NOVember 2016 30 Day Rule/Focus Pix & Discussion

November 28 SOTD:

Frank Shaving Pur-Tech Brush
Stirling Cool SS
Gillette Rocket
Stirling Unscented PSB
Stirling Glacial Lemon Chill AS

 

a few photos would be nice also.

 

My shave wasn't very heroic this morning, but I did enjoy it...

Gillette Tech 38-41 US, Bulldog Handle
Polsilver Super Iridium (2)
Semogue BC Texugo
Arko SS
Alum
Superior 70

 

November 28, 2016

Razor: F2 Gillette FatBoy (4)
Blade: GSB (1)
Brush: VdH Boar
Soap: Mineral Fusion/Dove Hydrating Cream

Another Monday, another technique fail...

Facing down 3 days of growth this morning, I was in a bit of a quandary over what razor/blade to use. I ultimately decided to go with the FatBoy as I really enjoyed the shaves with it the week before last. I'm finding that this razor is really growing on me and I can see why so many list it as a favorite.

First pass started well. The lather was perhaps a little dry though not overly so. Then, right at the end of the pass, I caught the lobe of my nose while shaving under it and a trickle of blood started.

Second pass was textbook though it was a bit unnerving to see blood on the lather and on the razor. (Blood On The Lather- sounds like a bad detective novel). The result was a DFS tinged with disappointment.

I'm actually more concerned about my brush, though. I'm used to it shedding the odd hair, but it seemed like it lost several today. It's not like the time the Marvy brush totally started to disintegrate on me, but it is concerning. The good news is that it looks like I'll be getting a Razorock Plissoft for a stocking stuffer next month.

 

Blood on the Lather

It was a dark and stormy morning as the water slowly turned tepid in the mug. The brush had done its job, even at the cost of some lost bristles. Fatboy was in a mood this morning and had already sliced me right in the nose. I was unnerved, anxious, and bleeding in the darkness around me. Disappointment hung in the air as that DFS I was wanting has been stained by blood.

How's that for a beginning?

 

I think I need a Fedora and to have a sax in the background now.

 

I may have to set that as my background music here everytime I post now.

 

You forgot the hat. Got you covered.

 

To be clear, we're joking about a fictional place, the home of the fictional blade cartel. No allegiance or political statements intended.

 

Are you calling me fictional?!?! And suggesting these voices in my head with the really bad Russian accents are fictional?!?! Good thing my wife is close to finishing her degree as a therapist. Sounds like I'm going to need it.

Oh, and adding the Marine Hymn.....I thought that was quite an elegant response. I have played it many times in the past when I did a couple of years in an Army band. We would play the officers annual dance for the 89th Army Reserve Command and they would always have visiting officers from all the branches. Therefore, it was required that all service songs be memorized and ready in an instant. Marine Hymn, Anchors Away, Caissons for the army and the Air Force "off we go". Usually by the end of the evening everyone was ripped, including those of us in the band who had been given free drinks all night, and we'd just be blaring away with all of those one after the other while the officers and everyone else danced and paraded around the room daring gravity to pull them on over. Good times. And even more brutal hangovers.

 

NOVember totally off the Focus rails

GG's Acqua di Florida tallow & Omega Pro98
Weck Bantam shavette & Personna blade
Bunny V3.1 and Schick Chick blade
Alum, Osage Rub, Florida Water


Traveling restricted my possible options, but I planned ahead by choosing a couple pieces of hardware that I'm going to be enjoying anyways. So Focus out the window, and the ice already broken with the shavette, I whipped up my favorite tallow lather with a well broken in boar. Got in a WTG & XTG pass. Then installed a fresh Chick in the Bunny for ATG and clean up passes. Alum was warm as expected, but Osage Rub cools well. Splashed on the Florida Water and the blood I saw in the lather had sealed up and settled down.
Drove to a flea market twenty miles north yesterday. Interstate 75 was packed and crawling. Planning to return from visiting grandkids Tuesday. May be some weather, but less volume on the hiways.
Good Shaves Y'all!

 

I have an automatic response when I see PTFE as a coating in any blade.....I assume from the start it's going to be a good shave, if not excellent. I'v never been totally disappointed that I can remember. When you look at the deeper specs on the Mostochlegmash blades they all mention Teflon. Voskhod of course, but also the Rapiras. It may not be the primary coating in the others but apparently it's in there. That would help explain my loyalty to them. And, on the St. Pete's side....GSB of course but also Sputnik. I consider Sputnik to be a "poor man's Voskhod". Not quite the same shave but it's close enough to have them on hand.

 

Who is that dashing gentleman in the top picture? It's a good thing you're married, sir, or I would.......oh who am I kidding. This will never evolve beyond Bromance.

 

Since you lost focus...I will too!

28 November 2016

Menthol Monday Post-Holiday Detour



Cold. Menthol Monday style...I didn't get nuts with it, and had a great automatic two pass shave once my vision cleared from the glacial obsidian. Only sort of kidding about that.

This has been a most busy month for me, but I've tried to follow along as best I can. Thanks again guys for another great month! Will wrap it up tomorrow with thoughts about Shavettes, and maybe even some Dr Seuss inspired poetry! Winter is setting in on the prairie. Other than that...all is quiet in Colorado.

Have a Terrific Tuesday!

 

I understand, just have a few fooling around. Besides I like that song.

 

Razor: Gillette Adjustable Fat Boy w/ case & blade pack
Blade: Astra Superior Platinum (2)
Brush: Elite Razor Los Tres Amigos Desert Ironwood Beehive w/Sunrise Synthetic
Soap: Reef Point Soaps Tranquility
Aftershave: Floyd Blue

Avery good 3 pass shave with this combination of tools. A very slight clean up and ended up with a very near BBS.
Freezing rain tomorrow, so my picture may be inside.

 

Thanks Doug. You too. Stay warm, my friend, and I hope you had a fantastic Thanksgiving.

 

Doug, the Astra SP is a great blade for me. I will be interested to know how it works for you. I have a fairly light beard. I stopped using the blades after four shaves, but I could have probably gotten one or two more shaves out of them. I'm not one to push a blade, especially when they only cost a dime each.