Shiny new toys

These two beauties need no introduction, both highly coveted and praised in the world of wet-shaving - and they're all mine. I already own way too many safety razors, but I'm attracted to shiny things - watches, zippos, cufflinks, etc- so when I came across these online, they were pretty hard to pass up.

I purchased my Merkur Futur from Men's Direct, where they offer $5 off purchases over $50 (coupon code: 501508235) and free shipping!

The Edwin Jagger DE89 was purchased from Amazon and includes a 5 pack of Derby blades and free two-day shipping (Amazon Prime - recommended, totally worth it).

Vendor Interviews: Bullgoose Shaving

What's the story behind the name 'BullGoose'?
BullGoose is a reference to one of my favorite books/movies, One Flew Over the Cuckoos Nest by Ken Kesey. I watched the movie at least 20 times and was prone to doing R.P. MacMurphy impersonations that probably are not fit for all audiences. In any case, there is a scene in the book (not so evident in the movie) where R.P MacMurphy wants to know who on the ward is the "BullGoose Looney". I thought it was an amusing term and it became my nickname in softball. When I joined the shaving forums, it became my screen name. So, when I opened my on-line shop, BullGoose Shaving Supplies it was.

When and how did you become interested in traditional wet-shaving?
When I flew home to Chicago one Thanksgiving my father gave me a copy of The Leisureguy's Guide to Gourmet Shaving by Michael Ham. I had nothing else to read on the plane ride back to Los Angeles so started reading the book and found it fascinating. I immediately went to the reference section and followed the tiny urls to the shaving forums and various on-line shops. I jumped right in and never looked back.

When and how did BullGoose Shaving Supplies get started?
Soon after joining the shaving forums I developed acquisition disorders like many do and became fairly active on the B/S/T trying out various razors and selling off the ones that did not work for me. I then saw WTB posts for Ted Pella blades and thought geez...I can organize a group buy and sell them off in lots of 25. That started the slippery slope. Soon after, I picked up 1000 Astra blades and was selling them on the B/S/T at which point the moderators approached me and informed me that multiple sales of the same product categorized me as a vendor. Fair enough. I filed my business documents in April of 2009 and launched the website the next month. I think I started with Astra and Derby blades, Taylor and Cyril Salter creams, a fewVulfix brushes and not much else.

How many employees, excluding yourself, keep BullGoose running?
I do not have any employees. My wife helps pick up supplies for me and helps me drop off packages at the post office when she can. However she works over 50 hours a week as a nurse practitioner and has a long commute so BullGoose Shaving is essentially just me.

What, if any, do you feel sets BullGoose Shaving Supplies apart from other vendors?
Because I am a one-man operation, I can personally interact with my customers and get to know them a bit as individuals. I try to offer a wide variety of products and try to include the standards as well as some more obscure products. My inventory is always evolving and I am open to product suggestions. In fact many of the products that I carry were a direct result of a customer's request or suggestion. For instance, I had never even heard of Klar until a customer suggested that I carry it. I tracked it down and it is now among my best selling products. I have also been known for my "one off" Simpson brushes. The Simpson Douglas, a two band version of the Simpson 57, was a collaboration between one of my customers, myself and Vulfix/Simpson. The Ehsan, a two band Simpson Colonel with a shorter loft, was a project for another one of my customers. I am not currently carrying either brush but I may bring them back if I think there is sufficient demand.

Tell me a bit about Portman Square. Do you have plans for other shaving goodies? What scents do you have in mind?
I would like to expand the Portman Square line eventually. The cream soaps are made for me by Queen Charlotte Soaps, LLC in North Carolina. Matthew is great to work with... Matthew and his mother will take my half-baked scent ideas, tweak them and produce exactly what I had imagined but did not know how to express. I am very happy with the creams and there are plans for a hard tallow soap in the near future. We have talked about also producing aftershaves (balms and splashes) but that is probably several months off. I may eventually add a scent or two but I will never have 33 flavors. I am thinking 4 scents max.

With everything BullGoose has to offer, do you ever 'get high on your own supply'?
Absolutely. My Acquisition Disorders are as bad as ever and now I can justify it by saying it is for "research purposes". Fortunately, I have my own bathroom but my wife just shakes her head when she sees my personal stash of shaving supplies. I figure the only way to comment on a product is to actually use it.

If you HAD to choose, what's your favorite, can't live without it, razor, blade, brush, lather and aftershave?
Wow...that's like choosing your favorite child? My favorite list is constantly being revised and is biased by favoring recent acquisitions...you know the honeymoon phase and all. Lets be reasonable here and give a top 3.

Razors: PILS, Wilkinson Sticky and Merkur Futur
Blades: Super Iridium, Schick Plus Platinum, Gillette Yellow
Brush: Simpson Douglas, Rooney Finest, Simpson Ehsan
Soap: D R Harris Marlborough Hard Soap, Yardley Hard Soap, Trumper (Tallow) Hard Soap
Cream: Acqua di Parma, TOBS Avocado, Harris Marlborough
Aftershave: Mr. Taylor, Alt Innsbruck, Trumper Marlborough

Besides wet-shaving, what are some other hobbies you enjoy?
Every morning starts out by going to the dog park with my Weimaraner. Besides playing with my dog, I enjoy playing softball (I play year round in an adult league), enjoy the blues and am a huge Beatles and Bob Dylan fan. In college, I once won a Bob Dylan trivia contest and won 50 tickets to a Dylan concert. I also like a few contemporary bands such as Wilco but rarely get out to concerts these days.

I am also a huge baseball fan (Chicago White Sox) and used to attend 25 to 30 games a year when I lived in Chicago. I try to catch as many games as I can on TV but really do not have the time to sit and watch like I would like to.

I am also addicted to the old fashioned newspaper. There is just something about thumbing through the paper and reading last night's box scores and local crimes. I know I could look them up on-line but, it just is not the same somehow. If the paper does not get delivered for some reason, it sets the day off on the wrong foot. A bit of OCD perhaps. I have found that most wet shavers have a touch of OCD whether they will admit it or not.

Win some free shave goodies!

Simply Shaving is kicking off its summer membership drive with a great contest to win some sweet prizes and goodies. Rules and entry details can be found here

Enough about the details, here's what you could win:

Grand Prize: Mühle Stylo DE Razor and Mühle Stylo Silvertip Shave Brush Set (actual color dependent on availability)
Prize A: Vintage Simpson Somerset T4 Brush and a Tub of Queen Charlotte Shave Cream (winner's choice of scents)
Prize B: A Rudy Vey Shaving Brush & 100 Wilkinson Classic DE Blades
Prize C: An Ambrose Shave Strop
Prize D: Ginger's Garden Glycerin Shave Soap Round and a 200ml Bottle of Geo F. Trumper Extract of Limes Cologne

Contest ends Friday August 12th

Go get some!

NOS Seaforth for Men

Snagged this sweet set off eBay at a very reasonable price. The set, which is in squeaky clean condition, includes a full jug of talc & shave mug with soap. Dating somewhere between the 40's and 50's, this must have been stored away someplace safe because the soap fragrance is still present. Check it out......

Portman Square: First use

First impression of Portman Square after my 1st shave:

       X3 black-tip SS l Asco l Omega 90081 l Portman Square l Nivea Sensitive

Today begins my first day of 'The Portman Square Challenge' and I'm excited to get it off and rolling. From Bullgoose Shaving Supply website, Portman Square is described as:

          "...named after a street in London's famed shaving district. The cream soap is a very dense cream or soft soap that contains tallow for a very creamy and protective lather.

          Notting Hill is Portman Square's signature scent...a blend of lavender and cedar wood essential oils with a hint of leathery earthiness. To me, it conjurs up images of leather bound books and wood paneling."

Upon first opening the tub the scent is somewhat mild and subdued, yet when whipped into a creamy lather (and I do mean creamy) the fragrance seems to explode. The cedar wood really seems to shine through, almost like sticking your head into the New Yankee Workshop and sniffing the inside of a freshly build dresser drawer. The cedar wood is noticeably there yet I can detect some subtle whiffs of the underlying lavender. I think Phil definitely hit it spot on when he says "it conjurs up images of leather bound books and wood paneling", perfect for Ron Burgundy or any other discerning gentleman. 

This shaving soap is labeled a 'shaving soap cream', as it exhibits both properties of a hard soap and a soft cream. Like a soap, I lathered right on top of the puck. I chose my Omega 90081 syntex, as (IMO) a boar brush would have too much backbone that would tear into the soap/cream, yet a badger brush would lack enough backbone to do likewise. I found the syntex brush to be a perfect middle ground. After a few good swirls of the brush I begin to face lather and the explosion begins. The Portman Square produced mounds (yes mounds) of thick, creamy, and protective lather; typical of what one would expect from a tallow based product.

After shaving, I decided to wait 30 minutes before applying any aftershave so I could get an idea of it's moisturizing properties. My hopes were that a balm or splash wouldn't be needed, but after some time my skin felt a little to tight for comfort. Yes, my skin was soft to the touch, but tight nonetheless, and I opted to finish with a balm for some extra needed nourishment.

Looking Ahead: 2011

Here's a small sampling of the ideas I have floating around my head for the Dashing Maverick:

The Portman Square Challenge:

-the idea: dedicate the month of January to the exclusive use of Bullgoose Shaving Supplies in-house brand of shaving soap, Portman Square.

-the result: an in-depth, thorough review of this new, hot product with the intention to educate the unknowing masses from a non-biased point of view.

The Great Chinese brush throw-down:

-the idea: to pit the Chinese brush manufactures against one another and determine once and for all if cheap can equal quality. Brands such as Frank Shaving, Lijun & 1980, and ebay seller kebi2009 will each be put to a month of vigorous use.

-the result: an in-depth, thorough, non-biased review to help my readers get the most bang for their buck.

Blades Revisited:
-the idea: to get back to 'my roots' and retest some blades I originally started with over 3 years ago but now often get overlooked. Brands such as Derby, Gillette Super Thins, and 7am platinum are on this list.

-the result: to determine whether it was my newbie technique or the brand which caused these blades to call the bottom of my blade box 'home'. 

What are your thoughts on these chosen topics? Is there anything you would like to see reviewed or compared? I welcome all comments and ideas and hope to make 2011 a very informative year.

SOTD: 122410

EJ 86 l Feather (4) l Frank Shaving l Crabtree & Evelyn Sienna

Frank Shaving Finest

An initial impression of the Chinese-made Frank Shaving finest badger brush

Frank Shaving Finest - 'Berwick' model

Straight from China and fresh out-of the box is my first brush from Frank Shaving (ebay seller: iantang19821024). I was surprised when I received a call from the concierge that I had a packing waiting for me. To be honest I wasn't expecting this to arrive til sometime after the holiday. Like all new shaving goodies I was excited to take it on a test run. 

My excitement quickly started to subside upon a closer look at the brush. You can see in the photo that the 'FS' logo is of poor quality and already starting to wear away. I suppose for slightly under $21 USD ($13.99 + 6.99 shipping) I should take this into account and lower my expectations slightly. Hopefully it performs as well as others have raved about. I broke out my puck of C&E Sienna and put the bristles to work.

there's gotta be over 20 hairs there!

My Initial impression: a cheap shedder. After a moderate lathering I was plucking hairs out one by one. Again, I tried my best to accommodate my expectations based on price and the words of others and gave it a second lathering. And again I'm removing hairs from my lather with every-other swirl of the brush. For this, I'll let the picture speak for itself. Another letdown - after 2 uses the logo has already rubbed away (though I now prefer the sans-logo look).

left- Frank Shaving finest l right- C&E best

Here is where I will offer some praise, when compared to my C&E best badger (post-use), the bloom is just as full and gorgeous.

For now though - with no 'official' use, and after only two test lathers - I won't totally dismiss this brush but I'm not showering it with praise either, time and use will decide that.

A Healthy Lifestyle & Shaving

With the New Year nearly upon us now is the perfect time to think about what changes we would like to make in our lives. With this in mind, I'd like to submit the following article, not as a means of bragging, but to hopefully inspire my readers to take that first positive step.

-From a previous thread I started at The Shave Den

Can a healthy lifestyle affect your shave? Furthermore, can shaving influence a healthy lifestyle?

Yes and Yes!

Let's start with the easy one first, and the reason most of us frequent this forum: Shaving.

For many of us, our morning (or evening) shave isn't just about removing yesterdays stubble but really the 'birth' of a new day. We take our time with each pass of the razor, focusing on angle and technique. We spend a little more time building an extra thick, protective lather. We contemplate which selection of aftershave or fragrance will deliver the perfect finish.

So why do we 'over-indulge' ourselves in this simple morning ritual?

Because we value our appearance, and a clean, smooth shave makes us feel good. We feel refreshed, clean, dapper, and (perhaps) even inspired. When your self esteem is high, you're more apt to make, choose, or influence other positive changes.

So how can a healthy lifestyle affect your shaves? Well, here's my story:

A couple months ago I was facing some tough personal situations. While I'd still enjoy my morning shave, I can't say I was pleased with what was below my shoulders (or even inside my cranium). A steady diet of fast-food, chips, and soda, along with my stresses at work and home were aging me unnaturally fast. I felt bad and I looked worse.

Six weeks ago I made my positive change. I got it in my head that my situation would only get worse unless I took some control. I started by eliminating fast-food and sugary drinks from my diet. I began taking a multi-vitamin every morning. I joined a gym and started lifting weights 4 days a week. I made it a point to 'eat for purpose' and not 'for pleasure'; making sure to drink lots of water and keeping my diet clean.

Yes it was a lot to take on at once, but before I knew it my body was feeling great! I've noticed a huge gain in my energy level, I now wake up before my alarm clock goes off, and my clothes have never fit me better!

And what about shaving?!?

My skin is damn near flawless! No more acne, no blotchy skin, and no ingrown hairs - even on my neck area. My face feels buttery-smooth and with a healthy glow. Even the hair on my head is fuller and softer. Since making my healthy lifestyle change the quality of my shaves have risen to the next level!

I know this was a lot to read, but hopefully my story can offer some help and inspiration to others. And you don't have to jump-in hardcore like I did, a simple step like adding a multi-vitamin can improve not only your shaves, but your well-being.

Sabi 3pc razor: Revisited

Can the Sabi 3pc razor dethrone Edwin Jagger?

foreground- Sabi 3 pc l backround- EJ DE86

With my last order from Shave-a-Buck, out of curiosity, I decided to take my chances on the new Sabi 3 piece razor. Upon first inspection it's easy to see how I became so drawn to this shaver - the gunmetal finish looks top-quality and you can really feel the durability and weight when first picking it up. So far so good, but as most of us in the wet-shaving world know, looks (and price) can be deceiving. To give this razor a proper evaluation I used it exclusively for a week, switching to my 'go-to' EJ 86 the following week, then recently back to the Sabi for a complete comparison. Though be it a relatively condensed amount of time, here's my review of this razor so far.

          Weight - When first handling, what stands out most is the heft of this razor, this baby is heavy. When compared to my Edwin Jagger I can feel a noticeable difference in my hands. While the weight of a razor in my opinion, is an important variable in performance, it's more so important that the razor be properly balanced. Here's an area where the Sabi could use some improvement - the majority of the weight is in the handle. Compared to the EJ, the Sabi is significantly bottom heavy, which requires more attention and detail to proper technique when shaving. 

          Finish - While reasonably priced around $7 USD, the gunmetal finish is rated grade-A. I found no flaws in the lacquer - a deep, smoke color glaze - and the workmanship is easily noticeable upon first glance.

         Blade Exposure - Another area where the Sabi could use some improvement. Unlike my EJ, when tightening down a blade, special attention needs to paid to assure even blade exposure on both sides.

To give me a broader evaluation of this razor I tried several different blades (Gillette Super Thins, Bic Chrome Platinum, Derby Extra). While the Super Thins and Derby combination left much to be desired, the Sabi really shined with the Bic CP's; much the same with the EJ. Though the balance may be an issue, with proper care to technique, the resulting shaves were quite respectable. The Sabi head construction is nearly identical to a Merkur 33c and I found the shave to be quite identical as well. Now, given the choice between the Sabi and the Edwin Jagger, I'll take the latter 8 times out of 10 (it's good to add some variety). Though it's no EJ, the Sabi does provide a good shave and is pleasing on the eyes. Given it's price/performance ratio, the Sabi is a winner. I give it a solid recommendation to those looking to add some variety to their morning shave.

The 3 P's

From Phil @ Bullgoose Shaving Supply

Pitralon shave soap l Pashana aftershave

Portman Square -  Notting Hill

Real Men Wear Rose

From the lovely JoAnna @ The Shave Den Store

TSD Victorian Rose a/s & edc

Waiting for me when I got home from work Monday night was this lovely package from JoAnna - soap maker, acquisition enabler, moderator, & Queen @ The Shave Den.

Over the Thanksgiving Holiday I brought along my Taylor's Rose shave cream in my dopp kit. After a good 4-5 days of use, my acquisition disorder took hold of me, I just had to get a matching fragrance for this awesome rose cream. At first, my manly instinct said 'men don't wear floral scents, especially one as feminine as rose?!' so I did some research and decided to give the Victorian Rose a go.

'Wow' is all I can really say! This fragrance is very pure and clean, and a perfect match to my Taylor's Rose. Upon first application it's pretty top heavy, with a pure rose petal scent but mellows out nicely to a fresh 'green' floral fragrance that lasts all day. I received several compliments (from some very attractive females) about how good I smell. Whoever said that roses are only for women?!

Antique Store Score (A.S.S.)

Not too bad for $3.00...

\

gold plated Gem Junior w/bakelite handle

'Tour of Italy'

From Gary @ Shoebox Shave Shop

Omega crema de barba l Visal dopo barba

Omega 90081

I'm excited my package from Shoebox Shave Shop finally arrived, the concierge at my apartment hadn't called so I wasn't expecting a delivery. I decided to check anyways and was thrilled when the gentleman at the front desk returned with a box from the back room. I've never tried the Omega soap before, though I've read it's similar to Proraso, my curiosity won out and I'm anxious to try it for Saturdays shave. The Visal Dopo Barba is an aftershave gel from Italy which I'm also excited to try.

Kudos to Gary for the excellent packaging and the extra bath soaps he included with my order.

Recent Haul

From Joe @ Shave-a-Buck

Sabi gun metal 3 piece

Dalan D'men sensitive l Palmolive (Australian) l Arko balm