Prep: Splash of Cool Water
Razor: Gillette - Aristocrat 16 (UK)
Blade: Gillette - Platinum (7)
Lather: Summer Break Soaps - Remote Learning
Brush: Declaration Grooming - B13 Dogwood/Briar Hybrid 28mm (21 uses)
Post Shave: Stirling - Mountain Man
䷀ General Notes
As we work with the Slurry Lather method with a high-density badger, I'm going to try a longer soap-load and a wetter brush.
䷀ Razor and Blade Notes
(Gillette - Aristocrat 16 - UK ::: Gillette - Platinum ‹7 uses›)
Wonderful pairing! A bit of blade feel, but it was smooth and controlled. Close cut.
No tugging or irritation.
Razor and Blade Performance/Comfort Rating: 4 out of 5 (Very Good)
䷀ Soap Notes
(Summer Break Soaps - Remote Learning)
Them: Doritos
Scent: nacho cheesy corn tortilla chips is the goal here. I imagine that's a tough challenge. While smelling the dry tub and the wet lather, what comes to me first is a cookie sweet type scent that reminds me of some cinnamon schoolbook cookies from Trader Joes. It's a nice scent, so I don't mind if my brain never switches away from that.
If I know it is supposed to be corn chips, then I can definitely see that in the scent. So that's cool.
But even if I set my brain to try to find a cheesy note in there, I really can't.
I think it might be more realistic with a hint-of-cumin type scent in there, but of course, that could make it hard on skin maybe.
While I may not really get a Doritos scent from it, I think it's a great attempt, and I know that I like shaving with it anyway.
Scent Strength: 4/10, present during shaving.
Lather... Today's try was to load for twice as long as previously done ... 40 swirls. also to make sure there was lots of water in the brush.
I did both of those things, but the slurry did not develop like it does with other brush types. I think the excess water inhibited the loading of the soap from the puck. This brush just has such soft tips.
I went back for another 10 swirls when the brush had less water in it and that was good. I got a more normal slurry then.
I think with this kind of soft-tipped high-density badger, you won't be able to have it hold all the water at the outset. Load from the soap with a merely "wet" brush and not a "very wet" brush. Then add water later, either by dipping tips in a bowl or sprinking from the tap.
With the tweaks i put in on the first pass, the second and third went just fine and normal for a Slurry lather. Super slick and highly protected.
Hydration: Perfect (for me)
- 17 sec load with a Very Wet brush
- = 4 passes of lather
Bowl: No Bowl
䷀ Brush Notes
(Declaration Grooming - B13 Dogwood/Briar Hybrid 28mm ‹21 uses›)
Great brush with soft tips. Don't get to experience it as much with this fast method, but It's superb nonetheless.
During the Shave Feel:
Cheeks: Felt blade but comfortable
Neck: Felt blade but comfortable
After the Shave Closeness:
Cheeks: Near BBS - About as close as I'll ever get
Neck: Cut flush to where I just see the tips (above average for me)
Ending of Blades Ledger - entry form and the data spreadsheet
Prep: Splash of Cool Water
Razor: Fatip - Grande (Open Comb)
Blade: Gillette - Platinum (8)
Lather: Declaration Grooming Milksteak - Sunrise on Lasalle
Brush: Whipped Dog - Angel Hair Green Handle 24mm (2 uses)
Post Shave: Barrister & Mann - Reserve Spice
Gear Pic :: Video
䷀ General Notes
So, the Slurry Lather works well with a Synthetic brush, and with the current base from Declaration Grooming: Milksteak.
It's not usually advisable to change two significant variables at once, when you're trying out something new, but honestly, I had a hunch they would be just fine. And I was not wrong.
The brush did hold enough water to do the method, and the milksteak, being so easy to lather in general, was great with the Slurry method.
I used a Weck single edge today, but mostly shaved with a Fatip Open Comb.
䷀ Razor and Blade Notes
(Fatip - Grande - Nickel Open Comb ::: Gillette - Platinum ‹8 uses›)
So I started off the shave with the Weck Sextoblade, but after working on my cheeks in the first pass, and having some issues, I grabbed a DE that was around, the faithful Fatip OC (Grande), which took care of my neck and the rest of the shave easily.
It was a week's growth after all. And my SR/Weck skills were just not up to the task of shaving off so much stubble, especially on my neck. It would have taken much too long for me to do it right.
But what I did do with the weck on my cheeks and a little on my neck, didn't generate any irritation, which was very nice.
The Fatip made sure I had a great shave and the Gill. Plat. was a fine match.
Razor and Blade Performance/Comfort Rating: 4 out of 5 (Very Good)
䷀ Soap Notes
(Declaration Grooming Milksteak - Sunrise on Lasalle)
Them: "Originally located in Downtown Saint Louis, the floral market moved to LaSalle during a period of construction and growth and has been there for decades ever since. One of the oldest markets, it serves florists across the country. This scent is designed to reflect the early morning hours of freshly cut flowers, with their dew-laden sweetness and vibrant freshness. ~~ Notes: Pear, geranium, jasmine tea, and Virginia cedar."
Scent: On first use, I don't remember detecting any pear, but what I thought I was getting was a green, sinewy, grassy vibe. I liked it well enough... fresh, grassy, green and clean and natur-ey ... though it wasn't super interesting. There's definitely something else out there with a similar nature to it.
Scent Strength: 5/10, nicely present during shaving.
Lather... I was shaving off so much stubble that more work was done in pass one, than usual with a slurry lather. So at pass three, we were farther along, in that we were looking at a pretty mature lather. No big deal, but I did have to add some water.
Milksteak is a good soap base for the Slurry Lather method, it looks like. It is easy to lather for most folks, so I really didn't have many doubts about it.
Hydration: Perfect (for me)
Bowl: No Bowl
䷀ Brush Notes
(Whipped Dog - Angel Hair Green Handle 24mm ‹2 uses›)
Worked great with the slurry lather method, it seems. Held enough water from the start. Not a ton, but enough. I did need to add more by the end, but that also may have been because the situation was a bit non-standard since the first pass was taking off so much stubble.
During the Shave Feel:
Cheeks: Felt blade but comfortable
Neck: Felt blade but comfortable
After the Shave Closeness:
Cheeks: Near BBS - About as close as I'll ever get
Neck: Cut flush to where I just see the tips (above average for me)
Ending of Blades Ledger - entry form and the data spreadsheet