SOTD 3-9 April 2016

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Going back to the very basic products is a good reminder of the fact that you can shave very well with very little. There are a few things that I particularly like of La Toja soap. One of them is how easy it is to lather. Another one is its fresh scent, which reminds me of the smell of the north atlantic coast of Spain, where I'm from and live, and last but not least, the mineral salts content. I have learned that if I use this soap in a rotation, these mineral salts have a beneficial effect on my skin. Not so if I use it regularly, as in that case they give me some not so pleasant itches.

This is a soap that will do its job softening your whiskers and readying them for the blade, but that is not the best one out there when it comes to slickness. First pass is OK, but there is not that oily layer on your skin that some other products leave, and that will allow a quick touch-up without re-lathering. Do that with La Toja, and you'll feel the blade. Need a touch-up?. Get your brush and re-lather. Its Spanish entry-level counterpart, the Lea stick, is much more slick and protective in this sense. Shame the scent sucks. This is not a shaving soap I'd use on a regular basis, but it's definitely worth to have in your rotation. And it's dirt cheap.

The Omega brush lost a hair during my face lathering process but it performed as pleasantly and efficiently as always. You just can't ask for more for a 13€ brush.

I've been doing some testing including and excluding the alum block from my shaves. It looks like it's beneficial so it's here to stay. After today's two-passes shave (WTG-XTG+touch ups) it showed little to no irritation, so I consider that a good sign. After that, a splash of my home brewed after shave lotion. Nothings works better on my skin so far.

Edwin Jagger DEL89L
Astra "blue" #3 (and off she goes)
Omega 31052
La Toja
Alum
Home made after shave lotion

BLACKBIRD // OMEGA 6793 // SOAP COMMANDER
The scent on this soap is bright and spicy.  The right choice for a cloudy spring day.

I know I commented before Chris but I love that brush!

Hey Kevin- Thanks. It really is a beauty, and an incredible knot. Let's hope Omega makes more like this.
Cheers

If they do and your hear about it first- please let me know!

SOTD: Friday, April 8
Haslinger Coconut
Milord Tech
CH2 SiLVERTiP
Polsilver SI (2)
English Leather AS

Have a great day!

Tigers Opening Day shave! I decided to use my made in Michigan software for today's shave. It provided for a nice, easy, mostly BBS.

Maggard Razors London Barbershop
RazoRock Monster Plissoft 26mm
Schick Type L injector
Schick blade (4)
TTFFC For Flint AS

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GO TIGERS!

Mid-shave Switch

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• OneBlade
• Clipped GEM PTFE (1 pass)
• Smiling GEM PTFE (2 passes)
• PannaCrema Nuàvia Rossa
• Plisson Faux Horn
• Chatillon Lux La Quatrième Ville

I couldn't even force my way through a second shave with this clipped GEM blade. It does not perform near as well for me as the smiling GEM (spine removed but not clipped). Once the replacement blade was in all was good.

Brian, I have not tried the OneBlade so this is strictly curiosity on my part but wouldn't you think the clipped blade would work better as it is closer in design to what the razor's developers had in mind? Do you have any thoughts on why the unclipped GEM works better for you?

Yes, you'd somewhat think so. However, my theory is twofold. 1. There is a lot of human error in trying to clip the blade so even though it isn't moving around its vane to think my clipping the blade matches up to OneBlade's high tolerances. 2. As a big fan of rigidity the slight bend in the blade will increase the blades inherent rigidity. The smiling GEM could be the first torqued SE.

Razor: Gillette Tech 1939-45
Blade: Dorco ST 301 Platinum SK (6)
Brush: Jayaruh JR #45 Walnut Honey Comb
Soap: Jeeves Soap Turkish Bath
A/S: Fine American Blend
Bowl: Once a Marine Always a Marine Scuttle
Yes that is snow.

Proraso Green Pre/Post
Plisson Synthetic Pearly Grey handle
Barrister & Mann ROAM
Above the Tie S2 Slant Gillette Handle
Personna Platinum Blue (Shave 2)
Thayers Superhazel with Proraso Pre/Post followed with Proraso Green Splash

Cream: Castle Forbes Lavender
Aftershave: Derby City Chop Shop
Razor: ATT S2
Brush: Plisson Synth
Fragrance: testing Ormonde Man and Ashoka

Maggard V3 Griest Brass Handle

If only Griest handles were still readily available, but as far as I know, that is not the case (even though the site is still up). Really like the designs – judging by looks alone, as I’ve never used one.