April 2020 30 Day Rule/Focus Pix and Discussion

Given the social distancing and lockdown, I was in a serious need of a haircut. Who would have thought that men's clippers were sold out on Amazon but I did find a decent set for under $50. My roommate and I used to give each other a haircut each Sunday night in the service and then again in military college. I know a longtime ago. I thought about doing it myself but I talked my into giving it a try. She was a real trooper and followed my instructions for military fade cut with the top a longer than regs. Turned out great and I saved myself some money. I will try to keep it trimmed up myself. If that works, I will get a little better set of clippers.

 

The awesome just keeps coming

 

Looking good, Joe!

Thank you, Jim!

 

Wonderful Sandalwood shave, Joe, and a fantastic report! Hurray for the straight shave; can't wait to see you get back on that horse

 

Thanks Jim!

 

Thanks Tim! I could've used a straight razor on Monday, but I decided it was best to let it go for awhile.

 

Why no picture?

 

Glad it worked out for you Clint! You're one step closer to being liberated from spending money on professional haircuts.

 

The world is welcome to it--I'm an open-source kind of guy

 

Next time I will do it myself and see what happens.

 

Nah. Not today. Maya did FaceTime Asha who approved and the wife is happy.

 

I've cut my own hair since high school and got pretty good at it, but 25 years ago got lazy and rather than fading and blending simply put the #3 on the Whal clippers and buzzed the whole thing. A brief fade along the edges with the #2, and done! TBH, I don't have a whole lot of hair to blend these days anyhow

 

The Wahl clippers I wanted were sold out and I didn't want to wait. So the guard numbers are not consistent. I just went with the measurements on the bottom, I had her fade from, 3mm, 6mm and 9mm on the sides and back. The go back and taper the back with the 0 mm and use it up to and around the ears. The top was done with 12mm and blended into the sides. We left the front long longer where I can comb back like a short faux hawk. Honestly I have had much worse haircuts at barbers so this one is not bad. I think I will be giving up the barber since my once a month cut costs $40 with a tip.

 

April 8
Shavette Shave #36

Gear

• Razor: Max Headroom Focus R21
• Blade: GSB (2)
• Brush: Semogue Boar--no lost bristles today!
• Soap: Stirling Glastonbury (1 Frost Drop)
• Menthol: Stirling Frost Drops
• AS: Pinaud Citrus Musk (1 Frost Drop)
• Balm: Stirling Glacial Unscented

The Shave...
I tried to build a solid shave around a poorly built lather today. Kind of a rookie move. Funniest part is I justified it by telling myself I was saving time. I’m pretty sure all the re-wetting and reapplying didn’t save me any time at all. I blame it on my loading. Since I’m only really doing a single pass these days, I backed off how much I’m loading the soap on my face--unwise. I should have just aborted the brush and gone back to the shave stick, but I’m almost as lazy as I am foolish.

The shave itself was pretty much a repeat of yesterday, except a poor quality lather yielded slightly poorer results. Go figure. DFS on parts of my cheeks, CCS pretty much everywhere else, and not presentable on the southernmost points of my chin. Surprisingly there is very little irritation--just a bit around the lips. It could (probably should) have been worse.

Takeaway for today: when things go sideways, abort, start over, and do it right.

Can you believe half this week is over already? Enjoy your hump day, folks!

36 down, 64 to go!

 

Think about how much shave swag you can get with 40 bones a month

 

I am so glad that I headshave so I don't need to worry about cutting my hair.

 

It's found money to continue to support your hobby.

 

April 8th
Anything goes in April

Razor: Dovo Inox
Brush: DSCosmetic Galaxy 26mm Silvertip
PS: Proraso Green
SS: Palmolive w/ Menthol
AS: Proraso Red

So, I know it's not Saturday but this Dovo still had the factory edge on it and it was starting to pull (just barely sharp enough to begin with) so I blunted it and worked my way up to a completely fresh edge and I was excited to use it.

The Palmolive Men with Menthol made a nice lather and I went to work. From the very first stroke the shave felt wonderful. Gental easy buffing took the stubble off as easy as the lather.

I did get slightly overconfident on my chin and continued a stock outside the area I was stretching. Which resulted in a small nick. Didn't even feel it, it just started bleeding a few seconds later. Oh well. A little styptic did the trick.

Getting an amazing shave with a blade you honed yourself is a special experience.

Need to point out that I used Palmolive and a razor with olive wood scales during the Passover. That has to be good luck.

 

Nice shave Jim! GTB was one of my favorites. Chiseled Face has unique scents thats for sure. Keep us updated (like I had to say that)

 

I know that I sound like a broken record, but beard prep is paramount to a good to great shave. Never shave your beard without a decent lather. It doesn't mean that you should have a Santa Claus lather. Second thing that I wanted to say is that you may be pressing to hard because you are doing one pass. You really nead 2 passes to get a decent shave, one pass doesn't cut it. Yes, the pun was intended. I probably missed the post or forgot why you are doing a one pass shave. I really don't think you are doing yourself any good by lessening the number of passes because more passes gives more experience. Again, this is my opinion, but I have not said anything because I wanted to see if you are improving. What I have seen is that you are staying at the same spot. Now, it is your face and your decision on how you travel on your journey and I support you no matter what. I am just giving you my take on what I have seen. Hey, I cut myself with a straight which is kind of bush for me. Lol! Seriously, take what I pointed out under advisement.