September 15, 2024

• Brush: Zenith B40 28mm Boar

• Razor: Koraat 7/8" Near Wedge Spanish Point

• Lather: 345 Soaps - Undercut - Soap

• Toner: Thayers - Lavender - Toner

• Aftershave: 345 Soaps - Undercut - Aftershave

• Talc: Yardley Gold
   
  2 passes. Face lather. Excellent shave.

Great F1 race-day shave!

September 15, 2024

• Brush: Semogue 1800
• Razor 1: Baili BR171
• Razor 2: Baili BR171
• Blade 1: Bolzano Superinox (Germany) (2)
• Blade 2: Bolzano Superinox (Egypt) (2)
• Lather: Chiseled Face - Gearhead - Soap
• Post Shave: Pinaud - Clubman Special Reserve - Aftershave
• Fragrance: Azzaro - Pour Homme Night Time - EdT

Today I’m comparing gear, so Gearhead was in order.

I recently picked up a few of the new Bolzano which are made in Egypt, to compare to the older ones made in Germany. Both blades had one shave on them to brush off any pesky excess coating.

I have two Baili BR171 razors, because who doesn’t? I bought them both with my own money, one from Chiseled Face and one from Ali Express. Thanks to @djundjila@sub.wetshaving.social for convincing me that this was the obvious choice of razor for a side-by-side comparison.

I used the Egypt blade on the left side of my face, and the Germany blade on the right. I shave my whole face, because I’m not a slacker, baby boomer, nor am I running for Republican Vice President of the United States. I do the standard with, across, against, then clean up below my jaw.

The differences between the blades are slight, but noticeable. I was very happy with both of them.

Here are the results:

Sharpness: Egypt wins. It just moves effortlessly through even the thickest whiskers on my chin, where the Germany blade lets you feel each hair as it’s being cut. The German blades aren’t tuggy, necessarily, they just give you more feedback.

Closeness: A tie. Both blades gave me such a close shave, which is especially notable considering the semi-mild razors I used them in. Important to note, however, that the German blade came out of the gate faster. The first 2 passes I was sure the German blade would give a closer shave, but the Egyptian blade caught up on the ATG pass for a photo finish.

Comfort: Both blades treat me very well. I would call them both “smooth”. This was confirmed when I applied the aftershave. Clubman Special Reserve is typically very stingy because it’s basically water and alcohol, but both sides of my face took it with ease. I didn’t even grimace.

Longevity: TBD. I know the German blades can last around 10 shaves easily. In time I’ll know if the Egypt ones are worth the $39.99 price tag, because for that price, they better last a little longer than a typical blade.

Sun 15 Sep 2024

• Brush: Semogue Owner’s Club (cherry wood and boar) (46)
• Razor: Zwilling J. A. Henckels Friodur 17 (NOS, 7/8", hollow ground, stainless steel)
• Lather: Declaration Grooming – Scrooge
• Post Shave: Declaration Grooming – Massacre of the Innocents – Liniment
• Fragrance: Spearhead Shaving Company Seaforth! – Spiced

I stumbled upon this frag combination by luck. I wouldn’t have thought of combining MOTI with Scrooge if I hadn’t had MOTI fresh on my mind from yesterday’s shave.

Scrooge is firmly in Christmas market scent territory for me with its boozy spicy blood orange combo, so adding Seaforth! Spiced to the mix was obvious, and would have been predictably good, but nothing great. The warm sweetness of MOTI rounds out the spicy scent combination like a missing puzzle piece, as a team player. All three fragrances smell different and better together in this combo than alone.

The liniment is good stuff. I just don’t think of using it very often.

Sep 15, 2024 - Sidama

• Brush: Chisel & Hound The Diplomat 26mm v19 Fanchurian Badger Knot
• Razor: Mühle R41
• Blade: Gillette 7 O’Clock Super Stainless (Green) [16]
• Lather: Gentleman’s Nod - Sidama - Soap
• Post Shave: Gentleman’s Nod - Sidama - Aftershave
• Fragrance: Hermès - Terre d’Hermès Eau Intense Vétiver - Eau de Parfum

Sidama and Eau Intense Vetiver did not pair as well as I had hoped. I should have gone with Rumble.

Rating: 4/5