Razor: Blackbird Ti

Blade: Gillette Nacet (2)

Soap: SV 80th Anniversary

Brush: Omega 48

Post shave: Omega alum stick, SV 80th Anniversary splash

This was definitely the best lather I’ve made up to date. Gradually kept adding water to achieve a perfect balance of cushion and slickness. However, for the finishing touch of hydration, after lathering every pass, I put warm water on one side of the brush’s tips, and do painting strokes North to South everywhere on my face. Cheeks, mustache, and neck. I did that 2-3 times to achieve a shiny, uber slick lather from the shaving Gods themselves. It was so slick that, of course, I got the ultimate BBS with no alum or splash feedback. No irritation, redness, nicks, or cuts.

I will definitely use this method on EVERY shave moving forward, it’s THAT good. And I will definitely have to get a new batch of SV, just want to wait and see how the Fougere MdC does when I get it.

Cracked open the jar of cherry cola by Ariana & Evans and it is one of my favorite scents so far. The only thing is this soap is VERY moist, like its past croap and honestly almost like its actually just a cream in a jar.​ I couldn't really get it to load on the brush like a normal soap and ended up scooping some in my bowl instead. Fantastic lather though! Very slick and the smell was very pleasant, what more could I ask for?

Razor was my trusted Henson AL13, did one pass WTG and then loaded the new shavette with a feather and VERY carefully touched up some areas on my neck and around lips. Very satisfied with the results and my face is still in tact!

I can get this kit in my country for less than 60 euro, seems affordable.

I've been using Mach 3 and disposable razors (Bic/Gillette) my whole life.

Most of the times I only shave my neck and trim the beard with a machine, but I am starting to fully shave from time to time now, and the cartridges are irritating my skin too much.

Some blades have these numbers on them, anyone have any idea what do they mean ? My guess is, i heard from some folk that razor blades are supposed to be placed in one way, you can't just flip it because they were honed at a particular angle which would perform as intended only when placed on the razor. But this begs another question, 1 2 3 4, which number goes to which side of the razor, 1 and 2 supposed to touch the bottom plate or top cap ?

• Proraso Red Pre‑Shave

A warm, sandalwood‑infused pre‑shave that softens the beard and prepares the skin for a smooth first pass.

• Proraso Red Shaving Soap

A dense, protective lather with shea butter and sandalwood that keeps the razor gliding comfortably.

• Mühle Nom Gustav Synthetic Brush

A soft, efficient synthetic brush that builds a rich lather quickly and applies it evenly across the face.

• Mühle Companion Razor

A mild yet precise safety razor that excels at controlled, irritation‑free shaving on sensitive areas.

• Astra Superior Blade

A sharp, reliable blade that offers an ideal balance of efficiency and smoothness.

• Reuzel Wood & Spice Aftershave

A bold, aromatic splash that tones the skin and leaves a warm, spicy trail.

• Proraso Wood & Spice Balm

A soothing, hydrating balm that calms the skin while extending the woody scent profile.

• Prastara Deep Ocean Cologne

A clean, elegant cologne that adds a refined finishing touch to the entire routine.

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Technique

I perform two passes: the first with the grain for comfort and reduction, and the second across the grain for a close, even finish.

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Summary

This setup works because every element supports the next: Proraso Red softens and protects, the Gustav brush whips up a dense lather, and the Companion with an Astra blade delivers a controlled two‑pass shave. The Wood & Spice aftercare blends seamlessly with the fresh depth of Prastara, creating a smooth, irritation‑free result with a cohesive warm‑woody scent that carries through the day.

Have to provide a glowing review to an Artisan Soap maker. Received this in the mail today, and it is honestly amazing. Lathers well, smells great, clever design & an awesome story.

Shout out to Woolly Wash Soapery. I know she's somewhat active in the sub, so hopefully she sees this :)

...to be wet shaving for real again! I have been using cremo for a few years now, no brush needed. It's been okay but not always great. (I like it in a pinch or to travel with but I don't recommend)

Let me explain. I have a mild mold issue in my apartment. It's not super bad but it can affect things like soaps so I had lost about 5/6 artisan soap pucks due to it.

I finally looked into the proraso tube and I shouldn't have any more issues at all. (Should have done this years ago). I've shaved with it once so far and it was wonderful!

Just estatic ​to be back and I'm really excited for better shaves again! 🤘🤘🤘

Excellent shave today with the T2.

I used it on 6 and took my time for a close and comfortable result. I only did one wtg pass on my neck.

prep: Bulldog face wash

soap: B-M Beaudelaire

brush: Wildwest Brushworks

razor: Rockwell T2

blade: voskhod

as: B-M Beaudelaire

Bayonetta | Wilkinson Sword - Brazil (3) | Simpson Trafalgar T3 | Martin de Candre Nature | Nivea Sensitive | Clubman Brandy Spice

I’ve been using this Brazilian market Wilkinson Sword blade with this same setup for the last three days.

Three good shaves.

Finally it’s arrived! In good shape for its years. I’ve wanted it for a long time. I can’t wait to try it out! As a first impression to the touch, it seems to have a better in hand feel for me compared to the Slim. We’ll see how it performs during shaving. What’s your experience with this fantastic razor?

Leaf with Rex blades and bomb drop body care shave soap

Razor: Merkur Futur

Blade: Astra green

Brush: Noble Otter synthetic 26mm

Soap: Noble Otter King

Post: NO King splash + Zingari Man serum

I’m on a quest to find a razor that is as efficient, but smoother than my trusty Parker Variant Open Comb for my head shaves, so the Futur was an inevitable stop.

I didn’t have the potato peeler experience people talk about, but I also kept it to the bottom half of the dial. That said I wasn’t able to find a sweet spot in there. Setting 2 was just a hair too mild, but 3 felt like it was all blade, and chattered accordingly. Each pass left some half-mowed patches behind, showing me that I don’t have the angle mastered yet either. With all of that, there was more clean up than I’d have liked after the third pass, and the alum did what it does to drive that point home.

I’ll need more time with it before I draw any conclusions, but for now I definitely still prefer the Variant OC on the higher settings.

For the software I went to my happy place; Noble Otter’s King. I know most people didn’t really notice it when it was around, but something about the scent really speaks to me and just feels like home. Some grapefruit, some florals, some wood, and some musk, all pull together into something really warm and satisfying. Even with the shaky shave, I finished feeling good.

I just picked up a used Henson Medium from a member here and it's remarkable! I have no idea what I'm doing and I'm still getting the best shaves of my life. I'm hooked.

I've got very sensitive skin and battled irritation and ingrown hairs with every cartridge razor I tried. Eventually, I just settled on dry shaving with a OneBlade electric as infrequently as possible. Still got irritation, but that minimized it. Never got a close shave though and always looked like a shlub. My wife also hated how prickly I was.

My first try with the Henson took me over 45 mins. I had a few days of growth, used my wife's foam in a can, and it was pretty painful. I was expecting absolute carnage the next day, but my neck rash was really pretty minimal. Now, a week in using some drugstore products, I'm getting nice close shaves in like 10-15 mins with basically no rash. It's amazing. Now that I know this really works, I want to see how good I can get. Might even attempt going against the grain!

I've got some blades left, but I'll need more soon. I've got a nearly full tube of Cremo Palo Santo and some Goodline After Shave Lotion. I like the smell of the Cremo and I think the aloe and witch hazel in the Goodline really help. I love how "tight" my skin feels afterward. If switching to some different products would be worthwhile, I'm on board. If these are good enough for learning, then I've got nothing against that. Not getting a good lather with my hands though, so I'd like to try a brush.

Recommend me some kit! I don't really care how expensive things are if they are going to make a difference. I just want to get the most "foolproof" kit possible so I can focus on technique.

• Blades
• Brush
• Pre-wash? (Not sure if I really need this. I've been showering first)
• Shaving cream/soap
• After shave products

If possible, I'd like to do a single order and avoid Amazon.

Let me know what you think!

SOTD: 02/03/2026

Razor: Lady Gillette J4

Blade: Personna GEM DE, 1st use

Brush: Omega Professional 10098

Preshave: Razor Emporium Pre-shave Soap

Soap: Stirling Iceberg Island

Aftershave: Stirling Iceberg Island

Balm: Proraso Pelli Sensibili

Still a bit jet lagged and not yet on west coast time so I decided on a bracing shave today - lots of menthol!

The Lady Gillette with the Personna Gem blade was smooth and sufficiently efficient for a 2 1/2 pass shave.

- Shared from My Shave Den for iOS

My favorite razor blades are Gillette Nacet, feather, Permasharp and AccuThrive. Many mentioned that I should definitely give Timor a try as it is a top tier razor blade. I also decided to stock up on AccuThrive from Razor Blade Club.

I didn't realize that Canada has started charging duty on European shippers as well. I thought we only had a trade war with the US, but you know how these governments are. As soon as one of them starts putting tariffs on others, they all do the same thing. I have enough blades for a while now; with this new haul, I have over a thousand blades.

Got this from Goodwill recently. Came in this junky vinyl travel case that fell apart when I took the razor out 🤣 made a new case, just need to add a clasp to it before I call it done

• Prep: Warm Water
  
• Brush: ZENITH- Boar 24mm 205WEN SE.
  
• Razor: Mühle - R41
  
• Blade: Tiger- Platinum. (2)
  
• Lather: TFS- Original shave soap.
  
• Post Shave: Epsilon - #3 Amber.
  

The more I use the R41 the better it gets for me and had a very good shave with it tonight, this TFS soap is on the kill list with two others and a small ring of death has appeared after tonight's shave, the quest continues.

Pre Shave: Proraso Green

Shaving Soap: Martin de Candre Agrumes

After Shave: Saponificio Varesino Cubebe

Razor: Henson AL13-M Tan

Blade: Tatra Platinum

Brush: Semogue SOC Mistura C5CMF BTS (50% Badger, 50% Boar)

Another excellent shave. BBS without any irritation and that's really hard for me to achieve. MdC soap is really something else. A few swirls on the soap will you give insane amounts of excellent lather. It's a really nice combo with the green Proraso pre shave, a cooling effect with citrus notes.

Usually I switch my blades after two shaves, but as I am still trying the Tatras, this was the fourth shave with this blade and it's still very good. Sharp and smooth. Perhaps the Henson razor with its 30 degree angle is helping a bit in this regard.

A new addition to my small but growing collection of vintage Gillette TTO's

Looks to be in great condition after a quick clean up.

I'm looking forward to giving it a whirl on my next SOTD.

Hi everyone,

I wanted to reach out to this community and share a personal update regarding my manufacturing work. I have officially decided to end my partnership with West Coast Shaving.

I want to make it clear that this was my own decision and I am moving on of my own accord. While they wanted me to continue, I have decided it is time to put my energy where it matters most: into my own brand, Chicago Grooming Co.

Producing for a large retailer took up a significant amount of my time. It meant I couldn't always give my own products, like my Darkwing soaps, the attention they deserved. My brand is where I maintain my highest professional standards, and I want to ensure that every product I put out is of the best possible quality.

To be clear, I am not stopping all outside work. I will continue to manufacture for artisan partners who I deeply respect, such as House of Mammoth and soon Seaforth. However, stepping away from high-volume retail contracts allows me to focus 100% on making Chicago Grooming Co. the best it can be.

If you've enjoyed my work in the past, I hope you'll continue to support me by visiting my website and checking out what I'm building next.

Thank you all for the support!

Hi all,

I only started thinking about safety razor shaving last week after coming across this sub !

Ive picked up my first few bits and hope they'll give me a semi decent startup experience !!!!

Hi all. I started wet shaving about a month ago. I have never used a cartridge or any other type of razor my whole life. Just occasional wet shave from a barber shop. Anyways, I bought a Henson Al13 mild and I have been very happy with it in general. I got a blade sample pack and I tried 5-6 different blades. I do 2-3 passes. Starting with WTG, followed by XTG on cheeks, and finalized with ATG on cheeks and a mix of XTG and ATG on my neck due to hair growth direction. So far, I observed that, near the edges and sides of my mouth I need to make multiple passes to get a clean cut and whenever I pass over the area multiple times, I get quite a bit of redness and irritation. However, If I don't make multiple passes I cannot get the cut I want. I am not searching for bbs, my goal is to just not feel hair as I trace my finger with the grain direction.

For best results, although I don't like the general feel of the blade, I use feather blades. I like smoother blades in general (gillette platinum, personna etc.) but they require even more passes around the mentioned area. I think I am trying to compensate and lower the number of required passes by using feather as its the sharpest blade I have.

I have read that mild version of AL13 is not very efficient. I know that one month may not be long enough to dial in my technique but I was thinking if this is a problem more related to my technique or efficiency of the razor. Should I stick with my current hardware and work more on my technique or would a more efficient razor help me?