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More Mallard
. Another Grooming Dept Mallard-formula soap, but again the older formula. My Rooney Style 3 Size 1 made a very fine lather, and the Yaqi Tile razor head on a RazoRock stainless handle did a...
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Semi-novelty’s benefits in shaving
Rooney Finest, Grooming Dept Ketoret, and the Yaqi Mercury I use a different set-up for every shave, and with just over 60 razors in rotation, it takes just over 10 weeks to get through them all. (I...
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Experimental no-brush oil shave
Today’s product lineup Today I tried a shave using the Conditioning Shave oil (which also can be used as an aftershave, similar in feel to Grooming Dept Rejuvenating Serum). I did my usual prep, using...
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New method for a great third pass
Ingredients for a great shave experience IGrooming Dept’s proprietor told me of a new technique for the third pass, the against-the-grain pass. The rationale for the method is that shaving is by...
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The Third-Pass Trick
The third-pass method I learned from Grooming Dept’s proprietor works extremely well, and today I discovered another benefit. I used Grooming Dept Visage this morning. This soap has a pleasant...
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Still working on the new third-pass habit
Ingredients for a great shave In the previous post, I commented on the power of habits — first cobwebs, then cables. But habits require practice to settle, and my new third-pass practice missed a beat...
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Habit settling in, and good tools
I do like this little Thäter brush. The dome shape of the knot is a good change of pace, and it had no problems developing a fine lather from Rustler’s Ridge, a soap made from Phoenix Artisan’s CK-6...
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Big brush, small tip
This morning I brought out another discontinued CK-6 shaving soap, Love Bombs, which has a pleasant fragrance: Dark Chocolate, Rose, Rosewood, Bergamot, Tea, Orange, Lemon, Black Pepper, Ginger, Palo...
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Aces over Eights, from 345 Soap Co.
The Duke, with Aces over Eights and the Mamba A fine weekday shave. I do like 345 Soap Co.’s formula — Stearic Acid, Beef Tallow, Milks of Donkey, Camel, & Goat, Shea butter, Coconut oil, Palm...
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Terrific Zenith unbleached boar brush, along with Trench Lines
The razor is the wonderful Dorco PL602 I continue to think highly of my Zenith unbleached boar brushes, this one being the 506U XSE. A handsome brush, it does an excellent job. I do still think about...
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Even upside down, Ousia is a great soap
Unbleached boar works even when soap is upside down The position of the tub of shaving soap is due to an early-morning oversight, but the shave turned out excellent anyway. This Zenith unbleached boar...
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Peach & Cognac and a great shave
Omega’s Pro 48 boar brush is always a pleasure, and this morning I put it to work on Ariana & Evans Peach & Cognac shaving soap: Bergamot Lemon, 2 wonderful, but uniquely different Peach...
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Tombstone on a cool day
Zenith bleached boar brush and Parker Semi-Slant on Yaqi handle Tombstone is a CK-6 soap with a very nice fragrance: “Gunpowder, Leather, Tobacco, Geranium, Bergamot, White Rose.” The lather my Zenith...
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A great way to start the day: Grog
All in readiness for a great shave I let the Antica Barberia brush soak while I showered, and then enjoyed the bracing fragrance of Tallow + Steel’s Grog shaving soap: “West Indies Bay + Key Lime +...
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Cologne Russe and new coffee
Simpson’s Persian Jar 2 Super is a fine brush — though I should note that this brush was made long before the Vulfix acquisition — and today it worked up a super lather from Barrister and Mann’s...
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Lovely shave today
Following Barrister and Mann’s advice, I used a synthetic brush — the RazorRock Keyhole, a wonderful little brush whose low price ($10) belies its fine quality — and the lather was luxuriously thick...
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Monaco Royale and Edwin Jagger
Phoenix Artisan’s Astraeus shaving brush has more backbone than I expected, but not excessive — just a surprise. It’s a nice 22mm knot, the size I prefer, and it immediately aroused a fine lather from...
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Yuzu/Rose/Patchouli and Fine’s wonderful slant
I’m growing fond of this Zenth brush, which did a great job on Declaration Grooming’s Yuzu/Rose/Patchouli, a very nice soap in their Bison formula. They also offer the same fragrance in their more...
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Tallow + Steel Spiced Fougère and Henson Shaving AL13
Tallow + Steel makes good products, and I particularly enjoyed the fragrance of the soap today, Spiced Fougère: Bergamot (17.5%) | Tonka Bean (12%) | West Indies Bay (12%) | Texas Cedarwood (10%) |...
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Grooming Dept’s Mallard 2023 formula is terrific
I continue to be pleased and amazed by the quality of lather of this Grooming Dept soap made with his Mallard 2023 formula. Visage has a pleasant woody fragrance, but the lather most impresses me. The...
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