August 30 Day Rule/Focus Pic & Discussion Thread

I will raise you a cent to make it ...

​

 

... yes, beyond, far beyond words!

 

I like shaving on my vacations now, but I do skip every now and then to keep my wife from making the "obsessed" comments.

Enjoy the rest of your vacation!

 

AUGUST FOCUS - 1958 EXECUTIVE

Thursdays shave continued my streak of nice shaves. Today I did three passes set at 8/8/5. None of the problems or feeling of impending doom I felt when I did 8 earlier this month. Wonderful shave. I think 4 days on the Astra might just do it, so tomorrow I'll put one of the Personna Lab Blues I just got in the mail. Same settings as today. I haven't tried another blade for some time ago I'm excited to see what happens.

 

I have never thought of it in terms of beard growth. I pull down with my off hand at the base of my neck. I pull up at the top of my face. Pull to the side on my chin and neck, usually away from which ever hand has the razor.

This.

 

Another straight focus since my life is bouncing from one wall to the other. The pageantry of traditional shaving has been meditation of sorts. Probably too much so as I ended up cutting the mustache off. Still amazed at how well my straight peel the hair off. Only constant in all my shaves has been the @Drygulch strop and the omega brush.

Face lathered today with a shave den stick. 2x iced signature scent.
Cheers,
Eric

 

Is there an Order of the Phoenix Double OC? If so, I bet membership is a closely held secret. Who does one see for admission into this elite organization? :mail:

 

Shhhh...Meetings are every third Thursday at midnight.
12 GRIMMAULD PLACE

 

Thank you for your kind words, I think

 

So, I haven't posted in a while. Still on my Slim focus. So far, I'vedone two shaves on 6 withe Proraso preshave, glycerin soap, bombed, Proraso preshave as a balm and Gabel's aftershave.

I think 6 may be a bit aggressive for me. No nicks and a smoother BBS on the cheeks and dfs everywhere else with little irritation, but somehow the shave at 6 has been, the best way I can describe it, uncomfortable. I don't know why that is, but I get no better a shave on 6 than I do on 5, so I'm thinking 5 is my sweet spot. We'll see, as I have at least 1 more shave on 6. Probably not tonight, though. I pinched a nerve or something in my shoulder and I can't lift it to my face. Of course it's the right! A few Morin and a couple slugs of Nyquil tonight will help I think. Well, I hope anyhow.

 

August Focus - Slim and Feather AC
August 20
Razor - 1964 Slim (J1)
Blade - (1)
Brush - BoS (Omega 10066)
Soap - Proraso
Post - Cold splash, Alum, Proraso

Starting the end of week run today at work. 9-8 today and tomorrow, 7:30-6 on Saturday. Yeah, it's as fun as it sounds. So, the shaves get to stay early for a few days. Decided to help myself gain a bit of pep today by going to Proraso for the soap and A/S. Used the BoS to whip up a fantastic lather with the Proraso green in a tub and remembered again why I have liked this soap from the beginning. So easy to lather, such a great lather and that menthol and eucalyptus works well with the caffeine from the coffee to get moving in the morning.

I chose the Sharp Star for my next blade in the Slim. This is a Russian from Mostochlegmash in Moscow and a pretty rare blade to find. I, of course, have a bulk pack. Why would I not? I've liked it since the first time I've tried it and along with the Rapira Platinum Lux it's one of a handful of Platinum blades that work well for me. I started at 5 on the Slim and got a nice feel on the first pass. Some feedback, definitely smooth and no cuts/nicks etc. Went to the second pass with another great face lather and had another fine pass with no problems. Finished with a neck pass, ATG and XTG with a couple of buffed areas. Finished with a very nice DFS and some noticeable irritation on the neck but other than that it was all good.

From that result I'm going to go up to 7 tomorrow. Seems like a good shave on 5 invites higher settings. Bad ones invite lower settings. It's good to be going up again! If you can land any Sharp Stars to try I highly recommend them!

Another package in the mail today. Once again to the Haul in a few.

 

Wow! Can't imagine what would happen if it was a nickel?
(on second thought, never mind! )

 

Yikes, sorry Eric.
But I thought meditation was supposed to make you more aware of the moment?!!

Looks like yours put you to sleep!!?
Oh well, I hear half-face mustaches are making a comeback....somewhere.

 

Now the cookies served there would be what kind? Grim? Old? Or both?

 

8/20/15

1959 E3 Gillette Fat Boy
Vulfix Super Badger (660)
Georgetown G12 Scuttle
Noxzema
Proraso Sandalwood cream
Aqua Velva Ice Blue

Shave #3 with the Personna Platinum (Israeli Reds) in my '59 Fat Boy set to 6. A very nice, smooth, comfortable shave. I had time for the shave but not the write up – so, you get the report a bit late today.
2 Full passes: Pass 1 WTG on my face and XTG on my neck. At this point I was pleased to have an almost DFS. Pass 2: ATG. This wasn't as slick as the first pass. Technique. Still fiddling with the Noxzema / lather mix. I rinsed, added Noxzema and thought I had enough water to add the lather, but I was wrong. I should have added water to my face first. After my 2nd pass I had very little stubble. A nice DFS with a BBS shave in reach. I gave chase and caught the baby again today. Aqua Velva was quiet.

Another fine BBS shave from the Personna Platinum (Israeli Reds) and the Fat Boy.

I've been considering where to go from here. Do I go back to the Silver Blue and confirm that I like them just as much or more than the Personna? I think I already know they’re both great blades and I’d have trouble choosing between them. So I think I’ll skip that for now and move on to another blade. The Gillette 7 O’CLOCK Super Platinum is next on my list to try, followed by the Rapira Swedish Supersteel and the Rapira Super Stainless.

 

Extra points for that answer.

 

Well my kids are 14 and 8 so a little Harry Potter sneaks in now and then.

 

Well, the beyond words part fits.

 

Well here's what's either cool or troubling. Yes, I read all the books even without kids in the house, and saw all the movies in spite of the books being better. But to be able to recognize that reference instantly when you made it....and know exactly what/where it is. Well, like I said, either cool or troubling.

 

I thought it over while shaving this evening. I agree with @Bird Lives . His advice is probably the one to go with on skin stretching. The only time I deviate from behind the razor, so to speak, is the collarbone stretch technique. The main point is that taut skin is easier to shave. Just try stuff until it feels right.