DECember 2017 30 Day Rule/Focus Pix & Discussion

She is doing exceptional. One day of physical therapy a week and then the gym three to four days a week.

Thank you Bruce.

Thank you Jim.

 

Great photo Jim. I too find the scent very different from other Bay Rums but in a good way.

Great B&W photo Perry. I love menthol crystals. They get added to almost everyone of my aftershaves.

 

Love it. Very Christmasy.

 

Another very professional looking photo.

 

Thanks, Clint! Your photos have been outstanding lately. Well, they're always outstanding, not just lately, so I appreciate the kind words.

I'll certainly be doctoring up my aftershaves that need some menthol. I've come to realize that the chill is an important factor in a splash for me .

 

Looks like a nice shave all the way around. The black and white is cool.

 

Nice, Perry. 100% agrees on the Jeeves. It is definitely a top tier soap.

 

December 5, 2017

Simpson M-7 Manchurian LE
Savon des Volcans Cedar Mandarin
Wolfman Titanium WR1-OC with Darwin
Personna Med Prep
Fine Fresh Vetiver
ADP Colonia Essenza

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Good picture with a stunning brush amigo.

 

Thank you, Bruce!

 

Nice B&W shot, Perry!

 

Thank you, Clint!

 

Thank you, Jared!

 

Excellent picture, Mark! The brush is beautiful!

 

December 5

Weber SS
Astra SP (5)
Simpson Chubby 2 Super
Mike's Natural Soap - unscented
Thayers Lavender witch hazel, unrefined shea butter, and Alt-Innsbruck aftershave

I enjoyed a nice two-pass plus minimal touch-up shave this morning - super close and very comfortable. I've taken this Astra SP blade around the block five times now, and it has really smoothed out. It should have no problems making it through seven shaves. Mike's Natural Soap is in my top three for slickness, protection, and post-shave skin feel. Because it is unscented, I can pair it with any aftershave. Today, I chose one of my favorites, Alt-Innsbruck, which is a cross between a menthol/tobacco scented cologne and aftershave. The Alum was quiet this morning, and I felt no need to sing loudly in a manly voice upon its application. The day has started off well. I hope you all have a good one!

 

A very nice shave today with a wonderful soap.
Stirling Soap Company Red Eye
Stirling Brush
Portland Razor Company Siren
Thayers WH
Stirling Red Eye After Shave
Have fun!

 

Thanks, Jim!

 

-Parker SRX
-Kent Infinity
-Jeeves of Hudson Bay Rum
-Stirling Almond Cream AS

Over the last few months, as I have been using shavettes so much on the road, I decided to trade up my plastic scaled Parker for a SS model. I got good shaves from the other, but I could never quite get used to the lighter, almost flimsy feel of it. The stainless is worlds apart. Same basic razor, it just has a little heft to it, which makes it much easier in use. And looks a lot nicer. I can see why @Bama Samurai uses his so much. I know that since I bought it, I have used a saloon style much more often. IMO, it is well worth the extra few dollars if you are looking at a Parker, or any DE style shavette in general.

I have sort of been revisiting synthetic brushes, and my opinion of them. I have picked up a couple of them I haven’t tried before, just to see. The Kent is a Gen 3 brush, same as the Plisson, but never got very good reviews. It was considered sproingy, with too much backbone. I had an opportunity to pick one up cheap, so I thought I would give it a try. It is sproingy with too much backbone. What it reminds me of, almost exactly other than the handle, is the Simpson Classic Synth I used to have. It is very soft, dense, and too stiff for its setting. Like the Simpson brushes, it prefers an angle with some pressure to get it to splay, and one needs to keep that pressure to keep it splayed. I think it would benefit from prolonged loading from a tub to work soap deeper into the knot, as opposed to face lathering from a stick, but that isn’t what a guy usually looks for in a travel brush. I will bowl lather with it tonight and see it that helps. First impression is that the reviews are generally correct, and there are better performing options for less money.

The Jeeves soap (thanks @Drygulch !) performed just like Jeeves always does: Awesome. It is a perfect “Super Goop” Soap, and is slick as all get out. I have never been able to throw enough water at it to get it to break down. The lather just keeps building and building. I cannot recommend this soap highly enough. The scent on the Bay Rum is lighter than most Bay Rums I have tried, and maybe fresher somehow (for lack of a better term) but is clean, and strong enough to smell during the shave. It is definitely not clovey, for those of you who dislike cloves. I like it.

 

Thank you Jared and Perry.

 

Great photo Amigo. That brush is gorgeous.

Fantastic photo Charlie. I am looking forward to trying Mike's. I ordered 3 for the girls to give me for my birthday or Christmas.

With a PRC you are doing better than ok while everything is packed away.

Great review of the brush Jared. You description of the Jeeves Bay Rum is spot on.