SEPT 30 Day Rule/Focus Pic & Discussion Thread

Day 16 - SEptember 2015

30 Days with a Schick G


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Got down to business on day two of the blind soap test and day eight for the blade...I am putting my bet down that this is Speick cream that I am testing. (We're on the public record @Mr. Shaverman , to be revealed later.) I was able to get to two pass smoothness territory, but the blade didn't glide as well and there were a few weepers, so a new blade tomorrow. Alum was hot, TSD 2x Barber Shoppe was cold and I'll use this same combo tomorrow, hopefully with better results from a blade change. It was 92F and bright on the prairie today, front coming in tonight will leave us around 70F tomorrow for high, a welcome change. Other than that...all is quiet in Colorado.

Have a triumphant Thursday!

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Have a cookie!

 

Maybe leave that blade wet in a bag for a couple days, update your tetanus shots, go whole new levels of Ivan? Or not.

 

Hmmmmm......Ivan on steroids. Interesting concept.

 

September 16 Focus Shave 13

3 good passes and I tried to do a fourth pass ATG on my neck. Well despite the new attempted pass and direction there was no blood. I finished with a little more irritation than normal and a DFS. Hopefully I can find the key to the ear to adams apple pass.

Homemade Pre Shave
L'Occitane Cade shaving cream
Ronney beehive silver tip
PRC western kamisori
PRC hanging strop
Alum block to keep my fingers dry
Speick AS
L'Ocittane ASB
Dior Ambre Nuit

 

Another great photo. How is the one breaking in?

 

1953 (Y3) Tech
Vulfix Super Badger (660)
Proraso Sandalwood cream
Aqua Velva Ice Blue

Shave #3 with the Gillette Silver Blue in my birthday Tech. A comfortable near BBS shave.
Face lathered, then did 2 full passes: Pass 1 WTG on my face and XTG on my neck (top to bottom today). Pass 2: ATG. At this point I had a near BBS shave. Did a cold water rinse followed by a few targeted touch ups in my problem areas but couldn't quite catch the baby. Decided that going further might invite irritation. The Aqua Velva stung a bit but felt nice afterwards.

A comfortable, near BBS shave from the Gillette Silver Blue in the Tech. I can feel a hint of stubble in a couple of spots on my neck. I have to hunt to find them, but they're there. 99% BBS, but couldn't quite get that last 1% without risking irritation.

 

09/17/2015
Razor – Mongoose B2 with Triad SS Helix
Blade – Feather Super Pro (4)
Brush – Rudy Vey with TGN Finest Fan
Lather – MdC Fougere
Post - Witch Hazel and Fine Platinum



A fantastic near BBS shave this morning. As Bill said above 99.9% BBS which is about the best I can ever do on work mornings. I certainly like the lighter handles when using the Super Pro Blade. Mixed things up a little further this morning and did 2 passes with touch ups with both passes ATG. Not sure I would even try this with any of my other razors. As usual the MdC was super easy to lather and provided very good slickness and cushion. I've found that MdC needs to be properly hydrated to produce a slick lather. Finished off with a splash of Fine Platinum.

 

SEptember Focus Day 17:

Homemade PS Oil
Stirling Unscented PSB
Razorock Don Donato
Gem G Bar
Stirling Unscented PSB
Fine Platinum AS

Today's shave was much like yesterday's, including running a little late. I do have a little irritation on my neck, but the blade felt a little tuggy, so I think that was due to the blade being at end of life.

 

Great picture!

 

SOTD
September 17, 2015
Prep: Hot Shower. Axe Energizing Face Wash Boost
Razor: Mongoose B3 Dr. Bomber Handle
Blade: Feather Professional
Lather: Klar Kabinett
Brush: Stirling Synthetic
Post: Thayers Cucumber WH. Gold Bond Ultimate
Aftershave: Royall Spyce
After my super speed detour I was very excited to get back with the Mongoose. Smooth clean irritation free shave. Nice! I enjoy using this big Stirling brush with Klar Kabinett, easily whips enough lather for a couple shaves. I like this Royall Spyce.
Never let the things you WANT
Make you forget the things you HAVE

 

Thank you.

 

September 30 Day Focus--Blade Search

Sept 17

Razor -- Lord L6
Blade -- Personna Red
Brush -- VDH Boar
Soap -- Stirling Sharp Dressed Man
Post -- Cold water splash, styptic pencil and WH



Today I made the switch to a Personna Red blade. Tomorrow will be a different blade (that about sums it up, but since I am long-winded I will keep going).

I started with a GREAT lather from the Stirling SDM. It is not my favorite scent, but it is a good scent. It just explodes with lather, and I had enough that I could have made 5-6 passes if needed (might have needed to get a DFS or BBS shave, but I would have looked like Freddy Kruger when I was done). So off I went to put this blade to the test. Started WTG on my cheeks and sideburn area. From the first pass I could tell this may not be my razor. I came down the cheek, had good feedback and held my angle, but there was little removal in the first pass and it was not that smooth. Switched to the other side and the same thing. So before I moved on to the chin I stopped, cleaned the razor really well, took it apart and put the blade back in to make sure something had not been done wrong and started again. Went XTG on the chin and got some removal but still some irritation. Did a cold water splash and felt around. A lot more growth remaining than I ever have with the Ladas and GSB blades.

So I started pass 2 ATG on the face. It went ok. The pass produced a decent shave, definitely nothing to brag about. Also produced a fair amount of irritation. Really felt like the blade struggled mightily on the chin ATG. It is the area where my hair is the thickest and coarsest and has always been a trouble area for that reason. This blade just was not up to the task. I stopped again, to take restart the process and make certain it was not technique causing the problems. I moved on to the neck with pass 2. Moving slow, taking my time, paying attention to feedback and angles, and no pressure. Well, the blade still sucked! It was tugging and pulling and just could not handle any areas with thicker coarser hair.

I finished the shave with 2 weepers on my neck and several red irritated areas. I have not had that rough of a shave since very early on in my wet shaving journey. I decided I would switch to a new blade instead of giving that blade another go whenever I shave next depending on when I have time and how my face heals from today. I will revisit the Personna Red at a later date a see if it could have been a bad blade or something.

Right now, I don't think I want to risk another morning like this morning with this blade. So the next shave I will be going back to one I used in my previous blade search and found not that great. I want to make certain it was not technique causing it to fail and that it was the blade that did not work with me and the L6. I will be using the voskhod for the next few shaves. The blade cartel insisted I either prove the blade did not work or accept responsibility for my previous failures.

One day closer to Friday! Happy shaving!

 

Great photo. Sorry about the bad shave. It happens and not all blades work in all razors. Having said that, Personna Reds didn't work for me in any of my razors.

 

Breaking in like a champ!

 

Alright guys this mornings shave was good not great and I did get a DFS but alot of tugging and skipping and a little irratation due to that but it was a good shave.I'm not sure how long astra sp blades are supposed to last but today was the last run for that blade.I will be using a fresh blade tomorrow.as usual bay rum AS and then I'm off to work.hope everyone has a great day

 

It varies person to person and by brand of blade but for me it's 3 shaves and out on DE blades.

 

That's about like me its Thursday and it is done ...good thing I have 100 of them well 99 now

 

I know some try to squeeze every last shave out of DE blades but given their cost I don't sweat it.

 

I don't see any reason to ...plus I want to enjoy my shaves not just endure them.that's my whole point behind DE shaving.....