April 2017 30 Day Rule/Focus Pix & Discussion

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.

 

Adjusted Arko April Focus?

Arko/ Cremo Cooling and B-400 Tuxedo synthetic
Weck Sexto, Annie blade, & Schick J2, Chick blade
Alum block, Osage Rub, Proraso Refresh AS lotion


Adjusted my Arko with a dab of mentholated cream. The sum of the two treats me better than each by itself. Still trying to wrap my mind around this "mix it dry, hydrate on your face" method. I've had good success bowl lathering but I gave it a shot. Still getting lather clinging to the shavette so I'm thinking it was a little dry, but it shaved well. Swapped a fresh 57mm Annie brand blade into the Weck.

These are sold in a local shop, imported from Japan. Labeled as Frozen Temper Super Stainless Platinum. I muted the corners to avoid those pesky blade dips. Quality appears acceptable. I'm wondering if they are made by Feather...
Worked WTG & ATG all over with the open blade. Switched to the Four Speed Schick Stick for XTG on my neck & clean up. DFS? Pretty much. No errors, little remaining stubble. Alum quiet as can be. A careful application of Osage, followed by Proraso splashed on with abandon. Triple cooling action!
Good Shaves Y'all

 

I still say that the blades sticking out of that thing look scarier than any straight I own. It just looks like it is going to eat your face.

 

Muted corners FTW! I started my Wet Shave Adventure with a half DE shavette similar to @Bama Samurai's Magic. Didn't take long to get used to 57 millimeters of open blade.

Tapatalk Via Kyocera

 

Should I use Soap Commander or Route 66 tomorrow? First world problems!

 

When I can't decide which soap to use, I pick six that flip the minnow for the day, and roll a die.

 

Choose between Arko and Godrej instead -- whole different world!

 

Wetness only equals slickness if the soap can hold the water. IMO, Arko is not able to hold enough water to get a good slickness. Usable, yes. Nice to use, not so much. Doing a practice lather or two before you use a new soap can help you pin point where it starts to fall apart. You want to add water until right before that point, and stop. Arko is a perfect soap to do practice lathers with. Its cheap enough to waste, is fairly easy to lather, and smells and gives the post shave feel of a urinal cake. Its a win-win if you use it for something other than shaving.

 

Tell us how you really feel.

 

Razor: Merkur 34C
Blade: Personna 74 Tungsten Plus (3)
Brush: Elite Razor Tres Amigos Desert Ironwood Beehive w/Envy White
Soap: Route High Mountain Mist
Aftershave: Folsom & Co. Capri

Pretty good shave tonight. Did my traditional 3 passes with a light touch up. The Route 66 soap is performing as excepted and the Tres Amigo brush is a joy to use.

 

I used to mark the inside of my medicine cabinet with the date I put a fresh cartridge in. All the shaves were painful, so it helped two write the date down.

 

That batch of lather looks pretty good.

 

Dude, grumpy today? Been playing with the Osage again?

Also, using urinal cakes on one's face is something I am unfamiliar with, but thanks for taking one for the team to compare it to Arko. Good man.

 

Beautiful shot Doug. Looks like the sun is helping with the snow melt.

 

Thanks Clint. The sun is helping and it is supposed to rain for a couple of days also.

 

April 3 (Monday ). - creams

German New type 4 pc travel razor / Voskhod (3)
Alluminati Envy White brush
Duke Cannon shave cream
Alum and Thayers Witch Hazel Original Astringent

I have changed my focus equipment for the month. I was going to use my Gillette Black Beauty throughout as I concentrated on testing creams, but I just joined @Jayaruh in his Anything But Gillette DE Month, so I will be switching razors. I will use my Schick Krona, Fatip Grande and Rockwell 6s as mood and fancy dictate. First off, however, I am going to test drive a couple of those old German travel razors with the two-piece handles. One is a pre-War brass OC Old type copy branded Gentleman Otto. Today's is an OC New type copy that is chromed with probably a Zamak cap. It came with Gillette red-wrappered Thin Blades in the case, with one in the razor date stamped N2 for 1943. So the razor is probably 1940s-1950s vintage.

I started with an all-Duke Cannon pickmeup shower. I always find the Tea Tree and Menthol shampoo and the peppermint (Productivity) soap give me an awkening lift.

I then used the Duke Cannon shaving cream. This cream isn't actually new to me as I have used it a few times before. It's a quality product with all the usual natural moisturizing and protecting botanicals in it (aloe vera, shea butter, macadamia nut oil, etc.). It lathers okay, protects and hydrates well, and smells vaguely herbal.

The razor gave me a good shave with one set of diagonal passes and then an ATG pass on my neck. No irritation and the alum was silent. I did notice that this OC razor is less aggressive than the Gillette Old types I used the last couple days but at the same time seemed to have a more pronounced blade presence. Also quite a bit of audible feedback. The short handle took some getting used to, and when it got soapy it became slippery and hard to hold. The handle is cross-hatched, but the knurling isn't deep and didn't do much when wet. Overall, the razor was probably a handy travel unit, because the entire unit including several blades fit in a metal box about 2" square that would have slipped easily into a travelling gent's vestpocket. I wouldn't care to use it for normal use though; I prefer something a bit bigger and easier to hold.

 

-Dovo Bismarck
-Kent BK12
-Stirling Iced Pineapple
-Stirling Glacial Lemon Chill AS

Smooth and cold and close and comfortable.