April 2019 30 Day Rule/Focus Pix & Discussion

Where is Natalia?

 

She just began as an instructor at my gym:

"5, 6, 7, 8....humpta ba humpta ba yamalamadingdong, humpta ba"

 

Ahh. I thought you meant mid-range for performance, you meant price. Gotcha now.

 

Totally concur, and also believe the percentage experienced users who see PSO as an essential step to be quite low, like single digit low.

 

I thought I had a record until I realized that I’m no match for the 30DC LE brush and chill, Canadian, under the radar vibe that you bring to the table @jtspartan! @John Ruschmeyer has flown under the radar for a while as well. I think @Queen of Blades will need to keep her eyes peeled for you guys. In contrast, @Hembree is a relatively easy target.

 

I don't think I ever purchased anything that seemed really old or different and I have gone through a fair bit of it over the last 9 years....

Here is my amazon Arko order history.

 

The flag bearer is always the first to go down.

 

I thought that was to be found in the Blooming Fuzzette's Handbook.

 

My experience mirrors yours. The first de I bought was a Blackland Blackbird OC. That thing was tearing me up. I picked up a couple of milder razors, joined up here and did a couple of rules. Went back to the Blackbird for MAYhem last year and got smooth easy shaves. Honing my technique with milder razors did the trick for me. When I loan a razor out to a newbie it's not my Blackbird, it's a EJ89.

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Well, if seniority counts, John R did join a year before me...

 

Shavette Fu never had this trouble.

 

I've never used a PSO but since I shave before my shower I do wash my face with a pre shave soap.

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Houdini and Williams lather both have some great disappearing acts!

 

A serious wing nut, he is.

 

Some good points, Neal. The 30 Day Rule is a great way to get a good start on technique, but at least in my experience, at the end of 30 days, it does not mean you are a master of all technique or razors. I did a 30 Day Rule, and then I spent the first year getting comfortable, but not overly close shaves. I thought I had it mastered, and if a shave didn't work out, I was quick to blame the equipment. I got rid of several razors, as I was sure they didn't work, and I stopped using some types of blades as I was sure they didn't work. I was amazed at how many other people seemed to get gear that didn't work for me to work for them, but YMMV, right? After about a year, I got really curious about some of this and started really focusing on my angles, pressure, and all that good stuff. Soon, I was getting shaves that were more comfortable and extremely close. I pulled out some old razors that used to not work, and all of the sudden they worked perfectly. Those blades that I used to refuse to use? Now, they worked very well. That's when it hit me that just about any razor can be made to work, as can just about any blade. Technique really does Trump Tools. It was great. In the end, I would have saved myself some time and $$ had I been more willing to admit my technique may have been the cause for poorer quality shaves.

I of course don't say any of this to discount that the 30 Day Rule is effective, I believe it to be crucial to a new traditional shavers success. But, I would say that a 30 Day Rule followed by more Rules or Focii really helps to hone technique.

 

i agree on the razors, i started with an ej, a 34c and when i got my first rocket i never looked back..th ej i sold ,and the 34c looks as new as ever..i enjoy the news and early techs the most, the workhorses.with the proper technique they give the best shaves for me..technique trumps tools ..

 

What's pre shave oil?

Just kidding.
Tried it with.
Tried it without.
Preferred it without.

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I have never liked a pre-shave oil and after trying saw no benefit to speak of. I have used the Stirling pre-shave soap before and I don't mind that. I think it does provide a bit more slickness but it isn't sticky like the oils seemed to be. Still, a well-formed lather doesn't need any extra help. I used the mentholated pre-shave soap so there was a small menthol kick, but other than that - not a necessity at all.

 

Friday Shave

This Feon 172 has always been great to shave with, takes and keeps a great edge.

Irritation A+ Closeness A Smoothness A+ Sharpness A+

Razor: Feon 172 6/8 full hollow
Strop: Kanayama
Brush: Paladin
Pre: Proraso
Soap: Crowne and Crane
AS: Enhanced Florida Water AS, Speick ASB
Scent: Knize Ten