August 30 Day Rule/Focus Pic & Discussion Thread

Skipped the shave today. Not by choice, but because of a sick puppy throwing up all over the place. Will do a 2 day growth tomorrow, but that really is when the GSB blade really seems to excel! Looking forward to my usual with MITA, VDH boar, my Lord L6, and the GSB. Think I am going to cool things off with some m-bombed witch hazel and some ISZ AS

Everyone have a great weekend!!!

 

The steps for joining the Menthol Mafia :

1. Order Osage Rub.
2. Order a shave soap from the Stirling Glacial line.
3. Order Iced Subzero preshave balm and AS from TSD.
4. Shave using 2 & 3 together.
5. Put 1 on your scalp before brushing the high and tight.
6. Walk outside immediately afterward, 10F winter day preferable.

It's that easy. Enjoy!

 

Does my Proraso pre-shave and cream make me a menthol wannabe?

 

Not if it's what you enjoy! The Menthol shave I listed will cause involuntary eye watering, ergo not for everyone.

 

Proraso Green is in my mythical Top 5 formulas for soap

 

Hope the pup perks up!

 

After seeing the pictures of the last Menthol Mafia meeting, I'm not so sure I want to join.

 

Life can be a matter of taste. Choose Wisely.

 

I hear it's fun to stay there...

 

I use Osage often as a scalp tonic. I clip/buzz my hair weekly, with no guard, so it really makes my scalp feel the menthol in the Osage.

 

Thank you! She is already running around like a wild woman tonight. I am sure she just ate something she was not supposed to in the back yard.

 

Dang missed it!

 

Happy birthday Herm!

 

August 15 Shave 11

The last shave with the Hart razor was pretty good so I went with the bench strop again hoping to keep the magic. 1st pass the razor felt very smooth, the smoothest ever for a straight. 2nd pass more smoothness and then the 3rd pass and no irritation and DFS. The stars were aligned, the lather was excellent and plentiful so I thought about going for a 4th pass and going for the 'baby' but I remembered my focus and just did some light touch up.

To check that the irritation was a recored low for a SR shave I used the alum on my face.... and... no sting! Happy days but alas only DFS, but the best DFS yet with a straight.

Proraso Pre Shave
Castle Forbes Lime + AoS tallow
Simpson Tulip 3 super
Hart 7/8
Dry Gulch bench strop horsehide
Alum block to keep my fingers dry
Alcolado Glacial (stored in the fridge) AS
Speick ASB
By Killian A Taste of Heaven

I am off tomorrow morning for some fun and games in Macau.... so no SR shaves until Thursday. Try to have fun without me for a few days.

 

I took 2 consecutive 30 Day Focus's to get my act together with my Shavette....But it was worth it....I actually wondered if a couple scars would ever heal...ha,ha...

But no kidding, alot of what I learned works with all aspects of shaving....And I know my face alot better now....and shaving with a straight is a snap after paying shavette dues...Str8's are alot more forgiving...But after the shavette became completely enjoyable I discovered SE's....and they have alot in common...

Main thing....a Str8 is really not as cut throat as people think....if you lay it down anywhere near the right angle, use no or little pressure....you can even buff with it...As strange as it sounds, the str8 really is user friendly...all that cutthroat business is hype and horror movie stuff...

 

Day 3 of this 30 Day Focus on the Schick E2

Same soap and blade, but today no hot shower or whisker prep. 1st pass was a brillient DFS....
Second pass left, like a dozen weepers....hmmm....Didn't feel them when they happened....I just rinsed my face and my face sprung a leak...lol!

So a little art work with my Styptic....a few minutes latter a cold water rinse and a burning AS splash and all was great...face a little sensitive to the touch, not much but a tad...

Don't know what happened, will be very careful tomorrow....I actually should have stayed with the DFS after the first pass...I shouldn't feel compelled to chase the baby everyday......ha,ha...

 

Fine A/S are new to me. I had American Blend and liked it. @clint64 told me about Platinum and L'Orange Noir. On his advice I tried them. This is a good part of TSD among many more reasons. If for some reason you don't like what you purchase you can always PIF the product.

 

Gillette Old Type
Astra Superior Platinum
Vulfix Super Badger (660)
Georgetown G12 Scuttle
Proraso Sandalwood cream
Aqua Velva Ice Blue

Shave #1 with the Astra Superior Platinum in my Gillette "Old" razor. Super nice shave, very smooth and very close. Really comfortable.


2 Full passes: Pass 1 WTG on my face and XTG on my neck. Pass 2: ATG. At this point I had a solid DFS with BBS everywhere except my trouble spots. Touchup was straightforward and I only needed to go those areas once or twice. Aqua Velva was mild.

A wonderful BBS smooth shave with Astra SP in the Old type. Very efficient first and second passes. Only my typical trouble spots remained and a light touchup easily took care of them. Very easy to find the proper angle. Lots of audio feedback. This is a great combination and I'm looking forward to shaving with it again.

Now I really want to get the Gillette New LC and the Phoenix Double OC!

 

08/15/2015
Razor – Gillette New LC with Triad Helix SS
Blade – Gillette 7 O’clock Yellow
Brush – Rubberset 400 with Omega Boar
Lather – Mystic Water Lavender
Post - Witch Hazel & Fine Platinum



Taking a weekend off from the Slim. Up for today is my Gillette New LC that was replated by Nick at Sport Shaving. As I switched over the blade from the Slim I decided to use the Triad Helix handle. The extra weight changes the feel of the LC considerably. Fantastic 3 pass BBS shave this morning. I am very impressed with the Mystic Water Soaps. It has taken some time and effort to learn how get a good consistent lather. Mystic Water takes more time to load and considerably more time and water to lather but the scents and post shave feel is rewarding. Finished off with a splash of Fine Platinum. Hope everyone has a great weekend.

 

30 day Focus - Day 14
MDC Lavender Face Lathered
Rapira Stainless Blade (Day 2 on blade, Day 2 on Rapira Stainless)
Slim Adjustable set to 8
3 passes

By the second pass I knew that I would have an excellent shave today. Fortunately, I didn't mess it up on the third pass. This is as close to BBS as I ever get.