March '16 - 30 Day Rule/Focus Pix and Discussion Thread

That's what I'm hoping for, I still have a full head of hair and I'm sure that plays into the scheme of things. 4 and no irritation. Win!

 

First off, thank you as always Chris for organizing this thread and keeping it so strong. It is definitely a great place to hang out here on TSD. I am running a little bit late getting into the March thread and apparently I'm already 10 pages behind. I have also been called a hater in my absence, an accusation I vehemently deny! For the record I supported @Bama Samurai and his settings part of the time and @Rufus T. and his settings part. Just like any good non-committal attorney would.

For March, I plan to use my tech for the first time. It will get used with the usual suspects of blades the GSB, the Ladas, and the Bolzano. I might through some others into the mix later on. First up to set the standard will be the GSB. Looking forward to another great month here with the 30DC!

 

March 2016 Focus--Gillette Tech

March 2

Razor: Gillette Tech
Blade: Gillette Silver Blue
Brush: Maggard 24mm Synthetic
Soap: Tabac
Post: Cold water rinse, Alum block, Fine Clean Vetiver


Definitely behind on posts and promise to get caught up. Didn't shave yesterday because of having a full day of wedding stuff. So today was my first shave of the March focus and only the second time I have used the Tech I got in the nationwide tour box last year.

The razor is a very good weight and I definitely like the handle. Good grip. I had heard it was a mild razor and it definitely is mild. But it is pretty efficient. I started my executive off at a 4 and this razor is definitely milder. Maybe a 2 or 3. May have to compare later in the month.

Shave went very well even with the two day's growth. Very easy to find the angle on this razor. Riding the cap and dropping the handle a smidgen (a very technical term) and it was there. The first pass was WTG on cheeks and XTG on neck and chin. Good reduction but not great. The second pass was my usual ATG everywhere. Definitely a mild but efficient razor. Had a decent amount of touch-up to do on the jaw line, chin, and Adam's Apple. In reality I probably should have planned on three passes with the razor as mild as it is but the two plus touch-up ended at DFS with zero reaction from the alum. Not too bad. Tomorrow will be the same two pass shave but I may switch up and try three passes later in this blade's life.

 

3/2/16

Gillette Birth Quarter Tech (Y3)
Rapira Super Stainless (2)
Vulfix Super Badger (660)
Mitchell's Wool Fat
Georgetown G12 Scuttle
Pinaud Clubman Original



Another evening report on a morning shave. And a second long lasting BBS from the Rapira Super Stainless in my Birth Quarter Tech. Typical 2 passes. Small amount of touch up with the soap on my face followed by a cold water rinse and a little less than average amount of touch up. I found myself using a lot of pressure on my touch ups in my trouble spots before I realized it, but it didn't seem to cause any irritation. The Clubman was mild.

I hope everyone had a nice Wednesday.

 

I tried another new item today, Feather blades. Simply amazing! My first BBS shave! I tried my new Flair Tip Super Speed that was generously given by @Boojum1 in the newbie give away. The razor is gorgeous and the Feather blades performed flawlessly. No cuts and only a small amount of irritation but completely my fault. I only had one small touch up to my first BBS shave. I went WTG, WTG and XTG and lathered the Arko extra heavy for the XTG. I love this razor and blade combo.
Pso-Homemade mint oil
Razor-Gillette Flair Tip Super Speed
Blade-Feather (1)
Brush-Omega S
Soap-Arko stick
ASB-Nivea Sensitive

 

March into Artist Club Blades

March 2

Razor - Feather SS
Blade - (2)
Brush - BoS Omega 10066
Soap - Tabac
Post - Cold Rinse, Alum, Nivea Original Balm, The Veg

Day two on the Feather SS and Captain Mild and it followed a somewhat predictable pattern. In the past I've found my first day on the pain stick to be pretty good, the second day more of a challenge. Seems like I go into the second day and forget how to hold the flipping thing and end up tightening up and overthinking the whole process. Not sure why that happens, but it did again today. The first pass was quite ineffective as I kept resetting the blade on the stroke and going too shallow after setting down wrong. Sheesh. It's not rocket science. It's just a razor.

Second pass was a bit better as I took a few minutes in between passes and just "zen'd" into the second pass. I went WTG again since the first one had really done very little. Got a CCS on the second pass with no blood or other major issues. I lathered and did a third pass XTG with some ATG on the neck to take it to a near DFS and called it good. Used the Superspeed with Voskhod on a quick pass just to smooth it out a bit more for work.

The lather was great today, so I can't blame that. Just my brain refusing to stop thinking and let the muscle memory take over. It should improve as the days go by. The last time I used a pain stick for an entire month I actually considered staying with it as my main razor by the end of the month. My goal is to reach that confidence level within a couple of weeks, though the change in blades may slow that down some. For now the Kai Mild is still saving my butt on some bad sets and near misses. It's probably a good thing I started with it. When my technique settles down it is a very comfortable and effective blade in spite of the mildness. It probably isn't a horrible choice for an everyday AC blade. Five more days to work with it.

Finished with alum and some burn due to the extra work needed. Nivea to cool it off and the Veg because it's legendary.

 

VanDerHagen Deluxe; I'm about done with the soap. Maybe it needs a boar brush, it didn't respond to badger. Loaded from the puck, into the suribachi, and it just laid there. Ended up loading more and face lathering. This straight is big , wide , ugly, & very audible. WTG all over. ATG on my cheeks and chin. XTG on my neck is presenting me with issues. One day I'll get that Torrey Shorty straight in scales for more ease of use. Touched up with the FB for nice all over DFS. Not much noise from the alum, but The Veg!

 

I see lots of MWF around. For the cost of a sample, I ought to just get a whole puck. From what I read those that like it, love it. The scent is shall we say less than overpowering?

 

I got a $6 sample from Whipped Dog and I love it. When I use it up I'll get a full size. The scent is very nice and very light and mild.

 

I stared off with a persona red blade, van der hagen safety razor, VDH soap, loreal post shave balm, and coconut oil for preshave. However, I am waiting for my PAA shipment to come in and I will be using the PAA Beach soap and Razor Rock lime preshave soap all month.

 

What's you're general pattern on the shave? I may need to learn to do this...you've seen my hairline....

 

You are too kind, this thread is 95% people not named Bama Samurai! Best group to talk to on the Web.

 

Ahhhh, the Tech. The test of a DE shaver's skill, mild yet efficient, but has a narrow sweet spot. I look forward to seeing you catch the Baby on two, I predict by 18 March.

 

Bill, you may wanna try some skin stretching (if you don't already). It will help to maximize narrow gap on th Tech head, and allow you to get to sheer skin level.

 

Very good day! This is a case study in how a blade and razor pair to form a shave system. A Flare Tip's shallow and mild head curve allows the super sharp Feather to glide with ease. Just for future reference, the Flare Tip is about like using a Gillette adjustable on dial setting 3 or 4. Flare Tip razors are such a good design that they are still in production. We know them today as Weishi 9306, Micro Touch One, and Van Der Hagen.

 

My 1st pass is from the back of my head to the front.
My 2nd pas is from the from of my head to the back.
My 3rd pass is the back of my head from left to right * you could go left to right if you'd like
My 4th pass is buffing my troubled spots, top of head, left & right back sides.
I hope this helps.
K

 

Umm yeah. I'm thinking Wahl clippers for me, out of fear of cutting up my scalp. I admire guys that can shave their own scalps.

 

VDH was my first too. How did it go today?

 

Chris,
It's not bad. You could do it with your Weishi

 

That's an idea. If I did 30 Day rules on my head, I could do looser foci on the beard. Twice the variety, twice the technique practice. This may require a month of devotion in the future.