December 2016 30 Day Rule/Focus Pix & Discussion

Thanks for the reply. I can certainly understand why you don't enjoy the scent too much. To me Arko has a scent underneath the citronella that reminds me of something from my early years. I can't place exactly what it is, but it is comforting to me. Brut is the same way, as my dad wore it when I was real young.

 

Another great picture!

I am not sure being on this thread during Decadent December is good for a recovering RAD/BAD/SAD sufferer such as myself. It is awfully tempting.

 

That brush is beautiful! Nice picture.

 

December 8 SOTD:

Stirling Synthetic Brush
MdC
Gillette Slim
Stirling Unscented PSB
Fine Platinum AS

Yesterday's shave was a very strong opening act for my reacquaintance with the Slim, but today was even better. At one point, I had to feel my face mid shave to make I was actually shaving. There was audible feedback, which seems to less than with the FB, but I just couldn't feel the razor cutting. I ended with a DFS that couldn't have been easier to get. If this has been a weekend, I would have spent a little time chasing the baby, as I was thoroughly enjoying myself this morning. This was truly a great start to this Thursday, which happens to be a Friday for me. I hope everyone has a great day!

 

Brush Parker Finest Badger
Soap Maggards London Barbershop
Razor 1947 Aristocrat
Blade Feather (4)
Fine Accouterments L'Orange Noir.

That Maggards soap is quick to lather and very slick. I decided to see how the feather would perform past the 3rd day since day 3 gave a little irritation, but possibly my closest DE shave ever. I lathered up this soft soap in my antique scuttle and applied generously with this stiff little badger brush. I took two passes and I could feel that even with this very slick soap, I had some significant irritation. After a rinse, two weepers on my neck. It has been a long time since I have seen any blood shaving (thank you 30day foci), so I squarely blame the blade. I did get a solid DFS, but between the increased irritation and the weepers, from now on only 3 shaves for my feathers. My experience with these blades is as follows:
Shave 1 - Very smooth DFS
Shave 2 - Smooth and possibly more efficient than day 1 DFS
Shave 3 - Slight irritation, efficient BBS.
Shave 4 - Irritation, 2 weepers DFS.

 

It looks like you are spreading the Shavette Cheer. What do you think of the Stirling Gentleman?

 

Thanks, I think I'll do just that!

 

Thank you Mark. I am having a great time this month.

Thank you Jim. I am enjoying the photography part of this so much. It doesn't take much for my Acquisition Disorders to flare up. I have tried to set a firm # limit on the razors, soaps and brushes that I allow myself to have at any time. In order to add to my heard something needs to go or get used up. Now after 2+ years I have found what I like so my urge to experiment is decreasing.

 

Fantastic set up. I absolutely love MdC. It's not the slickest soap or the best post shave feel but I find it to be the complete package. Just an honestly great soap that flat works. If I had to pick one soap it would be MdC.

 

The Nuavia is really peaking my interest at the moment. You and @Boojum1 both make it look great in your photos.

 

I know Mark and I might disagree but I would rate MdC as the better soap. Nuavia wins on post shave feel and maybe scent but I enjoy using MdC more. I bought my two used by someone that didn't care for them so the price while high was much cheaper.

 

That's what I do with creams/foams. Usually works. Would love to get it to one on the soaps, but I end up doing 1.75/2.

 

I find the MdC scent to be one of the best scents I have. I have really come to enjoy lavender, and the original scent has such a complex lavender scent to it. I can just sit there and sniff it. It is amazing at how well it lathers, and honestly I don't have another soap that I find do to even be in the same category in this area. I do agree the slickness is not quite as much as some other soaps, but it is more than slick enough and allows for a little buffing. The post shave feel is one I will need to test a little more. I almost always use some Stirling PSB after I shave, so I never really notice if a soap is drying. Sounds like I may have a focus for next month: work through my soaps one by one without PSB to truly guage the post shave feel.

Overall, MdC is one of my favorites, if not top soap. I don't use nearly often enough, as I have relegated it to "Special Occasion" status. Really, I should not hold any soap or AS only for special occasions, so I am going to try to use this one more often.

 

Funny, I too have soaps, colognes & aftershaves that I designated "Saturday Night" status and now have too many. Now I keep the best in my rotation... life is too short.

I REALLY wanted some MdC and had some friends spending 2 weeks in Paris. I sent them google map instructions on where to go buy it and offered to pay them upon their return. I even specified the large wooden bowl and then google translated it all into french for them. They returned with my "shave soap" that was some crap that they picked up in a drug store that was not MdC and I could never even get it to lather. Oh well, next year I will order some.

 

My feelings exactly. I used a AS balm or whipped shea butter daily so I never notice it as drying. The stuff just last a long time. I started out treating MdC as a special day soap but now I am just going to use things I enjoy when I feel like it.

 

Recovering? Is there such a thing? More like remission.

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SOTD December 8th


Cooper MonoBilt
GSB
IB Amici
Satin Tip The Purest
Crown king Scuttle
Homemade tangerine AS

Amazing shave this morning. I started by filling the scuttle with hot water before my shower. This allowed it to cool enough that the great didn't break down the lather. The GSB performed flawlessly in the MonoBilt, thanks for the suggestion @Bama Samurai . I made a thick creamy lather out if the Amici, which is a great scent BTW, and went to town. Three days of growth wiped away effortlessly. And I am smooth once again. Have a great day my friends!

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Sounds like a great razor for a focus!

 

My pattern on adjustable is WTG 7, ATG 8. Maybe experimenting with a more aggressive razor on pass two would be interesting?

 

I can attest that it doesn't always feel like I fully have the ADs whipped. Sometimes, they rear their heads and whip me!