April 2017 30 Day Rule/Focus Pix & Discussion

Nice B&W photo, Perry!

 

A REAL MAN!!!!

 

I got mine as a raffle prize(did I say the "r" word????)

 

Thanks, Jim.

 

Well, isn't that nice?. And I don't know what THAT could be(30-day club)so even though you spilled the beans, it'll STILL be a surprise lol. It's May 1-the big six-oh for this writer.

 

Thank you Jim . I hope you and the family have a great Easter weekend.

 

Well, good for you for being an awesome dad. I'm sure you got brownie points from SWMBO too!

 

I hope you and the baby are both doing well and get some well deserved rest.

 

Well, so far i 've tried only Derby as mild blade and my razors are both very mild or mild (Weishi and DE89). Weishi+ Derby= OK. DE89+ Derby= somewhat better. Weishi+ Astra = BBS. I don't plan on getting more aggressive razors than the DE89, why do it when i can get BBS with a Weishi, at this point... I will never get straight razor and injectors. I think i will stay a happy newbie forever with mild razor + sharp blade as my last stop. I am very happy with today's shave, why risk bleeding with something more aggressive... I have yet to try the Shark SS, the Dorco ST301 and the Personna Israeli Red. But, for sharp blades, i am pretty decided to stick with Astra. The question is, will i keep Derby as my only "quick and dirty" blade, or is Dorco or Shark better on that role? We 'll see...

 

Thanks all. I like to complain about it, but I love being a Dad. Not shave related, but got the portraits back from the sitting a few months ago. The one where I shaved with a strait while in a hurry right before. He was also good with touching up the cut on my face. Since Andrew keeps showing off his little one, here's my clan.

 

It would seem on the surface that today's choice of razors was an attempt to hijack my pursuit of relaxing shaves. I have the day off, and since I had extra time I started perusing my razors, and for whatever reason I reached for something I haven't reached for in probably a year: my first DE razor. It's a no-name gap monster I bought from Sally's that nearly defeated me before I got started good. Only the purchase of a Merkur 34c kept me from tapping out at the time. The Merkur helped me believe I could do it. I never got a single pleasurable shave out the gap monster. That is, I never got a single pleasurable shave out of it until today. Today I got to see the true value of experience and technique. Using all of the things I have learned here, I was able to get a very fine shave out of the very tool that almost sent me running back to carts. It was very satisfying.

I broke out my Lisa's Natural Herbal Creations soap and I still contend that it is a criminally unknown gem and an excellent value. It just works for me.

I am finding that my focus this month has been the most beneficial focus I have done so far. I tend to get bored easily. So focusing on one item for an extended period tends to become drudgery for me. By mixing it up and keeping it interesting, each shave becomes an experience and I give it greater attention because of my enjoyment. I end up learning more from that one really focused shave than I do from several in a row with the same gear. I understand the whole concept of YMMV, and this won't work for everyone, but I've really enjoyed every shave this month thus far. So... mission accomplished.

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I have a spare.

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Adam, that is a wonderful family portrait. You have a beautiful family.

 

Adam, that's a great portrait of a great family. Congratulations on both!

 

Amazing picture of a great looking clan Adam. You have a lot to be thankful for this Easter.

 

That's a great looking crew you have there. You should be proud!

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Razor: Gillette Black Beauty (R-2) 1971
Blade: Personna 74 Tungsten Plus (14)
Brush: El Druida Barberpole w/Manchurian
Soap: Eufros Brisa da Oriente
Aftershave: Stirling Executive Man Balm.
Another excellent 3 passes with a minor clean up for a near BBS. I hope everyone have a great Easter weekend with family and friends.

 

You sound almost apologetic or defensive about your decision. Don't be.

The basic goal of shaving is to remove hair from the face (or other body parts) without removing skin or otherwise causing pain and irritation. That's it.

The main reason to experiment with different razors, blades, soaps and creams, and so forth is to find a personal shaving kit that will allow you to fulfill the above Basic Goal. That's also it.

Many of us continue trying different razors, testing and comparing different blades or acquiring different soaps, creams, aftershaves or balms long after we have accomplished the actual Basic Goal. But that is because we are now engaged in shaving as a hobby or ritual or form of collecting and really has nothing to do with the actual purpose of shaving, which still remains simply to remove hair while leaving the skin intact.

If you have found a combination of razor and blade - and possibly soap or cream - that allow you to shave in comfort, then you have fulfilled the Basic Goal for yourself and there is no reason whatsoever to feel you must go beyond that if you don't want to continue experimenting for the sake of experimenting.

And there is nothing "newbie" about that. In fact, you have probably just joined the majority of shavers, wet or otherwise, who find something that works for them and then Just Shave.

 

nice tie ....oh, and great family photo, too.

 

I put the razors in the mail today. Questionable steel on the way to Florida, Louisiana, and British Columbia. Should be an interesting experiment. I am somewhat comforted by the fact these razors are Japanese and not from the land of the Tiger and Flying Chicken.