JUNE 2015 30 Day Rule/Focus Pic & Discussion Thread

Open Comb Focus
Day 18

Prep: Shower
Razor: Gillette New SC
Blade: Voskhod
Brush: Omega 10083 Boar Brush
Lather: Proraso White
Post: Cold rinse, Alum, Witch hazel, Aqua Velva Ice Sport

Final Thoughts: I learned a great deal during this month from technique to lathering. Although I couldn't shave everyday (my skin wouldn't allow it and have been extremely busy), I found that the Gillette New to be extremely efficient for my coarse beard compared to the Merkur 34C. I hope to try different blades now that I am more comfortable using it.

 

It really works =) and its awesome

 

Only the brave stick it out for a month with Williams. Yes, move on....throw it out, burn it, flush it....oh wait that would cause pollution that we could never solve!!! Burning is best, just keep the fumes from moving toward St. Louis.

 

World Tournament of Blades - Russia vs. the World!! THE FINALS
July 1, 2015
Prep - Hot shower and towel
Brush - Omega Pro 48
Soap - Mitchell's Wool Fat
Razor - '59 Gillette Ball End Tech
Blade - (1)
Post - Alum, Nivea Balm

In the tradition of other great sporting events like the NCAA tournament, who advertises March Madness and finishes in April, so goes the June World Tournament of Blades.....finishing in July but finishing nevertheless!

The final shave features the Voskhod. Yes, many of you predicted this based on my personal preference but I will say that I wasn't convinced it would be here, or that it would beat the final competitor. I have a number of favorite blades that I felt would be able to win this thing. More on that in a moment. On to the shave. :wave:

Pro 48 and MWF for the lather. A bit thinner today than I've been getting but still nice and effective. The new Voskhod was loaded and waiting and so the first pass began. Nice sharp feel as always, and smooth. I will say that a new Voskhod has a bit more feedback than some but it glided nicely through the lather and got a good first pass result. Lathered for the XTG and again no issues. Face finished DFS and the neck was left, which is pretty normal for me. Lathered and checked. No blood from the XTG pass like I got yesterday. Did another XTG on the neck then added G-slides as usual for the toughest areas. I'm feeling a slight tenderness which tells me the irritation may be up. Wrapped it up, rinsed, hit the alum and......let's score it.

The Bic scored a 7 due to the nick on my neck. I'm seeing no blood or other issues from the Voskhod. Sharpness - 1. No surprise there. Smoothness - 1. It felt good all around. Result - DFS - 2. Irritation - The alum was not quiet today. Clearly my neck is tired of the constant work with G-slides and some buffing. The burn equaled yesterday's level from the Bic so let's wait out the duration. I always count to 30 after putting the alum on. Yesterday the burn was gone at 25. Today.......counting.......counting.........and at 20 it fades, 21.......22.......23........24.........annnnnndddddd.....it's done at 25. Long enough to cost it a point, not long enough to add 2. So, the Irritation score is a 2.

Total - 6

And your champion blade of the World in 2015..............................

​

Am I surprised? Not totally but.....here is how I thought the brackets would break out. I thought Voskhod would win the first and second rounds then face the Sharp Star, which I thought would make it to the final four. Nope, Ladas beat Sharp Star so it set up the Voskhod/Ladas matchup. I honestly thought Sharp Star had a chance to win over the Voskhod, but it didn't make it there. On the world side I thought the Kai would make it to the final four and likely meet up with the Feather for an all Japan bracket. Nope, the Kai bombed in the first round as did the Feather....setting up the stage for the Bic, which is excellent, to take that bracket. Without the slight nick yesterday this would have been a tie between Voskhod and Bic.

Did I learn anything? Yep. I learned that razor/blade selection is important to a great shave and I discovered the Derby is a really nice blade, if not quite on the highest level. I also had a lot of fun!! Alright, enough of this foolishness....on to July and a 30 day Rule with the CJB (and the Gillette LC as the DE "relief" razor).

 

7-1-15
July 30-Day Focus
First shave.

Razor = Celtic Wosty 5/8 The Celebrated Med Hollow Ground butchers notch.
Wostenholm & Son
Washington Works 1849-1890
Sheffield

D.E. Razor

Gillette 1960 Ajustable Aristocrat
Revamped by Razor Emporium
24K Gold Plating
Phoenix Az

The Razor is an eBay find.
Blade restore and custom blond horn scales W/ Celtic cross inlay
I really feel like I haven't used this much. The razor was done by "Holly Rollah".
Kevin did an an outstanding work on this shaver...the scales give the razor a formal black tie vibe to the razor.
Kevin did an excellant job doing the inlay of the cross in the blonde streak thru the scale.

Ice water shave.
Soap = TOBS sandalwood.
Brush = VDH Boar
witch hazel
AS = Himalayan bay rum.
ASG = AOS sandalwood.

The shave I got today was smooth and close shave, however a little irritated from the 2 razors I am using
in this months 30 day focus.

As far as the Wosty I am going to the chrome ox for a polish and a real good stropping...as far as the DE shaver the blade is a new Astra green box. I am also thinking some of the irritation is also from human error.

Keen blade & Sm soothe shaves Gents

 

Great post.

 

Thank you. My wife and I will have a great July 4th. I hope you do also! God Bless, and be safe! A Marine Officer I had the privilege of serving with also lives in Kentucky. I call him every July 4th.

 

I agree with @Douglas Carey - a great post!

any post that includes my favorite Looney Tunes character and shaving in the same sentence is tops in my book!



I say, boy? Boy! Look at me when I'm talking to you son!

 

Ha, ha, outstanding!

 

Thanks for the laugh!

 

You are too kind...

 

You were right about all of it!

 

I would never lead you astray. Now @Darkbulb .....that's another story.