January 2017 30 Day Rule/Focus Pix & Discussion

Did you use a selfie stick to get that pic?

 

I have not checked in lately. Still on my Straight focus. 4th month. I am getting nice consistent shaves. The only are that is lacking is my neck around my Adam's apple.

I have seen everybody using Route 66 so I decided to join in. This is some very good soap. Great all-round performer. I especially like the after feeling.

Tom


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SOTD January 15th


Gillette red tip
Dorco Prime(3)
Blades Grim Cinder
Satin Tip The Purest
Crown King scuttle
Barbasol Pacific Rush balm

Another excellent shave with the Red Tip. The Pacific Rush and Cinder are a great scent match with both having a nice cologne type scent. Have a great night friends.

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A Journey Down Route 66
The Ides of January

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Halfway through a great month of Route 66. Two passes face lathered for the standard DFS. The alum felt cool and the TSD Iced SubZero AS cooled it off even more for a lazy day of NFL. Snow is rolling in, but it shouldn't be more than just a few inches of dry snow, not a big deal. Other than that...all is quiet in Colorado.
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Have a magnificent Monday!
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Now we're getting into some serious Zen of shaving. The unconscious part of the process that drives us to choose products or prefer them - why, that's almost Freudian/Jungian as well. Deep thinking, my friend. I suppose one of the reasons I am drawn to vintage Gillettes has to do with the fact my Dad was such a fanboy. The NOS Techmatic in my covered display box is the physical reminder of those earlier days and the influence from that time. That connects me mentally to Gillettes and would partially explain my resistance to modern razors (though not complete avoidance of). I believe we may have opened a rabbit hole here. Blue or red pill?

 

Red.

Preferences are whimsical at times, but many desires are subconscious.

 

I didn't get to add mine yet. Many congrats and much happiness!

 

I agree that this is a special place. And yes, the banter is intended for fun. Except when we say Russian blades are superior to all others. Period. Don't even try to make something funny out of that. We have the muscle to enforce it!

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January Shavette Focus

Route 66 BSH & Vulfix Super Badger
Weck Sextoblade & Personna blade
Gillette NEW Long & Feather blade
Alum block & Pinaud Clubman AS


I made a conscience decision to use Route 66 soap, a badger brush, and this, my suribachi bowl. With attention to the process I combined soap and water in the rough ceramic dish. Holding the base of my brush in my palm, I chose to cup the lathered knot and deliberately apply Barbershop Hop scented suds to the area I wanted to shave. Taking my Focus razor in hand a deliberate N-to-S, relather, and S-to-N pass with no glitches went as I anticipated. Third application of lather followed by E & W passes...zzZT! Found an unanticipated error in the code. Reconfigured lather, cleaned up the edges of my project, and proceeded to commence shut down. Rinsed, alum pointed out that byte on my neck, rinsed again. Definitely the Red Pill of Painful Reality where the Feather found it's unintended mark. Dose of Clubman to finish the run.
Good Shaves Y'all

 

Happy Anniversary January!!

January 15

Mostly Shavettes - But today not so much

Razor - Fatip Piccolo
Blade - (1)
Soap - Route 66 Sweeney Todd
Brush - Semogue 620
Post - Alum

Off we go to the second half of the comparison between Astra SP and Feather in the Fatip. It's not often I load one of these up but I couldn't resist the request. Putting this blade in a known aggressive razor seems about as smart as putting a lit candle inside a barrel of gunpowder, but we'll see. The Astra did its usual fine job of staying smooth and was only mildly irritating once I had it under control. As always, technique is the key to using any blade/razor combination. So the real question is.....can my technique conquer this beast in the beast.

Stayed with the Route 66 and added a little extra water as I face lathered like I've been doing. Adds some uber-slickness and extra cushion. My game plan is to ride the cap like my life depends on it. Stay on angle to keep this from going south. And, in the first pass, it certainly seemed like I had accomplished that goal. Very smooth feel and the only issue was one small spot on my right cheek where I applied pressure. I quickly backed off and didn't suffer any blood so all's well. Second pass was also a very smooth XTG with a bit of ATG to finish. Even some sliding at the end on my neck to get a near-BBS and a very comfortable shave. But....the alum's to come.

Braced for the burn and I stayed braced because it never came. Just a hint on a couple of spots but overall very quiet on the alum. Nice! I'd say the first day with the Feather and Fatip were a huge success, and a bit surprising as well. Another case of technique to the rescue. My weekend has begun! Hope yours was great! Even if not as great as it was in Japan!

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No deja vu? That's a good thing.

 

“Right now I’m having amnesia and déjà vu at the same time. I think I’ve forgotten this before.”

― Steven Wright

 

I would have to say, without a doubt, the Irving Barber. It's heft, the build quality, and the ability to take three kinds of blades put it a ways ahead of the others. They sell replacement parts, it is awesome looking.... I REALLY like it.

I prefer the Kai Captain to the Feather SS in terms of the Kamisori/straight handled models.

The 1/2 DE blade, traditional shavettes I have (all Parker style) all seem to give up the same shave, but the Sanguine CoolCuts model is definitely the sturdiest. At only around $10 shipped from the UK, they are a super deal.

 

Shave 27.....



*Irving Barber
*Duke 3
*Route 66 Lumberjack
*Iced Florida Water

A big thank you to @PLAla who was tired of my moping about not having any of this fantastic soap until 2018, and PIFfed me a tub of the Lumberjack. This is a scent I haven't tried, and I really like it. My little rick of hay and straw bales sits out back, next to a stand of spruce trees. This smells like a little like that, only with some other notes I can't describe. Just an excellent soap.

Apparently I wore out my neck a little yesterday, chasing after that darn baby. Nothing I could even feel until I took a blade to it, so I stuck with WTG and slightly XTG passes. Just a purely SAS shave down there, but my face is as smooth as glass, and I am a happy camper.

Taking an extra WTG pass on my face maybe seems to be the most useful thing I have learned this month. It only takes a couple of seconds, and eliminates a lot of the resistance I get when switching to XTG/ATG. Still new to this platform, I am getting better at it, but telling the difference between whiskers fighting the start of a new stroke, and skin fighting being cut open has been one of my challenges. That extra pass really helps with that.

Have a great day, everyone.

 

Thanks very much amigo. Have a good day.

 

Thanks Charlie, it's in good shape and an excellent shave.

 

January 16, 2017
Timeless OC .95 Gap
Feather
Zenith B02 Boar
Route 66 Rum Runner
Captain’s Choice Bay Rum

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Back to work after a weekend that was entirely to short. Everything just clicked with the shave. The Zenith and Rum Runner provided enough wonderful lather for a 4 pass shave. The Timeless OC loaded with a new Feather mowed down the whiskers with 2 passes and touch ups ending in a near BBS. A splash of Captain's Choice Bay Rum and I think I am ready for the day. I hope everybody has a great Monday.

 

There are times the wife and daughters threaten the straight jacket. Lucky for me many of my neighbors do far more strange things than take photos of shave gear.

 

Gooooood Morning TSD!!!
Second day of my NEW/7o'clock Green Focus. After yesterday's tremendous shave, there was minimal stubble this morning. These M-F shaves are the one's that really determine for me anyway what will be my go-to blade for a particular razor. The Green took care of said stubble with a nice two passer with some clean up in the lower neck area. Quiet alum and a refreshing cold towel finish, followed by Aramis AS. Great start to my work day(No MLK holiday for us). Be back tomorrow with further. Stay Classy TSD!!