August 2018 30 Day Rule/focus Pix & Discussion

Like Clint, I have a “nemesis” - the right side of my Adam’s Apple. Unlike Clint, I didn’t re-lather before switching directions to touch it up. I thought I got away with it today. I didn’t. Otherwise, a delightful shave, and a smooth face.




Have a fantastic Thursday, fellas!


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Yet, they do such a wonderful job making blades...
Maybe there's a market for a scrubby razor, just like some people prefer a scrubby brush.

 

Iremember two of her hits(each in different voices)...RE-RE-RE-RE-SPECT...and WHO'S ZOOMIN WHO? Actually make that 3....YOU MAKE ME FEEL.......(course that was in her RE-SPECT voice).

 

Nice picture, Bruce!

 

So I just did a quick shave!

Gillette Aluminium Handle Tech (Made in England)
Astra SP (2)
Bluebeard Doubloon Boar Brush
Palmolive Shave Stick
Nivea Sensitive Post-Shave Balm

I did one pass WTG, making sure that I applied no pressure (or as little as I could manage) and made sure that I rode the cap...

 

If they allow, take photos next visit? I'm curious to see how the shop looks!

 

https://www.google.com/maps/contrib...=w692-h260-k-no!7i9296!8i3488!4m3!8m2!3m1!1e1

That is their google page... Loads of visitor photos!

 

The barber (Chris) who shaved my beard off in January and started me on my DE journey uses Feather Artist Series shavettes because regulations here state that they cannot use straights. He prefers a 6/8 semi-hollow ground he said today!

 

Great photo Bruce.


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Don't forget to "THINK" about it!

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Side note - The "cook" in the video is none other than Matt "Guitar" Murphy. He recently passed away as well. We're losing a generation of greats in Motown and Blues genre.

 

I didn't know she sang at MLK Jr.'s funeral. (But that was good that she did).

 

Excellent post/picture Clint. I think your new razor looks amazing. Enjoy.

 

Thank you, gentlemen!

 

August Focus

Got in a late shave today with 32 hrs growth.
Adjusted the Progress to 3.5
Personna 74 Tungsten Blade, shave #17
I Coloniali hanging on for dear life.
The Taj Mistura needs its own 30 day focus to properly break-in.
Alum has worn off the Progress handle; results were slippery again.
Personna 74 is a freak of nature, right up there with Wilkinson "Light Brigades" and Gillette "Spoilers"
Still efficient; still very smooth; still very sharp, albeit noticeably duller than when new.
All in all a lovely afternoon shaving-respite.
Finished with some more "Old School" juice:
Pierre Cardin EdT. Yummy-scrumpscious.
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Beautiful photo today, Joseph. That I Coloniali must regenerate every night when your back is turned or something. I will be interested to see how long you keep that Personna 74 going before you decide it has finally dulled too much for your liking ... 30 days perhaps?

 

Thursday afternoon August 16 -- brush test and Rockwell day



Rockwell 6S on plate 3 / Nacet (1)
@Vlasta's Alpha T-400 prototype Rubberset 400 copy with 24mm silvertip knot
Renaissance Faire - type horn quaich lather bowl
Rockwell Barbershop soap
Alum and Osage Rub

I shaved just a few minutes ago, so had about a 30 hour stubble.

Today I used the T-400 prototype for the first time. I also decided to make this a Rockwell day by matching the razor with an accompanying Rockwell soap or cream. In the end, I went with the soap. To be honest, I think the cream would work better with this brush -- I had trouble loading the soap because of the niggardly metal tin it comes in. There isn't enough room in that tin to get the entire bloomed knot of this brush in contact with the soap. I was able to load the soap by swirling the middle of the knot on it with bristles hanging out all around the edge, but it was neither easy nor ideal. I think this is a soap to use either with a small brush or one with a tight knot that has little splay -- my Simpsons Chubby Synthetic, for example. The cream, by contrast, is packaged in a larger diameter plastic tub that would fit the entire T-400 knot when dipped into (or one can scoop a bit of cream out with a finger).

Anyway, I finally got enough soap loaded into the centre part of the brush, added a fair amount of water to the lather bowl, and then easily whipped up enough lather. The soap is a pure vegan formulation that doesn't provide as rich a lather as MWF or some of my favourite tallow soaps, but it was certainly adequate and provided good shave performance. The Rockwell version of Barbershop scent is stated to be a mixture of leather, neroli, anise, cedar and lilac. Whatever -- it comes across to me as a pleasant masculine scent of middling strength in the soap and lather.

The brush performed well, as I expected. Despite the crappy little tin, the middle of the knot loaded adequate product, which then turned into an entire brush (and bowl) of good lather. The badger knot splayed out well and felt pillowy soft on my face while still having adequate backbone to rub the lather in well. I have ditched several badger brushes because the knots had inadequate backbone; this is definitely one that I would keep.

One pass with the razor and very sharp new blade had me to an irritation-free DFS. My neck still feels a little sandpapery in spots but looks fine and I didn't feel like doing more passes to get it smoother and probably redder. I decided to switch the razor up to the #4 plate in preparation for tomorrow.

I paired the soap scent with the Osage Rub just because. It gave a good tingly finish to a fine afternoon shave.

 

Thank you. It certainly has a unique look.

Another excellent report and photo. The Taj brush is a temptation each time you post a photo. You’re inspiring me to pull out one of my treasured Persona 74 blades. They really are superb blades.



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Excellent post and photo John. Sounds like a wonderful shave. The brush is just gorgeous. Congrats.


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Thanks, Clint. It's a beautiful piece of work. Get it with a couple extra ferrules loaded with other types of knots and this one brush could give you variety for a lifetime.

 

Paul, here's a good video and a couple of different photos showing how the Trac II handle slides onto the cartridge. The cartridges have slots on the backside to attach to the handle. When you're finished with the cartridge, just perform the steps in reverse to return the used the cartridge to the blade dispenser. This is the safest way, as it keeps your fingers away from sharp edges during cartridge changes. It take a firm grip to slide the top part of the razor handle onto the cartridge. Give it a try, and let me know how it works.