The Good the Bad and the Ugly of 2025 (shaving)

p.b

p.b

Forum GOD!
As we haven’t had a GBU list for last year I thought I’d kick off.

The Good:
Simpsons latest Platinum fibre. I brought a CH3 at the beginning of the year and wasn’t initially impressed, I thought it felt too soft and a bit like a make up brush, plus it looks a great deal like a fibre that’s available from YAQI for very little money.
However, after a lot of use I’ve come to love the feel as a change from a real badger and the lather making abilities are second to none (I’ll ignore the possibility it’s identical to a cheap YAQI for the time being).

Sori Yanagi stainless steel bowl. Not the 13cm one sold by Aesop but the 16cm version I bought direct from Japan. I found the 13cm one too small for the majority of my brushes but 16cm is the Goldilocks size for me and, after breaking my third or fourth (or maybe even fifth) Gile’s pedestal bowl it’s reassuringly robust!

B&M Kalytos soap and splash. Fantastic minty freshness.

The Bad.
B&M discontinuing Cool. Glad I have a soap and two splashes in the cupboard.

The Ugly.
The Aion farce / fiasco of the last release.
 
Twelvefret

Twelvefret

Forum GOD!
The Good:
I began using the straight razors I found and honed circa 2018-19 and found my skills have improved over time so that I can achieve results that compete with the Feather, DE, Schick, and GEM blades. I may have become better at making lather. I no longer baby the brushes.

The Bad:
I need another DE blade. I no longer like the Astra SP's. I'm leaning toward yellow Feathers even though they cost more because I do not use a DE as often.

The Ugly:
Me
 
Randy

Randy

Forum GOD!
The Good:
1.Greek soap bases have become more competent and sometimes even better than many famous artisans.
2. The Goodfellas Smile Impero Closed Comb. Great build quality and fantastic non slippery Bulldog SS handle. Probably my best handle so far. The head is very efficient with some bite, but gives excellent shaves with the right blade inside.
3. The APShave Silksmoke 28mm. Although I got it very late, it's one if the best knots for me. Splays naturally but it's not floppy, and the backbone is excellent.

The Bad:
1. Abbate Y La Mantia 2021 soap formula. Very oily, although slick, never got a proper lather rather than a low structure film that was difficult to wash out from the razor/face/sink.
2. Southern Witchcrafts closed their operations. Very sad news, it was one the best vegan base for me out there, although the scents were polarizing for many people.

The Ugly: @SpeedyPC 🤣🤣🤣
 
Last edited:
Zorro

Zorro

Forum GOD!
The Good:
BIC Chrome Platinum. A noticeable step up in sharpness from other blades, but very smooth too (for me). I love them

The Bad:
Trying to finish off an older tube of Proraso Blue. I tried to love it, i really did, but it just feels a little greasy and slippery to me.

Shame because i love the Green line

The Ugly: Im getting older and my skin is saggier, my beard is tougher and a BBS is but a distant memory....
 
Estariol

Estariol

Forum GOD!
The Good:
- Finally figured out that my honing is good, but I'm bad at stropping.
- 3 Yaqi brushes - with a Cat Whisker, Husky, and a Timberwolf knot - at bargain prices.
- Yaqi Caramel Cat Whisker 26mm brush - great ergonomy and a bit more backbone than a Tuxedo.
- Dika (read: Dee-cuh) - a Serbian artisan soap, rich, giving abundant lather, along with a lot less loading needed than average.

The Bad
- Can't manage time for stropping practice or honing because of moving to another town, so I'm limited to shavettes.
- Yaqi Timberwolf 26mm knot - almost as soft as a Cashmere, but waay floppier. Gifted it away.

The Ugly
Nothing shaving related.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top