April 2015 30 Day Rule/Focus Pic & Discussion Thread

Ah just grab the shavette and dive in. What could possibly go wrong?

 

I really admire you guys that try the shavettes or straights. I am just not sure that I will ever even try to them much less put in the time to master them.

 

This Lynn Abrams video was really helpful for me. One of the razors he uses is a Feather Artist Club.

 

So no prep went into this which was probably the worst way to use a shavette for the first time. Surprisingly everything went okay although the blade had some tugging. It's amazing how your confidence sky rockets after several beers lol I'm just glad I got lucky this go around. I'm going to stick with the slim the rest of the month but today might have pushed me to invest in a straight for next months focus.

 

Let us help peer pressure you into that...

 

I don't need peer pressure just help on convincing the wife it's a good decision haha

 

Tell her that since you don't have to buy blades, all you need is shave soap. Once you have your razor, strop, touch up strop, a few hundred dollar (or more) honing stones, and a good brush or two you are set for life, or at least a month or two.

That doesn't seem as convincing when I type it out.

 

You could tell her that it's to build your self-esteem as a manly man....which will make you a more loving and confident husband, totally attuned to her needs as only a real man can be. Ok, yeah, if that's all I've got then I've got nothing. The other tactic is to just do it and apologize later. Always easier to apologize than get permission.

 

Thanks. It is actually a box I keep my straight razors in. I have plans to make some trays for it to hold my DE as well, but for now it is good like it is.

 

I was worried about the same with my wife especially since we have young kids. It was one of the few times I was somewhat forceful on a subject. I had to explain to her that I would keep things out of the line of direct sight and explain things to the kids. Then I had to explain my plan of only using a straight on the weekends so I would have lots of time to be patient and really focus. She could tell I was determined and passionate about it and went along with it. She doesn't always understand this hobby, but she likes that it keeps me home compared to other hobbies.

 

Today, I changed things up once again, and pulled out my third razor purcase ever.... the 1966 flair tip superspeed. I used the same Lord blade (2), and the same prep and aftershave. I thought the razor was a bit more aggressive than the Krona, and about the same as the GEM MMCP. All in all a nice leisurely two pass DFS shave.

 

Homemade Pre-Shave Oil.
Razor: Bluebeards Revenge
Blade: Wilkinson Black
Brush: WD Marble Handle Silvertip, 24/67
Cream: Bluebeards Revenge
A/S: Lucky Tiger

Day 8- Late shaving today as the golf course opened.
Came out of my time warp and returned to my 30 day focus. Good shave tonight, getting used to using the PSO, and starting to see the benefits of a PSO.
Had a good three passes.
Hope all is well with everyone.

 

Tried a SE razor the other day and was surprised how well it shaved. Try new things, its good for you.

 

Good picture. What kind of bowl is that?

 

It's an etsy bowl my wife gave me for my birthday last fall. Sarah Welch is the maker. She is from Jarosa, Colorado.

 

Does she have a web site?

 

Look her up on etsy.com

 

April 12th , SOTD (Shave 5 of the focus)
Two and a half days’ growth
Prep: Hot Shower
Razor Feather Artist Club SS non-folding with Pro-Guard Blade (5th shave on blade)
Razor: Gillette Red Tip- B2 (1956)
DE Blade: Big Ben- Stropped 30 times per edge (2nd shave on blade)
Soap: The Shave Den Barber Shoppe Scent, bowl lathered plus four drops of M-Bomb
Brush: Tulip Wood Brush- TGN Best Badger Knot 22mm x 54mm loft
Post Shave: Cold Water Rinse, Alum Block
Aftershave: The Shave Den Iced Barber Shoppe Splash

Picture includes a small part of my turquoise collection. These are the rings and watches I wear to my office job. (They were already on the sink when I started putting stuff there for the picture.)

First pass was WTG or N/S. It went great with the Feather. Just scrape the lather off. Hardest part for me is the chin. My beard is courser there, I have a few scars, and the curves make keeping the blade angle correct difficult. Started an ATG or S/N pass on the left side of my face and neck. Good so far. Did the chin, still pretty course, having a hard time getting the stubble doing ATG, so decide to change to XTG on my chin. Blade catches on some rough stubble over a scar, so I give it a little more pressure. Blade pops loose, comes away from skin, I push it back into my chin. Crap. Did the rest of the second pass with the Red Tip. White line turned red, started bleeding. M-bomb in fresh cut. Whoo hoo! Cut is small, only about a quarter inch, but this is the second time I have done this in the same freaking spot. I think I need to rethink my blade angle in this spot. Especially since I will have freshly honed straits here next week. Stopped bleeding with cold water rinses, and alum bar, so it wasn't as bad as I thought it would be.

I didn’t do any touch up today, just the two passes. Interestingly the side I only used the Feather on is better shaved than the side with the DE. I would call both sides DFS. The Shave Den Soap and aftershave are pretty awesome. On the sample sizes, I have over 20 shaves in, and probably one or two left. I might just order more samples, so I can continue checking out the scents.

I mentioned I would post the shop name for where I got my hand turned brush and soap bowl. The Etsy seller’s name is baldcoyotetrading, check out his shave stuff here. No affiliation, but I like his stuff. I have been using this bowl and brush for three and a half years now, with no complaints.

 

brush: Vie-Long 12705B
soap: Tabac shaving cream
razor: Merkur 39c
blade: Sputnik (2)
aftershave: Ralon AS

Apart from the overwhelming smell of Tabac the shave was good, Sputnik lasted well through a second shave. Getting very nice DFS in two passes with this razor is a breeze now.

 

FB focus day 13:

Homemade PS Oil
Pacific Shaving Co Caffeinated w/Menthol
Vie-long Horsehair
FB w/Gillette Silver Blue set on 5
Osage Rub

Good shave again today. The FB is feeling more and more comfortable.