JUNE 2015 30 Day Rule/Focus Pic & Discussion Thread

Day 10 - 11 May 2015

30 Day Rule with a Cadet OC!


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Day four on this blade went off without a hitch! I caught a nice 2 pass late afternoon before going open to Denver for the evening. My face feels great 7hours post shave. Williams is getting workable. I think the key is to use twice as much soap as needed, then add a bit more. I continued to try to repeat the exact routine stroke for stroke, and it's getting more solid each day. Mostly wanted to stick with the cool chrome tones in the photo, so I went with a true face freezer with a cool label, TSD Iced Subzero AS Splash. It's Osage level cold and I also like the AS for its great skinfeel. Other than that, all is quiet in Colorado!

Have a great Friday!
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Maca Root shave cream is one of my all time favorites.....

 

I manged to get NINE days out of the Derby Extra. Today the shave was a solid DFS, but not up to the previous quality. I found, over the last few shaves, that I have been doing the SR skin stretching, talked about earlier in this focus. I found it to give a great result with much less work, or touch ups. I will be working to perfect stretching the skin from now on. I think it is time to toss this Derby delight, and on to the next contestant of the blade is right.....

So far, Absolute sharpness....Feather.
Longevity Derby, then Astra SP, Personna Israeli Red
Smoothest Voskhod


Next up to bat: Personna Lab blue

 

For general consumption:

Go order some TSD AS after you visit this link below. I love it and think any shaver with an eye for performance and value would be impressed too. @Queen of Blades offers a wide variety of products in a VAST array of scents. From preshave balm to AS, soap and other goodies...go check it out!


Www.theshavedenshop.com

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Now that I am back from vacation it is back to my focus on using a straight.

Proraso pre-post for the prep
Strop Shoppe Instinct soap
Esty silvertip badger brush
Dovo Bismarck #2 6/8 carbon blade with ebony wood scales.
Drygulch classic american bridle strop with linen.
Alum block to keep my fingers dry
Speick AS
EJ aloe vera ASB
Sonoma Scents Studio Tabac Aurea EDT

It feels likes it has been along time since I shaved with a straight even though it is just 5 days. My return flight was cancelled so I had to catch a flight through Hong Kong's airport instead of Macau. If felt like I was in the move "Trains, Planes and Automobiles" as we raced from the Macau airport to the ferry terminal to catch the boat to Hong Kong airport and finally to the plane.

I was tired an decided to go with just two passes. They went smoothly and quickly. I did the last two passes with my Lather Catcher, I wanted to keep that rigid blade feeling. A good smooth shave with just a little bit of irritation. I will go back to 3 passes Saturday morning when I have the time.

 

Cold water shave focus day 12:

Homemade PS Oil
Vie-long Horsehair Brush
Kiss My Face Lavender SC
Gillette Ball end tech
Stirling Unscented PSB
TOBS Sandalwood AS

 

06/12/2015
Razor – Gillette Red & Black New Deluxe
Blade – Feather (2)
Brush – Rubberset 400-3 with WSP HMW
Lather – TSD Signature
Post - Witch Hazel and Captain’s Choice Bay Rum



I am enjoying the R&B New Deluxe because I get consistently great to fantastic shaves with this razor/blade combo. Another near BBS 3 pass shave this morning. I used the TSD Signature lanolin soap and found it easy to lather and very slick. As Chris @Bama Samurai said above, you should consider giving TSD products a try. Finished up with a splash of CC Bay Rum. Hope everyone has a great weekend.

 

Day #1 of 5; 30-Days of June
The first day using one of my favorites from my assortment of SRs—a vintage George Wostenholm & Son—a large-bladed late 19th century, full-hollow razor that delivers an exceptional shave with ease.
Compared to the previous two June razors, the Red Imp and Rodgers, the Wostenholm has a slightly wider blade, a less severe tip than the Imp, and a more traditional shape that has a slight taper from 7/8" at the nose to just over 6/8" at the heel. Side Note: this Wosty blade was acquired (found at antique shop) at the same time as I received the Rodgers (another birthday gift from my wife). I used black horn (with some white feathering) for the scales.


I've had dozens of shaves using this razor and always look forward to shaving when it pops up in the rotation.
After I made some dense, slick IK lather, the Wosty noisily shaved with ease. After five challenging days with the Rodgers, this razor was a piece of cake!
Despite the large, broad blade and slightly intimidating appearance, —and even after dozens of shaves— I've never drawn any blood with this razor—a rarity for the amount of shaves its given me.
Darn near BBS results after 3 passes plus touch-up. Great start for a five-day stretch!

 

Hey guys! This ends tonight!

Random Sale @The Shave Den Shop

 

June 12, 2015

30 Day RULE - “Lather, Rinse, Repeat. Lather, Rinse, Repeat. Lather, Rinse….”

Morning Hot Shower
Prep: Pre-Shave Oil - The Art of Shaving
Soap: Arko
Brush: Omega Pro 48
Razor: Gillette Tech “Fat Handle”
Blade: Gillette Wilkinson Sword Stainless (India) (3)
After Shave: Proraso Aftershave Splash Green


(anyone tired of this photo yet?)

Three consecutive days using a 2-pass shave. (WTG, XTG ) I changed due to a skin reaction - was getting razor bumps for the first time in my life. Razor bumps still there but not expanding. May get some product to help rid the few I have. Will also probably take tomorrow off from shaving and give my skin a rest.

Very nice shave today.

I had watched a couple more videos about shaving trouble spots. One of the tips I picked up regarding the jawline was to open my mouth somewhat wide when doing this difficult area - It really helped! The jaw drops to a different part of the skin and 'flattens' most of the area I'm trying to get to. I'm also experimenting with my regular stroke - bringing the razor handle much closer to parallel with the floor. Things are beginning to click in this ol' noggin!

Cheers!
RT

 

June 12 - Shave 9
Prep: Hot Shower
Brush: Omega 48
Preshave: Stirling Mentha Preshave oil
Soap: TSD Lanolin 2x iced Barbershop
Razor: AJ Jordan (Gemstar custom) square point blade, 5/8", strop x 30 on gemstar bench strop
Growth: 1 day
Post: Cold water splash, Clubman, Alum
Passes: WTG, XTG, WTG

First time this week I used my first straight - AJ Jordan with square point. I sadly didn't respect the point. Even after I read someone's post earlier that repeated those instructions 3 times! Nice little nick on my neck. This is the end of my first full week of everyday straights. As long as I'm not chasing a bbs, I think that I can pull off the M-F straight. Just have to be more mindful of what I'm doing and what equipment I'm using at the time. I discovered this week that I prefer the audio feedback of the full hollow blades vs wedgish ones.

First pass N/S, VERY loud as I passed sideburn to jawline. 2nd and 3rd passes were much quieter - to silence! I know i have a shave I'll enjoy when I hear nothing back from the blade.

Be safe and have a great weekend all!
E-

 

Razor: Gillette Flare Tip D2 1958
Blade: Gillette, Platinum (1)
Brush: Semogue 1305 Boar Tri Colored Wood Handle.
Soap: RazoRock XXX Fresh and clean, a cross between classic Italian Colonial and old school barbershop.
Mug: Soak my brush in the Old Spice coffee mug for about a minute.
A/S: Captain's Choice Sandalwood


I haven't used my boar brush very much so it would be unfair to pass judgement on it today. I will say that I needed more soap for my third pass. It seemed to load very well with the RazoRock XXX soap. I soaked the brush for a few minutes prior to loading the wet soap. I wrung it out like I do my badger brushes and that might have been a mistake. I did soak the soap in a couple teaspoons of water first.
I did have a DFS with 3 passes and a cleanup.

 

Eric, as you continue to get these SR shaves on a regular basis, you'll find your muscle memory will begin to take over and your technique with the razor will improve. The likelihood of those little jabs and nicks from the spike or square points diminish as you learn to keep your hand closer to your face throughout the shave.
Audible feedback is a desired part of SR shaves for many as the sound reinforces the feeling that whiskers ARE being whacked off and when its time to move onto another area.

 

Day 11 - 12 May 2015

30 Day Rule with a Cadet OC!​

A fresh blade today brought a great 2 pass shave. My routine has become rock solid with this razor, and more soap is definitely the key to Williams. Decided to keep it old school today, so I broke out the AV Musk and even a little Pinaud Clubman Hair Tonic. Today was the most quiet alum application all month, so that's the proof ...DFS with no irritation!

Have a great weekend!
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How is the lower angle of attack in the blade? Are you riding the cap now?

 

The part of injector shaving I like best is the audio feedback. It's neat to hear the hairs snap off under the pressure of the blade.

 

I agree whole heartily. Great shave product made with TLC.

 

Well, I think so.

I know we discussed that term in this thread, so I've been trying it or thought I was. But today I seemed to take it further to where the handle was nearly perpendicular (not quite) to my face (and parallel to the floor).

Looking at the razor from the side, my sense is that riding the cap is the opposite of 'riding the safety bar?'

By bringing the razor to the face with the handle nearly parallel to the floor, the blade leads the cap through the whisker. By contrast if the handle is closer to parallel to the wall and brought to the face the safety bar would hit the face first and require pressure to press the bar into the skin in order for the blade to cut.

So with my handle nearly parallel to the floor, I'm riding the cap as the blade "leads" the cap down the face.

So I'm hoping that I have this right now? Or am I still astray in the woods?

 

No clue. I've been straight shaving too much lately.

 

Kevin, I blame your Wosty pics for my forays onto straight razor shopping sites. Love the looks of those things.