March 30 Day Rule/Focus Pic-Discussion Thread

My shave today was very invigorating. At first, I thought that I had the angle too great, causing irritation, but the result was a great DFS 2 pass plus touch up under the chin, with no "noisy ouches" from the Witch hazel or aftershave. I am again amazed at the fresh clean feel this razor gives me post shave.

 

Your new blade bank..

 

SOTD
March 6, 2015
Head & Face shave
Prep: Hot Shower. Axe Shield Face Wash
Razor: ATT Kronos S1 Slant Bar Razor
Blade: Ladas
Brush: Red & Black acrylic Silvertip 22/50mm by Gluck Huckelson
Lather: St. James of London Lavender & Geranium
Post: Alum. Thayers Lavender WH.
Aftershave: Country Club Southern Oud
Great shave. The ATT S1 really cleans up my head with ease. The only issue I have with this razor is, I tend to go for an extra pass or two. I need to stick with 3. St. James of London Lavender & Geranium is awesome! Slick, cushion-y, smells great.
Go out and get it

 

03/06/15
Prep – MR GLO
Razor – ATT S1
Blade – Persona Lab Blue (3)
Brush – RV with Shavemac Finest
Lather – MdC
Post - Witch Hazel and Dove AS Balm



Another great 2 pass with touch ups work morning shave. I have really enjoyed using the S1 this week. Since I am up for a blade change, I might start the S2 for tomorrow's shave. At least it is Friday.

 

March 5, 2015

Second shave of my 30 day focus, went well for the most part. Had very minimal sting from the Alum block, which was a first. Tried shaving the left side of my face with my left hand. Made for a very gentle shave on that side, which is a lesson that I'm taking from here on out. If I treat both sides like I have to shave my left, since it's my weak side, I think I'll wind up with much less irritation. Only had one red area on my neck, and that was from an extra thick hair that was on its way to be ingrown. Took care of that, and this morning the redness is gone.

I can tell I'm getting progressively better with my technique, and my skin is getting a lot more accustomed to the inherent irritation of dragging a blade across it.

Love the smell and performance of the Glastonbury soap. The wife loves it too, so that's always a good thing!

edited to add: I tried using pre-shave oil again last night, after a little hiatus from it,and have come to the conclusion that it just doesn't do much for me. Tried using it on dry , wet, and damp skin during different shaves. No more beneficial for me than when I just wash my face and lather from there. So I'll have some PSO to PIF here soon.

Pre- Face wash with warm water
Razor- Ikon 102 Slant
Blade- Personna
Soap- Stirling Glastonbury
Brush- VDH boar
Post- Cold water rinse, Osma Alum block, Thayers Witchhazel
Aftershave- Nivea sensitive balm

 

I wish. The stypic pencil is am amazing tool. Almost like I never nicked or cut myself! I do like the bank! Old mason jar and a large screw driver can do wonders!

 

I shaved my head for 12 years but never got the courage up to use safety razor. *if* I ever shaved my head again I'd try. Good on you mate!

 

DAY 5 - COLD WATER MENTHOL MARCH!
Prep: shower and Noxzema face wash
Growth: 1 day
Razor: Gillette Tech
Blade: Yellow Gillette 7 O'clock (day 2)
Preshave: Stirling Orange Chill Preshave oil
Soap: Stirling Orange Chill
Passes: 2.5 - WTG, ATG - XTG on neck - with clean up
Post shave: Stirling Orange Chill Witch Hazel with Aloe
Post shave: Stirling Post Shave balm - barbershop

Don't know if I want to go back to warm shaving... face really feels refreshed and the orange chill with hazel throws a nice frozen finish that sticks with me for a bit. don't I look refreshed? Have a blessed day gentlemen.

 

30 Day Rule - 6 March 2015



Finally getting the hang of left handed...good thing, too. Another couple weeks until hand is back to normal. It's making typing quite laborious, but I am really enjoying seeing the new guys and all the great posts! Keep on keeping on!

Happy Friday!

 

refreshed? How about GQ London? Go out there and get after it!

Good observation about left handed...better left side shaves and improved left side motor control, all in one!

Slant head shaving! Love it!

 

@Bama Samurai I think you're pushing me to go out and buy a SE. Maybe I'll browse the antique store this weekend and see what they have.

 

I really am surprised that injectors fell out of fashion. I get great results! My only reservation is that blades must be ordered online where I live, but they are $6.49 for 7 blades on walgreens, and the blades are lasting up to 8-10 shaves. The blades are much thicker than DE, and also less forgiving, but wow they cut close!

 

Kerry- great looking brush! Classic style.

 

Thanks Chris! It's a great brush..

 

March 7 Plans

Stirling Sheep soap
Merkur 37C slant bar
Feather blade (day 1)
Ever-Ready C40 boar
Stirling Naked and Smooth soap & D.R. Harris Almond cream
Two passes
Alum, Thayer's Lavender witch hazel, unrefined shea butter, Pinaud Clubman

I am really enjoying this set up overall. I find the Stirling soap a bit difficult to lather. I loaded the brush for three minutes today, and that helped. My Ever-Ready boar brush is starting to break in, but the knot is too narrow for my liking. I ordered an Omega 10098 this week, and I think I'll like the larger handle and knot.

Enjoy your weekend!

 

March Focus - Vintage and Carbon
March 6, 2015 - Week 1 Day 6
Prep - Hot shower and towel
Brush - Omega Pro 48
Soap - Arko
Razor - Gillete New Long Comb
Blade - (2)
Post - RazoRock Alum & The Mighty Veg

Second and last day for this dog of a blade. Hate it. Not only was it fairly rough today it left two nice nicks on my neck and my technique was solid. Just not a blade I'm going to use again. If it works for you then awesome. I did manage a DFS on three passes but that was the only positive. The alum absolutely raged today even where I didn't have the nicks. So much for the Lord Platinum.

One more day before changing to the Aristocrat and another carbon blade. I think I'll just toss a Voskhod in the New tomorrow. I still have a blade open from my Russian Roulette shave with only one use on it.

Another early start and late finish. Welcome to my Thursday and Friday bell to bell days. I'm ready for Sunday when I can catch up around here. Hope everyone has a great weekend!

At least today's shave ended well with my favorite after shave at the moment.

​

 

March Focus- Be modern, (and I am already missing my vintage DEs. ) Learn to use my Feather Artist Club razor. Any touch ups with a Maggard MR6B.

March 7th, SOTD (Shave 4 of the focus)
Two Day's growth
Prep: Hot shower
Razor Start: Feather Artist Club SS non-folding with Pro-Guard Blade (3rd shave on blade)
Razor Finish: Maggard MR6
DE Blade: Sharp Durablade- Stropped 30 times per edge (1st shave on blade)
Soap: Barrister and Mann Seville Tallow based soap, bowl lathered
Brush: Omega 1066 Boar
Post Shave: Cold Water Rinse, Alum Block (Didn’t need styptic pencil! Woot!)
Aftershave: Barrister and Mann Kyovu Original

Decided to shave tonight, so I won’t have to rush tomorrow. Face was still a little irritated, but not horribly. I also wanted to try the new soap I got for my birthday, along with the aftershave sample. They say on their website that this is a thirsty soap. I think I added too much water. It was too thin, and sliding all over the place. Still worked though.

Did a slow and easy WTG first pass with the Feather AC, and I could see/hear/feel the hairs just sliding off my face. Got two nicks, one right under my mustache and one on my left cheek. Spent a little more time with angles, and using both sides of the blade. Even did a little work with my left hand. Rinsed my face and realized I had gotten a better shave with that one pass than my last shave with the DE. Lathered back up, took it easy and did an XTG pass with the Feather. Two more nicks on my jaw line.

At this point, I could have called it good. It was a better shave than I had had this month. I know that I would have been unhappy by tomorrow afternoon though. I had to mentally stop myself from doing a third pass with the Feather. I grabbed the Maggard razor, with its fresh blade, and did an ATG pass. There were only a few spots where I heard/felt any cutting, mainly around my chin and jaw, and the trouble spots on my neck. I don’t remember liking this blade before, but it seems stropping most blades makes them smoother for me. I am using an oiled latigo strop and using about 12 inches of the surface. Seems to work better than my kangaroo one.

Did a cold water rinse, and hit the alum block. It got my attention, but didn’t make me swear. It also stopped all the bleeding. Dried off and put the aftershave on. I like this stuff. And then I realized, the baby had stopped by. Good shave.

 

Stirling is my favorite soap with the shave den stick a close 2nd. When I dry loaded the Stirling soap it took longer than when I soak the soap with hot water and I start with a wet brush (Marcos method). This expedited the load process quite a bit. Working the lather, there's a point when you add a bit of water and a bit more then the blows up and it's epic. Keep trying.

 

In finishing one entire puck of Stirling Vanilla Sandalwood, I found it easier to soak the puck while I was in the shower and start with a wetter brush. Then load it like it owes you money. If you use the new Omega well soaked it should whip right up.

 

Thanks guys! I appreciate the great advice and will definitely give this a try.