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Not quite Music City USA

Got some new soap on @BarberDave 's recommendation. It's terrific!

Prep: Hot shower, Musgo Real Lime Glyce Soap
Razor: Paradigm Diamondback
Blade: Astra SP (3)
Brush: Semogue Boar
Soap: Victory Shaving Flak Bait (first use)
Post-shave: Humphreys Maravilla
Aftershave: Osage Rub
Talc: Borotalco

I've never used an olive oil base before. I've read mixed reviews of them. I can tell you that this soap performs beautifully. It lathers with ease and the lather is rich and very slick. The residual slickness is very good. The scent... Oh! The scent is divine. Black cherry, rum, and smoke. The smoke is just barely present, and makes the whole experience divine. I love black cherry. There's a place here in Gallatin that does Sno-balls (snow cones to non-Baltimoreans) in a 40oz cup for $6. Their black cherry is unbelievable. Shaving with this soap is like smelling that Sno-ball. The Diamondback did its usual superb job, and I'm BBS without irritation after four black cherry-filled passes. It's 4oz of soap in a nice compact tin for $12. I'll definitely be buying more of this company's soaps. Highly recommended.

Thanks for reading and have a great shave!

Frank

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Love cherry scented stuff! Glad the soap was a good buy. A lot of the time olive oil soaps are a huge no-no because of how horribly they lather. Glad Dale has found a winning formula!
 
I used my other new Victory Soap, Night Raid. It is a terrific scent and a great performer. I'll definitely be trying out their other scents.

Prep: Hot shower, Musgo Real Lime Glyce Soap
Razor: Paradigm Diamondback
Blade: Astra SP (4)
Brush: Simpson Duke D3 Best Badger
Soap: Victory Shaving Night Raid (first use)
Post-shave: Humphreys Maravilla
Aftershave: Stirling Satsuma AS
Talc: Borotalco

I'm really liking the Simpson Duke D3. It's not as dense as the Chubby, but a little bigger, and the Best, ad opposed to the Super, is ever so slightly firmer although I wouldn't call it scritchy by any means. I'm definitely turning into a Simpson's guy. The other two brands I want to try are Shavemac and Paladin, but I think I'll get a Simpson's Milk Churn first. The Night Raid soap did just great. I love the compact puck size. It's 4oz packed into a smallish metal container - bigger in diameter than Cella but smaller than the usual tub. It lathers like a dream, and the soap is yet again, nice and slick, and the residual slickness is sufficient, although not on the level of Zingari Man Sego or CK-6. It's close to Stirling. I'll probably pick up the other scents next month. They make a great product, and the price is definitely right at $12 a puck. I honestly could shave with the Diamondback exclusively from here on out and be happy. It's visually a beautiful razor, but the performance is stellar. I think I'm cured of my desire for more razors. Im very curious about the Vector, but honestly, I just don't think I could get a better shave than the ones I'm getting from the Diamondback. It's truly a blessing to find myself, after having lived through years of cartridges and gel, endowed with a great razor, a panoply of wonderful soaps, terrific brushes, and some terrific Aftershaves. I'm very thankful.

Thanks for reading and have a great shave!

Frank

Sent from my Pixel 2 XL using Tapatalk
 
The Vector is a delight but I’m sure your right. Likely would be equal to but not better than the Diamondback, just the same level of shave done differently. Lucky of the draw just got you the Diamondback first!
 
GearNoir said:
The Vector is a delight but I’m sure your right. Likely would be equal to but not better than the Diamondback, just the same level of shave done differently. Lucky of the draw just got you the Diamondback first!
Click to expand...
Yes, now maybe if there's another stimulus check I'll change my time, but in that event, I might spring for some Sē'būm. Only in that event though!

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Well, it was time for my Sunday special shave, and it did not disappoint!

Prep: Hot shower, Stirling Charcoal Facial Soap, Proraso Green Pre-shave cream
Razor: Paradigm Diamondback
Blade: Astra SP (4)
Brush: Simpson Chubby 2 Super Badger
Soap: Martin de Candre Agrumes
Post-shave: Humphreys Maravilla
Aftershave: Swiss Pitralon
Talc: Borotalco
Fragrance: TBD

Everything was superb about this shave. Slow, leisurely passes, plenty of rich slick lather, I love the Chubby 2, and am so happy I got it. It doesn't shed a hair. The citrus of the soap was omnipresent but not cloying. The Diamondback was smooth and efficient. Everything was just great! Oh, and I'm very happy with the new Zeus towel. Very absorbent and soft. As Stan Lee would say, Excelsior!!!

Thanks for reading and have a great shave!

Frank

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Today I did something I haven't done in a long time. I used a new-to-me brand of blade. It didn't disappoint.

Prep: Hot shower, Musgo Real Lime Glyce Soap, Proraso Red Pre-shave cream
Razor: Gillette Fatboy on 7
Blade: Astra Superior Stainless (1)(first use)
Brush: Simpson Duke 3 Best
Soap: Ethos Succés
Post-shave: Humphreys Maravilla
Aftershave: Ethos Succes Skin Food Splash
Talc: Borotalco

I blind bought 100 Astra SS about a year ago when I was buying blades, I just never got around to trying them, because I was sticking with stuff I knew. I've got a lot of blades, all stored in Ziploc bags with dessicant packets, and I pull out a tuck at a time. I guess I just kept reaching for Feathers or GSBs or Astra SPs, because I know them, and they work for me. Well, it was time for a new blade in the Fatboy, so I pulled out the big tub I keep them in, and there was the bag of Astra SS. So I grabbed a tuck and loaded the blade. I'm really pleased with this blade. It was smooth and plenty sharp, though I'm not sure it's as sharp as the SP blade. But I'm happy with it. They'll eventually get used up, assuming I live long enough. I have, as I said, a lot of blades. I'm set. The Ethos Succés was wonderful, as usual, and it actually brought my mother across the house to pay me a compliment on the scent! So that's always nice. 7 seems to be the sweet spot on the Fatboy, and I'm BBS smooth after four passes with just a couple of touch ups. All in all, a great way to start the week!

I finally got to participate in a TSC Zoom call, and had a great time. It was really great to hang out with you guys. I'll definitely be doing these from now on.

Thanks for reading and have a great shave!

Frank

Sent from my Pixel 2 XL using Tapatalk
 
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