What shaving should be: Great shave to start the week
A really fine shave today, and Maggard shaving soaps are first-rate, though personally I do not like the packaging: the tub is 2″ high, which leaves 1 1/8″ of empty space above the soap—that is, the tub is more than half empty. I don’t like it because I stack my soaps on shelves, and that empty space takes up room. And (for me) the empty space serves no purpose: I buy many soaps from makers that fill their containers to the brim, and have no problem loading the brush. So all that empty space is (for me) wasted space.
Some use a dripping wet brush (which I formerly did as well), and apparently do not hold the tub on its side but leave the water in the tub to be mixed with the soap, and the high sides keep the water in the tub, though probably 1 1/8″ is more than needed. I would think even 1/4″ would be plenty. (I give my dripping wet brush a shake, and then proceed to load, and the shake removes the excess water so that I load the brush even from full tubs with no mess.)
The soap itself is terrific, and I love the Lilac fragrance. I wonder why more soapmakers don’t offer a Lilac. Floral fragrances are very nice in the winter, it seems to me.
Three passes with the Shavecraft #102, which is rapidly becoming my favorite slant. It holds a Personna Lab Blue blade of several uses, and after three passes I had a lovely nick-free BBS result, having enjoyed the shave along the way.
A good splash of Pinaud Lilac Vegetal, which has already dried down to a very nice hint of fragrance, and Thanksgiving week begins.
The soap
You might be on to something with the Floral scent in the winter. My go to after shave in Pinaud Clubman Special Reserve, but I saw some Florida water at CVS and bought it. It was a welcome addition.
As far as the soap, I think that could be solved for most people if Maggards simply sold pucks.
Justin Dearing (@zippy1981)
24 November 2014 at 10:31 am
I recall you once openly disclosed receiving a free iKon slant (before it was officially released I believe)? Are you still receiving free iKon razors? Nothing wrong with that, but I’ve been part of a discussion recently where the objectiveness of all shaving bloggers was strongly called into question….
shawnsel
24 November 2014 at 10:36 am
The 102 is aesthetically superior to the Stealth and now, based on your performance praise, the 102 is on my Christmas wish-list.
I wish my wife liked the Lilac Veg as much as I do. It is my all-time favorite AS, but she hates it. Therefore, I only use it when she won’t be around, which is rarely.
tedschade
24 November 2014 at 10:41 am
Beautiful brush! Who manufacturers it?
Larry
24 November 2014 at 10:42 am
@shawnsel: I did get one iKon slant as a gift some years back, but the Shavecrafts (#101 and #102) I purchased just as anyone would: retail order on-line. You might be thinking of the #102 slant, which I got as a loaner before it was released, but of course I had to return it, which is why I subsequently bought a copy of the head. I already had a spare iKon handle, so that’s the handle I use.
As you know, I do disclose when (on the rare occasions it happens) that I receive something as a gift. Almost always, I purchase. Indeed, Whollykaw (I found out it’s one word and is a phonetic version of “Holy cow!”, which what someone responded after testing the (unnamed) soap as it was being developed) did offer to send a free sample, but (as I usually do), I said that I would prefer to purchase, which I did.
I actually have a statement on my “Disclaimer” page:
I’m interested in the discussion, though, particularly if my name is being mentioned. Do you have a link?
LeisureGuy
24 November 2014 at 10:59 am
@tedschade: Yeah, Lilac Vegetal seems to be one of those fragrances (like vetiver) that some dislike intensely. I will note that the Tuckaway handle was too stubby for my taste, and I think that’s the handle that comes with the #102 routinely, but you can buy the head alone.
@Larry: That’s a Rod Neep brush. It’s a fluffy knot, but works quite well for me.
LeisureGuy
24 November 2014 at 11:02 am
Thanks. You have the best collection of shaving toys of any (hairy) kid I know 🙂
Larry Isaacs
24 November 2014 at 8:57 pm
All due to “research.” 🙂
LeisureGuy
24 November 2014 at 9:39 pm