30 Day Rule/Focus; March 2024. All Are Welcome!

11 MAR 2024
Days growth = 1

March/Menthol Monday/Margaritas in the Arctic

Same again: continuing this mini focus with M.I.T.A and the 37C
I think the 30 day challenge is too tough, but a this little mini focus is working

Only difference today was that instead of lathering over the TOBS Jermyn Street Cream (which I currently use as a preshave), I rinsed this off first.

Loaded less of the Sterling M.I.T.A than before (~around 40 swirls Joe!) and still used the same amount of water, hence the lather was slicker. I find that when it feels like a blade is dragging it is often more the case that the lather is not up to scratch

Blade = Kai (5)
Passes = 2 +
ASL = Fine Latigo
Damage = none

Kai is starting to fade a bit on Day 5, feeling smoother and thus less sharp and thus I was able to be a bit more cavalier with it

The only blade I have been able to take to day 5 so far

I might think about taking it to another day

Have a great Monday gents

 

Classic looking setup Joe. interesting scales

 

thanks Gary

 

Awesome shave Chris. It seems you are digging the Kai blades instead of the Kai blades digging you. Lol!

 

Lol! Thx Joe. I think we both dig each other!

 

Thank you Gary.

 

Monday March 11 (just after midnight) - Menthol Monday, Mixte and "M" Products for March

Prep: Hot shower with Aleppo olive oil soap with 20% bay laurel oil

Razor: Supply matte black stainless 2.0 injector with SE comb plate / vintage US-made Schick Plus Platinum (12)

Soap: Mike's Natural Soaps Hungarian Lavender

Brush: APShaveCo Elegant Emerald handle w/ APShaveCo 24mm APLuxury bulb knot (badger-boar mixture)

Lather Bowl: Jason's (@jtspartan) maple bowl with walnut rim and maple "lather buttons" in bottom (forgot to use)

Post: rinse, alum, rinse, Jeeves of Hudson Street Mountain Rain splash

Last shave: Monday March 4 -- 7 days

My comment on my last shave: No photo today. Very heavy snowfall here (12+ inches) is causing internet connectivity and speed problems. I will probably use the same setup for my next shave and will post a photo then -- the lather bowl in particular is a nice piece of workmanship.

Here's the photo:



I used the same setup today, except I forgot I was going to use the lather bowl and just face lathered as usual.

The shave smelled less "Barnyard" today. The very strong tallow odour of the soap has worn off to a more "just soap" Unscented smell -- the Hungarian Lavender essential oil is apparently long since evaporated from the puck. And the boar/badger brush smelled less like upset animals today. Wetting and soaping it a few times seems to be helping. I have now left it to soak for a few hours in some Dawn dish detergent and will see if that helps even more.

I did have to adjust my brush loading routine to adapt to the very thirsty nature of this brush. I loaded soap for what I considered a long time, added a lot of water to the brush and started face lathering. The soap all disappeared into the brush. I did the same thing twice more before I finally got a decent coating of lather on my face. With this mixte badger/boar brush, patience is apparently a virtue. And so is bowl lathering...

I will use this setup for the rest of March and see if I can both master the use of this brush and re-learn my bowl lathering technique.

The shave itself was good. One pass got me from "hobo with a week of whiskers" back to "decently cleanshaven" with no drama. Alum was silent. The splash was a nice finish with a mild menthol tingle for an energizing kick. I was left clean, refreshed, and wide awake to start my night shift...

 

Yesterday's shave

Asil KIRATLI

 

Another great shave. Love the bowl, too. I presume its varnished or coated in something?
The brush is beautiful too even though it sounds like it like to hold on to the lather

Cool setup Asil.

 

Thanks, Chris. Yes, the bowl is varnished. I think it's a marine spar varnish of some kind. Quite durable and waterproof anyway.

 

Thank you Joe.

 

I think you missed the play on words. I meant that the blade isn't digging into your skin to cut you.

 

Marvelous Monday shave John. I tend to load bristle brushes from the puck and face lather than using a bowl to whip a lather.

 

Great to see the Fine Latigo as part of your shave.

 

fine start to the week gents.

 

Closed out(for now)the Razorock American Barber soap/Clubman A.S. Fine shave. Should have done better down at Cactus Nation(neck), but it wasn't that bad. Zero across the board on cuts, Knicks, Polka-dots. That's always a nice feeling(forgive the pun). Clean and clear everywhere but the aforementione neck. I'll try to come back with this combination before it gets humid and sticky here. 2 passes. Super Duper Outstanding.

 

-Monday-
#24? aluminum tech
semogue 830
speick



good morning gents
simple work shave,
slick speick lather,smooth 2 passer with the brit aluminum tech
basically a repackaged coronation tech,these are really light ,but very smooth and effective.
one could use this daily for the rest of their days and not have a bad shave.
the speick lather was ok,harder to build than some,low structure,but very slick with great post shave qualities
i won't be replacing it.matching splash to finish
awesome
have a fine day everyone.
​

 

SE Shave # 372 -DECLARATION GROOMING MONDAY - After the Rain

Rating: 5 / 5

Razor: GEM Micromatic Bullet Tip
Blade: GEM Stainless
Brush: Classic Shaving Silver Blue
Pre-Shave: Pears Transparent Soap
Lather: Declaration Grooming After the Rain
Aftershave: Declaration Grooming After the Rain
Additional Care:
Omega Alum
Dickenson’s Original Witch Hazel
Stirling Unscented Glacial Balm

A wonderful shave this morning with the clean, fresh scent of the DG soap and splash. Given the amount of rain we have had here on LI the past week this selection seemed appropriate. Furthermore, I expected to see Joe, @Trigger, kayaking his way down my street to visit his nephew a few houses away.

The MMBT consistently delivers a super smooth and close shave. Today was no exception. Again, three passes to shave Nirvana. Additionally, I continue to receive periodic whiff of the scent of this software. Very pleasant and enjoyable. The scent profile is as follows: “After the Rain is like a walk through a forest after a spring shower with notes of wet pine, muted lavender, cedar, and white pepper.”

Have a great day gentlemen.

 

Excellent shave Gary.

 

Another quality shave Gary.