That brush will only improve for a few weeks. Enjoy!!! It's a great piece of equipment.

I love the 48. It's just now starting to bloom really nice so just keep at it with your 49. You'll never want to be without it.

Brain clearing Arko Shave

Or

Cadet OC Redux

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A great shave...superb. Just wanted to break it up...big contrast to my last OC shave and a testament to riding the cap!

For comparison:

The Halloween Massacre

If that doesn't show skill improvement....



Proraso and injectors the rest of the month! I am writing up my Feb Focus...another travel month...so thinking about options.

Happy Monday Everyone!

Day 2 with Feb Focus. Had a good shave overall, the Slim Adjustable seems to be a little more fickle with angle for me. First pass I was riding the cap, for 2nd and 3rd pass I changed angle a little and seemed to get smoother passes....more experimenting needed...
Also I have a question, I post photos in SOTD, should I post those same photos here as well or just post observations of the progress of the challenge?

Post photos here too if you want. Probably not everyone sees SOTD. I know I don't get there everyday. That's my opinion anyway.

02/03/15 Focus On Blades

Prep - Hot Shower
Razor - Mongoose Satin B2
Blade – Feather Pro (3)
Brush – Rudy Vey Rover with TGN Finest 24mm/48mm
Lather – Soap Commander Passion
Post - Witch Hazel and CC Bay Rum AS



Took a little extra time this morning for a excellent 3 pass shave with very small touch ups around the chin. These blades are very sharp. Even 3 shaves in the blade seems sharper than a brand new Kai Mild. I ended up with a weeper so I must have put some pressure. The Soap Commander Passion scent paired well with the Captain's Choice Bay Rum AS.

February Focus - Blades
2/3/15 - Day 4

Brush - Omega Pro 48
Cream - C.O. Bigelow
Razor - EJ89L
Blade - (1)
Post - RazoRock Alum and AV Ice Blue

Today is a lesson on deception. I had read a lot of conflicting reviews on the Sputnick. Named for the first man made satellite to orbit the earth you would think it would fly high and provide a high tech shave. Some think so, some not. The proof is in the shave.

First pass I was totally impressed. Extremely smooth, as in, WOW smooth. WTG was flawless and I lathered up for the XTG. Again, very smooth, comfortable, impressive and.....wait a minute....do I see pink lather on the razor? Yep. One very small nick on my right jawline on the XTG. Didn't feel it at all but there it is. Did the XTG on the left side and no issues but another small nick showed up on the right side on my neck. Where did that come from? Lathered, ATG and done. No further issues and the blade felt smooth throughout the whole process.

Now to the alum. No doubt about it the blade, in spite of its smooth feel, left irritation. The alum was having a field day on my neck and letting me know that smooth feelings can be deceiving. This blade may be more aggressive than it feels, or else it lacks a bit of sharpness that it disguises under Teflon. We'll find out more in the next two days. I did achieve DFS and with very little cleanup.

Somewhat disappointed as I was rooting for this one because of its cool name. Oh well, can't have everything. Based on my rules I have to give it a B2 on its first day. Not setting a high bar.

One thing is for sure, it's a lot easier to shave with than its predecessor. This little beauty launched October 4, 1957, which is 2 years and 3 days before I was launched. It started the space race as it was visible and audible with ham radio during its three month life in low orbit. While we beat the Russians to the moon they had us on the ropes in the beginning.

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BONUS QUESTION: Name the Soviet spacecraft shown below and I'll send you a tuck of blades. First three to answer correctly win.

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Day 3
Added Corn Huskers for a pre and had improved results with the XXX soap. A DFS was had. Still working on the angles with the Slim Adj, and so far it appears a steeper angle is needed for better results at least with the Ladas blade.

February 3rd SOTD (Shave 2 of the challenge)
Two Day's growth
Prep: Hot shower
Razor: '52 Gillette Super Speed Black Tip (X2)- Steel Handle and Baseplate
Blade: Rapira PlatinumLux, second shave on this blade, stropped 30 times per edge
Soap: Dirty Deeds Green Tweed
Brush: Vie Long Horsehair
Post Shave: Cold Water Rinse, Alum Block
Aftershave: Thayer’s Witch Hazel, Cucumber scent


Focus is learning this razor. The razor/ blade combo is very smooth, and that can be misleading. I had quite a bit of irritation on my neck on the last shave, from attempting to buff. I just did a two pass shave today, with no buffing. The blade was fairly smooth after stropping. DFS all the way around, but didn’t chase the baby. Neck felt comfortable, and no feedback from Alum block.
I have shampooed the brush twice since I shaved with it last, and left soap on it overnight to try and get rid of the funk. It’s not gone, but is getting better. Brush lathered really well. Soap is one of my favorites that I have been using for a while. It makes a slick lather and smells great.
Going on a trip for the next week, and mailed blades to where I am going. I will put a picture up tonight with my travel kit, since I won’t be putting pictures up.

2/3/15 - Blades/Face lather focus

Prep: hot shower and cornhusker's lotion
Lather: TSD Grey Vetiver type
Brush: Omega 10066
Razor: Weber PH
Blade: Derby Extra (3)

Today's shave turned out pretty good, although I though the blade was pretty tuggy right from the start. I made 3 passes. I struggled just a little with the lather, but I think I have to "wake-up" this soap as it has been in a tin for a couple of months without water. It was better today than it was yesterday and hopefully will get even better with a couple more lathers.

Vostok?

Nope, not the Vostok.

I'd say yet another successful day with the Omega 49. Still using my EJ89 with rebranded Personnas and VDH Luxury soap. This brush is helping me get some crazy close shaves without the irritation I was getting before. I know it's a lather thing but I wouldn't have imagined this big of a difference between two different boar brushes. Who cares what's making it work as long as it's working lol.

Likely Soyuz 1

Focused February
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The plan for February is Injector! I will be using Chinese Schick blades, L'Occitane Plisson Synthtetic, Proraso (red, white, and green tubs), and as always a focus on Great Cheap AS!

This razor was the one my father used, I vividly remember it sitting on his vanity top. I will be visiting him later in the month...I have some razor plans for him too...

I will be using this setup within the hour, and will report back late night with my initial impressions!

Happy Tuesday!

Thank you for playing. Incorrect answer.

So far one person has got it right. In a private message. So two left.

Very cool that you're using your dad's razor. Nice touch.

Two correct answers. One more free tuck is just sitting here waiting.

Getting on a plane in the morning, wanted to post my travel kit:

Razor: '52 Gillette Super Speed Black Tip (X2)- Steel Handle and Baseplate
Horsehide leather razor cover
Blade: Astra Platnium-Mailed to myself
Soap: Homestead Ranch Goat Butter Shaving Soap- Naked in the Woods Scent- face lathered
Brush: Omega 50014 Boar Travel Brush
Post Shave: Cold Water Rinse, Alum Block
Aftershave: Theyer’s Witch Hazel, Cucumber scent

I put that two inch blue cup into a ziplock, the Thayer's into a travel bottle, and pack the rest into my Dop bag. This brush is pretty awesome for travel. I have bowl lathered with it in a soap container before, and it works for that or face lathering. No blade in it, because I am getting on a plane, but the cover was made with the thought of taking a razor to the gym, or when traveling with a blade in. Still have a bit a gear, but usually get pretty good shaves too. Will post the shaves while I am out there, but won't be posting any pictures.

Today, (Tuesday evening) was spent focusing on blade angle and NO PRESSURE. The cheeks were great as ususal, but I thought I left the neck area a little rough. Once I put the aftershave balm on, I realized that the neck was really smooth, and no irritation. All in all, a DFS+ shave. The I1 injector seems so mild, compared to the GEM and EverReady, but in truth, it really does a fine job cutting those whiskers!. I had two passes, with a little touch up under the chin, for the great result.

Following your focus on the I 1. Have one on my way for my first experience with an injector