OCtober 2016 30 Day Rule/Focus Pix & Discussion

So here's yesterday's shave - #11 of my October focus:




- RazoRock Mudder Focker
- The Tuxedo
- Feather Artist Club SS
- Feather Professional (#1)
- Tüff sensitiv Rasierwasser

Pretty uneventful shave actually - just one quick, accident-free pass for a presentable look Haven't used the RazoRock soap for quite a while, almost forgot how good it is. It's right on par with some of the more expensive representatives of its kind - and I still love the scent.

Something that amazes me though: I get closer shaves from two passes with the pain stick than from three with a "conventional" straight (as performed the day before yesterday). Is it because the Feather blades are that much sharper or do I just have to work on my straight razor technique?

 

October 18, 2016
Wolfman WR-01 OC + Ti with Hempel Ti
Feather (1)
Zenith B02 Boar
Route 66 Twisted Tweed
Witch Hazel
Floid Blue

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Another great shave this morning. Three passes and minimal clean up ending in a near BBS. Finished with a splash of Floid Blue. I hope everyone has a great Tuesday.

 

Okay - just finished today's shave - inspired by @NCoxSTL

Shave #12 of my October Focus:



- Mitchell's Wool Fat Soap
- Semogue 620
- Feather Artist Club SS
- Feather Professional (#2)
- Thayer's Witch Hazel
- Clubman Special Reserve

I have neglected both the soap and the brush for quite a while now. The 620 was my first boar brush - and I still consider it an excellent face lathering brush. Though I might have been spoiled by the softness of my synthetics lately, because the Semogue felt a little prickly today

Anyways - I got a huge amount of lather from my MWF, more than enough for the two passes WTG and XTG. This soap's slickness is fantastic, but on the other hand it turned skin stretching into a real challenge, because there was so much residual slickness left even after I scraped off the lather with my razor blade.

The shave itself went very well, no nicks or irritations. DFS+
The Special Reserve AS matches the soap's scent nicely.

 

SOTD October 18, 2016

Blade: Chinese Schick
Razor: Schick L1 injector
Brush: Satin Tip 'The Purest' synthetic
Lather: Stirling Barbershop
Post: Witch hazel splash, Stirling Barbershop aftershave, Nivea sensitive balm
WTG, touch-up

Good shave today, but I've had better. I think the blade needs changing out. This was shave four on the Chick blade, which is a fairly small number of shaves for me with a Chick. But I'll change it out and hope tomorrow goes better. First pass reduction wasn't as good as usual and I had to do more touch-up to achieve my normal workday shave. But that's okay - there's always tomorrow! The Stirling products are top-notch.

Have a great day!

 

Thank you very much.

 

Good picture beautiful razor.

 

Thank you Doug. I've been playing around with my real camera instead of the iPhone. I'm still on the fence if the change is worth the extra effort.

 

Beautiful high def picture amigo!

 

Tuesday, OCtober 18, 2016

Simpson '58
Nuavia Blu
Gillette New Deluxe with TRIAD Aristocrat Ti
Personna 74 #15
Fine Fresh Vetiver


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October 18, 2016

Razor: Gillette 160 Goodwill / DeFitch DE91 handle
Blade: German Wilkie (1)
Brush: VdH Boar
Soap: VdH Luxury

Yesterday was a bit of a rush so I grabbed the nearest razor that I knew had a good blade in it- the Gem 1912. Excellent DFS and I was surprised I actually needed to shave today.

For today, we stay with the NEW LC-based Goodwill and the heavier DeFitch handle, but move on to the Wilkinson Sword Blade from Germany. I tend to really like this blade and think it is my favorite one which can be locally sourced. The result was a DFS marred only by a weeper on the chin.

 

SOTN OCtober 17th


Bigelo and Parkin Travel Razor
Feather(2)
Stirling 24mm Synthetic
RazoRock XXX
Crown King Scuttle
Lime AS and Nivea Sensitive ASB

Good morning friends. Last night I tool the B&P travel razor out for its maiden voyage. This a a very awkward razor to use as there is no handle and you hold it by griping the tabs between your thumb and index finger. I found it difficult to stay on the cap with this razor and making E-W passes were very cumbersome. Another issue with using the razor was keeping the pressure down as it weighs next to nothing. It took a lot of focus but I was able to walk away from the shave without irritation or bloodletting. After 3 passes I ended with a nice DFS!

Second time using the RR XXX and it does make a very nice smelling lather that is cushiony and slick while it is on your face. But I notice there is practically no residual slickness left by the soap. I have yet to experience this from any of the other soaps that I use. Have you guys noticed this with any of the other RR tallow formula soaps ? On the plus side it rinses off very cleanly although a bit drying as well.

Have a great day my friends!

 

Thank you Mark.

Great photo. What did you think of the New Deluxe compared to the New LC?

 

October 18 SOTD:

Stirling Synthetic Brush
Mama Bear's Bay Rum SS
ER 1924
Stirling Unscented PSB
Ogallala Bay Rum with Lime and Peppercorns

I had a nice shave with the 1924 this morning. It is still a little slow going, but I got a DFS after a little work. This was my first use of Mama Bear soap, and the first glycerin soap I have used since my first couple of wet shaves. It was nice and slick with decent cushion. It is very light on the Bay Rum scent, but it is a pleasantly scented soap. All in all, it was a nice shave. I hope everyone has a great day!

 

You might need to hone up your straights. I always strop my straights right before shaving, including the strop paddle embedded with .5 micron diamond paste on leather then a good 20-30 passes on the plain taut leather strop. You really want the sharpest straight you can have. The vintage Americans, Russians, the Swedish Steel, SS all should work as well as the Japanese if honed well. Straight razors in the right hands with proper technique give that BBS every time, but can cause blood letting if you aren't careful.

Sure there may be a few straights that just don't hold great edges to give that perfect smooth shave but I'm betting it's more about technique. It's hard to get perfect and requires a lot more time than the DE shave.


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Speaking of straights. I had another very nice shave with a freshly honed blade
Route 66 Perfect Storm Soap
B-400 Brush by Tom
Sensation Razor
Alum
Thayers WH
Ogallala Bay Rum
Have fun!

 

Thanks amigo! The New Deluxe shave is closer than the New LC's shave. It feels slightly more aggressive to me.

 

I bought some new soaps to try based on posts here. Razorock Mudder Foker and XXX from Italian Barber via Amazon. Look like Mitchell's Wool fat seems to get good reviews as well. Maybe next month.


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Excellent setup of fine shaving gear Mark. Good colors also.

 

Maybe a better resolution with your camera. I got a better resolution and clearer picture with my phone.

 

SHAVE ON GENTS AND LADIES!!