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

I got into wet shaving going sideways. Bought a brand new shiny RSO from a website. Brought it to a local knife maker that hones straights. He declined to work on it for me saying it was a pocket knife.
So after a bit of googling & forum lurking at B&B I purchased a WhippedDog sight unseen & strop in late August last year. Shortly there after I got distracted by vintage Gillette DE's. Over the past six months I used the straights less and less. Didn't stop buying them, as I have a good handful.
I'd seen the focus/rule thread but was having too much fun trying all the DE's. With the new year just passed, I started seeing the NoBuy 2016 crowd. This is all still so new and exciting for me that I wasn't ready to commit to that, thank you. But the idea of setting the DE's aside and going back to the straights made sense.
So I'm not a total straight razor newbie. Just an undisciplined, easily distracted, don't think I've got my first 100 straight razor shaves in kind of newbie.
About a week after joining the focus/rule group, I choose to lay the DE's down. I was using them to do a clean up pass. That was keeping me from knowing where I still have issues. When I shaved Saturday with the Fat Boy I did get a really good shave, but just before that I was noticing my straight shaves had improved.
So with Focus Renewed, I'm going to enjoy the rest of the month. Might even continue next month. Unless I find or borrow an injector to prepare for my turn at the West Coast Bunny Pass Around.

 

I've been reading @gssixgun 's thread on SRP about using the Norton 4k/8k. It has demystified much of the process for me. I'm only 240 messages into it, but so much information is assumed by those that have been at it for years. I just figured out what pyramid means when honing!

 

Forgot to post this morning's shave. Went for menthol Monday, but didn't get nuts with it. Have two soaps that are very low, going to use them a bunch until they are gone. This is one of them. Second time using this razor since I got it back. A nice shaver. Smooth and comfortable. BBS everywhere except my trouble spots on my meck, but very little irritation. Kept it at two passes. First N/S, then L/R on the jaw, chin, and neck, and S/N on the cheeks. Hoping I can dial this pattern in.

 

I can lend a Schick J and a magazine of blades , it's for science.

You know what to do...

 

Thanks for the link, I don't think I've read that one yet. I was planning on a naniwa chosera 1k and 3k, and super stone 5k and 8k, probably still get them soon enough. But the 4k/8k Norton seems nice so far. Got a whole lot to learn.

 

Right on! Ladas is crazy sharp like Bolzano, but smooth enough to make it worth the trip. All the stuff by the Rapira group is pretty good.

 

Day 75 - 90 Day Intro to SR
14 March 2016



Ralf Aust 5/8
L'Occitane Plisson Synthetic
Route 66 - Lumberjack
Alum
TSD ISZ AS Splash
Pinaud Citrus Musk

Have a terrific Tuesday!
​

 

Presence in the force, sense I.
To have you back glad very. Back Welcome!

Very good cookies Dark Side.

 

3/15/16

Gillette Birth Quarter Super Speed (Y3)
Feather Hi-Stainless (3)
Vulfix Super Badger (660)
Chiseled Face Sherlock
Georgetown G12 Scuttle
Pinaud Clubman Original



Last shave with the Feather in my '53 Super Speed. Did my typical 2 passes and touch up. The reduction was very good. I chased the baby for a bit but he remained just out of reach. I came closer today than I have the last 3 shaves, but not quite there. The Clubman burned like fire again today. A near BBS. The Feather is 0 for 3 in my Super Speed. Tomorrow I break out the Gillette Platinum Plus for a spin. Hopefully it will do better.

I hope everyone has a great Tuesday.

 

Straights Focus March 15:

Stirling Synthetic Brush
Mitchell's Wool Fat
Ralf Aust 5/8
Stirling Unscented PSB
Old Spice Classic AS

After a day off, I had a very nice, relaxing shave this morning. Some clean up after one pass, and I would call it a DFS. A great way to start a Tuesday. Hope everyone has a good day.

 

03/15/2016
Wolfman OC with Hempel Ti
Feather (2)
BSB-2 Vie-Long 2 Band Fan
Jabonman Citricos
Witch Hazel
Folsom & Co Shambala
Whipped Shea Butter

​

A very nice shave this morning where everything is starting to come together. At last I am getting this brush figured out. The Jabonman whipped up a wonderful lather. I am hooked on citrus scents now and this one delivered. Since I had the time, I went with a traditional 3 pass shave. Other than 1 small spot on my neck, I ended with a BBS shave. Not a bad way to start the day. Finished off with a splash of F&C Shambala to keep the citrus theme going. I hope everyone has a great Tuesday.

 

SOTD March 15, 2016
March focus shave 13

Prep: Warm shower
Blade: Personna lab blue (1)
Razor: Maggard MR1 with V2 open comb
Brush: Satin Tip 'ThePurest' synthetic
Lather: Proraso Red shaving soap
Post: Witch hazel splash enhanced with Old Spice knock-off, Nivea sensitive balm
WTG, touch-up



Nice, efficient CCS this morning with one pass plus touch-up on the neck and jaw areas. No issues with tugging or anything related. I had one little weeper below the point of my chin but the cold rinse and witch hazel took care of that. The Personna blade felt smooth. I didn't get any of the multiple weepers like I was getting last week with the Voshkod.

I really enjoy the smell of Proraso Red and I enjoy the nice, thick lather it produces. The immediate post-shave feel may be a hair more dry than other soaps, but all in all you can't go wrong with Proraso.

Hope you all have a great Tuesday!

 

March 15 - Straight Shave 16
Friedr Schlemper Focus Spezial
PSO, hot shower
Jayaruh #40 Synthetic
Route 66 The Black Pearl soap
Alum, Nivea balm, Clubman

My honing last night worked well on this one, shaved really nice! DFS, getting close to BBS. No razor burn at all, but alum block tells me a got a little invisible nick. Still not getting my neck perfect, but I am figuring it out. Happy Tuesday all!

 

3/15/16 - Derby Dash

Day 3 with the Derby Extra blade proved to be quite uneventful. It provided a very nice shave and seemed quite smooth.

 

Mmmm dark side cookies, glagaghaglah

 

Tuesday Shave

Hot water
Pso-Homemade mint oil
Razor-Gillette Flair Tip SS
Blade- Rapira Platinum Lux (3)
Brush- RazoRock Plissoft
Soap- RazoRock XXX
Thayers Witch Hazel
ASB-Nivea Sensitive

Great shave this morning, everything worked well together. The XXX smells great and lathers wonderfully. I went with hot water today and it felt good on my face. Three passes today, WTG, XTG and ATG. I'm BBS everywhere except a small spot on my neck so a DFS. I was tempted to chase it.

Thanks to @Bama Samurai I did some face stretching today and I believe it made the difference in the closeness of my shave. It was awkward but that's what my focus will be for the rest of the month. Have a great day folks!

 

SOTD
March 15, 2016
Prep: Hot Shower. Noxzema
Razor: Edwin Jagger DE89lbl
Blade: Personna Lab Blue
Lather: Route 66-The Black Pearl
Brush: RazoRock Plissoft
Post: Thayers Rose Petal WH. Route 66 TBP
Aftershave: Fine Clean Vetiver
Fabulous shave with Route 66 TBP! The Edwin Jagger DE89lbl is a great razor, my first razor and one that still lives up to its billing.
Every accomplishment starts with the decision to try

 

Nice-looking vintage soap

 

Thank you, Paul! I do like it.

 

Razor: Gillette President Y 1, 1953
Blade: Gillette Platinum (2)
Brush: WDC-6, The Bear, Brass Handle, TGN, 24/65 Premium Silvertip Badger.
Soap: EUFROS, Brisa de Oriente
A/S: Floid Vigoroso