April 2018 30 Day Rule/Focus Pix & Discussion

I am not only shocked but also appalled, Randy. You are letting down the entire team here!

 

Don't feel bad, I never keep more than 100 of DE or Gem blades on hand and even less for the Artist Club blades.

 

Not you too! My illusions are getting totally shattered here...

 

April 9th
Cold water
WTG/XTG
Timeless Bronze SB
Feather HS (3)
Semogue Owners Club Badger
Stirling Soap
Stirling AS
Thayers

Good afternoon gentlemen!

Another fine shave. DFS. I think my technique has progressed enough that after my current blade runs its course I'm going to start in on my sampler pack. I'm getting consistently great shaves on a daily basis.

I went with Stirling Piacenza this afternoon. Typical Stirling performance and a wonderful scent. This one really suits me.

Good afternoon and good shaves!

Sent from my SM-G965U using Tapatalk

 

Great pic. That Timeless sure is a beautiful razor!

 

Thanks!

Sent from my SM-T800 using Tapatalk

 

Don't worry John, I've got you covered. I'm probably sitting near a cool 1k

Sent from my SM-G920V using Tapatalk

 

Nice pic, love the AdP scent profile

Sent from my SM-G920V using Tapatalk

 

Now I'm curious about preshave soaps. My only experience was with a sample of Musgo Real that I mistook for shave soap. I tried Shave Secret oil and found it added nothing to my results. I was going to ask about rinsing before lather or not. Two different answers - Yes & No. Still curious...

Me neither. I haven't yet purchased a 100 pack of any brand. Closest I've come is keeping Astra SP, Feather Hi-stainless, & Schick Chicks in stock. Guess I'll get a count so we can see who is the reigning Blade Minimalist.

 

You know all it takes is for Gillete to pay off the right Congressman. Just a few well placed smart bombs would put the entire DE & SE blade manufacturers out of business. The DE & SE blade apocalypse could be just around the corner. DE blades will be selling for huge sums on the black market. Better stock up while you can!!!

 

Great picture, Jim!

 

Thanks Andrew!

Sent from my SM-G965U using Tapatalk

 

Thanks Jim!

Sent from my SM-G965U using Tapatalk

 

I just happen to be lazy. As much as I prefer to being clean shaven, when you go from having to shave everyday to only when its drill weekend (or on orders), I find myself taking advantage of it. Don't feel like shaving? I don't have to. I'm not a facial hair guy though (I could probably pull off a goatee), and after about 4 days I start feeling like a hippie. So anyway, been a few days, so there will be two reports in this post:

March 6, 2018
Shave 14 of 30

So as this past weekend was my drill weekend, I had to shave. So Friday it was a rather simple shave, the shavette went well with a first pass. I ended up using the Schick E3 to finish off, but it was a good shave. Especially since I forgot to use the aftershave milk but my skin still felt pretty good. The blade did bite me once below the lower lip. But I don't mind bleeding when I feel it, it is those nicks you don't know how you get that bother me. I was going to shave Saturday night, but ended up using the electric Sunday morning to get me through the day. Off Monday.

March 9, 2018
Shave 15 of 30

Half way there! So tonight's shave actually went pretty well. To recap my kit:

- Slim Focus AI Shavette with Perma-Sharp half blade / Schick E3 Injector (backup)
- Stirling Island Man (doing whatever an Island Man can)
- Maggard Razor's 24mm Synthetic Brush (my first brush, tried and true, never fails me)
- TSD Energy Aftershave Milk (my favorite TSD scent)
- Maggard Razor's Alum Block
- Thayer's Lemon Witchhazel

And in case of bleeding, a nick stick with a stack of gauze pads, tape, and band aids.

So the Island Man lathered well using a Turkish copper lathering bowel which I just love, and I got it nice and sloppy wet. Fresh blade loaded in the shavette, The first pass was N to S on the cheeks, under the lower lip, neck, chin. The chin went well, at least the front part. As I used my left hand on my left cheek, I had to do a second pass, it was a ATG/XTG pass. The upper lip I start on the outside go XTG to the center, then do the other side. I then did some ATG/XTG on the chin, and that went really well. I find myself holding the shavette between my middle and ring finger, instead of my index/middle like i had done initially. I also held it up by the blade with my index finger along the spin for some detailing work. At this point there was a nick and a small weeper. After rinsing off my face I noticed several more nicks, which took my joy down a notch. I did have to use the Schick E3 for some detailing on the neck to get a single hair. The best part was the alum. It was 98.7382% quiet. A final rinse and splash of the Energy Aftershave Milk and I called it done.

Will I be able to repeat this? Maybe we will find out Wednesday.

 

Rinsing or not? Up to you. I think both work and it’s up to the user to decide what’s best. I like to rub it around and scrub and then rinse. That sets up a nice, hydrated beard for the shave soap. I haven’t tried any other pre-shave product than Stirling mentholated soap, but I’ll certainly vouch for its benefits.

 

I now have glacial MITA and the matching splash along with four other sample pucks to tryout. Can’t wait for it to get here a little excited !

 

Thanks Andrew!

 

Thanks Clint. I appreciate the kind words!

 

Thanks Andrew. My Bride and two of our friends have recently started volunteering with me at the hospital. It's a privilege to spend time with these precious kids and their families, and we all love it.

 

You're set for the summer .