May 2016 30 Day Rule/Focus Pix and Discussion

@Linuxguile was talking Daisho earlier, so I had to get with the steel today.

 

Never trust a fat vegetarian.

 

Is that the corollary to "never eat the cooking of a skinny chef"?

 

MAYhem 2016!!

May 28
Razor - RazoRock TTO
Blade - (2)
Brush - VDH Boar
Soap - Williams
Post - Cold Water, Alum, Nivea, Nivea, Nivea,The Veg

Well all good things must come to an end. As do all bad things. MAYhem has provide some of both. The past couple of weeks mostly bad. And the @Linuxguile shave lived up to that reputation. The Baili green blade....no sense in thinking it will be a great shave. Or even a good one. Now, it's better than Blendax and certainly better than Tiger. But that's all the good things you can say about it. And, when paired with the rather uneven aggressiveness of my RazoRock TTO it's a rough and tumble shave just waiting to leave enough irritation to burn for hours.

The soap was my former least favorite soap, Williams. Did it provide a great lather? Well, compared to MWF, Tabac, Proraso, VDH Deluxe, and about a thousand other soaps, no way. Thin, disspiates fast, and smells like mosquito repellent. Compare to Marvy? Thank heavens I was using Williams!! Compare to the scent of Marvy, whatever it is, and to how fast Marvy disappears, this was a fantastic experience. Thank you Williams for not being Marvy!!! The brush, of course, is fine. I like the VDH Boar. Inexpensive but works well.

End result after three agonizingly dull and draggy passes was a barely DFS, the alum was like putting fire directly on the skin and lots of Nivea sort of cooled it off. The Veg rekindled the fire but I needed its magical properties for a big sales day. And boy did it deliver!! Left the house at 8am, opened the store at 9am, closed it at 9:30 pm well over budget for the day. Two more days of this crazy sale and I can have a day off!

Thanks to everyone who joined in my MAYhem this year by acting as the Chosen Choosers. There should probably be a club for you guys too. A couple of days of normal shaves and I have one final MAYhem shave planned for your enjoyment! Happy late night Saturday!!

 

Or go to a bald barber, or use an accountant who drives a Ferrari.

 

SOTD
5/28/16

Pre: Hot shower, Nivea face wash, Noxzema, pre face lather, Hot towel
Razor: Gillette Fat Boy
Blade: GSB (4th day)
Brush: TGN in olive handle
Soap: Catie's Bubbles Santal Sensuelle
Post: Cold water rinse, Maggard Alum, Witch Hazel, Nivea sensitive cooling after shave balm

Tonight I went all out trying to see how good a shave I could get. Still didn't catch the baby but got dang near it, closest yet. I started with a hot shower, then used my Nivea face wash letting the hot water run down my face trying to get it good and hydrated. Got out and dried off then went for the Noxzema and rubbed it well into my face. I let it sit and soak in for a few while I put my brush in hot water and bloomed my soap for about 5 minutes. I then took my bloom water and rubbed it into my face then prepared a lather for a initial pre lather followed by a hot towel. I let that sit on my face for about 1-2 minutes and got ready to later my face again for my shave. First pass I set the razor on 3 and went WTG riding the cap and using light to no pressure. Second pass I set the razor to 2 and shaved XTG riding the cap and that got me to a DFS. Third pass still on 2 was ATG riding cap again and I thought I was going to catch it this time. Tried to do a little clean up pass and almost got it. I then rinsed my face with cold water and applied the alum block, I got a little bit of a burning sensation on my neck which told me I got really close, and nothing on my cheeks as they were as slick as they could be. I let the alum dry and then used a little cold water and washed my face again patting it dry. I applied the Witch Hazel and let that dry while I cleaned up my shaving stuff. Last I put on my Nivea sensitive cooling after shave balm. I got a little irritation but not much and no weepers this time. Maybe the next time I'll have to try a cold water shave and see if I can get that last little bit to get a BBS shave.

 

I'm not sure yet what I need to do to get that BBS shave or even if I can. I can get BBS everywhere except my neck and I can get almost there. On my neck I can run my hand down and up and can't feel anything, then I run my hand from left to right smooth that way too. But when I rub my neck right to left I still feel a little stubble, I know that's got to be ATG on my neck. I could probably get it but my neck would be so raw that I wouldn't want to shave for a few days, any suggestions?

 

Don't bother. I can only BBS on my neck once and awhile. The skin is too sensitive to do more often. My fiance never notices when it isn't BBS on my neck either. A good daily shave for me (when I'm not working 60hours a week) is a BBS on the face and a high grade DFS on the neck. Its much more comfortable then chasing the baby all over.

I feel like I should add that I have really thick facial hair that makes a steel wire brush look soft and cuddly. Blades don't last too long with me and I end up refreshing my straights every 5 to 7 shaves on a pasted strop and every 3rd refresh is on a finishing stone. I have seen tiny chips in blades after I use then when I inspect blades with a loupe.

 

Thanks, I've got a few more blades that I can try to catch the baby, but as you said I'm not sure it's worth it. I've got some Pol-silvers, Persona Lab blues, Perma-sharp, and Feather but not sure I want to go with the Feather's yet.

 

To me the feathers seem a bit harsh. I prefer Kai blades for ultra sharp. They feel much smoother and more comfortable while still being unbelievably sharp.

 

I'll have to try some Kai blades next time I can get some.

 

So, this straight razor thing is working out, huh?

 

Caption "pain stick panorama"

 

I'll go with straights and Barbasol Arctic Chill. Isolate the razor with no other tasks.

Unless I think of something else.

 

That razor is beautiful! You have picked up some nice ones recently!

 

I will be using just three razors, all made by George W. Korn. Two traditional straights, and one fixed handle. Two need touch ups, one needs a polish and hone. Going to try to stick to those only.

 

Trying not to fall asleep while shaving.

I'll be bouncing around a bit with the safer easy razors and canned foam until work settles down.Maybe I'll make the canned foam the focus. I'm doing a decent one or 2 pass every other day just to stay presentable. Fay Boy on 9, injector, Super Speed if I have time for a 2nd pass. I need 2 new hires before I can have a full day off. I'm hoping they find them quickly.

 

Don't chase the baby, let him come to you. My idea of a great shave is BBS on the cheeks, chin, and jawline, and DFS on the neck, but with no irritation.

 

SOTN 5/28/17
Razor: Geo. W. Korn Razor MFG
Strop: Drygulch Leatherworks Horsehide/ Linen
Soap: Soap of the Gods Kansas City Meet Up 2016
Brush: Dubl Duck M2/ Omega boar
Post: Cold water, alum, Thayers'
Aftershave: Aqua Velva Classic Ice Blue

New soap and razor for me tonight. That keeps me in the Mayhem spirit. This soap was made for today's Meet Up, and has a citrus scent, with other stuff mixed in. I honestly didn't have high hopes for it, since I have seen it on Amazon and dismissed it. Got a very nice fluffy lather from it, as I slowly added water. Razor is from another maker from my New York/ Pennsylvania area I love. This is the third razor I have that was honed by this guy, and his edges haven't been that comfortable for me. I stropped the heck out of it before the shave and that did it. I did three full passes, not because I needed, but because I was enjoying the scent of the soap and the feel of the blade. Alum was quiet, no nicks, and just a couple whiskers short of BBS. Good shave.