Randy
Legendary Member
After the first shave with the original Freyja °°, it's time for the OC testing. I'm highly honoured that I'm included into the beta testers (again), although I'm not so experienced user when it comes to razors, but I'm trying my best, always with honesty and transparency. I opened a separate thread (if mods disagree, feel free to delete it, no questions asked), not to make @Nord Razors famous, but to discuss our experience, especially with the OC heads or even combining with the original Freyja, along with other potential testers that have received the 8 baseplates.
OC#41 x Los Jabones De Joserra "Spicier Than You Think" (Gourmand Addiction - Vetonia Base: more details about the soap in the SOTD thread) x Wizamet SI #2
I chose to start the testing in my secret laboratory with the biggest number. In my mind and while Dawid gave me no info or specs about the 3D baseplates he sent me, I decided to go "top-down", IF I am correct the #41 should be the most aggressive baseplate. Only the creator knows.
Although 3D, has good quality but I am sure it won't glide on the face as good, because neither the 3D heads last year did. Fits perfectly to the rest of the razor though & the handle goes all the way up, unlike the original Freyja that stops just on time, so beware of overtightening, it's plastic.
My thoughts during the shave:
WTG : The lather was denser with my Yaqi Ruby Red 2Band. The hybrid razor didn't bother and went through 7 days of growth like they weren't there. What a beast. Although smooth as hell, it was obvious that this head doesn't play games. I could feel the teeth on my skin and I have to say that I'm not really into open comb razors, I don't even have one! I only had a Fatip Grande, in the bin it went, for many different reasons.
I had the feeling that I was shaving with a vacuum cleaner, not a razor. The shaving "window" (angle) was so wide, that even with the shallowest angle (the handle miles away from my face), I could still shave my face and even feel the blade. Very clean and safe first pass although with tons of blade feel on the moustache area. The efficiency is far beyond the efficient (°°°) baseplate of Freyja. No strong conclusions yet, though. I'm still in the dark. The baseplate tended not to glide as well, just as I suspected before the shave.
ATG/XTG: Thinner & slicker lather, the razor holds the blade as tight as the original Freyja, no question about that. Very rigid blade edge, no chattering. The highlight of all Freyja heads, plastic or steel. The efficiency is out of this world on the cheeks. You must know what you are doing though, the #41 OC takes no prisoners with tons of blade feel, but if you don't press down often, there is no risk. If you have a pimple, it WILL destroy it. I went XTG in the chin area & moustache, smooth result, but still requires your attention, while the original Freyja doesn't. You can drink coffee with one hand and shave with the other, especially with ° & °° baseplates. Well, that's not the case with this devil's tool. Even on XTG, the teeth are there and test your technique. Bare blade in the face but with a rigid and safe way. I wouldn't suggest it to my dear friend though who is into wet shaving from last week. Needs experience and very light hand. I could stop here to avoid irritation, but I'm a soldier of testing, I have to go till the end.
ATG/Touch Ups: Pulled the remaining lather and started hunting the rough spots. "What rough spots?" This thing went deep. Tried to buff on the chin & moustache area, but without any hair there now, it wasn't as easy. The blade was there and while it DOES forgive some mistakes, it WILL bite if you overdo it. It did bit me on a pimple on the moustache and pulled some blood. Nothing major, but I have been warned. I kept going and I pay for it.
Conclusions: While it's aggression reaches to the levels of the R41 aka "The Beast", with tons of blade feel especially on the ATG pass and if you haven't any hair left to shave anymore, it will go even deeper than the original Freyja °°° that I used last week for the first time. It's way smoother than the R41 obviously, doesn't feel rough & doesn't pull hair like Muhle. I cannot predict how the other baseplates will serve me, but I have a feeling that this one (#41) is the most aggressive of all. "Well, well Captain Obvious, guess what; it's the biggest number for a reason".
I ended up with a full BBS experience, with the bite on the moustache, BUT the feeling on the buffing (moustache) when I had no hair left, wasn't easy. The teeth are prominent and although the exposure is very little (with fantastic alignment too, no manual setting needed at all, you just throw the blade into the top cap and screw the handle, just as the original Freyja), you have to be careful and it's not for a really quick shave in a morning rush, especially if you don't know what you are doing and still learning. Light touch only, no overshaving and I can guarantee a BBS without any irritation.
Post Shave: With all that said, when I rinsed my face for the final time with only hot water and just before I put on the splash, I saw that I had a bit closer shave than with Freyja °°° but with way less moves. The splash burned like hell for 5 seconds only, leaving behind smooth skin. No redness, no real nicks, no heating. Just pure BBS. I must tell though that I much prefer the sensation of the °°° when I overshaved last time, comparing to this monster tonight. Did I enjoy it though? 100%. I am now curious how this baseplate would shave in full stainless. Damn Dawid.
Disclaimer: Again, I'm not a razor expert, I haven't much experience like you do good people here have, but I have a very sensitive face which always tells the truth no matter what will I use. This is where my reviews are based. Thanks so much Dawid for the opportunity and thank you fellow wet shavers (if you reach this point) for reading my adventures. Sorry for my language mistakes, I'm trying my best as you know.
Will try the rest OC combos with different soaps/blades, to have a more wide view of their cutting abilities.
George
Last edited:
