February 2017 30 Day Rule/Focus Pix & Discussion

Is it just me but I think one of the brush's handle is cracked!! I never dropped it or have any reason for it to be broken after less than 2 months of use.

OK, I found the reason for my poor lather

 

Totally agree on the "clean" description for the Proraso. It is a AS I like to wear if I shave in the mornings before work. It just smells clean. I also think it is one of the best splashes there is for face feel. At any price.

 

Rethinking this. If you are shaving in the shower, a humid steamy environment. You may want to start with a drier lather as it will no doubt absorb some moisture from the environment. Just a though and maybe something to try.

 

After Sunday's poor shave, I went off focus. Grabbed up the Magic with a Polsilver SI, and got my best lather yet from my Stirling Sandalwood sample in an Old Spice mug. A very pleasant and satisfying shave ensued. Stirling unscented mentholated balm and Stetson aftershave followed, and all is right again. Sometimes you have to lose focus to refocus.

Sent from my XT1585 using Tapatalk

 

I turn down the water to very low so it is not that humid. Also shower with the door open.

 

February 6 (Monday) - February Fatboy Focus and Misery Monday

Gillette Fatboy on 9
PAL Gold Thin Hollow Ground carbon ( 33)
Canadian Rubberset 100V reknotted with Maggard 22mm Plissoft
The Eternal Tub of TOBS Avocado Cream ( croap )
Alum and Thayers Witch Hazel Original Astringent

I'm not feeling too well today, so I decided I might as well give myself a scraped raw and cut face to take my mind off other matters. Therefore, at the last minute, I cranked my Fatboy up from my usual 3 to a wide open 9. (I have never ever had it past 5 before, and that didn't go well.) I had the styptic pencil and bandaids ready and fully expected to use them.

The result: a perfectly good shave! My usual diagonal crisscross passes gave me closer to a DFS- than to my normal near BBS, probably because I went much more gingerly than usual on my ongoing touchup/cleanup passes. However, I ended with no nicks, no weepers, and only the tiniest hint of a sting on a couple spots on my neck when I applied the alum.

I wouldn't say the experience was either particularly comfortable or smooth - the razor was clearly much more aggressive than normal and I could definitely feel a blade edge there waiting to bite if I screwed up. Nevertheless it was always controllable today on 9. The contrast to my shave on 5 a few months before I did my "riding the cap" focus is like night and day. Clearly these technique focuses work!

I would also classify the Fatboy on 9 as much smoother and more forgiving than my Fendrihan Scientist.

And now that I have used the Fatboy on 9, I will return to my regularly scheduled 3 or 4. I get a perfectly adequate shave at that level with greater comfort and less need to pay close attention.

Hope you all have a great Monday!

 

Wonderful filter effect. Very cool.

 

February 6, 2017
Gillette Aristocrat Jr 1949
Feather (1)
“Amigos” Elite Ironwood Beehive with Envy White
Czech and Speake Oxford & Cambridge
Fine Lavender

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I had a very early Physical Therapy appointment this morning and was running a little late. I decided to wait and shave until after the appointment. I am glad I waited instead of rushing through. The 3 pass shave with touch ups ended in a near BBS. Better yet the shave was more comfortable with no weepers. This razor might make it into the keep stack yet. I finished the shave with a splash of Fine Lavender. I am off to knock out some tax returns. I hope everyone has a great Monday.

 

Beautiful picture Clint. That brush seems great to photograph, because it looks so different in every picture.

 

February 6, 2017

Razor: F2 Gillette 195 (4)
Blade: German Wilkie (1)
Brush: Razorock Plissoft 22
Cream: KMF fragrance-free

I was at a local Dollar Store over the weekend and they had WS Classic blades for $1/tuck of 5. This got me realizing that I hadn't shaved with a German Wilkie in a while. Very smooth and comfortable shave in the Fatboy for an effective BBS. I'm kind of trying to remember why I don't use these blades more often since they are inexpensive, available locally, and I do like them. Odd...

 

Traditionally Cajuns eat anything that doesn't eat them first. While I was born here & have lots of family around I grew up in the 'burbs of Chicago. I've lived in the civilized part of West Virginia - Charleston. My preference is for further south. Miami Beach for a short time, Orlando a couple years. I settled in Atlanta for twenty years & raised my children there. Now I'm back home in the boot heel of Louisiana.

 

Thank you, Clint!

 

Beautiful all around, Clint!

 

Thank you. The handle has a lot of grain and different colors so the look changes a great deal just by having a different side face forward.

Thank you Andrew.

 

Feb 6, 2017

'54 SS w Astra SP (2)
Soap Commander Endurance
TGN Boar/ Figured Maple handle (my own)
Thayers Unscented & Nivea Sensitive Balm


Day 5 of the '54 SS focus. Ist day using the new boar. Have hand lathered with it a few times to start to break it in, but first shave today. Pretty good lather with it, I think it'll be a really good brush when it fully blooms. Went with the Endurance as it is my wife's favourite and a great performer. 3 passes plus touch up for at DFS+ shave. It is cold and dry outside so I put some Nivea balm on after the Thayers. Have a great day all!

Grainy photo, sorry but had to rush outside to shovel off the foot and a half of snow. Record snowfalls here in Southeastern British Columbia!

 

I know lots of folks use Alum as feedback on technique, but I wouldn't use it as your only judge. It just doesn't jive with my skin, and it might not on yours (potentially) either. Just food for thought.

 

Another beautiful brush Jason. You work is really outstanding.

 

That is a really cool handle. I look forward to your pics, just to see what you've turned.

 

I finally mastered this razor. I usually scratched myself with the point right in front of the ears when shaving with it. This is the second shave without a scratch and I think I have it figured out. I even got in an ATG pass. Very nice shave today
Mickey Lee Soapworks The Drunken Goat
B-400 Brush by Tom
Otto Deutsch Hans
Alum
Lucky Tiger
Ogallala Bay Rum
Have a great week!

 

I don't especially care for the tight feel it leaves, and in the winter I battle dry skin so it isn't a commonly used thing for me. If I get a little zealous going ATG on my neck, I will give it a rub down. I use it as a shave checker now and then to remind myself that I'm not half as good as I think I am, and thanks to the guys on this thread I find it invaluable for my fingertips when skin stretching.