March into Artist Club Blades

March 3

Razor - Feather SS
Blade - (3)
Brush - Vie Long 12601 The Pony
Soap - Tabac
Post - Cold Rinse, Alum, Nivea Original Balm, The Veg

A rather strange day today. The first day was a great shave, given the time since I'd used this razor. Second day was just not a good day. Today was a mixed bag. But, the good news is the worst part of the shave was NOT the blade or razor, though they weren't perfect. The lather was the problem today. But, my morning was off a bit and I created the problem myself by rushing. The Vie Long takes a bit longer to soak than my other brushes and I know that, but I was a bit behind this morning and didn't put it in the N mug until right before getting into the shower. It probably only had about 2 minutes soak time and when I went to load the Tabac I got a horrible result. Just not enough water to pick up any soap. I did dip the brush again and get the puck a bit wet as well and managed to get something resembling a lather. And, it did produce two passes worth of something that resembled a lather.

The good news is that Tabac, even when totally abused, is slick enough to avoid any major injuries with the Kai Mild. I did, however, pick up one very minor cut on my left cheekbone when I set down too vertically. That error I blame on my fixation on the bad lather and just not paying attention. You can't place any AC blade against the face vertically. Well, you can, but you bleed. Luckily the Kai Mild was even very forgiving for that and it looked more like a bad paper cut than a razor cut.

Two passes and I called it a shave with a barely DFS. Good enough after all of that. Hopefully day four will produce something resembling order since I've messed it up two days in a row. I can only imagine how bad things could have been these past two days with a Super Pro Feather in. Yeesh!

This is Alum and it is sold at most stores. Its what I have and use.

ShaveSecret & VDH Luxury
Vulfix 660S / face lathered
Manhattan Cutlery Co. 6/8
Alum block & Krampert's AS

Shave Secret may not be smoothing out my process, but I'm beginning to like the scent. Van Der Hagen Luxury wouldn't lathered in my suribachi so I loaded up again and face lathered. VDH better work for me again using a boar or I'm going to divest myself of it. This Sheffield near wedge isn't picky but it deserves a slick thick lather. Of all my usable straights this one ought to be pro honed. It's heavy and so pretty but not as smooth as more hollow ground blades I've done my best with. I ought to sell my dog & buy a good set of hones. A quick bit of cleanup with the FB on 4 -n- done. Even with my griping alum after a cool rinse revealed smooth and nick free. Krampert's Finest compliments the preshave oil with enough cloves to remind me how this shave started.

No shave today. I wanted to but we had cable/internet/phone hooked up unexpectedly a day early and the children came home early too because of snow.

Happy birthday Adam!

Where do you draw the line between seeking the baby and chasing the baby. A 3 pass shave? Every day? Followed by a little touch up? In 7 places? And another pass? Or is it one of those philosophical questions that can only be answered in terms of cookies?

Next on the chopping block is a Wade and Butcher straight. I bought this razor cheap on the 'bay so I could try this famous name razor without a large investment. It is on the chopping block purely for aesthetic reasons. It is wider in the tip than the shoulder and the bevel looks all over the place.

The razor must have know this was a do or die situation, it delivered an awesome shave. The edge was both smooth and sharp. Applied the alum and just a tickle and at the same time I caught a long lasting (for me) BBS.

Irritation A Closeness A+ Smoothness A+ Keenness A

So the option now is do I sell it and use the money to help pay for a nicer Wade and Butcher or just keep it. After this shave I have a better idea, I will keep it and then after I acquire a nicer W&B I will consider parting with this razor.

To Date:
Definitely staying:
Genco Easy Aces SR, hard to let go of cool looking, great shaving piece of vintage American steel just because it is smaller than I like. It is also my only vintage American SR.

Leaning toward staying:
Wade and Butcher will stay in the SR stable until a much nicer specimen can be sourced.

Leaning toward releasing:
Jerry Stark 5/8 SR. Looks great, shaves great just to small a blade. I would prefer to sell this and trade up for a larger blade

Will be released:
Sight unseen Whipped Dog SR. This shaves great but I want to PIF it to someone who wants to get started with SR.
Merkur Vision - despite major coolness she can't compete with aggressive Futur.

In cookies you will find the answers you seek.

Happy Birthday

Hello, and welcome to our little 30 Day thread! Glad you found us!

It is indeed a concept that cannot be quantified numerically. It is indeed a philosophical and strategic approach, rather than a dividing line or numerical limit.

My personal philosophy is to focus on the process, and the outcome will follow. When I first started DE shaving, I would in fact "chase the baby", and this resulted in the usage of too many passes and too much pressure on the razor. The idea is that only when a tool is wielded with optimal technique will it yield optimal results. The general advice of not "chasing the baby" is meant to encourage a focus upon shaving well, rather than obtaining BBS. It has generally worked out better for me this way, as some of my worst, most irritating shaves resulted in BBS.

There are so many factors and while technique is critical beard type will also have an impact on achieving BBS. some people can get a BBS easily while people like me need to go ATG on the 4 pass to achieve it and for some it is impossible without a lot of irritation.

Just focus on getting better. This thread is good because it encourages you to focus on your result and why. As you try different techniques, learn your beard and improve your technique the BBS will find you.

Part of the experience is chasing the baby, over shaving and making mistakes, that is how we learn.

Enjoy the ride!

I quickly found that chasing the baby cause me lots of irritation, so I stopped. I also found that after working on my technique, the baby could just come on its own. Given that, I tried to build some consistency into my shaves, which allowed me to worry more about technique. I guess that patience is needed for babies.

Cookies make everything better, though.

Happy Birthday @Drygulch.

Happy Birthday @Drygulch

Straights Focus March 4:

Stirling Synthetic Brush
Stirling San Antonio SS
Henry Sears and Son Queen 3/4
Stirling Unscented PSB -- Mentholated
Clubman AS

I am running a tad late this morning, so I was a little quick on the shave. I ended with a SAS, which is more than acceptable for a Friday. Still nice and smooth with the razor, though. Have a great Friday!

03/04/2016
Wolfman OC with Triad SS
Feather (3)
Shavemac Silvertip D01
Mystic Water Orange Vanilla Shave Stick
Witch Hazel
Folsom & Co Shambala
Whipped Shea Butter


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Sticking with a 2 pass shave, XTG and ATG, followed by some minor touch ups along my jaw line and neck ended in a near BBS. The Mystic Water Orange Vanilla has a great scent with the sweet warm notes of vanilla leading the way as soap is applied to your face. As soon as I started lathering the scent of orange zest took over. I love the slickness and post shave feel of Mystic Water soaps. Finished off with a splash of F&C Shambala to keep the citrus theme going. Happy Friday everyone.

30 Day Focus March 4, 2016
Gillette Heavy Tech / Gillette Silver Blue
Omega / La Toja Cream
WH / shea butter / Proraso ASB

First time shave with La Toja Cream. Very nice, lots of slick lather...scent isn't in my Top 5 , but it is not unpleasant. Very mineral-ish kind of scent. I think I just need to experiment to find a good ASB to match with this cream. I can see this as a nice travel cream. The Omega paired nicely with this cream.

March 4 - Straight Shave 6
Henckels Twin Works #50
PSO, hot shower
Omega 10066 Boar Shaving Brush
Route 66 Sea & Citrus soap
Alum, Nivea balm, Pinuad Clubman
Mod Cabin Beard oil

Great shave! Cheeks DFS near BBS. Neck isn't bad, not quite DFS.

Your Omega 10066 is looking awesome!! The 10066 is one of those hidden gems.

3/4/16 - Shave #81 for the year and Shave #1 with a Gillette Silver Blue

This is my actual first day of my blade trial in the Blackbird. I used a Fatboy for the first three days of the month. The Fatboy is a fine razor, but compared to the Blackbird, is like flying a cropduster instead of a stealthy jet. It got the job done, but without the sleek style and effortless glide of the Blackbird. The Gillette Silver Blue blade was fine enough in the Fatboy, but it is even better in the Blackbird. My chin, jawline and neck are smooth for the first time in a few days. This shave was effortless and if I had a 100 GSBs, I would be set for a couple of years. However, I only have 3 more GSB blades, so now I will see how long one lasts in the bird.

I just may have to put ALL of my other razors in the back of a drawer and let my kids find them after they haul my carcass out of this house in 30 years or so.