30 Day Rule/Focus; January 2025. All Are Welcome.

January 24 SOTM

Straight Razor Shave #602
Unknown brand Straight Razor
Stirling Boar Brush
Music City Suds Lavender SS and AS
Stirling Alum Block
Beard Growth: 36 hrs.



Three error-free passes gave me a very, very close and comfortable shave. I decided to continue using this puck of soap until it is completely gone. Fortunately, I have another puck that is unused. Love this earthy scent.
I had no evidence of alum feedback. Unfortunately, I am out of witch hazel and didn't go out to get some. I will do so later today. Splashed on the matching aftershave and I am good to go. Take care.

 

Awesome Art of Shaving session Gary. Although I visited the Art of Shaving store a few years ago, I never bought any of their items due to cost. That store no longer exists. Anyway, I knew AoS items were prime quality, but couldn't justify their prices.

 

January 24, 2025

Jillette January

Razor - Gillette Aristocrat
Blade - (1)
Soap - Stirling Port-Au-Prince
Brush - Custom Synthetic Fan

Well since I dumped the blade from last night I decided to move to a different Gillette as well. Grabbed my Aristocrat. This is my first vintage Gillette I ever purchased, and it has always been a favorite. Staying with the Russian blades I chose a Rapira Platinum Lux. A lot of guys have said this is a favorite for them among the Russians and it's easy to see why. It's consistently smooth and sharp and does what a blade is supposed to do. Shaves you smooth and leaves you smiling.

The Vetiver and Lemongrass based Port-Au-Prince is a really nice soap, if you like that strong scent, which I do. No need for an after shave to add any scent following a shave with this mutton based soap. The big synthetic fan knot made enough lather to shave through the weekend. Three passes to perfection and one more night of work ahead. Gotta love these six day weeks.

Have a great start to your weekend!

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thank you Joe. they are $31 canadian at present for 5 oz tub.easily as good as tobs quality or better and prices are similar..

 

D e Shave # 586 - 66th Birthday Shave

Rating: 5 / 5

Razor: Gillette SS Red Tip TTO (1959 E-1)
Blade: Gillette Silver Blue
Brush: Hembree Derlin Paragon Boar 25 mm
Lather: Stirling Spice
Aftershave: B & M Reserve Spice
Additional Care:
Omega Alum
Dickenson’s Original Witch Hazel
Stirling Unscented Glacial Balm

Outstanding g shave this morning with my tradition birthday shave, for the past 5 years, of the Stirling Spice, Barrister and Mann Reserve Spice and one of my two 1959 (E - 1) Gillette DEs. Today the Red Tip received the honors. Next year it will be the Flare Tip SS.

Three passes to super smoothness.
Hope you all had a great day.

 

fine red tip shave and pic Joe.

 

Happy Birthday Joe! Nice shave!

 

happy birthday Joe.

 

Joe. A Wonderful Birthday shave set up. Have a great day /night my friend.

 

25th January 2025.



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Shaving Recipe for today.

Prep: Warm shower:/ L’Oréal Paris Men Expert Hydra Energy Taurine Shower Gel.

Pre:
Cold wet flannel to my face & head.
Pears Transparent bar Soap.
Brush: Anbbas 24mm Synthetic.
Bowl Lather.
Bowl: Ikea Kalas Side Bowl.
Lather: MWF. (Tallow)
Blade: Amazon Solimo. (D1)
Razor: Ming Shi 2000s Futur clone. (Settings 3 & 4.)
Razor: Gillette Guard. (Head) (D4)

Post:
Cold Water Face & Head Rinse./Cold water face & head wash with brush squeezing's,/Alum Rub./Cold Water Rinse./Homemade (~Autumn/Winter mix~) peppermint lavender, eucalyptus, + Tea Tree essential Oils Mixed Together With Care+Witch Hazel./Nivea Men Replenishing PSB./Scentalis Original Pour Homme EdT.

(Face & Head Shave)

A new eclectic shave set up to start the Weekend... 'The Fat' never fails to provide a superb slick protective lather. Another great traditional shaving soap gone. Fortunately for me I have 2 unopened boxes of the original tallow version, + a near full round of original tallow Kent Luxury soap which will hopefully keep me going for quite some time.

Another close comfortable face & head shave with no errors to report.

Finishing the shave off with a few small squirts of Scentalis Original Pour Homme EdT to the pulse points.

My face & precious swede are feeling smooth and smelling divine.

Stay safe, and enjoy the start of the weekend ladies & gentlemen.

 

Good enough shave, no worries there. I haven't used my Voskhods for a while, normally found them quite good
We don't get the benefit of the AQ products here, maybe one day I can sneak one in with a family member o/s trip

Super Smooth 66 Birthday shave Joe

Congratulations and Happy Birthday Joe!

Super shave Barry. I like the idea of the Ikea bowl. What diameter is that? I find my own plastic bowl (camping shop suppies, 6" or 14.5 cm) is just a bit too wide, most of my brushes except the longer ones keep falling in. I prefer to keep my handles dry if possible

 

Catch up posts...

Friday 24 Jan 2025

Two changes today resulted in a below par shave:

I tried skipping my usual prep which normally includes a pre shave preparation.
I received some Australian eco-and-everything-else-friendly shaving soap for Xmas from a family member. The description on the box was encouraging so it was time to give it a go

Face lathered with the bar soap, plentiful application to a wet face. Seemed OK with the Semogue brush, but before I got halfway through the right side of the face it had rapidly dried out and dissipated. Applied more, and again still needed more for the 2nd pass, but both times it failed to provide any kind of slickness. Pretty disappointing so I dragged out the Maca Root and Aloe for the 3rd pass. I don’t normally need 3 passes. Still not a super shave, but socially acceptable. Wasn’t game for a 4th pass, so left it at that.

Rocket HD and Gillette Platinum (2) were let down by the Ozzie soap. Dutifully binned the soap (with due permission from the family member of course)
Disapproving looks from the Ozzie mates



Saturday 25 Jan 2025

Superlative rescue shave today with the Rocket HD, fresh Platinum blade, Maca Root and Aloe, after my usual full face prep with hot water and pre-shave. Back of the neck was equally well dealt with for a DFS and near BBS damage free start to a humid Saturday down under. Quite the Alum feedback, but that just means I got a great shave

Hope your weekends turn out well

 

Thank you Chris. The Ikea Bowl is actually from a set for children which was gifted to me by my friends daughter at Christmas. It's 4.5" - 11.43 cm. wide /1.73"- 4.4 cm. depth. I find it is ideal for bowl lathering, and it keeps the handle of the brush dry when mixing.

 

+ 1 on the The Body Shop Maca Root & Aloe Shave cream, It's a firm favourite of mine. Love the Russian doll Kangaroo's. I actually have a collection of Genuine Russian dolls gifted to me by a Russian Steel engineer. I've always found them intriguing & unique.

 

Boo

 

Fine looking shave Gary

 

Thank you Gary

 

Nice setup. Dud ruined a good beginning to the shave

 

Nice pick up Gary

 

Thank you Joe