Hi everyone.

Well, it seems another month has come and gone. For those of us that live North of the Equator, the leaves are still colorful. The crispness of the night air has made us wear long sleeve shirts and windbreaker. Yes, we are in the middle of autumn, but the holidays will be approaching soon. Those South of the Equator are enjoying the warmth of Spring. Flowers are blooming and the trees will soon have leaves sprouting to provide a pleasant shade.

Ok, that's enough of my attempt at decent prose. Lol! In any event, I just want to say that most everyone had awesome shaves in October. Let's keep it going for this month.

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 Cox, 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 great shaves and fellowship in November!

Sincerely,

Joe (Trigger)

awesome..looks like NEWvember for me,with some techs and 'crats for good measure..usual no repeat for soaps and stuff.

Looking forward to your new stuff Gary.

Great intro, Joe! Good themes too.

I think it's a no brainer for me: No Theme November it is! Saves strain on the declining memory trying to remember what I am supposed to be using...

Friday November 01 (morning) - No Theme November

Prep: Hot shower / then hot face wash, both with Aleppo olive oil soap w/ 20% bay laurel oil (traditional anti-acne)

Razor: Supply 2.0 matte black stainless steel injector w/ SE open comb "nick-proof" plate / Supply Black Label (2)

Soap: Crown Shaving Co. Shave Cream

Brush: APShaveCo Elegant Emerald with 24mm AP Luxury bulb (badger/boar mix)

Lather Bowl: None

Post: rinse, alum, rinse, Crown Shaving Co Soothing After Shave Lotion

Last shave: Wednesday evening - 8.5 days (?!!)

The setup:



For anyone who noticed that I listed both a shower and a hot face wash before my shave, the reason was that I remembered this was the start of a new month right after the shower and before I shaved. Naturally, I put the shave on hold while I went to my tablet to check the forum for the approved shave themes set for November by our stern 30DC Taskmaster. Once reassured that my planned shave fell within the guidelines, I resumed operations but needed to re-moisten and re-warm my whiskers first.

I am back using my trusty Supply 2.0 injector with the SE comb plate, at least for now. The Black Label blade only had one previous shave on it and was still lethally sharp. My whiskers were long enough to qualify as a short beard, but one pass virtually wiped it clean.

I used the Crown Shaving Co. shaving cream. It's vegan but gives excellent glide and protection and has a pleasant spearminty scent. I was more careful this time about dipping my brush and managed to put only a blob the size of a small almond on it. That was still sufficient for two complete latherings with enough creamy soap left in the brush for a couple more.

While one pass WTG had me cleanshaven, I did a second pass XTG to get to DFS. In fact, I was nearly BBS even though I rarely try for that - close to it is good enough.

Alum was mildly warm but without any real hotspots.

I used the matching balm for completeness. It provides excellent skin moisturizing without any greasy feeling. The weather is turning colder here - a dry cold - so I expect I will welcome the protection this morning when I rake the fallen leaves off my lawn.

Hope everyone had a good and safe Halloween to end October and that November treats us all well!

Much better shave on this first day of Neumann November, with....same shave as yesterday(I'll get going on the Neumanns soon). Difference for today is that Inshook the can more prior to administering the foam to my face and neck. It thus began to come out like a squiggly snake, but quickly moved into "cloud" persuasion. I like the latter better, as you know. Zero damages. One pass. Nice close from the Proraso Green(Refreshing)A.S. No cologne today. As Outstanding As It Gets.

Well, that's a pretty fancy name for the month if you do say so muhself. .

thank you Joe..NEWvember meaning gillette NEW series OC..

..gillette New OC.razors..

fabulous way to start the month.

-Friday-
no15
travel boar
capt.fawcett
no89



good morning gents
fabulous friday shave
fine fawcett lather built with the unkown boar
smooth 2 passer with the 3rd gen #15,minor pick ups
thayers and no.89 to finish
awesome
have a fine friday everyone
​

Course you could say NO REAPEAT vember, but we already decided your NEW was good enough .

Lol! Thanks John.

Great inaugural shave John. Btw, I will try to loosen up. Lol!

Fabulous Friday and start of the month shave Gary.

SRS # 1196 - Fall Theme/Bay Rum Shave

Rating: 5 / 5

Razor: Double Duck Twin Duck Special #1
Brush: Shore Shave Creamsicle Swirl 24 mm White Synthetic
Pre-Shave: Pears Transparent Soap
Lather: PAA Atomic Pumpkin Bay Rum
Aftershave: PAA Atomic Pumpkin Bay Rum
Additional Care:
Omega Alum
Dickenson’s Original Witch Hazel
Stirling Unscented Glacial Balm

welcome to November. This month I will be focusing on darker themed soap shaves as including but not limited to the various bay rumin my den. Naturally, DG Grooming Darkfall will continue on Monday’s. A few other cooler months (Fall) software including aftershaves will be featured.

Regarding the hardware, approximately half of my shaves will be of the straight razor variety. At the conclusion of this month I will have 200 straight razor shaves for the year which will
make three years in a row. As a result I will be set up for a totally DEcember, if I so choose.

This morning’s shave was absolutely fabulous.

Joe’@Trigger, another fine introduction.

thank you Joe.

fine start to the month Joe.

Wonderful start to the month Joe and thanks as well.

Great shaves and reports.