April 2017 30 Day Rule/Focus Pix & Discussion

I think it's the earring that really makes that picture. The other extra little touches are just gravy.

 

Arko Adjustable April!!!!!

April 25

Razor - 1962 (H1) Gillette Slim (9)
Blade - (2)
Soap - Arko
Brush - WCS Synthetic
Post - Alum

Rarely have I been less enthused to shave than tonight. Knowing the Derby was waiting for me just didn't add any joy to my day and it was a long one. I worked today on a trade off for a manager in another store so I was already off my normal schedule. Plus I have big bosses in my store tomorrow and I have to have a presentation ready for some sales training I'm doing for the District. That had to be tightened up. And the Derby was waiting for me when I got home. Almost didn't come home. Well, not really.

The surprising thing is it was actually better than yesterday which lends a bit of credence to the idea that the Derby is best in aggressive razors. With the Slim on 9 there was still a general lack of smoothness and the alum is still plenty warm but I made it through three passes without stopping or feeling like I should stop. Finished DFS but nothing special so there was that as well. While I don't think I'll ever load another one I can say that aggressive razors may give this blade a shot and, given that there are fans of the blade, I can't say it's total trash. But for my den - yeah, not gonna happen.

Not sure what I'll go to yet for the next few days just because work has had me so pinned down. I'm staring at this thread knowing it's growing beyond my ability to stay current but I'm planning to spend some time tomorrow when the bosses leave to start catching up. Unless, of course, some pesky customers show up to buy beds. This job would be perfect if it wasn't for the customers. You know that drill.

Looking ahead to MAYhem, two of the chosen implements of torture arrived today. Things are lining up nicely!

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I just realized there is a serious gap in my Den - I'm going through my soaps alphabetically by make, and I don’t have any starting with B! In fact, I didn't have any creams starting with B either! And Q, X, Y and Z are similarly unrepresented.

Any suggestions for creams or soaps to fix these oversights? The only one I know of for X is Xpec, which costs the earth. But what about the others?

Good products only please. I just remembered that I did have a full tube of Burt's Bees Natural Shave Cream "gracing" my shelves a few months ago but I threw it in the garbage after a three-day trial... I wasn't willing even to keep it for handsoap.

 

B? B&M
Q? Queen Charlotte soaps?

 

Non Arko, nor Adjustable April

Geo F Trumper Rose cream, B-400 WD HM badger
Weck Sexto & a dull blade
'55 Red Tip & Personna Med Prep
Alum, Proraso Refresh Lotion


Much thanks to Randy @BaylorGator for a set of floral shave cream samples. Tried this one over rose ToBS for the brighter scent. Easy lathering with a big fat High Mountain badger attachment on the B-400 handle. I took a N to S pass with the shavette, felt the skipping studder of either insufficient lather or a dull blade. When in doubt set the open blade down. Since I don't know the cream from previous use, I reached into the bag of DE tricks. Thought I had the #195, but the Red Tip came up. I'm Ok with that, too. Finished the shave with sufficient glide and plenty of deep scented lather. Before I shaved I wanted to try the witch hazel buffing trick. The dull shavette through me off step. Another day, another shave - it'll happen. Then I went from rinse to AS lotion and neglected the alum block. Just one of those shaves. Still a DFS+ finish so I'm not complaining.
Good Shaves Y'all!

 

I thought Queen Charlotte Soaps had closed shop a few months ago?

 

Well, that's two votes out of two for B+M. Thanks for the comparison on Xpec with TOBS. I have read mixed reviews on Xpec before, and at the price it's definitely a "think twice" kind of product.

 

I tend to prefer fairly simple, straightforward scents to ones that are highly layered and complex, because: (a) I don’t have the greatest sense of smell in the world anyway and (b) I have some headache sensitivities, especially to more "exotic" scents. Any suggestions for B+M soaps to look at?

 

Frankie. He said Relax.

 

Barbon cream. @crackstar knows about most of the east Europe stuff.

 

Barbasol

 

I've never used it, but have seen it in pics now and then

 

I have the Seville and love it. It is a Barbershop scent, but not an overly powdery one. I believe I saw him say it is his best seller, for what that's worth.

 

They're gone. @Keithmax mourned the loss.

 

Barrister and Mann is good stuff as far as B's go. Yardley?

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His scents tend to be pretty strong. He does have an unscented soap.

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Apparently there is a soap called Zartgefuhl Ziegen Bart.

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Yesterday I posted a photo of a new Shavette I picked up off of the 'Bay for Mayhem. A couple of you asked for a review of it. Here she is:


I've never seen a Shavette like this before, and as it was cheap (I think $11 shipped?) I picked one up for the novelty. I shaved with it last night and tonight to make sure I had a good handle on it (more on that to come). Here are a few observations.

Pros:
-Its actually made of metal and quite solid. It has some weight to it and feels like it will hold up.
-The blades hold in quite securely. Despite it having a pretty good bit of blade exposure, I always felt the blade was held solidly. It takes half of a DE blade.

There's enough real estate to cover a full DE blade, as demonstrated here:

While it held the full blade ok, I felt a lot more comfy with the half blade.
-Despite it's odd looking design, the grip is actually pretty intuitive. Once I got used to it, I felt that l had a good bit of control.
-I had zero blood while shaving. There's a fair amount of blade exposure

But the narrow blade holder allows a lot of control over angle of attack.

Cons:
-I've always found this type of loading mechanism to be awkward, and this one is no exception. It takes some work to figure out how to get the razor blade to sit correctly while closing it up. Once it is together, it is very secure. But the odd shape of the razor makes it difficult to find steady purchase while loading a blade. I learned the hard way that it is best to lay it on the counter and load it that way. I mishandled it while loading the blade the first time and cut my finger.
-The design does take some getting used to. The way you hold it can obstruct your view of the blade in the mirror until you figure it out. I found it rewarded short strokes. Once I got it, though, I really liked the amount of control the grip gave me.
-Your grip is very close to the business end of the blade. This is a YMMV thing. I wasn't sure I liked it at first. I had to be very careful with pressure.
-Im not too sure about a South to North pass. To be clear, I don't do a South/North pass because most of my hair growth is horizontal. So I did not attempt it, but I can see how that could be challenge.

That said, it was surprisingly much better than anticipated, and I can see myself using this Shavette. With some tweaks, I could really come to appreciate the design.

I am also working in some new soaps. Last night I had my first shave with Stirling Glacial Eskimo Tuxedo. For the first time I found a Stirling scent I just didn't care for, primarily because ALL I could smell was the menthol. It performed wonderfully, but I am a scent guy, and I wanted to something more than menthol. I did follow up with the menthol Sharp Dressed Man splash, and it was great.

Tonight was a different story. I had my first go with the Stirling Iced Pineapple. I'm usually not big on fruity scents, but this stuff is fantastic. And the Sharp Dressed Man splash compliments it nicely.

Head shave was courtesy of my recent Gillette Slim find, loaded with a Dorco Platinum blade that came with the shavette. I know people knock them, but with the Slim on 4 I got a very respectable shave.

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I have a Magic shavette in my miscellaneous shaving stuff. In possible preparation for MayHEM, does it take the 1/2 DE blades or the AC type?

 

My 6 and 8 year old girls can probably hack the NSA severs. (I was a computer science major for 2 semesters in college, but they are convinced I need help turning the thing on. I can't wait until they become teenagers and think I'm a blithering idiot.) Let me know if they can assist.