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• Pre-Shave : Shower, PAA Cube
• Bowl : Sanded Textured $2 Stainless Steel mixing bowl
• Brush : Oumo 24mm ACE SHD Dual Band Badger
• Soap : WTF Vintage Barbershop
• Razor : Tatara Nodachi w/Wizashave Super Iridium
• Post Shave : WTF Vintage Barbershop

TLDR : Wall of text and explanation.
Don’s Vintage Barbershop smells great, works great.
Blade comparison between Wizashave’s Super Iridium (SI) , Gillette Nacet, Bic Chrome Platinum. The SI is a fantastic balance of the three.

Yesterday’s Kiritimati’s incense and myrrh bayrum had me wanting another myrrh centric, well Bergamot, Myrrh, Cloves and Spices (with menthol!) soap.

Wet The Face’s Vintage Barbershop’s scent is also quite something else, deep, dark woods and spice. Manly as Eff.

Lather Porn included as Don’s croaps are easy to whip up into that exremely creamy stuff. Not as full bodied as CK-6 but it has it’s own personality that’s for sure.
Slick, cushioning and did I mention it smells fanfrackinglytastic?

I have heard though that some do not like or have a reaction to the menthol, cloves and spices in the soap. Get a sample from Don first before buying the tub.
His samples comes in a small tin which is AWESOME for travelling.

Wizashave Super Iridium

Before I go further into describing what my thoughts about the blade I think I should clarify that this is a very subjective opinion and is based on what I feel when I shaved with the blade. Not very scientific as I do not have the tools to do exact precision (micrometers don’t cut it if you want to measure sharpness for example) measurements.

Smoothness to me is the presence of the blade as it passes across your skin. You will feel a rough blade while the smoother the blade the less you feel its presence as it glides across your skin.
This is why I chose to use my Tatara Nodachi in standard configuration (0.90mm gap, +0.13mm positive blade exposure) as I know that the blade exposure is positive and has that much blade on skin. If the blade isn’t smooth, you’d know it.

Sharpness is harder to judge as to me the sharper the blade the less resistance or tugging it has when growth meets edge. The sharper the blade the less resistance you will feel when it cuts off your whiskers. This is most evident when you go ATG, as less sharper blades will tend to pull a little.

Razor design here plays a huge part in how this works. How it holds the blade, angle of attack and gap can and will determine how well a blade can perform.

Again the Tatara here is chosen because it is at the moment one of the best Razor I own because of its precision engineering when it comes to blade angle of attack and how firm the blade is held in place. There is no flex, no chitter.

So where do I put the Wizashave blade?
I feel that it is smoother than both the Gillette Nacet and The Bic.
On my face, I almost cannot feel the blade at all.

If not for the audio feedback and the feel of growth resistance when cut, I could have easily thought that I forgot to load the blade.
This might not be a good thing for the user as if he or she is used to something with more blade feel, it is possible for a user to reflexively press harder and cut / nick him or herself.

Mind you, this is not to say that the other blades weren’t smooth.
If I were to not have used the blades back to back to make a comparison, I would be hard pressed to tell which is smoother.

Sharpness.
All three blades, on the WTG, XTG performs very similarly. It’s hard to tell which is sharper to be honest if I was to judge the blade on that first pass or second pass.
However on the ATG, the difference in sharpness can be felt.

All blades tug and pull. No matter how sharp. So when going ATG most people get irritation when the blade tugs a little too much. This is can lead to a whole different discussion on blade and razor relationships.

Which is why I used the same razor throughout my non scientific tests.
The SI performed as such.
On the ATG, it is about the same as the Gillette Nacet while the Bic still holds top spot on how sharp (little resistance) it feels when taking off growth.

Conclusion.
The Wizashave Blade is perhaps the best balanced blade of the three. Extremely sharp and possibly the smoothest blade I have used.
I say “possibly” because its YMMV and even I might change my mind after some time.

Are these the same Original PolSilver Super Iridium blades?
I don’t know. There are differences in the printing and my guess is this is OEMed by the P&G plant.
But since I don’t have PolSilvers to compare, I can’t tell for sure.

Definitely worth the price though.
I bought the 250 blades stack for $50 (+ free International shipping) which comes to less than $20 per 100 blades.

Do be aware though that an Ebay search for PolSilvers and many, many sellers are passing these Wizashave off as PolSilvers with equally ridiculous prices (up to $10 for ten blades)

I’d suggest you get from the source itself if you are interested.
https://wizashave.com/

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ps:
Going forward I have decided to scale back on daily postings and do the odd SOTDs or when I have something to say.

• Pre-Shave : Shower, PAA Cube
• Brush : Frank Shaving 24mm G5 Synthetic
• Soap : Soap Commander Tenacity
• Razor : Rockwell Model T -R3.5 w/Derby Premium
• Post Shave : Nivea Men Deep Comforting Aftershave Lotion

Face lathered, and man I missed this soap. Fantastic scent.

Short term impressions I think the G5 is pretty much comparable to PAA’s Roswell knot (Peregrino / Amber Aerolite / Starcraft) I’ll be using the Peregrino tonight to get a comparison feel. I’ll have to use this brush long term though to really see if there’s a huge difference, but from the limited times that I have used the G5, I do think its a tad softer but still retaining that stiffness. We’ll see a month or so down the road.

The Model T is now performing well into my “Faceturbation Shaves” sweet spot.
Easy handling, aggression you can adjust to your mood, and most importantly, a neutral-moderate blade exposure feel that almost mimics their 6C / 6S makes this adjustable one that I now enjoy using. The settings are slightly more aggressive in comparison to the 6C/6S but since you can precision dial in to exactly the aggression you like (trial and error) its not really an issue now.

Finished off the perfect shave with Bourbon Vanilla of Nivea Deep Comforting’s aftershave.

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• Pre-Shave : Shower, PAA Cube
• Bowl : $2 Stainless Steel Mixing bowl (Sandapapered Textured)
• Brush : Frank Shaving 24mm G5 Synthetic
• Soap : WTF Lodge 49
• Razor : Tatara Masamune Base + Nodachi Cap w/Supermax Diamond Edge
• Post Shave : WTF Lodge 49 Aftershave Splash

First things first, Frank Shaving’s G5 brush!!

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The first thing I noticed is that the fibers are finer then the pervious G4s as well as feeling much stiffer. It definitely feels like it has more backbone and is packed a little more dense than my previous Frank Shaving brushes.
Also, this thing feels and looks so much like fine badger, but you can tell it’s synthetic.

I would definitely highly recommend washing the brush a few times over. The fibers are dyed black and during the first wash there was a little bleed off from the dye. I would expect the fibers to lighten in color after some use.

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And yeah, I used Arko for that purpose.
Lathering with the brush several times over.
Loaded heavy and just lathered to clear and clean the fibers.

I can tell you right now, there is “backbone” and then, there’s Backbone.
My immediate concern at the time was, with that much backbone, the brush would probably feel stiff and scratchy. More on that later.

But to say that this brush can whip up a lather, holy frack!
I haven’t seen Arko lathered up like that.
Ever.
And to be honest, the picture really didn’t do that lather justice.
If I didn’t lathered this myself and used the soap I did (Arko) I swear I could probably pass it off as something from the high end artisan soaps.

So how did the brush felt in use?
Soft.
I didn’t know what to expect to be honest, I was concerned about the backbone it had but the moment the brush met face, oh my!
The closest I can compare it to is Gel Tips, it has backbone when you need it (face lather and you’ll be pleasantly surprised) but there’s an easy spring to allow the fibers to splay easily.

My first use, and some experimentation has already cemented its place in high in my brush rotation and if you have seen my SOTDs, you know I have been using my Oumo ACE SHD almost exclusively and this brush is easily matching it or better.
Yeah, possibly better.
Time will tell.

As for the shave itself.
Smelling great, feeling fantastic and REALLY happy

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• Pre-Shave : Shower, PAA Cube
• Brush : Oumo 24mm ACE SHD Dual Band Manchurian Badger
• Soap : PAA Future Fiction
• Razor : Weishi Nostalgic Adjustable w/Tiger Platinum Blade
• Post Shave : PAA Future Fiction Aftershave Cologne and Star Jelly Aftershave
• Others : PAA Future Fiction Deodorant, Epic Solid Cologne, Singapore Memories Peranakan Oud EDT

Naming a scent can be pretty important.
Take the Body scent for today, “Peranakan Oud”, in which the oud in it is blended heavily with musk, tonka and florals that it’s very hard to make out the oud and very little of that signature agar oud survived.
Had I bought it blind, I would have been disappointed, thinking and expecting “Agar Oud”, but I got this after applying a test spray and being able to sniff it for a day or so.

Which brings to today’s SOTD.
Future Fiction’s scent is a sweet, bright, fresh pine-centric musk scent.

Notes are as per PAA’s website ;
Citrus (Lemon, Bergamot & Mandarin Orange), White Musk, Jamaican Ginger, White Pepper, Haitian Vetiver, Hiba Wood, Honey Amber, Black Sage, Peppermint, Jerusalem Pine

It is one of the series of musk scented soaps Doug released and while it
And it’s the perfect companion to John Frum, almost twin brothers but with different dispositions.

Went with an oldie today, a Weishi Nostalgic Adjustable.
Its cheap, it’s actually quite well built for the price, and it works.
It is a little blade forward but not much.
A little more care, using zero pressure, I got a perfect BBS.

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• Pre-Shave : Shower, PAA Cube
• Brush : Oumo 24mm ACE SHD Dual Band Badger
• Soap : Gentlemen’s Nod Zaharoff Signature
• Razor : Tatara Nodachi Base + Masamune Cap w/Derby Premium Blade
• Post Shave : Gentlemen’s Nod Zaharoff Signature Aftershave Splash
• Others : Zaharoff Signature EDP

Spiced Lavender Oud.
Thas is what you’ll think of when you get a whiff of this set, and it smells fanfrackingtastic.
Wife loves this one.
She goes *sniff … sniff… snuggle.*

The soap base works better when more wet than thick cream so while I always say to start out with minimal water when lathering, do not be afraid to add more moisture in.

Like many these days, I would prefer my lather with more body, more of that dense sticky slickness, but the Cardinal Base seems to work better when it’s more runny.

Went with my Gentle Nodachi today, with yesterday’s Derbys.
The blade is still sharp enough to give a perfect clean BBS without the need for tight stretching of the skin.

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• Pre-Shave : Shower, PAA Cube
• Brush : PAA Peregrino
• Razor : Tatara Nodachi + RR UFO SS Handle w/Derby Premium Blade
• Post Shave : PAA John Frum Aftershave Cologne

Easy Simple work day shave.
John Frum’s spiced musk sandalwood was one of the best of the year it was released and is still one of the best you can get from PAA, definitely one of my top 5 PAA goto.

And with Derby Premium, for me at least, it outperforms the Tiger Platinums by quite a bit. Feels smoother and definitely takes less effort to get a true glass BBS. While like the Tiger, there is a very slight tugging when you go ATG, unlike the Tiger, the Derby Premiums for me, cuts closer, and doesn’t leave micro-stubble around my trouble spots.

All in all it was a very enjoyable and fantastic smelling shave.

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• Pre-Shave : Shower, PAA Cube
• Brush : Oumo 26mm SHD Silvertip Badger
• Soap : PAA Doppelganger Black (Dior Sauvage 2015)
• Razor : Tatara Nodachi + RR UFO SS handle w/Tiger Platinum blade
• Post Shave : PAA Doppelganger Black Aftershave Cologne
• Others : Dior Sauvage EDP

Shavegasm.
When you go “Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhh, that felt goouuuuuuuuudddddd!” when the shave is done.
And smelling fanfrackingtastic to boot.
Yups, CK-6, Dior Sauvage scent, Tatara precision smoothness.
The only nickpick I have is the blade, its not bad, but I should have used The Sword of Achilles, then it would have been truly orgasmic.

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• Pre-shave : Shower, PAA Cube
• Brush : Oumo 24mm ACE SHD Dual Band Manchurian Badger
• Soap : Stirling Obsidian (Glacial)
• Razor : Rockwell 6S-R4 w/Tiger Platinum Blade
• Post Shave : Stirling Obsidian (Glacial) Aftershave

Face Freeze!
I cannot recommend anyone who is not a menth-head to use this soap.
Seriously.
Or any of Stirling’s Glacial line.
But if you are, and you love that menthol hit that straddles that line between pain and pleasure, this is just the thing for you.
Scent is sweet anise which reminds me of the Hacks Black cough drops. Good stuff.

Went with the old girl, the 6S paired with a Tiger Platinum.
It’s an ok blade, not great but not bad, similar to but much less smooth than Derby Premiums.
I’ll be using them as one day blades.

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• Pre-Shave : Shower, PAA Cube
• Bowl : Sandpapered Textured $2 Stainless Steel Mixing Bowl
• Brush : Oumo 24mm ACE SHD Dual Band Manchurian Badger
• Soap : Ginger’s Garden Festivus
• Razor : Blackland Vector w/Feather Pro Blade
• Post Shave : Clubman Pinaud’s Tequila Tease

It’s December!
And Christmas will be soon upon us!

I hope it is a time for healing, for letting go of hate, to be able to see clearly the past, the possible future and change what you need to do in the present, like a certain Mr Scrooge , and find a new, better path moving forward.

Its also a time for when we all start to use “Christmas” themed stuff, including shaving gear!
Thus this time bringing forth my one and only year end holiday-centric soap (for now), Irena’s Festivus.

Scent notes for this is :
citrus, musk, apples, rum, cedar and iris

And yes, it’s as good it sounds and it pairs really well with Clubman’s Tequila Tease aftershave with that Tequila and Vanilla forward scent.
It’s fast becoming one of my favorites from the Clubman’s Reserve line.

Also, I am really loving the textured bowl. |
Its really cheap, something I picked up at the local bargain store.
And with a little elbow grease, some sandpaper, it’s become a lathering monster.

I mean, some of you guys have seen many of my old lather porn, and to be fair, Irena’s Tallow based soap is fantastic stuff, but holy crap, to say that the bowl helped is kind of understating it.

Went with the Vector armed with a feather blade.
No surprises that it’s a perfect, clean “I keep touching myself” BBS shave.

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• Pre-Shave : Shower, PAA Cube
• Bowl : Stainless Steel mixing bowl
• Brush : Oumo 26mm SHD Silvertip Badger
• Soap : Long Rifle Hivernant
• Razor : Blackland Vector w/Feather Pro Blade
• Post Shave : Aqua Velva Original Ice Blue
• Ohers : Menthol in Salt Grinder

Off day shave and I was thinking of heading to the Pool for a swim. So its a face and body shave (think Speedos) and brought out the 26mm SHD brush.
I think my sweet spot is the 24mm SHD, the 26mm SHD is extremely dense and is actually quite huge, great for the dome or like now, when I want to cover larger areas of the body.

Also, really loving the Stainless Steel mixing bowl, its not the most photogenic, definitely not “bling” shaveware costing only $2 but after creating a micro textured surface that is literally anti skid to the touch by first sanding the inner surface with a mid grade sandpaper, then smoothing it out a little with fine grade sandpaper, this thing is a lathering monster.

Helps that Long Rifle’s soap base makes extremely thick and slick stuff and I really like this one with its Rosemary, Mint and Tea Tree scent. The default menthol level is very mild, just a hint, so I ground in a bit more to get that just below glacial feel.

The Vector is perfect for today’s shave, need that precision and mild head. Just saying.
Perfect, true glass, faceturbation BBS shave.
Now its off for a swim!

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