April 2016 30 Day Rule/Focus Pix&Discussion Thread

...you don't need to convince me.

 

It's the only thing I use these days. I only own two brushes now, Plisson and a 48.

 

Into to Straight Razor Shaving (Day 5 or 120 days)


Ontario Cutlery Co. 5/8ths
Stirling 26mm Brush
Catie's Bubbles Celtic Knot
Maggard Alum Block
Stirling SDM Splash (Super Mentholated)

Like a hot knife through butter today folks! 3 passes today on the cheeks (2 WTG/1 XTG) left me with a DFS closely approaching The Baby! 2 passes WTG on the neck yielded an acceptable DFS with no nicks or cuts. I am on a 3 day streak of no cuts or irritation so things are going very well in my opinion. Alum was silent and the SDM gave no burn but did freeze my face off.

 

@DDuckyMark has set up his Arko/Derby/Tech/Veg shave for April 30. Should we all schedule that day for the Arko blast? Any other day that works better? Great idea @RaZorBurn123!

 

DE shaving for me is pretty much the same as it was before, but I feel like I control the blade better after straights. In my estimation, razor aggressiveness is objective and did not change based upon my experience. I still like aggressive safety razors better than mild ones, mostly because they require less passes (and irritation) to do the same shave as a milder razor does.

 

I'm all month, so fine by me.

 

Arko April!!!
30 Day Rule Edition
Planned Day 5 of 30







Derby (5)
Fatih Grande
L'Occitane Plisson Synthetic
Arko!!!
Alum
Pinaud Lilac Vegetal

Have a wonderful evening!
​

 

I'll participate in spirit and splash on some Veg when you guys do this. The Arko hasn't found its way into my den just yet.

 

Pick a day, I'm in.

 

April 30th sounds like a great plan.

 

I'm in!

 

Great photo Doug. How do you like the TGN Finest knot?

 

I'M IN GUYS!! Wait can i use my Arko extra performance? It's the only one i have...

 

Thank you Doug

Kerry. Maggard was out of all but 1. I agree on Shambala and Capri. I have those and was just looking to buy a backup of each.

 

It's an amazing knot. Thanks for the tip.

 

I agree. For my uses it is one of my favorite knots. Given the price vs performance, I feel it represents a real value as well.

 

Feb 6 Day 2 of my Gem Micormatic's fight to stay in the den

Today's shave was better than the first. I think the blades need a shave to take away their harshness. Four passes and only a tingle from the alum and a solid BBS shave.

I have two of these razors, one will go and I will keep the second.

Irritation A Closeness A Smoothness A Keenness A-

Sorry it's no pic Wednesday.

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.
GEM Micromatic Open Comb - or in short MMOC (in gold)

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 an aggressive Futur.
BBS-1 - Give my move to the dark side it is just not aggressive enough to remain in my DE stable. (sold)
Mongoose
Merkur 37C slant
GEM Micromatic Open Comb - or in short MMOC (silver coloured)

 

Tuesday Shower/Shave

Shower- Noxzema facial cleaner, Dr. Bronner's All-One Hemp Peppermint bar soap
Pso- Homemade mint PSO
Brush- RazoRock Plissoft
Razor-Gillette Slim on 9
Blade- Gillette Silver Blue (1)
Soap- Phoenix Artisan Accoutrements Gondolier
Thayers Witch Hazel
AS- Nivea Sensitive

First day using Dr. Bronner's bar soap, great scent, it lathered easily and I felt clean after the shower. I may have to try some more scents. Everything else worked great, the brush, the razor, the soap, the GSB; it all came together again for a 3 pass BBS. I'm really liking this soap, it has a wonderful scent and lathers with almost no effort. The Slim on 9 is a dream, efficient yet comfortable. The Thayers and Nivea ended a great shave.

The April rule is going real well. I found a good way to stretch my neck that helps get a closer shave. My left hand still feels unattached but it hasn't drawn blood so it's working. I'm really enjoying this month's shaves. Have a great day folks!

 

Update on this mornings shave.

I can't tell that I shaved but I still have the redness around every thicker hair where it yanked at the hair while it scraped. The worst part is that the sore throat I've had the last few days has resulted in a lost voice so I can't even curse the pain.

 

Finishing Arko April with an all Arko gang....works for me. So, that means there's plenty of time to order Arko if anyone needs it. So THAT excuse is gone. LOL