February 2017 30 Day Rule/Focus Pix & Discussion

Yeah, I'm having the same issue with my iPhone. Just a long blank area on his daily shave posts.

 

Nice to hear from you; good to know you're still Crewing this month even if you aren't posting every day. Do you think you will continue using the Fatboy in your rotation after the month is over, or is it more a "nice to try but not to keep" kind of razor for you?

 

That question is more complicated than you might think. I'll start with the fact that owners start to resemble their dogs, and that has happened in my case. Not by appearance as much as in mannerism. You may or may not know that the English Bulldog is the most stubborn animal on earth & in that respect I have come to resemble my dog. I have decided that I will be shaving with straight razors. As you can imagine, there is a learning curve. Fortunately for me, I am stubborn enough to persevere through nicks, cuts, etc. etc. and am now to the point that I have a small collection of straights.

Where is this going you may ask. I'm looking at my den and thinking I have more razors than I can use since I am shaving less with my DEs. So depending on how efficient I become with the straights, there may be a purge of DEs coming. This has caused me to start evaluating my collection... but they are all so near and dear to me. Oh well high class problems. In my den evaluation, I did conclude that I must keep at least one adjustable. The fat boy would stay. I like the feel, weight, ease of adjustment and for me a near BBS is as good as it gets. Definitely a keeper in the rotation.

 

Razor: Timeless .95 OC w/ Aluminum Handle
Blade: Personna 74 Tungsten Steel (15)
Brush: El Druida Cocololo Manchurian
Soap: Reef Point Soap Classic Barbershop
Aftershave: Myrsol Blue
Fendrihan Shave towel

Another 3 pass near BBS shave today.

 

February 15 (Wednesday) - PAL and Fatboy Focus -- off the fairway and out of sight in the rough

Schick Krona
Voskhod (1)
B+B Omega Essential Boar
The Eternal Tub of TOBS Avocado Cream ( croap )
Alum and Thayers Witch Hazel Original Astringent

The first part of my Focus was to see if I could keep my vintage PAL carbon blade running all month using my vintage bladesaver hone. Despite my best efforts, it turned into a paintscraper for the last couple shaves, so I binned it after yesterday's shave. One part down.

The second part of my Focus was using the blade in my Fatboy, which obviously is still ready to go as soon as I pop a new blade in. However, I recently did a trade with Jared @PickledNorthern of a brush for a couple razors, and my package of treats just arrived. Not only did I get a Schick Krona and a Fatip Grande that both look nearly new but Jared included a sample selection of 5 popular blades I have never had a chance to try (Voskhod, GSB, Nacet, 7 O'clock black, Shark).

Naturally, I cannot be expected to wait until next month to try out the new toys merely because I am doing a Focus! Uhmm ... can I? The only problem is that I feel like Gollum stumbling into a cave full of magic rings and trying to decide which is his new Preciousss and which are merely Nicccee...

I started with the Schick Krona loaded with a Voskhod. I will try it for a couple days and then switch the blade to the Fatip Grande, and after that the Fatboy to give me a good idea of what both razors and this blade are like.

My first impression of this combo today was of incredible smoothness and mildness. It might have partly been the contrast from the last couple shaves, but I don't recall ever having such a smooth shave before. In fact, I stopped halfway through to doublecheck that I had put a blade in the razor! After I was finished my normal shave, I relathered my neck and did an ATG pass on it - which I never do.

The result was DFS+ with my usual passes and a bit closer than that on my neck. The alum was a touch warm on my neck but otherwise quiet and no redness was evident after I put on the Thayers.

I don’t know if the great shave was primarily due to the Krona, to the Voskhod blade or to the combination. I will have to try both razor and blade in different pairings to decide. So far though, I am impressed with both. If I was told tonight that I would have to shave for the rest of my life using Voskhods loaded in a Krona, I wouldn't mind in the least.

 

Excellent picture and setup of fine products Adam.

 

Excellent winter background. Wonderful pairing of soap and aftershave.

 

Lovely picture, Doug. I know the Myrsol Blue looks good in the pictures, but how is the scent?

 

Thanks very much Clint. I really like this soap and aftershave.

 

Thank you Jim. I really like the aftershave.

 

Is it a barber shop type of scent?

 

@Norcalnewb I found the Myrsol Blue scent to be very similar to Floid Blue. I get a nice clean barber shop type scent to it.

 

That is gorgeous. Two unicorns.

 

Thanks very much Jared.

 

I got called for supper so I couldn't finish my post. Thanks for your post Clint.

Myrsol’s Blue Aftershave splash refreshes with its clean scent that has a touch of menthol. It soothes and helps regenerate the skin with its cooling ability as a way to complete your wet shaving regimen.
Spanish cosmetic company, Myrsol, is highly regarded in their native Spain for creating an excellent line of aftershaves and lotions. Founded in the 1940's by barber and entrepreneur, Miquel Riou. He established his new business out of his home and began studying chemistry and creating his own salon products
The brand “Myrsol” is an acronym of his name, although he chose to spell it with a Y instead of I. The famous art deco bottle of aftershave is his personal design.

 

I hope I didn't upset you stepping in. To my nose Floid Blue and Myrsol Blue are so similar. I will say that all the Myrsol products leave my skin felling so nice. I received a unexpected gift card and used it to by some Myrsol Agua Balsamica I have been wanting.

 

A one Unicorn deduction for breaking protocol.

If it happens again, your behavior will then be classified as Tom Foolery.

 

No you did not upset me at all Clint. I was happy you did step in and provide the information you did. I also find Floid Blue and Myrsol Blue very similar. I have Aqua Balsamica which I also enjoy. I'm sure you will like it as well.

 

The precedent has been set. You can call it a "No Focus focus" which demands non-repeating hard & software. The goal is to improve Technique and you most certainly have. I think the count was 41 shaves from a single blade? You focused hard! Enjoy your new gear.

 

Way back when I got samples of all the Floid and Myrsol aftershaves and tried them out. I really didn't find one of either that I actually disliked but found some that I liked more than others.