NO-Variation NOVember - one razor, one brush, one setup, one month. Can you do it?

Can't do it. After 31 days of open comb October, I just have to get back to using some of the other razors in my rotation. I might use a different razor each day.

 

Sounds interesting....November should stand for no shaving.

 

Hmmm. Just found this thread. Already two days late. I will make a decision tomorrow. And go through the 3rd.

 

According to an earlier ruling you will have to make up the missing days at the beginning of December. So you would end your quest on 3 December 2014 if you choose to do this.

 

Let me start off with the beginning of the title - No can do!

 

I'm wondering if a switch to allow two brushes might be okay? My horsehair brush does not dry out with my habit of shaving every day. Everything else remains the same. I've basically been doing this for the past 4 months, so it is not hardship to use the same stuff all of the time. I have been changing brands of blades after I use a box up, but that generally is about a month anyway.

 

Yeah, that's not gonna happen.

Ooh, that's a tough one. But I would vote that if one brush is causing an undue hardship, two would be allowable. But we'd have to put an asterisk next to your name on the leaderboard.

Note: There is no leaderboard.

 

It is the third shave of NOVember and all is well. The C.O. Bigelow is very refreshing and invigorating. I am getting close comfortable shaves with the Astra SP and my 47 Gillette SS. All in all, it was a very satisfying NOVember shave.

I was going to go with my Slim or Fatboy, but opted for my 47 Gillette Super Speed. It is my birth year razor, and because of OCtober, I was unable or totally forgot to use it for my birthday shaver. So, I am giving it a month of love. It is loving me back.

 

Two days in with my new Aristocrat and the Stirling Black Ice soap.

Now I know why many of you sing the praises of this model Aristocrat. It's very smooth and very mild. A really nice shave. It's gonna make this NO-vember deal easier, I think.

The Black Ice menthol soap is great, too. But it's stronger than the Proraso green I've been using. It's tough to shave with my eyes watering that way! Gonna try goggles tomorrow!

View attachment 56757

 

Okay. Here's my setup.

Razor: Great Grandpa's '76 Gillette Slim SS Adjustable
Blade: Astra Super Stainless
Soap: Stirling Barbershop (Have most of sample left, if I run out, my audible will be Stirling Black Ice)
Brush: Red Handled Badger from GD
WHAS: Stirling Black Ice
(alum/styptic pencil if/as needed)

If I can figure out how to make my camera work, I will post pics later.

If you think that is rough, you should try one of the Stirling Glacial soaps.

 

Third day of this setup. So far, So good.

I may have to box up my razor display for the rest of the month... It is getting harder to look at it while I'm shaving and not choose a different razor for the next shave. Also, today two arrivals are expected: a '41 Ranger Tech AND a puck of MWF. Must... Not... Give.... In.

 

Day 3, running out of ideas for new pics lol

 

True you have to admit it is the biggest challenge posted so far...I think it would be very freeing for those who can get away with it I realize some of you have to be clean shaven for your work.

 

Day 3 was good. I'm paying lots of attention to prep since I'm trying to take 1 blade the whole way through the month. But the Wilkinson Sword stick is doing a good job of softening the whiskers as long as I give it some time. I only did two passes today but got a nice DFS. Not as close as last month doing 2 passes with an ATT H2 but a nice comfortable shave. The Schick L1 will get just as close with 3 passes though, so as long as I've got time tomorrow, that's what I'll do.

Schick L1 w/ Chinese Schick blade (3)
Wilkinson Sword stick
TGN silvertip in VDH handle
Aqua Velva Ice Blue

 

I think your screen name will prove prophetic if you are able to stretch one blade 30 days lol.

 

You may be right I don't plan to let it get out of hand. If the blade clearly dies, I'll toss it. But I do plan to push it a little farther than I normally would just to see if I can make it.

 

Yeah I am trying to do the same. On shave number 3 with mine. Trying to do 1 blade a week with mine, which I usually do a new one after 2 shaves.

 

For Day Number Four of the November No Change Challenge I Present ...

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By a strange coincidence I've been doing this since last Tuesday! I don't have a rotation and seemed to misplace some hardware and software.
For the next month I will be using a utopa razor, Personna blue, with L Cade soap and AS has always been Whitchazel.

 

I think prep is the key. If I'm hearing that buttering toast sound while I'm shaving, I'm lucky to get 3 shaves from a DE blade. But if I get my whiskers soft so they cut easy and I barely hear them being cut, I can get a week or maybe 2 from a blade. But the main reason I do the extensive prep is because the shaves are more comfortable/less irritating, not to extend blade life.