April 2017 30 Day Rule/Focus Pix & Discussion

Razor: Portland Razor Co Chimera / Supply Provision Custom 3 dot head
Blade: Chick
Brush Handle: B-400 The Brush by Tom
Knot: APShaveCo Tuxedo
Soap: Chiseled Face Ghost Town Barber
Post Care: Thayers Witch Hazel
Alum
Osage Rub
Aftershave: Chiseled Face Ghost Town Barber

Excellent shave this fine Sunday morning. This was the first time I've ever done a full pass with a straight. I used the Supply to knock down 3 days of growth and then 2 full passes with the Chimera. Ended up with a DFS with no blood and almost zero feedback from the alum. I'm finding it easier to find the angle with the Chimera over a traditional straight and will use it going forward. Have a great day folks!

 

April 23, 2017
Wolfman Ti WR1 (.74) OC with Hempel Ti
Feather (2)
“Amigos” Elite Ironwood Beehive with Envy White
Route 66 Bay Lime Twist

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A new week and a new lineup. I will continue to use the Route 66 Bay Lime Twist that I substituted for the departed Lumberjack. The razor for the week will be a Wolfman Ti OC with the blade gap increased to .74. Since I bought the head only, I will pair it with a Hempel Ti anodized Ti handle. Being made of titanium the razor is very light. Since the increased blade gap has the blade feel of a Slim on 7 or 8, it requires the user to pay attention to technique. It is one of the two DE razors I own that is efficient enough for me to get a BBS shave in 2 passes with touch ups. The brush for the week is the "Amigos" Elite Razor Ironwood Beehive handle with an Envy White Knot. The handle is very ergonomic and a joy to use. In my opinion the Envy White knot is the best knot available in its price point. The Envy White has exceptional backbone and scrub with out any scritch. The knot's flow through is excellent as well. These attributes really hit all the high points that I look for in a knot.

On to the shave. After spending the week with the Chubby 2 Synthetic the Ironwood Beehive quickly reminded me that I am a badger guy at heart. Despite being an excellent brush the CH2 Synthetic does not provide the same feel or experience as an exceptional badger. After a quick load of the Bay Lime Twist, I went straight to face lathering. I always start in circular motions lathering and adding water slowly to the knot. I finish with paint strokes which left me with a wonderful slick lather. The scent of bay and citrus was impressive and lingered even beyond the shave. Given the efficiency of the razor, I went with a 2 pass shave, XTG & ATG paying attention to my trouble spots as I went. Skin stretching during the minimal touch ups allowed me to easily catch the baby. A really superb shave. Since I had some Route 66 Frozen Margarita Aftershave Balm remaining, I used it. The scent paired well and the menthol cooling was a very nice touch. Overall I would give this shave a solid A+. I hope everyone has a great Sunday.

 

Sunday, April 23, 2017

Simpson Chubby 2 Synthetic
Fine Platinum
Wolfman WR1-OC w Darwin Titanium
Gillette Silver Blue
Fine Platinum Aftershave
Creed Aventus

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Nice looking set up! What's the ghost town barber like? I love the name!

 

Thanks. The cheeks I am pretty good. The neck and chin are still both challenges. This is a slow learning process and I think I am going to give it another 30 days as well. I won't use it every day, but I hope my comfort and skill level will be adequate by the end of May.

 

Day 28 of 30 days of Henckel straights

2 passes again today, this time with the 4/8 Henckel. Results were the same as yesterday, very nice.

Virtually the same as what I wrote yesterday and the day before that, only today this is the 4/8. I have gotten to the point where I can get a 2 pass DFS with any of the 3 blades . I haven't felt the need lately to go for a third pass and try for a BBS. But, I also have been steadily reducing the number of cuts I get - only 1 nick in the last 4 days.


DIY Pre-Shave Oil
ABC with TOBS Rose Face Lathered
2+ pass, WTG, XTG
24MM silvertip set an extra 10mm deep
Sampsons All Natural Aftershave Balm
Round Toe 4/8 Henckel 89 1/2

 

QUALIFICATIONS FOR RUNNING @wristwatch fan club:

dealing ice cream

 

Olive oil
Grape jelly
KY jelly
Suntan lotion
Ketchup
Agave
Guacamole (or just blended avocado)
Irish cream
Banana pudding
WD40
Gelato


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WD40. That's one that hadn't crossed my mind. And....it could help with older razors too. LOL

 

Just witch hazel. A microfiber cloth. So there is a Norwex microfiber that my sister and sister in law use. Just water and rub the cloth on their skin and shave. No soap or anything. And it works for them. Some guys do it too.

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It's fantastic! It's a barbershop scent but instead of powder it has leather and gunpowder. I love it, top 3 scents and excellent performance. The AS lasts 12+ hours as a bonus

 

I've always had my eye on that one. Might try to squeeze it in as part of my "End Of 2017 Blitz" to avoid buying it in 2018. I'm pledging a NB2018.

 

That was my immediate thought. Ranch, not Bleu. Man's gotta know his limits.
How's about Russian Dressing and a Voskhod?
Borscht, caviar, shashlik drippings, golubsty, olivie, I could go on...

 

Beautiful Mark. Is that the standard or increased gap OC?

 

23 April 2017 Blade/Soap Focus Shave

Pre: Plenty of hot water, VDH Shave Butter w/hot towel and some bloom water from the soap.
Razor: Gillette 1952 Super Speed Black Tip
Blade: Gillette Silver Blue
Brush: JR #161 NY Mets Special Edition
Soap: Catie's Bubbles "Tonsorial Parlour"
Post: Hot/Cold rinse, cold towelx2, alum block, Dominello Vitali Calming Post Shave Moisturizer
After Shave: Canoe by Dana

Today's shave kicks off the blade auditions for the '52 Super Speed Black Tip. First up is my baseline the Gillette Silver Blue.
As usual GSB came thru with a great 3 pass DFS+ shave. The SS is a sweet shaving razor. After a week of the VDH razor today was heaven.
JR#161 produced a fine slick cushiony lather from the Catie's Bubbles. I finally am dialed in with this soap. Splashed on some Canoe and my Sunday was off to a great start.
Have a great day.

 

Any of you gun nuts have access to ammo big enough to cut open the casing and use it as a brush handle to sink/epoxy a 24 mm knot in? I'm pretty sure it needs to be bigger than a 50 Cal, which puts it well above my pay grade and classification level. It may not be possible, but the idea has me intrigued.

 

great brush

 

Thanks. Jim did a fantastic job on it.

 

Grits

 

Kudos on the big bottle. Love me some Canoe.

See; Lava soap?