silvertip, Cella, and CC Venture to finish!
Typical 3 shave passes today.
I brought the RV Shavemac back out, soaked it while in the shower, bloomed the Cella, and loaded about 30 seconds. I was able to work the first pass lather to a very nice point, but once again, the second and third pass lathers came up lacking. They were fairly thin applications, though it seemed like the brush was still hanging in to some lather. This brush may be a bowl lather only brush, I’ll have to try it for the next use.
For the passes, I did ease off a bit on the ATG for the upper lip. The Astra is edging closer to its limit I think, so trying true ATG was a bit rough. I modified the pass to an ATG/XTG hybrid and it was ultra smooth, no problems.
Good shave overall, finishing with a 95%+ BBS.
In other things, regular work day today. We are going to have a busy Sat/Sun as not only are there services Sun, but Sat a huge wedding is taking place...they estimate 600ish attendees! It’s going to be quite the event...and clean up, lol.
A couple more weeks of summer schedule, and then normal weeks kick back in with groups meeting most hours of the day, most every day of the week, and general hustle and bustle. The lul has been nice!
Happy Thursday all!
GearNoir
“The Disney Princess’s Apprentice”
Thanks Doug, me too!
I don’t think I’d want multiple almond scented soaps at once, but I’d definitely love to continue keeping one in my den at all times. It’s too good to pass up!
Dave in KY
Shave Newbie
Shame the brush isn't getting your lather to where you want. Is it wet enough when you load ? Anyway, glad you had a nice shave regardless and hope the work pace slows. some for you
GearNoir
“The Disney Princess’s Apprentice”
Thanks Dave.
I soaked it while I showered and gave it shake before I loaded the bloomed Cella.
I’m certain I had plenty of product. It laid on much thicker than if I were using the right amount for my Big Bruce, but after the first pass the lather seemed to have thinned and dissipated quite a bit. It hasn’t been an issue with other brushes but perhaps it’s drawing everything into the base of the knot when I rest it bristles up between passes? Maybe I need to put it bristles down between passes? I don’t know.
That is a shame about the brush. I have no idea why it isn't performing well.
GearNoir
“The Disney Princess’s Apprentice”
Open blade shave #154:
Gear: Feather AC SS, Feather Pro blade (12), RR Game Changer, Astra SP blade (12), RR Big Bruce, SC Commitment, and Pinaud Clubman cut decant to close.
Today I wanted to eliminate my lathering skills as a variable to what’s going on with the RV Shavemac. You know, sometimes your shaving mind and muscle memory just get a string of brain farts, and it needs a systems check once in a while after trying new stuff.
So for the shave, I brought out the RR Big Bruce which was my go-to brush before the last few weeks of travel and trying the new brushes. I also brought out my hardest soap, SC Commitment.
The RR BB, being a synth, only varied from the last couple shaves with the RV Shavemac in that I don’t need to soak it before use; just a quick run through the sink water, shake out, and it’s ready to go.
I did bloom the SC for about a minute, adding a couple extra water drops while loading - this is the same thing I did for the Shavemac. The B.B. knot is bigger, but I loaded for the same 20ish seconds. I worked the lather so that it was just a tad thick on the first pass. When it felt sufficient, I did my WTG with the Feather.
After the first pass, I did my normal rinse, then relathered for the second pass. The difference from the RV was immediately noticeable. The B.B. accepted the extra water easily, working it into the existing lather supply. The application was thinner, as it always is, but no where near the thinness I’ve been getting with the Shavemac. The application was still mostly opaque and still comfortably slick.
Second pass completed, after the rinse and lather application, the third pass layer was still on par with my second pass lather, even with the extra water. This is exactly what should have happened with the Wickham and especially the Cella, but didn’t. I’m glad to have cleared my lathering skills as a potential issue. I’ll definitely be trying bowl lathering with the Shavemac next to see if it helps. For now the RR B.B. remains king brush in my den on all points.
Shave was great today otherwise. Chased a little and ended up with 98%+ BBS, only one small, barely DFS patch. Being Friday, I finished up with my witchhazel cut Clubman; had a good, healthy 5 second burn from the extra alcohol in the cut, but any little bit of irritation from chasing was eliminated quickly. Feeling good now!
Get to go in a bit early today and this close a bit early. Hopefully I can finish up my teaching soon so I can pop out a PowerPoint before Sunday morning rolls around.
I did forget to mention that yesterday was my 15th anniversary of marriage to the missus. It was a busy day for us, but she dropped off some homemade fried rice (a favorite) for me for work-dinner, then later post-work we continued with some brownies, ice cream, and an episode of Sherlock. It was a good night.
Have a great Friday folks!
Gear: Feather AC SS, Feather Pro blade (12), RR Game Changer, Astra SP blade (12), RR Big Bruce, SC Commitment, and Pinaud Clubman cut decant to close.
Today I wanted to eliminate my lathering skills as a variable to what’s going on with the RV Shavemac. You know, sometimes your shaving mind and muscle memory just get a string of brain farts, and it needs a systems check once in a while after trying new stuff.
So for the shave, I brought out the RR Big Bruce which was my go-to brush before the last few weeks of travel and trying the new brushes. I also brought out my hardest soap, SC Commitment.
The RR BB, being a synth, only varied from the last couple shaves with the RV Shavemac in that I don’t need to soak it before use; just a quick run through the sink water, shake out, and it’s ready to go.
I did bloom the SC for about a minute, adding a couple extra water drops while loading - this is the same thing I did for the Shavemac. The B.B. knot is bigger, but I loaded for the same 20ish seconds. I worked the lather so that it was just a tad thick on the first pass. When it felt sufficient, I did my WTG with the Feather.
After the first pass, I did my normal rinse, then relathered for the second pass. The difference from the RV was immediately noticeable. The B.B. accepted the extra water easily, working it into the existing lather supply. The application was thinner, as it always is, but no where near the thinness I’ve been getting with the Shavemac. The application was still mostly opaque and still comfortably slick.
Second pass completed, after the rinse and lather application, the third pass layer was still on par with my second pass lather, even with the extra water. This is exactly what should have happened with the Wickham and especially the Cella, but didn’t. I’m glad to have cleared my lathering skills as a potential issue. I’ll definitely be trying bowl lathering with the Shavemac next to see if it helps. For now the RR B.B. remains king brush in my den on all points.
Shave was great today otherwise. Chased a little and ended up with 98%+ BBS, only one small, barely DFS patch. Being Friday, I finished up with my witchhazel cut Clubman; had a good, healthy 5 second burn from the extra alcohol in the cut, but any little bit of irritation from chasing was eliminated quickly. Feeling good now!
Get to go in a bit early today and this close a bit early. Hopefully I can finish up my teaching soon so I can pop out a PowerPoint before Sunday morning rolls around.
I did forget to mention that yesterday was my 15th anniversary of marriage to the missus. It was a busy day for us, but she dropped off some homemade fried rice (a favorite) for me for work-dinner, then later post-work we continued with some brownies, ice cream, and an episode of Sherlock. It was a good night.
Have a great Friday folks!
GearNoir
“The Disney Princess’s Apprentice”
Thanks Chad!
Congratulations of the 15th! And I hope you have another 15...no, make that 30...still aiming low...how about another 75 or more happy years in your marriage!
GearNoir
“The Disney Princess’s Apprentice”
Lol thanks Don!
Dave in KY
Shave Newbie
Congrats on the 15th wedding anniversary ! Way to narrow done the lather issues. Sorry the brush isn't working for you.
GearNoir
“The Disney Princess’s Apprentice”
Thanks Dave!
