August 30 Day Rule/Focus Pic & Discussion Thread

Been there, done that! Hahahaha

 

My own thinking is simply not enough gap. I'm not sure why Gillette made the razor THAT mild to start. Finding the right angle is even more difficult because of that. When you can't feel the blade at work or hear it you have trouble finding the best angle to work with. I do think the skipping is worse on the neck, for me anyway, but I often have to do an extra pass or touch up on my neck even with an aggressive setup to hit BBS or close. The Slim at 1 just can't cut it. I also think the irritation was made worse by the repetition trying to get it there. I did a lot of G-sliding, buffing, J-hooking to work it down and that takes its toll. Especially when the natural impulse is to add pressure to make it work better. If I had been on a higher setting adding that much pressure to a Feather would have resulted in my obituary being published!

 

So what you're saying is you have until next April to discover sanity.

 

From my first run through the razor I think the biggest improvement was from 5 to 7. 3 was meh.....5 was okay.....7 was more like it. 9 was the bomb

 

Phoenix Comparison Focus Day 8:

Homemade PS Oil
Stirling Synthetic Brush
Stirling Benjamin Franklin SS
'58 TV Special
Stirling Unscented PSB
Stirling Benjamin Franklin AS

I had almost forgotten how much I like this razor. I have seen a lot of discussion on mild razors in previous posts, but I have to say to me there is something very nice about mild yet efficient razor. I think the Phoenix fits this description, and the TV Special also goes into this category. I can get a DFS with either with out a lot of effort. Now, I gave up on chasing the baby a long time ago, so maybe this just fits for someone who doesn't need a completely smooth face all the time. But, with both of these razors, it just feels like the blade is gliding across my skin, and much of the feedback is auditory. My face itself always ends up nice and smooth on two passes; my neck requires some touch up and usually has a few spots that are not quite BBS. The real beauty in each of the razors is that I can achieve very good results with little thought or effort, which is nice for those mornings where I may not be fully awake just yet.

 

August Focus - Slim and Feather AC
August 9 - Sunday, Bloody Sunday
Razor - Feather SS AC
Blade - (3)
Brush - BoS (Omega 10066)
Soap - Tabac
Post - Cold compress, cold water, more cold compress, several naughty words, more naughty words, cold water, alum, shame.

Back to the Feather for a relaxed Sunday shave. Unfortunately, it didn't end the way I was expecting. Not sure what happened but one of two things created a problem. I had this guy as my razor bearer today.....


I may have misjudged him. Either that or I received a karmic payback for what @mrchick went through yesterday after my encouragement. Let's go to the replay.

Using the BoS with Tabac was a good choice. Great lather, love that smell, and Tabac is still one of my top two soaps. Took the Feather from my friend Sweeney who seemed very eager to make sure it was sharp. First pass was probably the best first pass I've ever made with either the Feather or CJB. Great result, smooth, I was relaxed, enjoyed it and I winked at Sweeney to let him know how much I appreciated him stopping by. Second pass, XTG, started my right side by my goatee, went smoothly along the jawline then up one pass from there toward my ear. When I finished the stroke I didn't pick up smoothly and felt a minor nick near my ear. Nothing to worry about, a slight technique error. So...set the blade down again just in front of that nick to do a short pass toward my jaw. Added a bit of angle and started the stroke. Felt the tip of the blade literally slice just under the skin as I pulled it slightly toward me instead of going straight down. Kind of a Gillette Slide on steroids only with a straight. When I say slice just under the skin.....I mean I felt the blade fileting....under the skin just a bit.....it is an unusual and unique feeling that you may want to avoid. My buddy with the evil stare laughed, I cussed and looked in the mirror to see that I had blood all in my goatee, down the side of my face, and for a moment thought I had another cut on the goatee line. Nope, just the amount of blood that was pouring down my face. I grabbed a cold cloth and applied pressure. Pulled it off, set the razor down finally and looked again at the river of blood. More pressure and more cussing and I decided to hold the cloth on the cut and nick, since both were now bleeding, and finish the left side with my New and Voskhod. Used my left hand on the cloth, right hand to finish the shave and called it good. Checked the face again and, fortunately, the bleeding had mostly sealed off. I ended with a cut about 3/8" long right in front of the nick. Rinsed with cold, grabbed the alum and gave it a good rub over the area. It sealed very well so no need for bandages, stitches, potions, spells or any other form of hysteria. In fact, I may be overreacting even now. Still, that was one of the most painful and unique feelings I've ever had shaving and I hope to never experience that again. Sweeney nodded, bowed, and left the room with a slight snicker.

I'm going to call that error a moment of overconfidence and under-vigilance. A word to the wise...when pressing cold hard steel on your face with no guards or other protection, pay attention and assume you will cut yourself if you don't pay attention. Oh, and if Sweeney shows up and offers to hold your razor....just don't.

 

Beautiful razor.

 

Hope you heal up quickly. It's post like this one that confirm a fool like me has no business trying a Feather or SR razor.

 

Did you say "AAACK!" ?

I thoroughly enjoy shaving with my straights, but it is not some you can do without focusing. You have to pay attention and use a light touch. I cut myself twice this morning, and considered it a good shave. If it makes you feel any better, I have made the exact same cut, with the exact same razor. I used stronger language than AAACK!

 

I also used a bit of stronger language. Yeah, one lapse of concentration can be painful. It did occur to me afterwards in relation to AAACK! that apparently I shouldn't have tried to shave a dead cat this morning. (be-dump-bump)

 

You couldn't have described it better. This is exactly what I did yesterday just below my right sideburn. Puts new meaning to bled like a stuck pig. I even had to remove a little flap of skin. I have a new respect for the Feather AC.

 

Well I haven't had to remove any skin, beyond what the razor has, yet so yeah, OUCH!

 

Thank you!

 

Day#4 of 7
Late posting from an early morning shave
My fourth consecutive day shaving with this J-West Feon. I'm just now 'hitting my stride' when it comes to getting accustomed to the feel of this fine razor.
I find that it does take several days to become comfortably familiar with certain razors. This particular one isn't so much a 'challenge' as it is so well balanced that i'm not hesitant to 'push there limits' a bit while shaving.
What I mean by this is, my confidence in handling this razor and how it responds creates little hesitation on my part to alter or change the direction (with the grain, against the grain, etc) throughout the shave without fear of being bitten. Three passes plus touch-up (no blood today, unlike yesterday's minor nick) earned me a near-BBS experience. Paired with a top-lathering soap, it made for a real pleasurable shave!

 

OMG just reading this thread is getting painful. I keep wincing and sucking air in between my pursed lips. Here's hoping the new week is better.

 

August 9, 2015

Adjustable August Slim-apalooza
30-Day Focus - Gillette Slim Adjustable

Morning shave.
Hot Shower
Pre-Shave Oil: Gingers Garden
Soap: Catie's Bubbles Mile High Menthol
*Brush: Omega 31025 Scarlatti Boar brush
Razor: Gillette Slim Adjustable
Blade: Gillette Silver Blue (2)
TSD Witch Hazel
TSD Aftershave Milk: Iced Subzero
After Shave: TSD Lemon

*Just received the Omega Scarlatti yesterday from the 50%-off sale at Bullgoose. I couldn’t resist trying out the cool-looking brush. Will take some getting used to as these boar bristles are much shorter than the Pro 48

Slim settings increased from 7 to:
8 - WTG
8 - ATG
No touch-up or repeat strokes. This is as much about technique as it is about finding the best settings on this razor for me.

I purposely skipped a shave on Saturday so I could see how the Slim and GSB handled the extra growth. Was not disappointed!

The first pass was good enough, but a tad disappointed that more of the whiskers weren’t mowed down on the first pass - primarily on my tough spots - jawline and below. But I’ll own up to perhaps not enough focus or the extra growth.

Centered my focus for the 2nd pass and was well-rewarded! As mentioned, I’m trying to eliminate all repeat strokes and touch-ups. That said, this was my cleanest shave ever! With the exception of the lowest neckline area that typically grows up toward the chin - I needed no touch-up at all!

Very excited! Technique, technique, technique!

(Caveat: I must again disclose that I shave with a high handicap in that my mustache and small goatee allows me to skip the tough to maneuver spots that most of you have to slog through.)

However, with the canvas I have available to me, I’m really happy with this progress!

I will stay at 8 and keep everything the same for the next shave. If the mild remnants of whiskers still remain after that shave, I may try staying with the 8 for most of the shave and just go to 9 for the ATG pass just on the jawline and below.

Cheers!
RT

 

Back to horsing around!??
A guy has a tough shave and you suggest we horse around? Bama, really???

 

Isn't that just like Herm? Modest and a philosopher all in one!

 

Don't know how many shaves you had on that blade Herm, but I've been changing after three. That first shave after the 3rd on the last blade is noticeably better.
YMMV

 

aw now that's just cold Neal!

sheesh, guy gets a CT after his name and all of a sudden thinks he's a psychiatrist!