Wanted a menthol shave, and thought I better use up some of the older stuff I have. Proraso green it is. I used to wonder why people just squeezed so much into their bowls when just a little will do, but now, I understand why. Nope, not feeling guilty making more than enough to go 12 passes. 🤣
Going to have to pair the Croma with the Ascension. Those blades are performing worse than Derby Premiums. Pesky Micro Stubbles. Still got my BBS, just required way more effort, 3 passes + several clean up runs and buffing. Luckily I used the Masamune, very minimal irritation.
Bowl : Van Yulay Resin
Brush : Friendship Shaving’s Macy Manchurian Dual Band Badger by Frank Shaving
Pre-Shave : Shower, Proraso Green
Soap : Proraso Green
Razor : Tatara Masamune w/Nodachi Top Cap w/Croma Blade (1)
After the night’s before (18th) disastrous shave with the Rockwell Model T, and allowing a day and a half for recovery, most of the redness is gone with the skin just a little “pink” around my sensitive areas. So while I could have left it alone and shaved tomorrow, I hate the itch, and whiskers on my face just feels unnatural, being clean shaven for almost all my life.
The Masamune with the same blade that was in the Model T took off all the growth without tugging and irritation. In fact, I hardly felt the blade at all, being extremely smooth. I will say again that Derby Premiums are a very different animal than Derby Extras. I have both on hand and have used them recently.
Results are, extremely comfortable shave, true glass BBS shave, even around my trouble spots. And as of time of posting this, about an hour after the shave, to see if there was any reaction to the shave and post shave as someone pointed out, it might have been a reaction to menthol on skin. There was none.
Feeling great, smelling great, and vacation started yesterday.
Bowl : Van Yulay Resin
Brush : Friendship Shaving’s Macy G4 Synthetic by Frank Shaving
Pre-Shave : Shower
Soap : Van Yulay Hard Puck Dress Bleus
Razor : Tatara Masamune w/Nodachi Top Cap w/Derby Premium (2)
Post Shave : Van Yulay Dress Bleus Aftershave Splash (mentholated) and Balm (mentholated)
Others : Van Yulay’s Dress Bleus Deodorant and Cologne
Well, last night’s shave went horribly bad. Woke up this morning with razor rash still so bad its swelling up my face a little.
Software was Proraso White pre-shave, cream and aftershave balm. Blade was Derby Premium, fresh blade. So, there’s no way its blade, or software. Been using those for months.
Shaved on setting 2.5, it wasn’t the blade gap but blade positive nature that got me, I am sure.
Not sure what I am going to do with the Model T. Probably Ebay / sell it off, with advisory that it is blade positive.
Lesson learned. Not going to buy another razor unless the majority says its smooth as fuck. Sorry Mark, was going to buy that Rex Ambassador but I think I’m going to leave it be, at least until a model comes out with actual blade geometry specs and people using it says its smooth as astroglide covered baby’s butt.
Going to not shave for a day or three, expecting a mail drop soonish and would be perfect for a recovery shave.
Last day before I go on a week long vacation for the holidays and I am going start and finish my work day with a scent sensory bang! Van Yulay’s Fresh Oriental spicy Enter the Dragon and Creed’s Spice and woods baby!
Perfect shave, smelling fanfracking fantastic and its great start to the day.
Bowl : Van Yulay Resin
Brush : Friendship Shaving’s Macy G4 Synthetic by Frank Shaving
Pre-Shave : Shower, PAA’s Cube
Soap : Van Yulay’s Enter the Dragon
Razor : Tatara Masamune w/Nodachi Top Cap w/Feather Blade, Corked (2)
Post Shave : Van Yulay’s Enter the Dragon’s Aftershave Splash and Balm
It is the rainy season here in Asia. Been raining again from evening to morning, (its more or less going to be raining the next 2-3 weeks 24/7). Time for the scuttle.
Been using the Model T for the evening shaves and it is actually not too bad once you get used to that significant blade feel on the skin. But I am spoiled by the Masamune and razors that just glide and take off growth with hardly any blade feel. But that has me debating whether to get the Homelike Start or go for a “better” adjustable in the form of the Rex Ambassador. That extra $100 on top of the Start’s price is a significant drawback of course. Needs more thought.
And oh yeah, True Glass “I keep touching myself” BBS shave. No nicks, weepers, irritation. Gotta love it when fantastic software and hardware perform their dance together.
Bowl : PAA’s Travel Scuttle
Brush : Friendship Shaving’s Macy Manchurian Dual Band Badger by Frank Shaving
Pre-Shave : Shower, PAA’s Cube
Soap : PAA’s Supreme Sandalwood Science
Razor : Tatara Masamune w/Nodachi Top Cap w/Feather Blade, Corked (1)
Post Shave : PAA’s Supreme Sandalwood Science’s Star Jelly Aftershave, Aftershave Cologne
Face Lathered. Decided to go really spicy today, smells great though.
Went for the MJ90-A, which is the better DE89 inspired head I have used in a bit. Would have prefered it if it was Stainless Steel but it is what it is, though, to be honest, I probably won’t buy it if Razorock released it as such now.
Just giving the old girl her turn. Still one of the smoothest, mild razor heads you can use.
Blade pairing though, could be better. Should have used a sharper blade as even with multiple clean-up passes there was still that pesky one or two micro stubble left behind. Got to remember to leave a note in my razor box that Croma blades are for evening shaves only.
Brush : Oumo SHD Badger Silvertips
Pre-Shave : Shower
Soap : Ginger’s Garden Custom, Dragon Spice
Razor : MJ90-A w/Croma Blade (1)
Post Shave : Ginger’s Garden Dragon Spice Aftershave Lotion and Balm
Simple affair. Face lathered with Col Conk’s Bay Rum, and the ultra dependable Rockwell 6S with the R3 plate. It’s been a while since I used it and I forgot how smooth it is even when going ATG. Software is still wowing with it’s slickness and scent. If you haven’t tried the Col. Conk’s new formula, give it a go, their pucks aren’t exactly expansive. Perfect Glass BBS shave, that’s all that counts.
Soap and Bowl : Col Conk’s Bay Rum in Sante Fe Bowl
Been raining all night and morning, decided to go for a hot shave instead of my usual cold water, cold shaves. Love Tenacity’s scent, which according to Soap Commander is :
Built on a trio of teas (white, black, and Earl Grey), Tenacity boasts a bright, flavorful blend of apples, ginger, cedar, spice, light citrus, and light florals.
As with all of Soap Commander’s soaps, lathering up is explosive and very much lather porn material. Soap Commander’s lather works best on the wetter, creamy side, easy to paint on, smells great and slick as a baby’s butt covered in Astroglide.
Picked out the Masamune from the Razor Harem. Love her smooth comfort. Glass BBS shave.
Bowl : PAA’s Travel Scuttle
Brush : Friendship Shaving’s Macy Manchurian Dual Band Badger by Frank Shaving
Pre-shave : Shower, Proraso Green
Soap : Soap Commander’s Tenacity
Razor : Tatara Masamune w/Nodachi Top Cap w/Croma Blade (1)
Post Shave : Nivea Men Deep Comfort Aftershave, Soap Commander’s Tenacity Aftershave Balm
So, got home from work last night and saw that I finally got the replacement T-Bar for my Rockwell Model T. Replacement is simple, remove the bottom cap, unscrew the locking screw, pull out the T-Bar and reverse the process.
Remember this? Significantly lopped sided blade exposure with one side a good deal more blade than the other.
The replacement bar now shows a much better blade alignment and balanced exposure. Though I’ll have to use the razor over a few days at least to see if this is fluke or by design.
So how’s the shave? If you are expecting at least the same smoothness and blade feel of Rockwell 6S/C, you are going to be very disappointed.
First off, this is a positive blade exposure razor. Why?! Why in God’s name would you design and engineer a razor that ignores the very thing that made your most popular and loved razor, the 6S/C, the favorite of many? And instead, made a razor that is not only just more a more aggressive, has more blade bite, has blade flex and all these adds up to a product that probably will disappoint those who bought it because they loved the 6S/C and wanted an adjustable for convenience of not having to swap plates.
For those of you who own the Razorine, the shave feel is very similar, almost shavette in nature. There is an odd feel of the blade flexing though, most noticeable if you go ATG, and or with the first stroke removing thick resistant stubble but with a sharp blade this is very much less noticeable.
I did get my “True glass BBS Shave” but it wasn’t the most comfortable as you are very aware of the blade on your face. Very efficient but definitely not for the beginner nor someone without some technique as you do need to recognise and adjust your blade angle. For me it works best when I ride the top cap and use the blade like I would a shavette, allowing the blade to act as a guillotine. Trying the shave on a neutral plane has the blade at its most aggressive exposure with too much blade feel on the skin, and shaving on the base plate plane has the most blade flex feel which makes me uncomfortable fearing the blade will snag and bite.
With technique and care, the Model T gave a very close, very clean shave. Just not the most comfortable. I did not go beyond setting 3, with the most comfortable setting around 1.5 or 2.
Bowl : Van Yulay Resin
Brush : Friendship Shaving’s Macy G4 Synthetic by Frank Shaving
Pre-Shave : Shower, PAA’s Cube
Soap : PAA’s Doppelganger Black (2015 Dior Sauvage)
Razor : Rockwell Model T (setting 3, 2, 1, 1,5)
Post Shave : PAA’s Doppelganger Black Aftershave Cologne, Mysterium Serum (wasn’t originally intended but added in later)
Where there’s a will there’s a way. Vision’s Aftershave Splash is the 2nd of 2 Soap Commander’s Aftershave splashes that I shipped over, the other being Endurance, and all I can say is “FRACK YEAH!!” Nothing beats a good shave finish, than a good splash followed by a balm. NOTHING. Scent is awesome. Shave was Epic. The Masamune with the Nodachi cap and a Bic blade? Orgasmic! (And now Kevy is pointing me to another even smoother shaver?! … it NEVER ENDS!) True Glass “I keep touching myself” BBS shave.
And finishing with one of the best Aquatic scents out there, Bvlgari’s Atlantiqve, ready to rock the world! I might want to get another decant of Creed’s Viking or maybe Dua’s clone. Now that scent would be a truly epic match with Vision.
Bowl : Van Yulay Resin
Brush : Friendship Shaving’s Macy G4 Synthetic by Frank Shaving
Pre-Shave : Shower
Soap : Soap Commander’s Vision
Razor : Tatara Masamune w/Nodachi Top Cap w/Bic Platinum Blade (1)
Post Shave : Soap Commander’s Vision Aftershave Splash and Balm
Steve's Wet Shaving in Singapore 