August 2018 30 Day Rule/focus Pix & Discussion

Adjustable August; Melody's Choice

Proraso White SS
30 DC LE Cashmere brush
Suribachi & cool water
'59 Fat Boy on nine
Fresh Astra SP blade
Proraso Balm
Another granddaughter's selection from the cabinet for today's shave. I needed it a couple days ago, but this was the first opportunity for Melody to sniff and choose. She liked the "green plant smell" of the teatree & oatmeal sensitive formula. So she wet the brush of her choice, shook it out, and didn't quite load enough soap, I dipped in for a little more. Quick work in the bowl for agitation action, and I allowed her to apply lather. First swipe with the Feather blade alerted me to the need for a change. New blade in place and I completed three passes and a little clean up as directed by my Quality Inspector of the Day. Shave done, and she shook up the balm, a small dollop in her hand and onto my face. I asked if she wanted to put the balm on her, "Nope, it's a Man smell". They never say that when I use lime or Florida Water.
Good Shaves Y'all!

 

That is true. I buy my Feather Pro blades and DE blades from Amazon. The Pro blades are about 11-13 dollars a package of 20. Each pack will last me around 140 shaves. A package of 100 Feather DE blades is about 23 dollars which last about 300 shaves. For me they work out to be close to the same cost.

However the Gem PTFE blades at Connaught shaving are much less expensive than most other SE blade choices.

 

Great shave and photo. Even better shave helper.

 

Yes, to both of those. I hardly ever use warm or hot water if the outside temps are above 50F. Some folks leave the alum on. I apply it to fresh rinsed damp skin, put my razor/brush/soap/bowl away, then rinse the alum off before applying AS.

Thanks Perry! Thought I'd show my location, but keep old "Bob" Dobbs in the picture.

 

James, I’ve never paid more than $20 for any razor I own. @Linuxguile has terrific deals with his Andrew’s Shave Shop on Etsy. Many of latest acquisitions have been through him, including that lather catcher.

 

Great picture, Rick! You got some good assistance today.

 

Welcome! I'm glad you decided to join us. Keep at it, and in 30 days or so you'll make a tremendous amount of progress.

 

@Douglas Carey Doug, it’s great to have you posting again.

I know it’s confusing, I’m an American but have lived in Seoul for 17 years and my brother who is American too lives in England.

I see it too

 

Great post and picture, Rick! Put a smile on my face.

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Jim, another beautiful photo, as always! Congrats on the dolphin smooth shave!

I also perform two angled (N to S) passes on my neck. It seems to be closer to true ATG for me. Sometimes I go back and buff the hollows in my lower neck, but most of the time I just take what I get from two ATG passes. If I really do a good job of stretching the skin on my neck, I can get everything smooth in just the two passes.

I've not tried j-hooking my chin. I started shaving my chin WTG (N to S), XTG in both directions, and then I tightly stretch the skin by placing my off hand just below the chin and perform some very short and light ATG (S to N) strokes. This gets thing pretty smooth, but I have to go very easy on the ATG. I really like to get my chin smooth, and I've only recently started shaving it ATG.

My other trouble spot is under my nose. First pass is WTG (N to S), second (and sometimes third) pass is XTG, and then some touch ups right under my nose to get those tiny little hairs. Stretch, stretch, stretch the skin....always try to keep that off hand busy. I have shaved this area ATG, but I don't do it often. I'm usually guaranteed to get weepers if I do.

Several years ago, my Bride purchased a 10X pedestal mirror for our bathroom. I did my normal electric razor shave and then looked at my results in 10X. I was amazed at how much stubble remained. I started paying more attention to my electric razor shaves, and I even introduced a product to help the electric razor glide better on the skin. I eventually switched to the "right way" of shaving, and I still use that 10X mirror to inspect my results...particularly around my chin, mouth, under my nose, etc. It's a helpful tool for me.

 

Black beauty and Astra are good choices. I also used TOBS for my 30 day rule back in the day. Because it is a cream, already partially hydrated, and whips up easily, you’ll get much more consistent lather and overall results. I’d go 3 shaves and toss the blade for consistency sake too. The process is a little tedious, but stick with it; it works!

https://media1.tenor.com/images/856456b4fac99f838d6946c988a34f7b/tenor.gif?itemid=8607839

 

Thank you, Charlie!
The first pass under my chin is south to north. Pass two is the j hooking. I start again south to north but I hook right to left. This gets my chin feeling like it never had a hair on it.
My real struggle comes in the hollows of my neck where the skin is bumpy. With proper technique and skin stretching I can get BBS or close to it without peeling layers of skin off the high points of my bumpy skin.

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Great report! At this rate, by Day 30 you will be tossing off two- or even one-pass BBS shaves with zero irritation or weepers almost every time...

 

Great report and photo on a good shave with an even better helper!

Agree with both points. My water temperature varies from day to day but the alum always gets rinsed off after sitting on my skin during cleanup. Always.

 

Great shave and SUPER assistant!

 

August 18th
Razor: Timeless .95 SC
Blade: Bolzano Superinox (3)
Brush: Switchback/TGN Grade A Silvertip
Pre-shave: Stirling Mentholated
Soap: JoHS Bay Rum
Lucky Tiger face tonic
AS: JoHS Bay Rum

Good evening!

Another dolphin smooth shave this evening! I did knick my adams apple, felt it right when I did it. It stopped bleeding before my cold water rinse. Other than that an outstanding shave!

The Jeeves of Hudson Street is a great performer! To my nose the Bay Rum isn't really a bay rum. I get a lot of powder. No bay rum scent off the puck and just a little in the background of the aftershave. Still a nice scent but not one I'll grab when I'm in the mood for a bay rum.

I used the TGN Grade A Silvertip for tonight's shave. I couldn't decide between it and the two band finest. So of course I bought both. Turns out I'm not really particular, I enjoy all my brushes. The Plisoft even gained my respect while on vacation. I have a Parker Silvertip, my first brush, that I haven't used in a long time. It's a shedder.

Have a great night!



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Adjustable (Arko) Anything Goes and whatever else we decide AUGUST!!!!

August 18


Razor - 1960 (F4) Gillette Toggle (9)
Blade - (17)
Soap - Jeeves of Hudson Street Bay Rum
Brush - Jayaruh #46
Post - Alum

Shave 17 on the P74 blade. Jeeves and JR46 for the lather and it was a good one. Seems like maybe the lather helped this shave along as it seemed smoother than yesterday and there was no blood involved at all. The finish is DFS and that's good, but seems a little less than it has been. A slow and almost imperceptible slide in quality of the shave seems to be taking place. I did focus on keeping the pressure off of the Toggle tonight and maintaining angle all the way so that probably helped with the feel. Alum was quiet, after shave irritation burn is in place but no worse than it has been.

I know I approach every shave right now with low hopes of it being a great shave but the blade continues to perform well above expectations. The worsening finish is the biggest change I can see and sliding from BBS to near-BBS to high DFS over 17 days is nothing short of amazing, really. Less than two weeks to hit 30 days and I'm thinking maybe I can baby it there? Time will tell. For now, it's earned day 18 in the razor tomorrow.

Happy Saturday night everyone!

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