December 2016 30 Day Rule/Focus Pix & Discussion

Thanks Jim! Have a terrific Tuesday!

 

Thank you both.

 

Thanks Jared!

 

Glad you figured it out. I have had the same thing happen to me.

 

Nice chill you got going there amigo! Break out the snow shovels.

 

December 6, 2016

Razor: M3 Schick Adjustable (4)
Blade: Chick (2)
Brush: Floppy Chinese Pure Badger
Soap: Nutragena French Milled Soap

I thought that for day 2 with the Schick Adjustable, I'd try face lathering with what is usually a nice, slick soap and a soft brush. The lather was what I'd hoped it would be and I tried to work on not doing as much overshaving of shaved areas (the root of yesterday's technique fail). A good DFS though I can feel a spot or two along the jaw that I must have missed on the second pass.

One of these months, I really need to do an Injector focus. I seem to get decent results from the two I have but really haven't reached the shaving Nirvana that the devotees speak about.

 

SOTD 12/6/16
Razor: Henckels Friodur 6/8 Round Tip
Strop: Drygulch Horsehide/ Linen
Soap: Jeeves of Hudson Street Cherry Blossom
Brush: Troth handle with Envy White 24mm badger
Post: Cold water, Alum, Thayer’s Lavender Witch Hazel
Aftershave: Black Ship Grooming Queen Anne’s Revenge

Decedent December continues. Today I went for an amazing lather, and a larger German Blade. The razor tugged a little the last time I used it, so before the shave I gave it 10 laps on my Swatty Barber’s hone, and 10 laps on the Chromium Oxide Pasted strop, followed by 30 laps on linen and 50 on horsehide. I loaned out my everyday strop, so I am using a newer one I have only used a few times. It is a vegetable tanned horsehide, with a very light draw. Very fast to use. The Jeeves of Hudson Street soap is top notch. It gives a very good lather, with very little effort. The scent is complex, and more floral than fruity. I did three and a half passes today, and ended a few whiskers shy of a BBS. The razor had a very keen and smooth edge. The four passes on my neck got almost all the whiskers, but was a little warm on the alum. For those that are just learning to skin stretch, rub your fingertips on your alum bar. This will allow you to pull even soapy skin tight for the ATG pass, which will give you a much better shave. Finished the shave with Queen Anne’s Revenge aftershave, which the maker describes as bright blend of Pineapples, oakmoss, bergamont, patchouli, jasmine and vanilla. It’s a floral/ botanical with just enough menthol to be very nice to use. The post shave feel is great. Overall, a great shave today.

 

Amazing gear!

 

I have a big pile of Master Barber half blades I would be happy to send you some of.

 

What kind of lighting are you using with the DSLR? The photos are awesome.

 

Nope, perfect. I like the heavy handle.

 

Don't write off the Derby just yet. Different blades in different razors can work well. I don't like the Derby in mild razors, but it works well in aggressive ones. One of the things that was hard for me to wrap my head around is the blade itself isn't what isn't working on your face. Is the combination of the blade, gap, exposure, angle and weight of the razor. I hated the derby blades, until I tried them in a New. They sill don't work well in a Superspeed for me, but they can be comfortable.

 

I love the brush Adam. I have always thought blue brushes really pop in photos. I love the Envy White knot as well.

Honestly I am having a lot of trouble figuring out the lighting for indoor photos. So many times I will take the photos ahead of time when the lighting is better. For example today's photo was taken the other afternoon in natural light streaming through the family room window. I am taking all the photos with the flash turned off. It's still a work process for sure and I have so much to learn. I am actually having a ton of fun trying to figure the stuff out.

 

Great setup and photo Adam. Brush looks great all loaded up.

 

Thanks, Doug!

 

Derbys aren't the sharpest blade in the tuck, but they are one of the smoothest. As Adam said, pair them with an aggressive razor and they are surprisingly good. Not so much in the mild Super Speeds and such.

 

Hey guys - here's today's shave:




- Tabac Original Rasierseife
- Thäter 26mm 2-band silvertip
- The Single Edge
- Personna/Ted Pella blade
- Alverde ASB


Still working on the water management with this brush. First lathering attempt with the rather dry brush was okay, but not great. For the second pass I tried lathering again with a wetter brush, and that worked like a charm. Huge pile of lather, much more than I needed. So the next task will be to find out exactly how much water I'll have to shake out after soaking the brush. I'm still amazed though how soft this brush feels on my skin
On the other hand I'm not sure whether or not the Single Edge and I will become friends It is a beautiful razor, but seems to cause more irritation than other Injectors. Second pass ATG left a few tiny blood spots on my cheeks today. I have to admit though: AFTER the shave I realized that I had used the most aggressive baseplate. I'll give it another try with the mild one next time.

 

Great setup and photograph. Beautiful looking brush.

 

Afternoon Gents. This morning's shave is a continuation of my search for a blade to use in my SA-109. The only variables was today's shave cream which was GFT Limes and the settings which were "7" WTG, "5" XTG cheeks and chin, ATG neck and some touch up work. The Astra green is holding up well. Did have 1 weeper on my neck which ain't bad.

 

Thank you, Doug