July 2015 30 Day Rule/Focus Pic & Discussion Thread

Day 6

30 Days with Maggard OC and MITA!


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Day 2 on ASCO, another good shave. These blades are smooth and forgiving. I have not done a blade trial since I was brand new, and I am really enjoying the subtle differences in smoothness and cutting feedback. Classic Osage Rub for Monday...other than that...all is quiet in Colorado.

Have a terrific Tuesday!

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Well I for one like the new facial hair. I know sometimes these photos can be a bit deceiving, but if you've got a more narrow face a fuller goatee can be a good thing. A fuller, round face may best be complemented by a narrow goatee.
However, YMMV.

Glad to see your using some wax now.

 

1956 Gillette Super Speed Flair
Vulfix Super Badger (660)
Georgetown G12 Scuttle
Proraso Sandalwood cream
Aqua Velva
Current Blade under review: Gillette Silver Blue

Shave #3 with Gillette Silver Blue. Nice BBS results, an excellent shave. Very close, smooth, no nicks, weepers, irritation or razor burn.
2 Full passes: Pass 1: WTG on my face, and XTG on my neck. Pass 2: ATG. At this point, I could have ended the shave with a DFS.
Lathered up again to deal with the spots where the grain is every which way. There seemed to be fewer spots than in past shaves. Touch up didn't take long and everything seemed smooth to me during my final rinse. But putting on the A/S showed me a couple of spots that could have been closer. But once the A/S had been on my face for a bit, I had to hunt to find them. A very nice BBS shave, just not as close as yesterday.

At this point, I'm not sure whether or not I prefer Gillette Silver Blue to the Shark Super Stainless. They both shaved me well. Both were smooth enough, just not as smooth as the Astra Superior Platinum blade. I believe that both the Silver Blue and the Shark are sharper than the Astra. Tomorrow, I'll give the Astra another try to see if I still think it is smoother, but not as sharp.

 

Phoenix Dbl OC Focus Day 6:

Homemade PS Oil
Simpsons Commodore X3 Best Badger
Stirling Glacial Spearmint
Phoenix Dbl OC
Stirling Unscented PSB
Aqua Velva AS

I've skipped a couple of days posting in thus thread as I have been busy. I was in San Antonio this weekend and actually skipped shaving Sunday altogether. Saturday's shave was decent, but a travel shave for me is always a bit off due to being out of NY routine. My shave yesterday was great, as it was near BBS and zero irritation. This morning's shave was not quite as close but still very good. This razor seems to be very mild, but I get close shaves without much effort.

 

07/07/2015
Razor – Mongoose B2 with Jürgen Hempel Ti
Blade – Feather Super Pro (5)
Brush – EJ XL STF
Lather – Jabonman Citricos @Drygulch
Post - Witch Hazel and Myrsol Limon Sample



The good part of this morning's shave was the result, a near BBS. However, the bad part was 3 nicks. I am a little out of sink after a month using DE razors. This and the fact that the Super Pro is not a forgiving blade at all. I used the Jabonman soap from Adam @Drygulch . This stuff is super easy to lather. Loaded for 10 seconds or so and had enough lather for a 4 pass shave. The scent is a very complex blend of citrus. I am very fortunate to try this lesser known soap and owe a big thanks to Adam for the opportunity. Finished off with Myrsol Limon from my sample pack. Unfortunately this was the last of this AS. After NBJ, I think I might pick up a full bottle of this one.

 

@Drygulch Adam makes soap too? Where was I, when this started?

Also in a handlebar goatee watch. Almost there...

 

No the soap was a gift from Adam @Drygulch.

 

30 day rule
MDC Lavender Face Lathered
Ladas blade
Slim Adjustable set to 7

4 passes this morning (instead of 3) mainly because my lather was so luxurious I couldn't resist.

 

I finished using the Astra SP and it provided 3 very good, very close shaves. It is definitely a top contender for my blade of choice to use. I ended up getting sick and so shaving did not happen for several days, so the use of the Voskhod was delayed. It also meant that it would be tackling several days of beard growth.

@NCoxSTL I am not sure what you see in this blade. I mean really? You tout this thing as if it is an amazing blade!

Well, it is! The blade was an excellent excellent performer for me! Very smooth, no tugging even with my multiple day coarse beard. No irritation except for a couple small spots that normally would have TONS of irritation. Will have to see if it holds up over the next couple shaves, but the first one definitely was a top performer!

 

Ah. @Drygulch does a lot. Didn't know about the soap...

 

I would never lead you astray. Glad it performed so well for you but I'm not surprised. The Voskhod will go past the usual 3 shaves for me as well. And, it seems to be even better on its second and third shaves. Welcome Comrade!

 

Saying that the Super Pro is not forgiving is probably an understatement. I've never used one and have no desire at the moment. Anything beyond the Pro just seems like a masochistic fetish to me.

 

30 Day Rule - July 2015
July 7th
Razor - CJB/Gillette New LC
Blade - (5) (2 2/3)
Brush - Omega Pro 48
Soap - Mitchell's Wool Fat
Post - Cold Water splash, Alum, Nivea Original Post Shave Balm

Back at it today after a day off to let things heal a bit. Two days growth so should be interesting. I know some have said that helps on a straight shave but I didn't feel much help. Although, better than it has been. I left the Fat a bit thin today which wasn't my plan but it's what I got. Not enough work with it today. You really have to load the brush and I didn't get it quite right. So, a really nice lather but not great. It happens.

First pass was pretty good with no blood, though the result was disappointing. I had to remember it was a two day shave not a one. When I went to the XTG I realized I was gripping the razor like I thought it would jump out of my hand. Seriously tight grip.....no wonder I'm having issues with angle, maneuvering and too much pressure. Took a deep breath, relaxed my hand and grip and went back to it. Much better result. Smoother, more productive strokes and also clearly less irritating. So, I kept my attention on my hand and if I felt it start to tense up and grip I'd stop, take a breath, reset with a loose grip and get back to it. Finished the second pass with no issues other than I hadn't yet arrived at DFS. That's ok though. I picked up a bad habit in the making and corrected it.

Third pass to the New LC and Voskhod. Got the DFS and called it good. Now to the alum, which has been setting me on fire this month. Cold water rinse, alum.....no burn on the cheeks, some on the neck but nothing like I've been getting. Clearly part of my issue has been technique...too much pressure caused by too tight of a grip. Problem noted and will be dealt with until it's gone. The Nivea felt good, no extra bite and it's all good.

More rain here today so a quiet day at home for my day off. Anyone from California who needs water.....we've got it. I think all of yours is going down the Mississippi this year.

 

The Super Pro is a thicker and deeper blade than the Feather Pro blade so it changes both the blade gap and the blade exposure on the Mongoose. Being out of practice with the Super I am paying the price for sure.

 

Razor: Gillette Flare Tip (A3)
Blade: Feather (5)
Brush: WDC 5- Whipped Dog knot Boar/ Green Handle
Soap: Synergy Shaving Soap Bay Rum
A/S: Captain's Choice Bay Rum
Day 7.

Outstanding shave this evening. Love the smell of Bay Rum. whipped up a great lather with only one hair lose. good for a new brush. The different combination of soap and this boar brush is a learning experience. Very positive all the way around. The Flare Tip is an outstanding razor.
Captain's Choice Bay Rum is a great finish.

 

July 8 Plans

MdC facial soap
G-3 Gillette Fat Boy
Feather blade (day 2)
Omega Pro 98 boar brush
A.J. Murray's Lincoln shave soap
Two passes
Alum, Thayer's Lavender witch hazel, unrefined shea butter, and Nivea Sensitive Post Shave Balm

I'll man up and bump the FB up to 5 tomorrow. I just cleared the school zone, so I will bang shift into third gear! No change since yesterday with A.J. Murray's shave soap. The lather is somewhat airy and collapses between passes (similar to how I've seen Williams Mug Soap described), but I plan to finish out the week with it to give it a fair evaluation. I'll hold the razor at 5 until I get my lather squared away. Otherwise, I fear that a wide open FB could be as subtle as a hand grenade in a barrel of oat meal.

 

Doug, I've been admiring your Flare Tip. It's a beauty! How do you like it compared to your other razors? I have a Z-3 and a K-1 Super Speed that I have yet to try. I wonder if they all shave the same, regardless of the year they were manufactured?

 

I like your scuttle. It looks kinda familiar

 

Wednesday, July 8, 2015

Mongoose Shave #11
Shower, Stirling Soap – Clubman Smooth, Neutrogena Face Wash
B-3 Mongoose with UFO Titan Fine XL
Feather Professional #4
Doug Korn D-7 Florescent Blue Omega Boar
MDC Le Bol En Bois – Fougere
Alum Block, Stirling Black Ice Witch Hazel, Unrefined Shea Butter
Floid – Blue


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Thanks! It's a good scuttle!