30 Day Rule/Focus; November 2023. All Are Welcome!

Hi everyone!

It was another great month of shaves and you all need to be applauded for your efforts. Again, this thread would not exist without you and I appreciate your commitment to it. Our community is mostly made up of decent people who just happen to enjoy shaving. It's true on this forum and outside of it. Personally, I have been blessed by interacting with fellow wetshavers on social media and in person during my 5 year wetshaving journey. As you know, last month I was at Pasteur's Meetup in NYC and met wonderful folks in our hobby and told them about this site. Leon T. the owner was a great host and a class act. He represents what is good about our community. I am glad to say the members of this thread are in the same class. Thank you for sharing a part of your life and time here.

Monthly Themes
Once again, I have decided 3 themes for this month. The first is No Theme November. It's quite self-explanatory. Shave with whatever you fancy. It's that simple. The other 2 themes were suggested by Neal Fox, a few years back when he was at the helm of this thread. They are No Variant November and No Repeat November. No Variant November is basically doing a 30 Day Rule which means using only one setup for the entire month. It means just using the same razor, blade, soap, brush and aftershave products. Of course, you have to change blades because they aren't going to last the entire month, but you have to use the same brand. So, if you are using Gillette Perma-Sharp blades, stick with those blades. Don't switch to a Gillette Blue. Well, you get the idea.

No Repeat November seems like it is the same as No Rule November, but it's not. Like the title suggests, you change your setup every day, even if it's just one item change such as a brush whereas a No Rule theme will allow you to keep the same setup for consecutive shaves if that is your wish.

Ok, let's continue with the basic tenets of this thread!
I want to welcome all the veterans of the 30 DC and all the newcomers. This thread is for the purposes of improving your shave technique so that you will consistently get great shaves. There are a number of ways to do it. These are suggestions so feel free to do whatever you want in regards to your shave.

The 30 Day Rule
Take ONE razor, ONE blade, ONE brush, ONE soap/cream and use them EVERYDAY this month. Yes, everyday. But Trigger, I want variety! I know you do, but until you perfect your technique, it makes little sense to constantly change the variables of your shave.

The Focus
For you out there that are not up to the rigors of the Rule, there is this alternative:
Vary the gear for each shave, save for perhaps one or two elements.
This is a more accessible challenge for the majority of shavers. I like to pick a particular aspect of the shave, be it the lather, a certain blade or a new razor, that needs breaking in, and not change it daily, until I have mastered those tools.

Ok, to keep the thread on a nice even keel, I ask everyone to follow the thread etiquette as listed below:
1. New Members always welcome. Start anytime.
2. Old Members always welcome.
3. Respect everyone.
4. Refrain from political conversation.

I also want to suggest that we should try to assess our shaves as to why it was good or why it was not up to your standards and express these reasons in your comments. The spirit of this thread is to improve our shaves and if we share the reasons why a shave was good or bad, then we are giving our experiences to encourage good technique and discourage bad technique so that we have great info to get better shaves. I am not suggesting that we do it for every post, but I think it would make for a healthier thread if we start to do it more than we have in the past years.

Moreover, you don't have to do a rule or a focus. You are free to change your setup on a shave to shave basis.

Finally, I want this thread to continue to be a friendly place. It is ok to disagree because that is how we learn from each other, but let's encourage and respect every member. Yes, even if you think they are off the wall. Let's face it! We all are a little off because of our different Aquisition Disorders. Lol!

Let's have a group hug!



Also, let's have some great November shaves and fellowship.

Sincerely,

Joe (Trigger)

 

Great Intro as always, Joe

For me No Variant is a no-no, so No Theme sounds good as does No Repeat!

Have a great day ahead.

 

01 Nov 2023

24 hours

Prep = Cold Water Prep and shave, Proraso Pre shave
Soap = The Body Shop Maca root and Aloe
Brush = Old Vulfix
Bowl = Timeless
Razor = Gillette Rocket 62 grams
Blade = Shark Chrome Super (1) (no repeat!)
Passes = 2 and some touch ups. The shave did seem a bit harsh, so I left it at 2 passes, can always tackle the rest another day
Post = CWR, alum was silent, Thayers
Aftershave = Stirling Bay Rum, lasting the whole day so far, I love this stuff
Damage = None

Score = 8.5 / 10

Comments = my best shaves are around 48 hours, but I thought I would shave today anyway. Stuck with the Maca root and Aloe. One scoop and added a total of 3 ml of water, seemed Ok. I think this “soap” is more like a cream and may not need even that much water. I wonder if I could even try it "neat"

I made sure the Gillette Rocket was properly closed this time!

I am planning on ordering more blades soon, so thought I would try some of the more affordable ones that I have in stock, but haven’t used yet...

The Shark blade was ok, not the best, first use only with a new soap, so a bit unfair to judge it too harshly so soon, but it did not seem as smooth as my other blades. Would I order another 100? Too soon to tell, but not likely at this stage.

It seems the Sharks are the same as the Lord blades and come in different configurations

Have great day one and all

 

Thank you Chris.

 

Super first shave of the month Chris. I have never tried Sharks, but they don't have the best reputation. Truly, it's a ymmv thing.

 

With the advent of my winter beard, I still need to shave my neck and cheeks but face lathering that small of an area is tough, so I will be focusing on bowl lathering this month. Day 1 of November proved that as I just grabbed a cereal bowl and whipped up some Arko into a slick lather for my throat.

Prep: Shower
Lather: Arko
Brush: RR Plissoft
Razor: Blackland Blackbird
Post: warm rinse and alum and Old Spice

 

Fine first shave of the month Troy. Btw, you can always shave your head.

 

Well, once again I begin one month the same way I ended the previous. I did A LITTLE better at North Porcupine Alley than yesterday, but not 100%. I should hav mentioned I was using a new Shave Prep(Dial 4 Men w/Cedear Leaf). It's softer on the skin than the others. As for the shave, clean and clear once again on the cheeks and sideburns, not complete on North Porcupine and I missed the southern border of South Porcuoine and Cactus Nation.. Could have done better on Cactus, but it was OK. Nixe work again with the Gabels A.S. Kinda Outstanding. Tomorrow begins a week of Razorock shave soaps.

 

SOTD 20231101 Tempo

ischiapp.blogspot.com​

 

Thx Joe. I have 5 of these and 5 of another Shark blade and will keep an open mind.

 

That's a nice-lookng brush Pierpaolo.

 

November 1 SOTA

Good afternoon.

Straight Razor Shave #501
Böker King Cutter
Omega Pro 49 Boar Brush
Captain's Choice North SS and AS
Stirling Alum Block
Modessa Witch Hazel
Beard Growth: 24.5 hrs



I wanted to start the month with a straight razor shave and so I picked up my Böker It's an easy razor to use and I usually get good shaves with it. The Captain's Choice North soap is a jasmine forward scent and it's not overbearing, but it's still a noticeable scent. It's a good scent for anytime of the year, but sadly, it's unobtainable.
Here's the lather:



Did a three pass shave without any drama for a smooth shave. I had enough lather to do a 4th non-shaving pass just to take in this nice, clean scent. Also, I don't like to waste soap. Lol!
There was some alum feedback on my neck, but it wasn't an oh @#%$ moment. Witch hazel and the matching aftershave topped this shave. It's good to get back shaving with a traditional straight razor. I will probably do another one tomorrow, but I am not certain as to what I will chose next. Take care.

 

Very nice shave Chris

 

Starting the month off right Joe.

 

Very ice cartridge shave Pierpaolo.

 

Nice way to start your month Troy.

 

Exactly!
Got home from work and was feeling stubbly on the dome, so did a quick scalp wash and lathered up. 2 passes with the Blackbird and a Rapira blade and I'm smooth and slick upstairs.

 

Thank you Joe.

 

Headshaving is good for the soul.

 

SRS # 986

Rating: 5 / 5

Razor: Double Duck Goldedge
Brush: Jayaruh 410 with Omega #48 Boar
Lather: Lakewood Soap Company Casual Friday
Aftershave: Pinuad Citrus Musk
Additional Care:
Omega Alum
Dickenson’s Original Witch Hazel
Stirling Unscented Glacial Balm

First use of the LWSC Casual Friday this year. Wonderful citrus type scent and great lather . I am not sure what my focus, if any will be this month aside from working on the Edmund Fitzgerald of another soap, but I may make it a point to use the Lakewood Soap in my den more often.

Another fine three pass shave with stellar results. The Double Duck Goldedge razor does a wonderful job swiping away this morning’s facial growth.

My son’s final soccer game of his middle school career this afternoon in Westhampton Beach. Of course the weather decided to throw a massive curveball at the boys with a ten minute period of sleet and hail. Yes, it was coming down fairly hard. Joe, @Triggrr, would have been impressed by the boys resolve under the conditions.
Hope you have had a great day.