August 30 Day Rule/Focus Pic & Discussion Thread

Pretty well, actually. I won't say this is my keenest razor, but it feels like a Feather DE blade on about day four. It will get the job done but takes more work and pressure than it should. My goal is the way a Feather DE feels on day 2. I think I have a formula down now, thanks to some advice on another forum for a way of honing based on what stones I have. I am going to go another round with my finishing stone and see if I can sharpen it up. I have a new to me razor coming in the mail tomrrow from @HolyRollah, and I might do a pass with it on Saturday, and a pass with this razor as a comparison because I haven't used anything really sharp this month. I am hoping to get some good feeback from that.

 

My I1 is a fantastic razor! It's what I use on my head, I have a number of injectors that I really enjoy.

 

Welcome Kerry!

Like many I will be reading you're posts on the Mongoose. Looks like a beard annihilator!

 

Thank you sir! The one thing I try to do is not write the same comments here as I post at the SOTD. I like to get more detailed, more insightful. At least that's the goal. Again, thank you for the kind welcome.

 

I have to admit, you are setting the standard for what I hope to achieve with straights. Watching your progress has been encouraging to me, as I hope to jump start my own straight shaving at some point.

 

Well it's not time to lay down your guard just because you got one! I've been informed that a CT is "always subject to change" by the whim of the CT Fairies.

So mind what you say...not that I've ever taken that advice!

 

So I can still hope that mine will be changed to, "Handsome beyond words"?

 

Not with that avatar....

 

What do you mean?

 

Nice work.

 

August 30 Day Rule

Today's shave was a very good shave. Last night's shave never happened because I got busy setting up my HTPC after I finally decided to cut the cable . . . again. I had previously cut it several years ago before Netflix and Hulu had much of anything to offer. I went several years with an antenna and local channels plus a few things I could get on the internet. I succumbed to the cable siren again mostly to be sure I got the ESPN and college football, then came the SEC Network and I was hooked (Go Gamecocks!). Been paying way too much for several years now. Decided it just was not worth it, so cut the cable and am saving about $70 a month (more to spend on ADs????). Anyway, the computer was giving me fits so, no shave, but I did get everything up and running!

This morning I needed something cool. It is always hot and humid in SC, but this morning the humidity and heat just permeated everything! It was about 80+ degrees and ridiculous 80% humidity at 7 am this morning. As a result, I lathered my Stirling MITA, then used some M-bombed WH as a first splash, and followed everything up with some ISZ from TSD! Great combination and just what I needed right before walking out the door!

As for this morning's shave, it was an excellent one! Took my time and enjoyed the shave. Water off, listening to feedback I heard the wonderful sound of the beard going away but did not feel a thing as the razor slid down my face! (And yes, @Rufus T. I put the blade in this time). WTG on the face went very well. Attention paid to the chin and crease above the chin. Very smooth after first pass. Also paid attention to the XTG shave of the neck. Worked on pulling in different directions to see which one worked the best. Not sure I have figured it out, but pulling toward the ear may be the winner.

Quick Interruption: Do you think it is more beneficial to pull the skin WTG, ATG, or XTG when you pull your skin tight? By this I mean if the neck hair in one section grows from chin toward bottom of the neck, do you find it more helpful to pull at the bottom with the growth, at the top against the growth, or from the side across the growth?

Ok, back to our regularly scheduled programming (yea I know, it can be one boring show!). The second pass XTG on the face went really well. A slight weeper on my chin that I have no idea when or how it occurred but it showed itself after a cold water splash when I was done. On the neck, I went ATG pulling as I describe it across the growth. It seemed to work pretty well and definitely helped in some of the areas where my beard cannot decide what way it wants to grow.

Tomorrow the focus will be on the stretching again, trying to determine which direction of pulling works best for each section of my neck.

Happy shaving and tomorrow is Finally Friday!

 

I am pondering your question. I will catch a shave in an hour or two, and think about what my routine is.

 

Well I must make a correction to an observation and comment, I made yesterday.

Today, Day 8th in my 30 Day Focus with the Schick E2.....I did just that....I was back on track with the E2, and pushing the envelope. I put out a Buffing Feeler, and it came back positive...some I did some extensive buffing and the results were ecstatic....Perfect! Ultra Smooth BBS, and no reddness, not a weeper.....irritation free....

Have to run...we'll be back later to finish this post...

 

Razor: Gillette Fat Boy (1961)(6)
Blade: Gillette Platinum (4)
Brush: WDC-4, Silvertip Badger, Butterscotch. (VIG) 24/67
Cream: Proraso
Bowl: Yokohama Studio (Hand Painted) (gift from my Wife)
A/S: The Shave Den, Coconut
Day 20

I've been getting excellent shaves with the FB and Proraso cream. The brush is a great performer which whips up a very good lather. TSD Coconut A/S is a outstanding A/S which my wife loves. Been enjoying this Adjustable August Focus.

 

Oh now, c'mon, let's face it.
MrC has that unique kind of handsomeness that is certainly attractive just the way he is!

(Well, to someone, somewhere I'd suppose...)

 

I'm in for S.E.ptember with my 'Goose!

 

http://theshaveden.com/forums/threads/mongoose-owners-razor-society-mors.46575/

 

For me the rule is steadfast...always either hold skin tight or actually stretch from behind razor, pulling in opposite direction as the razor is moving...no exceptions....

 

Ok just my two cents...

My quest is for finding the best two-pass shave I can find. (I'm just lucky in that my beard allows me to shoot for that.) So I do passes WTG and ATG. I focus on reduction with the first and when shaving everyday I'm almost chasing it on the 2nd pass. So with that in mind, that 2nd pass is the only pass where I do my skin stretching...YMMV.

Go get 'em Gamecocks!

(btw-glad to here you're using blades again when you shave!)

 

August 20, 2015

Adjustable August
30-Day Focus - Gillette Adjustable Slim / Fatboy



Pre-dinner shave.

Hot Shower
Pre-Shave Oil: Gingers Garden
Soap: Arko (homemade travel stick)
Brush: Butterscotch Fauxmere 24mm synthetic
Razor: Gillette Fatboy (1961)
Blade: Gillette Silver Blue (3)
After Shave: Proraso Green

Fatboy settings at: (up from 5 yesterday)
7 - WTG
7 - 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.

Another very nice shave. Clean, close, comfortable, smooth. I will probably say this with each shave with the Fatboy...one month with the Slim / Fatboy will not be enough time for a certain, clear determination, but initial impression is that the Fatboy in my case, (YMMV) provides me with a more comfortable shave. Essentially the same closeness, but the Fatboy takes the lead on comfort. Who knows, maybe it would be reversed if I used the Fatboy first as my intro to adjustables. That's where I experienced my steeper learning curve.

Enjoy your shaves. I may actually skip tomorrow.
(I'm on vacation you know!)

Cheers!
RT