30 Day Rule/Focus; Sept 2022

Summer goes by so fast here! I have already had a couple mornings with temp of 45 F. If you blink, you will miss summer here. LOL
I use whatever I have and pay no attention to whether it's for summer or winter. I use when I want to!

 

Oh, I know, but I get a little anxious to return to fall&winter.

 

I'll watch for your use of a Stoylin Glacial on Christmas .

 

Classy name, I'll say that(oh, I just DID say that lol).

 

That looks great!

Enjoy the shave!

- David

 

Yes, that's what I did. I had the Supply 2.0 already, so I just bought the SE plate and it fit right onto my existing razor. Made the three original plates obsolete for me, but saved buying a whole new razor.

 

Thank you David. It’s made by Dirty Bird Pottery.

 

Very nice shave.

 

Nice!

 

09/08/2022

Growth: Two day beard.

Prep: Warm shower: Stirling Sheep bar soap

Pre: Washed face with Stirling Glacial unscented pre-shave soap then reapplied before lathering.

Brush: RV 25 mm STF

Lather : Razorock XXX Italian shaving soap

Blade: Kai Captain Titan Mild (D4)

First Pass:
Razor: Razorock Hawk V3
Base Plate: OC
Handle: Razorock Barber Pole

Second Pass:
Razor: Feather Artist Club SR kamisori razor

Post: unscented Stirling witch hazel and PAA Mysterium Serum

Did a two pass shave with touch ups. First pass used Razorock Hawk V3 OC. The Hawk did well on the cheeks. It bit me under my nose. It was not the most comfortable shave on my neck but did OK. The OC plate was more efficient in the mustache area. I would say the 'A' plate is less aggressive than the OC plate. The OC plate is most efficient of all three plates. The chin area still needed more work after the first pass (as did the mustache area). There was still stubble to subdue after the first pass.

I decided to switch to the Feather SR for the second pass to see how much mileage was left on the blade. I have not shaved with a barber razor in a very long time so I was approaching it gingerly. I pulled out my alum block to wet my fingers to aid in stretching my skin. I shaved with my right hand on the right side of my face and shaved with my left hand on the left side of the face. I had been working on shaving with each hand the last time I used a barber razor and I was happy that I am improving in that area. I used a wet sponge to wipe off the lather from the razor as it built up on the razor (something I picked up from a straight razor shaving video). I still need to work on the scooping motion to shave under my nose.

The Feather was so much more comfortable and efficient than the Hawk. It was probably one of the best shaves I have had with the Feather SR/Kai Captain Titan Mild combination. I was very impressed. I did a little touch up but did not want to press my luck since I am a little rusty and I know the Feather can bite if you get lazy. I would say I had some razor burn on my neck and mustache area but I would be hard pressed to say if it was from the Hawk or from the Feather. I really like the way the Feather handled the circle of hair on my neck. I would say it was a DFS+.

 

Excellent shave David. Getting more proficient with n open blade razor takes time. Popular convention is 100 shaves will get you there. Honestly, if you really want to be a decent straight shaver, then you need to go all in with a 30 consecutive shave focus and only do so when you are mentally ready to do so.

 

Thanks Joe!

I appreciate it.

I originally was planning to do the 30DC with the Feather SR until I picked up a used Hawk. I may switch to the Feather SR since it was such a nice shave. The Feather is more forgiving than my Kai Captain Standard and has a better grip than my CJB (or IBC). I think as my technique improves, the Kai will be easier to handle. The Kai and IBC are folding razors whereas the Feather and CJB are kamisori. The scales of the folding razors tend to get in my way but I guess you get used to it at some point.

- David

 

You are welcome. I have never used a Kamisori style razor, but I am sure that I wouldn't have a problem shaving with one. The folding scales on a straight or a shavette helped me find the proper angle at the beginning of my journey. Later, I found that the angle should be no more than the width of the spine in relation to your skin. I have close to 800 open blade shaves and I am still open to tweaking my technique. It's definitely a process, but straight shaving is so rewarding.

 

Thanks Joe!

I will keep those thoughts in mind next time I try the folding razor.

It is a shame I cannot shave more than once a day!

- David

 

SEptember -- Schick J Edition

I had to figure out how to re-size my obese images to allow upload. May I present the Wed & Thur night shaves with the stylish Schick J.

 

Great setups and shaves Eric! Enjoy your day!

 

Fantastic shave Eric. I have not noticed the Light-Ish Red soap on the Stirling site. What is the scent?

 

SRS # 753

Rating: 5 / 5

Razor: Drew Dick 7/8” Quarter Hollow Purple Heartwood
Brush: PAA The Green Ray 24 mm
Lather: Barrister & Mann Reserve Fern
Aftershave: Stonefield Soap Company North of Fifty A/S Balm
Floid
Additional Care:
Stirling Alum Block
Humphreys Cucumber Melon Witch Hazel

Yesterday I received a package from Maggards which included two aftershaves, B &M Sandalwood and Declaration Grooming Original, and Chromium Oxide Paste (Green - 0.5 microns).

I decided to give the Drew Dick razor several laps on the paste in an effort to tune the edge that I had to refresh previously.. The resulting shave was much better. I did a three pass shave which was relatively irritation free, mostly silent alum. I did manage to get a weeper on the chin. No big deal. I may decide to give the blade another few laps on the CrOx strop prior to the next shave to see if it improves a little.

The sample of the Reserve Fern has not met the fate of the Edmund Fitzgerald.

Below is the alternate picture I took of today’s shave in the hope that it will motivated our dear friend Paul, @Paul Turner.


Hope you all have a great day gentlemen.

 

Very nice shave with both razors. You are correct in your approach with the Kamosori. Slow and steady is the name of the game. As you use it more frequently muscle memory will begin to activate and enhance the shave experience.

 

Sept 9 SOTD Paulie's Photo Countdown 12 days!

Good morning!

Straight Razor Shave #392
10/8 Max Sprecher (#69)
Catie's Bubbles Tuxedo Brush
Stirling Triumph SS
Old Spice AS
Maggard's Alum Block
Dickinson's Witch Hazel
Beard Growth: 39 hrs



Well, I was all set to use either one of my shavettes or my Thiers-Issard Razor, but I finally decided to let Max play this morning. I decided to wet my face and made a pasty load on the brush with only 100 swirls. The lather started out pasty on my wet face, but after a few additions of water to the brush, I got a wonderful, creamy lather.
Did 2 passes without any cleanups for an irritation free and near BBS shave. However, I tagged the top of my ear on my first stroke starting my first pass. That's pretty rare that I do that to my ear because I start at an oblique angle to get a better view to prevent this mishap. However, it did happen and thankfully I didn't Van Gogh the ear. Lol! For a tiny poke, it took awhile to stop bleeding.
Anyway, it still was an excellent shave despite Max' love tap.

The alum didn't give me any feedback so it definitely was a close and comfortable shave. Finished with the witchhazel and Old Spice.
Have a nice day guys!