April 2017 30 Day Rule/Focus Pix & Discussion

Thank you, Clint! Have a great day!

 

Great line up and photo Clint.

 

Good picture Perry.

 

picture Jim.

 

Thank you Doug. I can safely say I am going to really enjoy this week with this lineup.

 

Safe drive, have a good day.

 

Ok, April 2 shave continued...

This shave lacked irritation even though I think the blade is only OK. I tend to like thick foamy lather and this was my first attempt to make it more slick.



In feeling this could be wetter, I decided to dip the brush and hand lather.

After First Dip:




After several dips:


The photos were rotated but somehow lost it. sorry.

Also, the photos do not show the additional glossiness obtained. Compared to Jared, I find that I am whipping too much and adding water too slowly.

April 3rd..., was better

 

Thank you Doug. Hope you have a good day as well.

 

With a baby at home I find myself playing catchup more and more ... This month I will use my modern razors. Starting with my Merkur 34C, Ikon X3, Merkur 15C, and if I get to it my Pearl closed comb. Arko will make an appearance once or twice as it comes up in my soap rotation. And if I find some time somewhere in the month to restore a brush or two they may make an appearance as well.

 

Thank you, Doug.

 

I am totally prepared for this, and in fact, counting on it. I spe;nt half a day on Saturday rearranging my in-wall storage to accomodate areas to keep my AD purchases on display, while trying not to disturb the spa-like atmosphere of the bathroom for my SWMBO. I'll post pics once it's done and filled up.

On another note, I'm having to take a 3 day detour from my focus, as my trip is a short one and allowed me to pack in a carry on (requiring no blades) since Chicago is gonna be cold and rainy/snowy and I'm a thin blooded Florida boy wihtout much winter attire, I'm not hiking to a Walgreens unless it's right across the street from my hotel or they have DE blades in the lobby. May have a 3 day jaunt with carts, likely to remind me why I started on the DE journey.

 

April 3, 2017

Razor: G3 Gillette Aristocrat Adjustable (4)
Blade: Gillette Platinum Plus (2)
Brush: Cremo by Vie-Long
Cream: KMF fragrance-free
Post: Alum, Listerine

I have surprisingly little to say about this shave. The Slim at a moderate setting of '4' and the PP work much better than I recalled- effortless with little sense that a blade is actually installed. The KMF performed well as always, especially with a well-hydrated horsehair brush. Two passes to near-BBS with no qualifications.

 

Depending how how far away your trip is you could do this. Take a single DE blade tape it to an index card, put it in an envelope, and mail it to yourself at the hotel you are staying at. It will only cost you a single first class stamp. I often send blades to other members this way to try out. You can actually send 5 blades for a single stamp!

 

Baby's have a tendency to do that as I remember.

 

April 3 - Astra SS Day 3

Merkur 34C
Astra SS
The Phoenix Brush
DIY PSO
Stirling Pharaoh's Dreamsicle
Alum/Thayers WH/ Nivea S-PSB

Today turned out to be a focus on two things - wetter lather and feather light razor touch.

I went for the Dreamsicle today. After all the yard work and oil changes yesterday, I wanted a nice citrusy musky scent. I grabbed a dollop of the soap and pressed it into my bowl and put in about 3x -4x as much water, at least. This and a wet brush guaranteed I had more water than I usually do. Whipping it up, initially I thought, Oh well, I wasted this bunch of soap. I had a bubbly soup. It took some time but a nice thick lather resulted and was shinier than I have done in recent past recollection. Upon application, I was a bit fearful that I had too much water. It went on rather thin but it felt slippery. Oddly, the blade I was just OK with felt very good and resulted in a DFS+ shave. It could have achieved a BBS except I ran out of time and could not do any touch ups after my usual 3 passes (WTG, XTG and ATG). the razor was used with a feather light touch. I could feel the blade but no sensation of pressure along it was felt.

Alum application was silent again. I attribute this to the light touch and slick lather.

Not sure I love the wetter lather but do appreciate the slickness. I did feel that additional whipping did stiffen it to a consistency that I liked more and improved protection without losing slickness. Also, I felt after the pass of the razor that residual slickness that I got from Wheat State Soap. This I liked.

Wishing all of you an enjoyable, irritation free shave and a great day!

 

I've found that Stirling can get the shiniest, most hydrated lather of any soap I've tried. It's just amazing stuff. It can take SO much water.

@PickledNorthern - Have you posted that lathering video recently? Where the guy is loading some Mike's Lime soap and runs the brush under the water. That is one of the best lather technique videos around.

 

No I,haven't because I was afraid of becoming a broken record about it. But since you asked.......

*Hat tip to TSN's Merkur Man for making and posting it. It is a really very helpful video:

 

Its always good to see again. I pretty much use this technique every shave. I'm actually trying to use up soap now. I don't usually end up with the same thick goop, because I like a little more volume in my lather. But hey I always have enough for 10 passes.

 

I'd say Stirling is right up there for lather success, even if you don't do a swift powerful load(like me these days). It did me well today, same as I expect it will do for me always.

 

With all the talk about lather I thought it was appropriate. That's a terrific video. Great method.