November 2021 30 Day Rule/Focus and Discussion All Are Welcome!

I said the same thing and he just hit like without responding.

 

Nov 15. SOTD

Straight Razor Shave #308
7 /8 J A Henckels Full Hollow Square Point
Semogue OC Super Badger Brush
Stirling Christmas Eve SS and AS
Maggard's Alum Block
Dickinson's Witch Hazel
Beard Growth: 30 hrs



It's good to be back using a straight razor once again. I haven't touched a traditional straight since Oct 12. That's over a month and too long for someone who is primarily a straight shaver. In fact, it is the longest drought in my 3 years of straight shaving. Until the end of this month, it will be straight shaves all the way!

I picked Stirling Christmas Eve soap because it is getting near the holiday season and this scent is just wonderful. Stirling punches way above its price point. I have no complaints with this brand as far as performance. Did 2 passes with a touchup on my lower right neck that produced a nice shave. Did get 2 pin point sized weeps on the stache and a creeper on my chin, but the alum took care of it. I would say the shave was near BBS. Considering that I haven't touched traditional straight in over a month, I will gladly take it because the Henckels is pretty sharp. Finished with my usual postshave ritual that ended with a nice application of the matching Christmas Eve aftershave.
Have a nice evening gents.

 

I would say, and this is from my experience, there's simply less to concentrate ON with goo. With goo, it's just the cream/foam, the razor, and your technique. With soaps, you have the loading of the soap onto the brush, your technique, perhaps doing it all over again(the 2nd pass), and again(3rd), all the while perhaps doing more loading of the soap onto the brush. Saying all this, I don't MIND the extra concentration of soap-shaves, as I do get that cleaner, softer feel. One pass does it for me on creams/foams. Bottom line-it takes more time with soap/brush shaves than with creams/foams. That means more concentration. @Trigger, sorry I know you asked me about this, too.

 

Well, thanks for clearing that up Paul. The idea of using a brush to make soap should be a relaxing one. Although I am pretty quick with my straight shaves, lathering with a brush is very relaxing to me. In your case, if you are in a hurry, go goo, if not enjoy luxuriating yourself with the brush and soap.

 

I was going to mention the "in a hurry" persuasion, but figured most shavers in a hurry use the magnificent goo.

 

I certainly agree with Doc Ezlovan's "price-point-punching".

 

It's time for me to crank out some of @Primotenore's products he kindly PIFed me. Some lovely scents. I say "it's time", meaning I've used most of them already-time to get'em out again in swifter fashion.

 

Chemistry or Social Studies?

 

Awesome shave Joe

 

No Paul! Most wetshavers don't use canned goo because it is not slick and is not good for the skin. If a wetshaver was in a hurry, he would use a shave stick or a soap such as Arko that just explodes with layer almost immediately as well as a synthetic brush. A straight shaver would also use a safety razor or a shavette as well. Personally, I can shave my face in under 15 min with a straight without any problems so time isn't a factor for me.

 

As a sub, it can be any subject. Today I was subbing for 2 teachers. The subjects were Earth Science, Living Environment (Biology), and Forensics.

 

Thanks Joe! I am looking forward to my shaves the rest of the month.

 

Shifting Focus
Razor: Rex Ambassador
Blade: Nacet
Brush: Omega 49 boar
Soap: Mitchell's Wool Fat

Tonight I shaved for the first time with The Fat. Wow, this stuff lives up to its reputation. I really enjoy the classic gentle sophisticated scent. It lathered very quickly, and just feels great. What a wonderful experience. I think I will focus on this soap for a bit. The Rex provided a BBS shave on setting 4, but I have clearly overshaved. Used Nivea sensitive balm AND aloe vera to cool down the face.

 

Nice shave Eric. I have never tried the Rex Ambassador but I have read that it can be a very aggressive at the higher settings. May I suggest to lower the setting to 3 and see if that prevents the irritation Also, I have never tried Gillette Nacet blades and Mitchell's Wool Fat. There is a love/hate relationship with that soap because some people have trouble lathering it and others like the slickness as well as the postshave feel. In any event, your gear is definitely top shelf. Looking forward to your new focus. Finally, I finished my VDH razor focus , yesterday. For the rest of the month l, I will be using straight razors because I am primarily a straight shaver. Have a good night!

 

16th November 2021.



​

Shaving recipe for today.

Prep: Warm shower:/Asda Pomegranate & Apple Extract Shower Gel.

Pre:
Cold wet flannel to my face.
Pears Transparent Bar Soap.
Brush: Fine 24mm Synthetic.
Face Lather.
Lather: Proraso sensitive.
Blade: Trig Silver Edge. ( D1) (Green cover)
Razor: Parker 98r.

Post:
Cold water face wash with brush squeezings, Cold Water Face Rinse. /Homemade (~Autumn/Winter mix~) peppermint lavender, eucalyptus, + Tea Tree essential Oils Mixed Together With 200ml of Care+Witch Hazel./ Superdrug Forest Fresh ASL./ The Real Shaving Co. Post Shave Soothing Balm.

Greetings,

Early morning shave.

The Proraso Sensitive Soap provided me with slick protective lather for the shave leaving a equally good post shave feel. Out of the 3 Proraso soaps that i have, the sensitive has the best slickness...My only gripe with the soap is it leaves a white residue on the razor surface after i have finished the shave...However, this could be because i live in a hard water area and the soap reacts with the high minerals in the water which has nothing to do the ingredients of the soap.

A Enjoyable 2 pass + pick ups close comfortable shave with no errors to report...Finishing the shave off with a small dollop of Creightons Sensitive PSB.

My face is feeling super smooth & smelling divine.

Stay safe, and enjoy your day ladies & gentlemen.

 

Very cool shave and setup Barry! Do use the cold towel treatment to wake yourself up before proceeding or are you just a cold water shaver? Enjoy your afternoon.

 

SRS # 595
November Mini Mid Week Focus
Rating: 5 / 5

Razor: Double Duck Twin Duck Special #1
Brush: Sawdust Creation Studio Old Cahaba
Lather: Los Jabones de Joserra Gredos
Aftershave: Los Jabones de Joserra Gredos
Additional Care:
Stirling Alum Block
Thayer’s Witch Hazel - Original
Stirling Unscented Glacial Balm

The Twin Duck is such a fantastic razor. It delivers a super smooth shave leaving the face with a super close feel and without irritation.
The Gredos soap is next up on the Edmund Fitzgerald radar. It has probably about 25 shaves left in the tub. Current tub weight is 94 grams. Allowing for a tub weight of 25 grams, which leaves for about 69 grams of soap. with the use of about 3 grams per shave, I would say my estimation is on target.

I went with my usual three pass shave. The lather I produced with the boar brush was moderately thick, which worked well for this shave. Post shave procedure of the alum, witch hazel, balm and splash have my face feeling great.

Hope you all have a great day gentlemen. Now I am on my way to PT.

 

Very nice shave Barry. I have not used Proraso Sensitive in a while. I may have to use it in the near future.

 

I have been on the lookout for nice things for a year now. I have been quite fortunate to get some very nice gear at very nice pricing. I have way too many soaps and razors, but I am sharing the hobby with two sons. They will both be taking soap and gear when they move on soon.

I am enjoying sharing your return to straight razors.

 

Joe...Do i use the cold towel treatment before my shave?.I occasionally do in the summer when it's really hot, but the vast majority of the time my pre cold water flannel wash is sufficient...I've been a cold water shaver for over a year now, something i never thought i would be doing in a million years...It's been a tonic for my mature 'rhino's arse skin type'.