This didn’t start out as a planned theme week. I really wanted to compare the Proraso Refreshing (green) shaving cream with the C.O. Bigelow Premium shaving cream in two shaves over the course of a week. C.O. Bigelow is the US importer of Proraso products, and handle fulfilling Proraso orders in the US. And reportedly, their house-branded shaving cream is either made by Proraso or is specifically rebranded Proraso green shaving cream. I want to find out for myself if there’s a difference.
So there’s the start: much like the blade comparisons I’ve done, I’ll compare the C.O. Bigelow cream with the Proraso green cream and keep the Proraso pre-shave and aftershave in place for both of those shaves, just to keep them even.
That’s how the plan for the week started. But it’s hard to miss all of the green in this week’s shaves. So I figured I could easily slip in the Cella Organic Aloe Vera (green) line, especially since I also recently picked up their green rapid shaving cream, so I’m getting to two new products in one week while still maintaining my Proraso Sunday.
And you’ll notice the oddity of not having any shaving soaps in the mix this week. And this brings me to the third new product I’m using this week, the Omega S10049 synthetic shaving brush. As a rule, I like to start a brush out with a soap, as that will really test its ability to lather. But given the theme for the week, I was willing to forgo that rule to get two new lathers in, and decided to just use the S10049 this week anyway.
You’ll notice that it’s got that distinct boar-bristle look, and the synthetic bristles are far less soft than my Yaqi. But the form factor is very similar to the Proraso brush, so I’m expecting good things.
After choosing the lathers and their companions, I looked at which razor to use. I don’t have a green razor, and the Henson mild would be the obvious choice as it’s my preferred go-to for just about everything, but it’s been two months since I got and used the Mühle R89 for the first time, so it’s clearly due.
And what better blade to try in it during a week of green products than the Gillette 7 O’Clock Super Stainless (green). Yes, I pondered the Astra Green for this week, but I’ve used them a few times recently, so it’s another blade’s turn.
I’m excited to put the Mühle through its second week of shaves, especially matched up with the 7 O’Clock green blade. Of all the recent razor acquisitions, it’s the Mühle, Razorock, and Feather I’m most excited about.
So that’s the origin story on the week’s shaves. What started as a comparison of shaving creams turned into an entire themed week of shaves around the color green. This is the kind of planning and consideration that goes into my shaves.
I’m unusually excited for this shave week, and I’m not sure why I’d be more excited about this week than any other, but I’ve been looking forward to it since I put it in the plan. So let’s see if it lives up to my expectations.
The Ratings
Sunday’s Shave, #270. The Refreshing Proraso Sunday Green Shave.
The setup:
- Razor: Mühle R89
- Blade: Gillette 7 O’Clock Super Stainless (green)
- Pre-Shave: Proraso Refreshing pre-shave cream (green)
- Brush: Proraso boar shaving brush
- Soap/Cream/Gel: Proraso Refreshing shave cream (green)
- Alum Block: Stirling Soap Co. Alum
- After Shave: Proraso Refreshing after shave balm (green)
- Stats:
- 4th shave with the Mühle razor
- 2nd blade used with the Mühle
- 13th shave with the 7 O’Clock green blade (2nd among the Gillette 7 O’Clock brand)
- 11th shave with the Proraso green cream
- 13th shave with the Proraso green combo (cream and soap with the pre-shave and aftershave balm)
- 74th shave with the Proraso boar brush
- 89th almost perfect shave
- 25th shave with an overall rating of 24 (12.2% of all logged shaves)
One reason I was excited for this week’s shaves was to get back to the Mühle razor. My first week with it was outstanding, and it really seemed like the kind of razor I need to use often–comfortable, mild, smooth, and consistent. And this second week should help prove that out.
The first shave of the week is certainly helping in that respect. There was a surprising amount of blade noise, but almost no blade feel. And the result was a perfect shave in terms of comfort–no irritation, even with the alum on the neck. And with an extra pass, I got the closeness I want on my neck, though there are a couple of very small spots of stubble that I couldn’t get rid of.
The shave had that wonderful cooling feeling of the menthol, primarily from the pre-shave, but continuing through to the balm, and the cream lathered wonderfully today–almost as if it knows it’s really being judged this week.
Again, an amazing start to the shave week that I’m really looking forward to continuing on Tuesday and Thursday.
Comfort: 25 of 25
Quality/Closeness: 24 of 25
Overall: 24 of 25
Tuesday’s Shave, #271. The Cella Green Interlude Shave.
The setup:
- Razor: Mühle R89
- Blade: Gillette 7 O’Clock Super Stainless (green)
- Pre-Shave: Cella Organic pre-shave gel (green)
- Brush: Omega S10049 synthetic brush
- Soap/Cream/Gel: Cella Organic Aloe Vera Rapid shaving cream (green)
- Alum Block: Stirling Soap Co. Alum
- After Shave: Cella Organic after shave balm (green)
- Stats:
- 1st shave with the Omega S10049 synthetic brush
- 4th shave with a Cella green combo (1st with the rapid shaving cream)
- 43rd lather used in my shaves, 18 remaining to try
- 90th almost perfect shave
- 26th shave with an overall rating of 24 (12.6% of all logged shaves)
- 7th almost perfect shave with the 7 O’Clock green blade
It’s always nice when I plan what I’m sure will be an excellent shave comes out as good (or better) than I expected. This one was outstanding for a number of reasons.
First, it was comfortable, smooth, close, and surprisingly efficient. It only took 3 passes to get the closeness I want, and I didn’t really need much in the way of extra strokes to clean things up.
The entire Cella organic line proved its quality, as my new rapid shaving cream lathered very well and provided a great, slick shave.
The Omega S10049 synthetic brush performed wonderfully as well, lathering efficiently and lathering my face comfortably.
So another amazing shave, with one more coming that I’m expecting to be excellent as well.
Comfort: 25 out of 25
Quality/Closeness: 24 out of 25
Overall: 24 out of 25
Thursday’s Shave, #272. The C.O. Bigelow Comparison Shave.
The setup:
- Razor: Mühle R89
- Blade: Gillette 7 O’Clock Super Stainless (green)
- Pre-Shave: Proraso Refreshing pre-shave cream (green)
- Brush: Omega 10019 boar shaving brush
- Soap/Cream/Gel: C.O. Bigelow Premium shaving cream
- Alum Block: Stirling Soap Co. Alum
- After Shave: Proraso Refreshing after shave balm (green)
- Stats:
- 1st shave with the C.O. Bigelow Premium shaving cream
- 44th lather used in my shaves, 19 remaining to try
- 2nd pairing of both a Proraso pre-shave and after shave balm with a non-Proraso lather
- 6th shave with the Mühle R89
- 15th shave with the 7 O’Clock green blade (tied for 3rd most among all blades)
- 91st almost perfect shave
- 27th shave with an overall rating of 24 (13.0% of all logged shaves)
Okay, let me address the primary question from my own perspective: the C.O. Bigelow shaving cream is very obviously the same thing as the Proraso green cream. The only difference seems to be that the Bigelow has a slightly stronger menthol scent. But that’s it. Same consistency and texture, same lather quality, same performance. But I’ll hold true to my own rules and try it twice before I officially put my ratings into the Lather Ratings page.
I will also declare here and now the Mühle R89 as one of my favorite razors, and I’m not sure how I didn’t get it sooner. Its performance is nearly identical to the Henson mild, and this week made me think that I’m going to have to put the two razors head-to-head sometime later this year.
This shave was another amazing one, with no irritation for the third straight day, and perfectly acceptable closeness. Clearly, I can use the Bigelow cream interchangeably with the Proraso green, and will happily come back to any of these three green shaves in the future.
Next week, and adjustable set of shaves.
Comfort: 25 out of 25
Quality/Closeness: 24 out of 25
Overall: 24 out of 25