August 30 Day Rule/Focus Pic & Discussion Thread

Yes there are a few out there. This is one I personally like.

 

Or this one

 

Russian Waldo is a bit intense.

 

"No buy July", I can't understand such crazy talk. In July I bought a Hart 7/8 that will be part of my August focus...... Straights again. This month I want to focus on reducing the amount of irritation and then the following month it will be getting a closer shave. This month will feature these 3 SRs, Dove Bismark 2, Rasurpur western grind kami, Hart Steel 7/8.


To get the standard set I used the last day of July to shave with my 2011 R41 and all the top accoutrements. As expected it delivered an epic shave BBS with no irritation. Just a reminder what I am shooting for. The straight razor is quest is so that if my 2011 R41 ever dies I have a back up.

August 1 Shave 1.
The Hart 7/8 is first up the plate with my trusty Cobra hitting clean up. It is hot and muggy here so I had to go with my QCS Iced Key Lime. First three passes with the straight were great, no blood and little irritation, the weight of this razor really makes it easier to lighten up on the pressure. Not quite DFS so a 4th passes with the Cobra and some light touch up. I missed a few spots so just short of BBS and very light irritation, the irritation ever with a SR.

Proraso Pre Shave
QCS Iced Key Lime Cream
Simpson Polo 8 in Super
Hart 7/8, Cobra Classic
Harold Russian Leather strop
Alum block to keep my fingers dry
Homemade vodka-menthol AS
Speick ASB
Dior Royal Cologne

Happy shaves this weekend to all our participants.

 

1956 Gillette Super Speed Flair
Vulfix Super Badger (660)
Georgetown G12 Scuttle
Proraso Sandalwood cream
Aqua Velva Ice Blue

Shave #1 for August, and #2 with my 5th Gillette Silver Blue blade. A great shave, very close and comfortable, fine BBS results. Good lather. Shook out the brush well, then after putting a dab of Proraso cream in the scuttle and while working my lather, I went back for more water three times. I liked the results:

2 full passes: Pass 1: WTG on my face and XTG on my neck. Pass 2: ATG. This gave me a near BBS shave. Touch up captured the baby. The Aqua Velva was quiet and refreshing today. A nice 2 pass BBS shave from the Gillette Silver blue.

I hope everyone has a great weekend!

 

I'm going to give this a go. Starting with Monday's shave, seeing it seems like slim month for some reason, I'm going to break out my birth year (62) slim and set it at 3 for starters, then find out what setting works best for me over the course of the month. To keep things steady, I'll stick with the glyceryn soap, Proraso pre-shave and the regular Gabels aftershaves. Also, I'll stick with my favorite blades, Derby.

 

Welcome, this has turned into a Slim Focus Month.

 

08/01/2015
Razor – Gillette Slim (J3) set to 7
Blade – Lab Blue (1)
Brush – Rubberset 400 with Omega Boar
Lather – B&M Latha
Post - Witch Hazel & Myrsol Blue Sample



I took a weekend break from the July Focus last weekend and gave the Slim another try. I used the razor for a couple of shaves when I first bought it and never really liked the shave or the razor that much. However, last weekend's Slim revisit illustrated to me that it was my lack of experience, technique and confidence that clouded my earlier thoughts on the razor.

For this month's focus I will be trying different blades I have on hand. I will stay toward the upper end of the adjustment range, 7-9. I think my earlier problem with the razor was lacking in confidence, I stayed to low in the range ending up with irritation.

Loaded a Lab Blue and dialed to 7, I went with a traditional 3 pass shave, WTG, XTG, and ATG with no touch ups resulting in a near BBS shave. I did manage to get a good nick just to left of my lip that was completely my fault. For me this blade performed very well with little to no difference from last Saturday's Vokshod. Maybe not quite as smooth but it's too close to call. That's a good thing for me since I have a bunch of Lab Blues on hand.

The Latha soap was easy to load and provided a good slick lather. I am not a fan of the scent but at least it dissipates quickly. My guess is the soap will be finished within the next 20 shaves. Finished with the last of my Myrsol Blue sample. August is off to a good start.

 

welcome back!

 

Welcome to the August 30 Day crew!

 

Welcome aboard!

 

My August focus is going to be on shave creams. I don't use creams much, so I think it will be a good focus for me. I look forward to seeing everyone's post this month. Have learned very much over the last several months with these focuses. Xin loi, that I'm not very vocal, but that's just me. I'll try and be a little more thorough in my posts, but don't bet on it.

 

Razor: Merkur 34 C
Blade: Merkur Super (6)
Brush: WDC-4, Silvertip Badger, Butterscotch. (VIG) 24/67
Cream: C.O. Bigelow 1838
Bowl: Sarah Welch Pottery
A/S: Old Spice Classic
Day 1

This is probably one of, if not the best shaves I have ever had. Once again this Focus has taught an old dog a new trick. I received this cream in a PIF and hadn't used it until I decided to do a 30 day focus on creams. I added to much of the cream and could have shaved for a few days with the amount of lather I had on the brush. So I'll stay with this cream for a week until I get the correct mixture. The bowl by Sarah Welch Pottery is an outstanding product. I thought it was to big at first, but worked perfectly. Someone at TSD (@Drygulch ?) put me onto Sarah, however, I can't remember who, but thank you. take a bow. Old Spice Classic I still a great A/S.

 

Thanks @wristwatchb. These focuses have been an excellent learning experience for me.

 

Love that cartoon! Some people ask me about my interest in all things Russian considering our past history with the USSR as the other party in the cold war. I remind them that history is a subject with at least two sides. Each side involved tell it from their perspective. Facts are facts but history is a bit murky at times. My first real interest came around 1996 when the internet was still a youngster. I found myself on IRC (Internet Relay Chat) talking to someone in a chat room about politics, life in general etc. and discovered they were, in fact, sitting on a computer in Russia. Sharing one to one like that over several days worth of chats was fascinating and I found their needs, wants, concerns, etc. were pretty much mine. Live in peace, pay less taxes, eat good food and the government stinks. Now if we can't get along based on that then what else is there eh? Calvin has it right! Ok, back to shaving.

 

August Focus - Slim and Feather AC
August 1
Razor - Gillette Slim J1 (1964) (3,4)
Blade - (1)
Brush - BoS (Omega 10066)
Soap - Tabac
Post - Cold Water, Alum, The Veg

Starting off a two razor focus this month. The Slim and the Feather SS AC are featured. As I mentioned earlier it's the Slim on Monday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday and the Feather Sunday, Tuesday, Wednesday. So, we start with the Slim.

This is the 1964 Slim I found on Ebay. I loaded a fresh Voskhod for this week and set it at 3 for the first pass. Since I've never tried an adjustable this is all new and I just picked a sort of in between setting to start. Lathered up with the BoS and Tabac and loved it. Great lather and the Tabac scent is great. SWMBO mentioned last night when I was taking a picture with it that she really loves that smell. So maybe I need to acquire some more Tabac products.

Due to the early nature of Saturdays for me and the need to make a meeting on time I decided ahead of time to do two passes. First pass was very very smooth with the Slim and Voskhod on 3. Wow. Nice. Relathered for the second pass and went to 4 on the razor. What a great feel and finish! Still super smooth, no irritation that I could tell and I finished with a very fine DFS. A bit of touchup and I would have had a BBS. Alum proved to be very quiet (a change from using the Feather) and I splashed on the Veg and off to work I went to start a new month. Very nice shave. I'm looking forward to Monday and taking the razor up a notch or two. Welcome to August ladies and gents!

​

 

August 2 Sunday, shave 2

This is the 5th time I have tried Xpec shaving and well it is being sent to purgatory where it will sit for six months and then I will try it again. I have never been able to get a other from this that felt slick, had cushion and gave protection. Today I had several weepers and one small cut. The small cut is due to operator error and the weepers I attribute to Xpec. 3 passes with the SR and then 4th with a Merkur Vision, the Vision is just mild for me. Ended up with medium/mild irritation and just short of DFS.

Proraso Pre Shave
Xpec
Whipped Dog 30mm with Firehouse handle
Rasurpur western Kami, Merkur Vision
Harold Russian Leather strop
Alum block to keep my fingers dry
Homemade 151 Ruml AS
Speick ASB
Creed Himilaya

 

You guys have inspired me to join the fray. I was in the No Change November group, last fall and I think I like the idea of a focus, it takes some decision making out of the equation. That will help me since lately I've been having a hard time choosing which razor to use. I like the "Adjustable August" idea. Only problem is that I have 5 different ones. So I've decided to use the razor I've used the least, my 24kt 1958 Executive. Blades will be Astra SP's since that's all I have. But I'll change up the soaps. I didn't shave today, so I start on Sunday.

 

Welcome! Glad to have you along.

 

I'm already nervous. LOL