Shave of the Day - 3/22

Cold Water Rinse

Van Der Hagen Deluxe

Jayaruh #391 Synthetic

C.V. Heljestrand

C.V. Heljestrand Wedge

CWR

Pinaud Clubman

The Van Der Hagen Deluxe Shave Soap face-lathered well with the Jayaruh #391 Synthetic brush. Two passes and touch ups with the C.V. Heljestrand Lather Catcher with a C.V. Heljestrand Wedge blade gave me a close, comfortable shave. After a cold water rinse I finished off with Pinaud Clubman AS. I am clean, smooth, and refreshed...

Shave of the Day - 3/21

Cold Water Rinse

Van Der Hagen Deluxe

Jayaruh #391 Synthetic

Luxor Pro Master

Gillette Silver Blue

CWR

Pinaud Clubman

The Van Der Hagen Deluxe Shave Soap face-lathered well with the Jayaruh #391 Synthetic brush. Two passes and touch ups with the Luxor Pro Master with a Gillette Silver Blue half blade gave me a close, comfortable shave. After a cold water rinse I finished off with Pinaud Clubman AS. I am clean, smooth, and refreshed...

Shave of the Day - 3/20

Cold Water Rinse

Van Der Hagen Deluxe

Jayaruh #391 Synthetic

Gillette New Improved Tuckaway 

Gillette Silver Blue

CWR

Pinaud Clubman

The Van Der Hagen Deluxe Shave Soap face-lathered well with the Jayaruh #391 Synthetic brush. Two passes and touch ups with the Gillette New Improved Tuckaway with a Gillette Silver Blue half blade gave me a close, comfortable shave. After a cold water rinse I finished off with Pinaud Clubman AS. I am clean, smooth, and refreshed...

Shave of the Day - 3/19

Cold Water Rinse

Van Der Hagen Deluxe

Jayaruh #391 Synthetic

Gillette New Improved Tuckaway 

Gillette Silver Blue

CWR

Pinaud Clubman

The Van Der Hagen Deluxe Shave Soap face-lathered well with the Jayaruh #391 Synthetic brush. Two passes and touch ups with the Gillette New Improved Improved Tuckaway with a Gillette Silver Blue half blade gave me a close, comfortable shave. After a cold water rinse I finished off with Pinaud Clubman AS. I am clean, smooth, and refreshed...

Shave of the Day - 11/2

Cold Water Rinse

Van Der Hagen Deluxe Shaving Soap
Jayaruh #30RS
TNNSER 3D Black/Green
CVS CS SE
CWR
Lucky Tiger AS

My prep was just a cold water rinse. The Van Der Hagen Deluxe Shaving Soap face lathered well with the Jayaruh #30RS Badger Brush. I did two passes and a cleanup with the TNNSER 3D Black/Green razor with a CVS CS SE blade and ended up with a close, comfortable shave. After a cold water rinse, I finished off with Lucky Tiger AS. I am clean, smooth, and refreshed...

Shave of the Day - 9/29

Cold Water Rinse

Van Der Hagen Deluxe Shave Soap

Jayaruh #224

1902 Kampfe Brothers/Star Lather Catcher

Vintage Gem Cutlery SE

CWS

Barbasol AS

My prep was just a cold water rinse. The Van Der Hagen Deluxe Shave Soap face lathered well with the Jayaruh #224 Brush. I did two passes with the 1902 Kampfe Brothers/Star Lather Catcher razor with a Vintage Gem Cutlery SE Blade and ended up with a close, comfortable shave. After a cold water rinse, I finished off with Barbasol AS. I am clean, smooth, and refreshed...

Shave of the Day - 9/28

Cold Water Rinse

Van Der Hagen Deluxe Shave Soap

Jayaruh #224

Fredrick Reynolds 5/8

CWS

Barbasol AS

My prep was just a cold water rinse. The Van Der Hagen Deluxe Shave Soap face lathered well with the Jayaruh #224 Brush. I did two passes with the Fredrick Reynolds 5/8 and ended up with a close, comfortable shave. After a cold water rinse, I finished off with Barbasol AS. I am clean, smooth, and refreshed...

Shave of the Day - 7/14

Cold Water Rinse

Van Der Hagen Deluxe Shaving Soap

Jayaruh #375 Synthetic

Gem Jr. Bar Lather Catcher

Vintage Gem Cutlery SE

CWR

Dove Men+Care Post Shave Balm 

My prep was just a cold water rinse. The Van Der Hagen Deluxe Shaving Soap face lathered well with the Jayaruh #375 Synthetic brush. I did two passes with the Gem Jr. Bar Lather Catcher razor with a Vintage Gem Cutlery SE blade and ended up with a close, comfortable shave. After a cold water rinse, I finished off with Dove Men+Care Post Shave Balm. I am clean, smooth, and refreshed...

Shave of the Day - 7/13

Cold Water Rinse

Van Der Hagen Deluxe Shaving Soap

Jayaruh #375 Synthetic

Classic Samurai

Personna

CWR

Dove Men+Care Post Shave Balm 

My prep was just a cold water rinse. The Van Der Hagen Deluxe Shaving Soap face lathered well with the Jayaruh #375 Synthetic brush. I did two passes with the Classic Samurai razor with a Personna blade and ended up with a close, comfortable shave. After a cold water rinse, I finished off with Dove Men+Care Post Shave Balm. I am clean, smooth, and refreshed...

Shave of the Day - 7/12

Cold Water Rinse

Van Der Hagen Deluxe Shaving Soap

Jayaruh #375 Synthetic

Valet VB2

Valet AutoStrop (25)

CWR

Dove Men+Care Post Shave Balm 

My prep was just a cold water rinse. The Van Der Hagen Deluxe Shaving Soap face lathered well with the Jayaruh #375 Synthetic brush. I did two passes with the Valet VB2 razor with a Valet AutoStrop blade and ended up with a close, comfortable shave. After a cold water rinse, I finished off with Dove Men+Care Post Shave Balm. I am clean, smooth, and refreshed...

Shave of the Day - 1/5

Proraso Pre Shave

Van Der Hagen Deluxe

Jayaruh #144

Gillette New Improved

Astra SP

CWR

Thayer's Lemon WH

Barbasol AS

I started off with Proraso Pre Shave. The Van Der Hagen Deluxe Shaving Soap face-lathered well with the Jayaruh #144 Badger brush. I did two passes with the Gillette New Improved and an Astra SP blade and ended up with a close, comfortable shave. After a cold water rinse, I finished off with Thayer's Lemon WH and then Barbasol AS. I am clean, smooth, and refreshed...

Shave of the Day - 9/28

Proraso Pre Shave
VDH Deluxe Shaving Soap
Jayaruh #206
Igor by twhite
CVS SE
CWR
Thayer's Lemon WH
Pinaud Clubman

I started off with Proraso Pre Shave. The VDH Deluxe Shaving Soap face-lathered well with the Jayaruh #206 badger brush. I did two passes with the Igor razor by Tom and a CVS SE blade. It was a very comfortable shave. I had it set wide open and didn't know it. The angle was easy to get. After the first pass, I was going to change the setting, and discovered that the blade was all the way back, so I moved it all the way forward. I ended up with a close, comfortable shave. After a cold water rinse, I finished off with Thayer's Lemon WH and then Pinaud Clubman AS. I am clean, smooth, and refreshed... The only weird thing was that after rinsing, the razor wanted to hold on to water like the 1924 Shovelhead. I just gave it a few extra shakes and continued.

Featuring Igor, the SE razor by Tom.

Observations:

1. Because of the hump, it looks heavier than it really is. The weight is just right.
2. Handle length is not an issue. It is "fatter" than most which makes it look shorter, but the razor is actually the same length as my 1912. The extra girth gives the handle a great feel. I see no need for extra grip on the handle. There was no issue with slipperiness. 
3. The blade loads easily. Although, after I shaved and cleaned the razor and blade, I was going to put the blade back in. I didn't have my glasses on and I tried to put it in backwards. That did not work. After I realized my mistake, I turned it around and it loaded easily.
4. The hump is a great guide for finding the right angle. My shave was very smooth.
5. Adjustment. This razor is designed to make the Blade slide forwards and back. What is changing is the exposure of the Blade. Exposure is how much the Blade is sticking out past the 2 points of contact on your face.   The Blade gap is how much the distance is between the Blade and lower bar. Increased gap in the case of Igor is a less aggressive shave. 
6. Water retention seems to be the only complaint for me.

I am glad Igor made it to me during SEptember. Thanks, Tom, for making this fun razor.

Shave of the Day - 8/24

Proraso Pre Shave
VDH Deluxe Shaving Soap
Jayaruh #204 Horse
Gillette Milord
Gillette Silver Blue
CWR
Thayer's Lemon WH
Lucky Tiger

I started off with Proraso Pre Shave. The VDH Deluxe Shaving Soap face-lathered well with the Jayaruh #204 Horse Hair brush. I did the two passes with the Gillette Milord with a Gillette Silver Blue blade and ended up with a close, comfortable shave. After a cold water rinse, I finished off with Thayer's Lemon WH and then Lucky Tiger AS. I am clean, smooth, and refreshed...

Shave of the Day - 8/3

Proraso Pre Shave
VDH Deluxe Shaving Soap
Jayaruh #18
Gillette Aristocrat
Gillette Super Stainless, “The Spoiler”
CWR
Thayer's Peach WH
Pinaud Vanilla

I started off with Proraso Pre Shave. The VDH Deluxe Shaving Soap face-lathered well with the Jayaruh #206 Badger brush. I did the two passes with the Gillette Aristocrat with a Gillette Super Stainless blade ("The Spoiler" R3, 1971) and ended up with a close, comfortable shave. After a cold water rinse, I finished off with Thayer's Peach WH and then Pinaud Vanilla AS. I am clean, smooth, and refreshed...

Shave of the Day - 6/22

Nivea Men Face Wash

VDH Deluxe Shaving Soap

Jayaruh #188

Gillette Tech

Personna Super

CWR, Asma Alum Block

Thayer's Lemon WH

Lucky Tiger

The VDH Deluxe Shaving Soap face-lathered well with my Jayaruh #188 synthetic brush. I did the two passes with the Gillette Tech razor and Personna Super blade and ended up with a close, comfortable shave. After a cold water rinse and alum block, I finished off with Thayer's Lemon WH and then Lucky Tiger AS. I am clean, smooth, and refreshed...

Shave of the Day - 6/10

Nivea Men Face Wash
VDH Deluxe Shaving Soap
Jayaruh #182
Lee Mfg. 5/8
New Improved
Rockwell Swedish Stainless
CWR, Asma Alum Block
Thayer's Lemon WH
Florida Water AS

The VDH Deluxe Shaving Soap face-lathered well with my Jayaruh #182 Synthetic brush. I did the first pass with the Lee Mfg. 5/8 and touch ups with my New Improved and Rockwell Swedish Stainless blade. I ended up with a close, comfortable shave. After a cold water rinse and alum block, I finished off with Thayer's Lemon WH and then Florida Water AS. I am clean, smooth, and refreshed...

Shave of the Day - 6/1

Nivea Men Face Wash
VDH Deluxe Shaving Soap
Bunny B-400
Gillette 195
Rockwell
CWR, Asma Alum Block
Thayer's Lemon WH
Florida Water AS

The VDH Deluxe Shaving Soap face-lathered well with my Bunny B-400 two-band badger brush. I did two passes with the Gillette 195 razor and Rockwell Swedish Stainless blade, and I ended up with a close, comfortable shave. After a cold water rinse and alum block, I finished off with Thayer's Lemon WH and then Florida Water AS. I am clean, smooth, and refreshed...

Shave of the Day - 5/22

Nivea Men Face Wash
VDH Deluxe Shaving Soap
Jayaruh #170 Synthetic
Ming Shi Adjustable
Rockwell
CWR, Asma Alum Block
Thayer's Lemon WH
Aqua Velva Musk AS

The VDH Deluxe Shaving Soap face-lathered well with my Jayaruh #170 Synthetic brush. I did two passes the Ming Shi Adjustable razor and Rockwell Swedish Stainless blade, and I ended up with a close, comfortable shave. After a cold water rinse and alum block, I finished off with Thayer's Lemon WH and then Aqua Velva Musk AS. I am clean, smooth, and refreshed...

Shave of the Day - 5/14

Nivea Men Face Wash
VDH Lime
HELDTITE Synthetic
Gem 1902 Lather Catcher
CVS SE
CWR, Asma Alum Block
Thayer's Lemon WH
Aqua Velva Ice Blue AS

The VDH Lime Shaving Soap face-lathered well with my HELDTITE Synthetic brush. I did two passes the Gem 1902 Lather Catcher razor and CVS SE blade, and I ended up with a close, comfortable shave. After a cold water rinse and alum block, I finished off with Thayer's Lemon WH and then Aqua Velva Ice Blue AS. I am clean, smooth, and refreshed...

Shave of the Day - 5/12

Nivea Men Face Wash
VDH Deluxe
Made-Rite 12 Boar
Gillette Super 84/ Kai Stainless
Schick E2/ Personna
CWR, Asma Alum Block
Thayer's Lemon WH
Aqua Velva Ice Blue AS

The VDH Deluxe Shaving Soap face-lathered well with my Made-Rite 12 Boar brush. I did two passes; one with my new to me Schick E2 razor with a Personna injector blade and one with the Gillette Super 84 razor and Kai Stainless blade.. After a cold water rinse and alum block, I finished off with Thayer's Lemon WH and then Aqua Velva Ice Blue AS. I am clean, smooth, and refreshed...