Before I begin today’s entry, an introduction of a new feature here at Shaveblog — the dreaded SOTD, or Shave Of The Day. You know, when a guy lists the products he shaved with that day. Ewww, right? I used to see these “SOTD” posts on the shavegeek forums and cringe, but then I started keeping a blog about shaving, which is even lamer. So, in response to reader requests, the inaugural SOTD —

Taylor’s Rose shaving cream, Vulfix #2234 brush, Gillette Super Speed DE razor, Trumper’s Coral Skin Food.

Over Thanksgiving I bonded with my dad over shaving, which was nice. Then my brother piped in and started complaining about his shaves — even with the face-numbing Lab Series “Maximum Comfort” shaving cream I’d turned him on to years ago before I knew better, he still hates shaving with a Mach3. Hates the shave, hates the high cost. Hates it all.

So I promised him I’d put together a custom rig when we got home from Thanksgiving and ship it off to him. I’d given my dad a vintage Gillette Super Speed, a Vulfix #377 badger brush, and a tube of Trumper’s Violet shaving cream, but I went in a different direction with my brother. He’s got a much heavier beard than mine and my dad’s, plus he’s not really the kind of guy who’s going to loll around in the bathroom getting ready in the morning.

I’d already sent him a Vulfix brush eons ago, so he had that base covered. For the rest of the rig, I sent him the most no-brainer, quick and easy, thoroughly effective and totally excellent wetshaving newbie setup I could think of:

Nancy Boy shaving cream. I’ve gushed over this insanely great, reasonably priced, great smelling, super moisturizing shaving cream before. Suffice it to say, the Nancy Boy’s become one of my favorite shaving creams. It’s half the price of comparable English creams like Trumper, and where else are you going to find a gay-themed shaving cream that’s “tested on boyfriends, not animals”?

Schick Injector razor. The easiest safety razor of them all, yet perfect for heavier beards due to the thicker blade. I sent my brother one of my best Injectors, a 1940′s bakelite-handled job that’s clean as a whistle. I wish I’d known how much easier Injectors are to get up to speed with when you’re moving over from a modern razor like the Mach3 — it took me a few weeks to get comfortable with my first Merkur DE, but my very first shave with an Injector was a world-beater.

Schick Injector blades. Amazon’s always had the lowest price online for these excellent blades at $4.25 per 7-pack, but tonight I checked Drugstore.com and they’ve just dropped their price to $3.84. Free shipping on both sites if you buy enough blades to last you for awhile, which only makes sense.

My brother got the package yesterday, along with a printout of my original article on wetshaving I wrote to accompany my Today Show segment earlier this year, so tomorrow will be his first-ever old-school wetshave. I don’t want to turn my brother into a shavegeek, but I’d love it if this rig gives him a better shave and turns the ritual into something pleasant instead of a drag every morning.