February 2018 30 Day Rule/Focus Pix & Discussion

Marvin definitely approves.

 

Worth mentioning.

I see a lot of loud shows.

I always wear -30db full spectrum earplugs.

If you don't... You are permanently injuring yourself.

 

I would tend to agree with your assessment, pretty much to a T.

 

Favorite February

February 2

Razor - Gem MMOC
Blade - Gem Carbon (3)
Soap - Stirling Barbershop
Brush - Stirling Two Band Synthetic
Post - Alum

Third shave on the OCMM rule and it was the worst one so far. No blood but the blade is just absolutely dragging. Now, part of that at the start was my error in having too much angle. This razor just won't work with that much. So, I backed off to flat, then angled out until it hit the sweet spot and went again. Still way more drag than I like. A couple of times I would have sworn I loaded a Tiger. Ok, maybe not that bad. However, something has to give. And, since this rule is of the "HBSG" variety, I'm going to switch to the Pal Blue Carbon tomorrow to see if it performs any better than the Gem. And, if it doesn't seem any different I'll go to stropping the blade. Plenty to work on to get these carbon blades to work as well as Fuzzy says. My final option? I still have stainless Gems in the stash.

Anyway, other than the drag the result was a CCS as that's as far as I got with the blade, but I'll take it. The surprising thing was how quiet the alum was. I half expected my face to burst into flames from irritation but I didn't have that problem.

I'm still thinking that part of this is just me adjusting to the thicker SE blade. And learning to hold the right angle on the razor. I can tell even on bad nights that once I get it tamed I'm going to have a great razor to reach for.

Have a great weekend! Who you got in the Super Bowl? While I wouldn't mind seeing the Eagles upset the Pats I'm a pretty solid fan of the evil mastermind Belichick. Brady? Can't deny his talent but I root more for the coach than the QB in this case.

​

 

I've spent the last month with Arko, Astra SP, and a post-WWII Aristocrat. I decided to change things up today. For my nightly shower, I decided to make @wchnu happy, and pulled out the GERMS mug with Williams. Beat it like a dead horse, lathered up, and did my normal modified two pass. No nicks or terrible feelings, nice and smooth, even under the chin. I've got 5-6 shaves in the Astra, so I'll go ahead and switch it out next shave, and probably use up the Williams over the next couple of weeks.

 

Nice

 

FAVuary Jumping tracks

Stirling Piacenza sample
30 DC LE Cashmere Cypress
Suribachi & warm water
Lutz vintage slant 3pc DE
Polsilver S I blade (1st use)
Avon Bravo AS


Thought I was going to drop a Feather in the Blackbird for a farewell shave, but my cupboard was bare. An empty plastic tuck! Guess I sent all my remaining to my son with that Black Beauty. Fortunately I can pick up more from local suppliers when I look for that puck of Modern Williams. So that brought me to a New in Box, New Old Stock Vintage 1930's German made Slant. Best time to test out a new soap is the first time you use a razor, right? (I'm looking at you Patrick @9nein9) I've used Stirling before, but only a sample of Mountain Man. Pressed this disk into an OS mug where the ribs fit just right to grip it. Easy thick 'n slick just like a tallow-lanolin-shea butter soap should be. Puzzling with the Slant to install the blade I couldn't figure out if there's a right/wrong way for the cap to go on. This DE has a special feature; mild/aggressive sides. From my reading if the caps on wrong it evens out, or correctly for the variation. So I shaved left with mild, right with aggro. No nicks or irritation with three passes. About the same reduction, too. A little missed stubble on my chin, but DFS elsewhere. Must have the cap on the other way. Try again next shave after I get some Feathers so I can send James @LOOT his Blackbird. And a handful of interesting items his way.
Good Shaves Y'all!

 

Where did you get that blade? I bet that is part of your problem right there!!! Pop me an addy. Uncle Fuzzy will show you the light.

 

Got it from tryablade.com. PM on the way.

 

Awesome!!!

 

I don't know why, but I got that itch to scratch that Williams puck next lol. I know it's been proven to be able to make it lather so I'm going to take an honest crack at it .

 

Gettttt ittttttt!! Just forget about all the voodoo the amatures claim it takes to lather......just saying.

 

Favorite brush day:
30DC w/Tuxedo knot
Fat Boy (setting 9)
Feather blade
Tabac
Stirling Sandalwood balm

After hearing the chatter about Charlie running a Fat Boy with a Feather on 9, I had to try it. Great choice. I got a super close shave with this combo.

I didn't have time for a head shave this morning, so I got the head shave in tonight:
Omega 10049 Boar
Schick E Injector
Grooming Dept Magnolia
Dickinson's Witch Hazel spiked with Clubman Pinaud

The Schick E is my newest head shave favorite. It is a fantastic razor. The Grooming Dept Magnolia is really growing on me. Yes, it is floral. But not feminine. My wife digs it on me. Bonus.

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Just finished a late night / morning shave . Another great 2 passer with a new blade . I'm finally starting to get the feel for when my blade is dull and not keep going until it nicks . That proraso green has a way of waking up the senses especially at this hour . Every shave just keeps getting better. That's my daily report folks.

 

I made the plunge and bought a puck last night. I did a test lather and filled the mug after maybe 15 swirls . I'm a believer. That boar bristle can massage any soap to a nice lather I find .

 

Proraso Green is great soap. Love the feel.

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It's a very soft soap which can turn into a rich lather . I've discovered that if I paint it on too thick it holds back my razor and dries fast so I've been building the lather on my face instead of the bowl. I dip my brush in damp and pick up enough soap to give me just a slick lather . Took some experimenting but I think I got it to where I want it now .

 

-Frederick Reynolds 7/8
-Chubby 2 Best
-Electric Sheep Soap and AS



A Chubby 2 in Best has been on my buy list for years. It has just always seemed to get bumped by other brushes. Well a conversation with @FaceScraper, and a rekindled romance with my Simpson brushes finally pushed me over the edge and I bought one.

It is what one would expect, super dense, and not bloomed at all yet, so I really Super Gooped worked the lather into the knot to open it up. No scritch to the hairs, not the softest Best I have had, but we are a bunch of shaves away from seeing how it ends up.

 

Filters and some creative smudging.

 

Saturday of Fabulous Feb

Sometimes shaves are dictated by seeing others shaves, sometimes it's a dare and sometimes by request. In another thread there was a desire to see everyone's pimp stick, you know the dark siders. So todays shave is with my mother of pearl Mastro Livi.

In the next two months I hope to finish of my puck of Tabac and a tub of CF, so today I got to work on the CF. All was right with the world. Four passes for an epic shave.

Irritation A+ Closeness A+ Smoothness A+ Sharpness A+

Razor: Mastro Livi Gifretto
Stop: Drygulch black latigo
Brush: Yaqi
Pre: Nivea
Soap: Castle Forbes
AS: Speick AS, L’Ocittane ASB
Scent: MDCI Invasion Barbare