SEPT 30 Day Rule/Focus Pic & Discussion Thread

The G will be next up for me...probably Monday.
Thanks for going right ahead of me and providing the tutorial!

btw, nice homemade Arko dispenser you've got there!.....great minds....

 

and to think, I was "Seeing Double" and totally sober!

 

Separating chore from passion.

 

September 30 Day Focus -- Blade Sample
Sept. 3

Razor -- Lord L6
Blade -- SuperMax Titanium
Brush -- VDH Boar
Soap -- Stirling Gin and Tonic
Post -- Cold water splash and WH

Last day with the SuperMax Titanium and I blame @Rufus T. for my shave. He just had to go and jinx the excellent shaves I have been having. Today stated as normal with a great first pass, but like normal with this blade it just did not seem to cut as close as the GSB. I planned to give it three passes this morning, so I was ok with the lack of a close shave on pass one. Moved on to pass 2 and things deteriorated quickly. The shave seemed to be cutting just fine, but was irritating the dickens out of my neck. Finished the pass, did my cold water rinse, and two weepers appeared: one on the neck where all the irritation was, and one on the top of my chin. At this point I had received a decent shave, and certainly good enough appearance wise that I was not going to push my luck and go for a third pass.

I have a feeling because I am using this blade for 3 passes each day, that I am not going to get more than a couple days out of it. I have a very coarse beard that grows back fairly quickly. I usually use a GSB 4 times, which means 8 passes on my beard. In this case, it failed on what would have been its 8th pass. So while this blade seems really nice for 2 days, the fact it takes 3 passes each day decreases its lifespan.


Tomorrow I will be moving on and trying the Derby blade.

 

How do you like the Glacial Lemon AS? I love the soap, but was not sure about the AS. Is the menthol as strong as in the soap? Also, how strong is the lemon smell? Thanks!

 

Well it's ok, blame away, it probably was my fault.

Global warming, Friday the 13th, paper cut, natural catastrophe, bad shaves, my kid can't do math, The Veg, dog ate my homework, wife left with the credit cards...the list goes on and on.

Damn Rufus

 

Sounds about right . . . except for the Veg. No one should be forced to take the blame for it!

 

September 2, 2015

Single-Edge SEptember
Injectors and perhaps a GEM

During this first week, my first with injectors, I’ll look to familiarize myself with them by starting with one that has been described as mild and perhaps move to experiment with others along the aggressiveness spectrum. I’ll be doing SEs all month.

Hot Shower, Morning Shave
Soap: Proraso Green
Brush: Omega Pro 48
Razor: Schick Eversharp Type I2
Blade: Schick Injector (China) (1)
TSD Witch Hazel
Aftershave Cream: Proraso
After Shave: Proraso Green



After three great shaves with the J3 - "Golden 500” I’m transitioning to an I2 - another hydro-magic Schick with a reputation for a mild shave, similar to the J3. So I expect a similar experience.

I wasn’t disappointed. Another great two-pass shave!

Notable differences with J3.
(These are nitpicky. If told I could only shave with one of these the rest of my life - the shaves would be wonderful…though perhaps boring without the adventure of new stuff!)

1 - Handle Length - Obviously.
Going from the very long J3 to the short I2 takes some getting used to. It threw me off so much - I could have swore the I2 was the shortest razor I ever shaved with. But it isn’t. It’s actually longer than all the DEs I’ve used so far (5). In time and regular use, I think I would probably prefer the perceived enhanced control of a shorter handle as I think I tended to zip around my face more quickly with the ultra-long J3. (Though once I become one with a razor after many shaves, it would be nice to have the confidence to zip around, in those circumstances when you need to.)

2 - Handle Grip - J3 (round), I2 (rectangular)
This part affected my shave the most. Up until now, all razor handles I had used were round, and as a result, provided me with unlimited options for fingertip placement. So I really struggled getting used to the I2, having to choose between essentially two grips - fingertips on front and back; or on opposite sides. Though I could perhaps try a finger on each side and index on front, but that would affect pressure as well.

I would want to spend another week or so with the I2 to adapt my personal technique to it and get more comfortable with it. I certainly think it’s possible and desirable since it is such a smooth razor and I love the hydro-magic cleaning feature.

But I have a relatively long list of injectors and SEs that I’d like to try this month and the I2 has already proved that it, as well as the J3, deserves to stay in the RTF den. So perhaps one more shave with it and then I’ll move on to the next razor - Schick G1.

Cheers!
RT

 

The Veg. Ha! I was so tempted to get it but the whole paying homage and dancing in the woods thing to be chosen threw me off.

 

I like the Glacial Lemon Chill AS. I have to admit, the menthol had my eyes watering a bit this morning. It has a nice scent that starts off strong but fades into a nice hint of lemoniness (I think I am making up a term) for a few hours. I can still smell it a bit when I rub my face. Like all of the Stirling AS splashes I have tried, it has some alcohol burn, but I personally like the bracing effect.

 

Look who came to my house to play for September. A very clean almost pristine G1. I'll be working it in with my J1 and L1 focus. Stay tuned for today's shave with the J1.

 

September 3rd - week one focus Jordon hollow
Razor: A.J. Jordan 5/8 full hollow straight
Strop: drygulch horse hide strop
Brush: Omega 48
Bowl: Knock Out Shave
Soap: Simpson shave cream
Post shave: clubman bay rum as. Poraso green post shave balm

Day 2
In a rush this morning but needed to kill the ants in my face. 20 linen and 30 leather stropps send to be the formula for this blade. Just one pass and settled for a dfs. I've arrived!
Cheers,
Eric

 

For sure! People can't take a joke anymore.

 

But, you are seeing this the right way. It really is about technique and muscle memory. Focus on consistent blade angle and deliberate shaving strokes. Glad to see it came together for you this morning.

 

My thoughts on lathering shave sticks from last month:

August 30 Day Rule/Focus Pic & Discussion Thread- how to work a shave stick

 

Razor: Valet Auto Strop/ Red Tip(3 blade)
Blade: Feather (3)
Brush: WDC-4 Silver Tip Badger Butterscotch Handle (VIG) 24/67 deep set
Cream: Real Shaving Company
A/S Afta After Shave Skin Conditioner
Day 3
Made it through 2 passes with the Valet. Learning what is meant by a light touch. Finished with the Red Tip again for a good shave. The Real Shaving Company Cream is a very good cream for this type of shaving.

 

Nope. It's sad.

 

Sweet photo Today!

 

Thank you sir! Trying to have a photo with most of my posts and trying to keep up with some of the great ones you have posted.

 

Two wet shavers walk into a bar....