July 2015 30 Day Rule/Focus Pic & Discussion Thread

Yeah, I don't know why I wrote India. You are most correct!

 

@Rufus T. sent me a couple. Unfortunately, it's that good, and I agree--we probably should. Not in NBJ though...

 

One of the best feeling AS out there. I was impressed too.

 

The main benefit to synthetic travel brushes is low drying time! Glad your FB is treating you right!

 

Day 19 - 19 July 2015

30 Days of Maggard and MITA!


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Day one on Rapira, take two. It seemed a little rougher than the first round, but this was one of those shaves that didn't seem to be to great, yet turned out well. Almost automatic 2 pass smoothness. Alum was a bit rowdy today, but the Osage put it right out. Spent a lovely 79F sunny day with my family. Other than that...all is quiet in Colorado.

Have a sterling Monday!
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That's ok. I had actually posted the name of the manufacturer in India that I thought made them....then realized my mistake and deleted it. Lol

 

1956 Gillette Super Speed Flair
Vulfix Super Badger (660)
Georgetown G12 Scuttle
Proraso Sandalwood cream
Aqua Velva Ice Blue
Current Blade under review: 3rd Gillette Silver Blue
Shave #3 with 3rd Gillette Silver Blue blade. Fine BBS results, a great shave. Very close, pretty comfortable, no nicks, weepers, or razor burn, but a little irritation during touch up.
2 Full passes: Pass 1: WTG on my face (N/S), and XTG on my neck (N/S). Pass 2: ATG. At this point, I had a near BBS shave.
Applied lather to the areas that needed touch up. I used some stretching to get the remaining spots. Today there was less to cleanup than yesterday, but I needed to go over some of them two or three times. I may have caused some irritation by only adding water in some places for the later passes. I should have also added lather to slicken things up a bit more. The Aqua Velva burned a bit this morning, but my face quieted down pretty quickly.

A very nice shave and a BBS result. Tomorrow, I'll give the PolSilver Super Iridium a go.

 

Mark, the Pro Guard to me felt more harsh than the regular Feather Pro. It smoothed out several shaves in to be about the same. For me the guarded Kai and Feather blades didn't provide a better shave than their unguarded counterparts.

 

07/20/2015
Razor – Mongoose B2 with Triad SS Helix
Blade – Feather Super Pro (7)
Brush – Every Ready with TGN Finest
Lather – MdC Fougere
Post - Witch Hazel and Myrsol F/Extra



This morning was my 125th shave with the Mongoose since getting it on 12/31. It is by far my favorite razor. Another fantastic 2 pass with touch ups shave this morning resulted in a near BBS. Finished off with a splash of Myrsol F/Extra. Off to see the Orthopedist this morning for a follow up on my back.

 

Back from vacation and back to the straights. My first shave back and it was lacking, the lather never felt right, it felt like it was tugging and rough so I did just two passes with a DE. Same feeling and in the end a so-so shave. QCS is my top performing software and my go to when I know I want I have to have a great lather. Maybe it was the jet lag, maybe the stars were completely out of alignment.

Proraso Pre Shave
QCS Cubano Breeze
Rooney 3/2
Dovo Bismark 2 / Merkur Futur
Dry Gulch strop
Alum block to keep my fingers dry
Spieck AS
Muehle ASB
Creed Geen Irish Tweed

 

30 day rule - Day 20
MDC Lavender Face Lathered
Ladas blade
Slim Adjustable set to 8
3 passes


I went back to keeping the slim set at 8 for all three passes in order to check out whether or not my theory that I was getting better shaves by adjusting the slim between passes was working or not. Judging from the feel of my face this morning I am not sure that changing the setting between passes makes any difference. I was convinced of it yesterday, but today's shave points me towards there being no difference. I will keep it on 8 tomorrow and then re-try switching setting between passes.

 

Love the Knockout Bowl, which is no longer available. An unobtainium item.

 

July 20th, SOTD (Shave 11 of this focus)
Three days’ growth
Prep: Hot shower
Razor: Cattaraugus Cutlery Co Green Lizard Model B54GL
Strop: Drygulch Chromexcel/ Linen (10 laps Linen/ 10 laps Leather pre and post)
Soap: The Shave Den Iced Yin Yang (Lime, Lavender, & Menthol)
Brush: Spalted Maple Brush with Badger Knot
Post Shave: Cold Water Rinse, Alum Block, Thayer’s Witch Hazel
Aftershave: The Shave Den Iced Yin Yang Aftershave Splash (Lime, Lavender, & Menthol)

This is my second shave with the Green Lizard. I am going to hold off on a final determination on this, but I struggled with this razor a bit. It is a very light weight razor. It seemed prone to skipping rather than cutting, I think due to the light weight. I am going to keep using it, and see if it gets easier to use. DFS overall, but a little rough on the neck.

I ordered the soap and aftershave from TSD on June 30th, using the July 4th special. It arrived last week while I was out of town. Still in for No Buy July, but nice to get this in the middle of the month. Lather was great, and the menthol level was perfect on both the soap and the aftershave.

 

July 20, 2015

30-Day Focus - Blade Trials for Gillette Tech
Weekly Trial for: Personna Red, Derby Green, Gillette Silver Blue, Voskhod

Hot Shower
Pre-Shave Oil: Gingers Garden
Soap: Catie's Bubbles Mile High Menthol
Brush: Omega Pro 48
Razor: Gillette Tech “Fat Handle”
Blade: Voskhod (2)
TSD Witch Hazel
After Shave: Myrsol Agua De Limon



Yesterday's mid-morning shave set me up with very light stubble this morning. Must've been a very close shave yesterday!
Two quick passes (WTG,ATG) and I'm done. Very nice shave yet again.

Stay cool all!
Cheers!
RT

 

How long does the scent last on the AS? I have the same scent in the TSD Soap and looking for a good AS to pair with it.

 

It lasts about as long as the menthol, so it isn't something I catch a whiff of all day. Working in an office, thats actually a good thing. (I am the guy that has to talk to my employees if they are wearing too strong of a scent and impacting others in the workspace. Cubicle farms are fun.)

 

Thank you, this was very helpful.

 

Razor: Gillette Black Handle Flair Tip (P1)
Blade: Wilkinson Sword (2)
Brush: WDC-5
Bowl: KnockOut Shave
Soap: Jack's Shave Soap
A/S: Gillette After Shave Lotion
Day 20

Great shave this evening. Going to stick with the Jack's Shave Soap for a while. It has been a busy day and I need a nap.

 

July 21 Plans

MdC facial soap
Gillette Fat Boy (8)
Feather blade (1)
Edwin Jagger XL Synthetic STF V2.0
Geo F. Trumper's Coconut Oil cream
Two passes plus touch-ups
Alum, Thayer's Lavender witch hazel, unrefined shea butter, and Trumper's Coral Skin Food

A great shave today with no weepers or irritation with the FB on setting 8. I'm hoping for a repeat shaving performance tomorrow on my beautiful Bride's birthday. She's a blessing to me in every way.

Have a great Tuesday!

 

It is also a great bowl. Thanks, got it just before they stopped selling them.