DaveWave94

Thanks 🙏🏻

18.09.2025

• Brush: TGS Galaxy 26 mm
• Razor: Razorine Flatboy 73
• Blade: Tatra
• Lather: Chiseled Face - Ghost Town Barber
• Post-Shave: Zingari Man - The Master recovery splash
• Passes & Info: 1 pass on both head and neck. A bit milder, but also less efficient. Still a good shave!

Attempt No. 2 with my new brass razor. This time with one of the new blades. I can already tell that these aren't as sharp as the BICs, but I think I should scale back the new variables to familiarise myself with the razor - even though all the new stuff is so tempting.

One weeper from yesterday was re-opened, otherwise it was a rather mild shave. The blades don't tug, not even on the rather hard stubble on my neck, which is good.

As I wanted to try out my new ZM aftershave, I thought GTB would fit nicely - and it even exceeded my expectations. Definitely a winning combo, as the spicy gunpowder notes of GTB fit nicely with the spices of The Master. It also left my skin feeling really good, something I always appreciate about great wetshaving products.

My only day off this week and I spent it as a laundry day and lazing around for recovery. Tomorrow it's back to the grind until Monday. Hopefully times will be less stressful soon - had a bit of anxiety today.

Despite its astringent and toning properties, I doubt witch hazel extract is to blame for the pain. My educated guess would be the Urea component, as Urea has a bit of a stinging sensation (like tiny needles) to it. At least in the creams I know personally and have used on patients with skin issues, this was always reported. It allegedly helps with skin renewal by removing dry dead skin, aka dandruff. Hence it's also often used in foot creams and psoriasis base care.

17.09.2025

• Brush: TGS Galaxy 26 mm
• Razor: Razorine Flatboy 73, all brass
• Blade: BIC Chrome Platinum
• Lather: Southern Witchcrafts - GraveFruit II soap
• Post-Shave: Southern Witchcrafts - GraveFruit II AS toner
• Passes & Info: 2 pass head shave with a new razor - nice audio feedback, generally very comfortable and efficient, but caught a few weepers.

Today I fetched my parcel/mail call and among the goods was this shiny full brass razor from Italy. A pic of all the goods will be coming tomorrow, not much energy left today after an exhausting shift.

Once upon a time I had a full brass Razorine, probably one of the most famous/infamous (?) DE-vettes to exist. I liked the look, but it always cut me badly, so I PIFed it to djundjila a few years ago. I still have a thing for brass razors without a chrome/silver coating though, and the choice for my reward razor was between this and the TGS Bayonetta. The Flatboy won basically on price point and higher total weight, despite the way less cooler name. I did this shave with a base I am very familiar with, SW is actually a top notch and very slick vegan soap - so it's very sad that they ceased operations. GF2 is a nice dark citrus blend created by Shawn Maher. It's perhaps the only trifecta I own together with Pomona (which is even more rare, as it was already discontinued before SW folded).

Anyways, my first impressions of the new razor are:

• This is really the most flat DE head I ever came across and the audio feedback is similar to GEMs (= crispy 😏)
• The blade tabs are nicely covered, but you need to pay attention to proper blade alignment in the razor head
• It is very, very efficient and also very intolerant of small bumps - learning this caused a few weepers
• riding the cap is the preferable option for this one compared to riding the safety bar, perhaps it also does better with milder blades instead of the BICs
• the hefty weight and thick handle feel great in my larger hands, however since it is handle-heavy, I need to pay attention to not put too much pressure on the head to avoid irritation and cuts.

So far, so good. I'm sure once I master this razor, it'll be a great tool in my collection. Happy to have one day off tomorrow!

16.09.2025

• Brush: TGS Galaxy 26 mm
• Razor: Leaf Thorn
• Blade: Derby Premium half DE
• Lather: HAGS - Aftermath
• Post-Shave: Alterra - Men ASB
• Passes & Info: 1 pass plus buffing on the head, mostly ATG + XTG; a good shave.

This shave was already a small improvement over yesterday. It was still brief because my energy still isn't back to a full 100%, but it's noticeably smoother.

Aftermath is a dupe of Amouage Interlude Man, a fragrance I really like for its luxurious yet comfortable vibe. If only it wouldn't cost an arm and a leg... This is still in the vegan base and was one of the earliest HAGS releases AFAIK, this base is a bit more sticky than I prefer and definitely inferior to the (mutton) tallow bases from him. Still capable of giving a good shave with proper hydration.

Everything at work is in crisis mode and everyone seems to be in a bad mood. Understandable due to the dire situation, yet this wasn't quite what I had hoped for in my new position. Well, at least I should have a mail call to fetch tomorrow afternoon - I got myself some things to reward myself for the successful RN degree, should be nice 👌🏻

Definitely, even though it's hard I try to help as much as I can. We're mostly RNs left, most assistant nurses are either on sick leave or vacation 🤷🏻‍♂️

15.09.2025

• Brush: TGS Galaxy 26 mm
• Razor: Leaf Thorn
• Blade: Derby Premium half DE
• Lather: AYLM - Blu Tobacco
• Post-Shave: Lavera - Men sensitive ASB lotion
• Passes & Info: single pass WTG head shave. Not bad, not great - simply OK.

Back from the dead - or, at least, back after a bad cold had me on low energy levels after work. Yeah, I had to work regardless; too many sick colleagues already and we were already short staffed.

Not my greatest head shave, but it was a good start to ease back into it. Since a lot of the hobby is scent-focused for me, I usually only trim when my nose is stuffed and I can't appreciate the smells.

One early shift down, 5 more to go this week with only one day off on Thursday. Currently feeling a bit disappointed with everything; hope it clears up soon.

05.09.2025

• Brush: TGS Galaxy 26 mm
• Razor: RazoRock Cyber Medium w/ Superknurl handle
• Blade: Willy's Premium
• Lather: Declaration Grooming - Cuir et Epices
• Post-Shave: Alverde - Men ASB
• Passes & Info: 2 passes on the head, 1 on the neck. Good shave.

My only day off this week, so this shave was to put a good finish to this day.

I still remember back when DG was all the rage, nowadays it's seemingly less popular. Milksteak is still a good base though and this scent is very great. "Leather and Spices" if I'm not mistaken and it's exactly that: like an expensive leather bag full of delicious spices. Got this one a few years ago by the recommendation of sahenders, who said it might fit well with TF Oro Valley and it surely does. But also shines on its own - I really like it. The blade today is yet again made in India, but it's better than The Gentleman's and Parker Premium: really solid first shave, I'm indeed impressed.

Weekend shifts are usually pretty calm, so I don't really dread working tomorrow and Sunday. Plus it's just 6h shifts, so I should even be fine after work. Everyone else: have a nice weekend!

03.09.2025

• Brush: TGS Galaxy 26 mm
• Razor: Leaf Thorn
• Blade: Derby Premium (half DE)
• Lather: Wholly Kaw - Transition
• Post-Shave: Lavera - Men sensitive ASB
• Passes & Info: single pass only on the head again. A little bit of burn once I applied the ASB lotion, otherwise a good shave.

A quick shave after I trimmed my stubble beard down. The really short lengths look best with a skin-close shave up top in contrast IMHO. WK Siero is always nice to use and Transition has such a smooth, mellow and warm scent. I can't pick out anything individually, but it's seriously very good and relaxing to use.

The 3rd RN shift was a huge improvement over yesterday's miserable day. It seems like my colleagues are indeed happy to have me around, just don't have enough time to explain everything thoroughly. Tomorrow I will have another early shift, but this time with a team member who's universally hated at this station. We'll see how it goes, I try to stay as neutral as possible.

02.09.2025

• Brush: TGS Galaxy 26 mm
• Razor: RazoRock Cyber Medium w/ Superknurl handle
• Blade: Personna Super
• Lather: A&E - Peach & Cognac
• Post-Shave: OAM - oli del benessere, sensitive skin toner
• Passes & Info: single pass head shave only. Nice and smooth, but the blade slowly loses its edge.

Just a quick shave before bed. I had a bad mood, so Peaches & Cognac to help lift my spirits. Always get a good lather, surprisingly always without any frag burn as - like every other A&E soap - the scent strength is enormous with this one.

Day two as an RN and it was seriously bad. The onboarding process is so disorganised at my workplace that it effectively didn't happen today: I had my own side together with an assistant nurse and that's it. See for yourself what you've got to do. Wonderful 🙄
At least by noon one of our higher-ups showed up to congratulate me on my successful exam, so I could give her the documents they still needed from me. Not much time for other talking though, as they also had a meeting for 13:30 scheduled. Fun times. 😮‍💨

01.09.2025

• Brush: RazoRock Beehive 28 mm
• Razor: Leaf Thorn
• Blade: Derby Premium (half DE)
• Lather: HAGS - Creatures of the Night (mutton tallow base)
• Post-Shave: OAM - oli del benessere, sensitive skin toner
• Passes & Info: 1 pass on both head and neck. Very comfortable shave.

Just another use of the Thorn, this time with a very slick mutton tallow lather. I had some trouble getting a good lather going, but worked it out in the end. The final result was very slick and made for nice shaving.

My first day as an RN was rather uneventful: basically the same work as before. Our higher-ups weren't even present today, as they had to attend some event. So apart from getting a few congratulations - nothing special. Honestly, I'm a bit disappointed. But as I got home, I found a letter from the central of the welfare organisation my nursing home belongs to: they invited me to an event at the end of September, where they want to have a meet & greet w/ new trainees and those who successfully finished their degree this year. Sounds nice and I think I should attend; they also want to award the best new nurses, so I guess that's why they didn't just send me an email as usual. We'll see...

31.08.2025

• Brush: RazoRock Beehive 28 mm
• Razor: Leaf Thorn
• Blade: Derby Premium (half DE)
• Lather: Zingari Man - The Rambler
• Post-Shave: OAM - oli del benessere sensitive skin toner
• Passes & Info: a single pass on the head and on the neck, a really smooth solid shave.

A night shave before my first shift as a RN tomorrow. Kinda nervous, kinda excited.

Rambler's sweet scent is kinda intoxicating, normally I'm not too keen on sweet things but this one is really fascinating. Had worked up a really good lather today, so it was quite enjoyable to shave today.

Have a good start into the new week!