I tried today a new brush, but I should probably have set the knot higher – it’s difficult to splay, and I doubt that a synthetic will improve splaying with breaking in. I’ll see whether I have to pull the knot or not (unfortunately, I didn’t try with a small dose of silicone to test…).
The repo was set to private, and it was not obvious to me that this was the case, and how it could be changed. Now, you should be able to see it. I hope that the instructions in the README are sufficient.
Tell me if you need help, or if you experience any problems!
Post Shave: Thayer’s Aloe Vera toner; Phytorelax Headshave ASB
Fragrance: Jean Paul Gaultier - Le Male Elixir EdP sample
Late AF head shave. Oh well, at least I got it done! 1 pass, very comfortable. No irritation whatsoever.
Today’s fragrance… Well, I only added it to my sample pack to get the necessary amount of stuff to ship. Needless to say, I’m unimpressed. It starts quite similar to Versace Eros, but then it quickly fades to an overbearingly sweet vanilla scent. Something I’d rather smell on a lady than on myself, IMHO. The tonka bean and tobacco is barely noticeable. It’s much more like scented candles. Not really like the classic JPG Le Male. Perhaps for a stark contrast, I should wear Valley of Ashes tomorrow?
Lather: Spearhead Shaving Company - Seaforth! Black Watch - Soap
Toner: Thayers - Rose - Toner
Aftershave: Spearhead Shaving Company - Seaforth! Black Watch - Aftershave
Fragrance: Spearhead Shaving Company - Seaforth! Black Watch - Eau de Toilette
Talc: Yardley Gold
2 passes. Face lather. Excellent shave.
I have not had a Black Watch Wednesday for a while now but I thoroughly enjoyed this one! Such a terrific product suite.
Today’s Fili 13 (6/8) has a Nakayama Jnat edge that is ultra sharp, and in today’s shave, I was finally able to discern differences between edge finishes. Yesterday, I used a Dubl Duck Goldedge (5/8). It is also ultra sharp but has a Coticule/Black Arkansas finish. Both edges are extremely comfortable but the Jnat edge is soft in a way that the apex is almost indiscernible whereas the Cot/Ark edge is soft but with the apex more present. I think most people would prefer the Jnat edge because its softness conveys a feeling of safety. To me, the Cot/Ark edge gave me the feeling of a natural edge that is not harsh or uncomfortable but, as mentioned, has more presence. Fascinating.
Brush: Yaqi Cashmere Synthetic Shaving Brush, Dandelion Green Handle, 24mm
Razor: Edwin Jagger DE 89L
Blade: Gillette Silver Blue (1)
Lather: House of Mammoth - Hygge - Soap
Post Shave: House of Mammoth - Hygge - Balm
It’s been a while since I’ve used my scuttle, but I’ve been meaning to ever since diusccing them with @merikus a couple months ago. It’s pretty darn cold out today so the idea of warm lather sounded pretty enticing.
It was nice, but I never developed a good technique for building the lather in the bowl. Every couple of swirls the lather would be overflowing the edge of the bowl and I’d have to stop and push it back in. Is there something I’m doing wrong?
I spent my first couple of wetshaving years bowl lathering. I’ve never used a scuttle, but most pictures I’ve seen they seem to have “bowls” on the smaller side. As fancy-pants wetshave enthusiasts, we’re used to copious amounts of excellent lather – whereas scuttles came about during a time when Williams Mug Soap, etc. were the main style of soap. Those soaps didn’t require as much water and for the most part are just “load, spread, shave”, without any real “lathering” (just my opinion, and that’s not any sort of widely accepted theory, just something I came up with).
Anyway, with bowl lathering there are two different moves. Splaying and stirring. Splaying the knot ensures enough air gets into the lather to make it “look right”, and stirring makes sure the water gets mixed throughout. With a smaller bowl I’d start out with a quick splay to get things started, and then switch to stirring for the rest, because stirring is easier to do without lather going everywhere.
That makes sense, thanks. So maybe I don’t need to load as much soap?
I do generally use a stirring method. I haven’t watched any in a while, but the videos I’ve seen for bowl/scuttle lathering seem to show them stirring without having the same problem I have with the the lather overflowing.
I don’t have a lot of kills under my belt, so I have to celebrate the small victories. This is the end of my Pharaoh’s Dreamsicle decant. Today’s scentscape has three very different parts tied together by citrus. Fresh, green Fern and Lemon in Arlington, aquatic grapefruit in Firefighter, and warm, sweet orange and oud in Pharaoh’s Dreamsicle.
I’m a bit bummed that I can’t replace the frag decant, since it’s now been discontinued, mais c’est la vie.
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