Frank Shaving SIG SOLO Brushes: The Wait Is Over

Hello, I’m SIG SOLO. Welcome to my channel and welcome to today’s shave.

This one is special. Ming at Frank Shaving sent me the first SIG SOLO brushes, and I have been waiting months to show you these.

The SIG SOLO Brushes

He made two final versions. One has a black G5B synthetic knot. The other has a Manchurian Silvertip badger knot. Both are 26mm. Wonderful brushes, both of them.

I’m also showing you the prototype, which has a mixed badger knot. That’s where this whole thing started. The difference between the prototype and the finals shows up right away in the branding: on the prototype, the SIG SOLO name pops. You can see it from across the room. I asked Ming to dial it back, to make it more subtle, and that’s exactly what he made. On the final versions the name is there, but you have to look for it. That is what I wanted.

The handle is roughly the same size as a Trafalgar cap. Maybe a touch thinner. Again, exactly what I asked for.

Both are on Ming’s site. He ships to the entire world. And if you use my discount code at checkout, you get 20% off, on everything on the site, including items already on sale.

Full disclosure: I make nothing on these. No commission, no percentage whatsoever. Ming offered me this collaboration months ago and I insisted on keeping it that way. I’m showing you because I genuinely think they are beautifully made. If you like them, buy one. If you don’t, don’t. There is nothing else in it for me.

The Frank Shaving Copper Razor

Ming also sent two razors. The one I’m shaving with today is a three-piece, solid copper, chrome plated. The whole razor, not just the handle. It’s 114 grams with about a four-inch handle. He knows I like this weight and this length.

On the site there are three finish options: bronze, matte chrome, and chrome. All three are solid copper underneath. Depending on the finish you pick, the price lands just under $25. With my discount code at 20% off, you’re right at $20 or under for a solid copper razor. I think that’s good value.

The balance point sits right about where I expected. The aggression looks a touch above the standard to me, maybe around a 1mm gap. I hadn’t used this one before, it came in the door just before this shave. So I’ll tell you how it actually feels.

The Soap: MSC Louie

The soap today is Louie, a collaboration between Master Soap Creations and The Wet Shaving Store. A Shave Dad collab as well, from what I understand. Andy at the store sent me the soap. I bought the splash myself.

The scent is built around Jo Malone’s Vetiver and Golden Vanilla. To me, personally, it reads as tobacco and vanilla. But not the dark, brooding, stay-home kind. This is the going-out version. Party friendly. Think a member at the bar, listening to jazz on a Friday night. I kept reaching for the word during the shave and couldn’t find it. Speak easy. Speakeasy. There it is.

The aftershave starts clear, transparent. Give it a shake and it goes milky and murky. Wonderful scent in both.

I’m also using Pete’s bowl, from Hendrix Classics and Co., which he very kindly sent me a good while back.

The Shave

My wife is getting on the plane in Copenhagen right now, on her way home to Luxembourg. I haven’t seen her since September. She was on an exchange year, studying abroad. She turned 18 while she was away. I’m really looking forward to seeing whether the teenager I sent comes back as a young woman. I’m sure she will. She had a fantastic host family. A ton of new friends from all over the world.

The lather came out exactly how I like it. I nearly under-watered it, but I didn’t. Perfect. If I may say so. And I may, because it’s my lather.

The blade is a Wizamet on its fourth use. Three dots on the dispenser. That’s how I keep track.

First pass: easy, lovely. With 114 grams in hand the temptation is to press. Resist. Trust the weight. I went in a touch steeper than usual, around 25 degrees rather than 30. A bit more blade feel than usual, but nothing unpleasant.

Second pass: wonderful feedback. Perfect shave.

I’ll put a link below for the razor and for the brushes. And again, the discount code gives you 20% off everything on the site, even items already on sale. I want to say this plainly, because it seems unusual for YouTube: I don’t get a commission. I don’t get anything. If you want to support this channel, watch the videos. Buy what I use because you want it, not to do me a favor.

The next shave in the AC series will be the Enoch. My favorite stainless steel AC razor of all time. You have that to look forward to.

Thanks for watching. We are not obsessed. We are dedicated. SIG SOLO out.