SEPT 30 Day Rule/Focus Pic & Discussion Thread

Excellent shave! The Mongoose is making us perfectionistas. My daily work mornings were 35 years worth of one pass DFSs. Ha ha! I kept a Norelco Cordless in my Dodge Van for Emergency Clean Ups. BBS shaves were reserved for Date Night and they still are, but at a much higher standard... around 99.9%.
Mr. Fine has a winner with Platinum.

 

Your face is too valuable. I give DE blades 3 shaves and toss 'em.

 

It is easier for me to hit high standards quickly with the Mongoose than any of my other razors. My goal each morning is for a boot camp level shave that would please a DI. I don't quite make that goal often but come close a lot. I really enjoy using the MdC soap for sure. While I like the original scent very much, the Fougere is just a whole other level. If I had to pick just one soap, it would be MdC Fougere for sure. Fine sure hit a home run with Platinum for sure. It just pairs well with everything.

 

I forgot to add...at some point over the last few months I've made a switch from daily alum, to witch hazel. I find that I still get enough astringency for weepers, etc, but also a much better skin conditioning - which may be helping to keep razor bumps away as well.

YMMV - but I'm very glad I made the switch, my skin feels great with daily witch hazel.

 

YMMV indeed. For me, I use both alum and witch hazel, followed by my aftershave. The combo of the three of them seems to be the sweet spot for me, as far as how my face feels after a shave.

 

I agree! TSD 2x Iced Barber Shoppe is . The Prairie is cooling faster than the Desert. Even the slight change can be felt here. It is a welcome change.
How Do You Spell Relief???

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Sorry to Chime in, but... But, only alum on the road.

 

September 17, 2015

So far during Single Edge SEptember I've experienced razors I’ve never used before:

• six different Schick injectors (Type C1, C3, E, G, I and J)
• one PAL Adjustable.

I’m somewhat embarrassed to say, but if I’m going to make it through SE September and all my SEs, I will need to shave with 7 more razors - all Gems - in 14 days!

(and I never, ever thought I’d say this, but I remind myself more and more of @NCoxSTL …with his 30 razors in 30 days with 30 different blades!
I swear, most of these are lot purchases or second-hand store discoveries. I don’t have RAD, really, I don’t. Really!!!)
I’m going to try to progress through the Gems from mild though the aggressiveness spectrum, because yes, I am a wimp.
Morning shave
Hot Shower
Soap: Arko stick
Brush: Omega Pro 48
Razor: 1950s Gem Featherweight
Blade: GEM PTFE (1)
Thayers Lemon & Aloe Witch Hazel
After Shave: Myrsol Limon



Two-pass shave and unfortunately in a bit of a rush for work.

Very nice shave, skin was left clean and smooth all the way around. I just used the flat razor head against my skin and off I went. A bit too quickly as there was much more irritation in the end than I’m used to.

But I get to do it again tomorrow!
Cheers!
RT

 

You obviously haven't seen my mug shot.

I usually go 3 - 4 shaves on a DE blade as well. I have gotten 7 out of a Rapira PL when trying to see how long I could, though.

 

September 16th - week three focus Heljestrand, "No 24"
Razor: C. V. Heljestrand, "No 24" 5/8 Quarter Hollow
Strop: drygulch horse hide strop
Brush: WSP Silvertip Badge
Bowl: KO shave mug
Preshave oil: AoS Lavender Oil
Soap: AoS Lavender Cream
Post shave: cold water, alum, AoS Lavender post shave balm
Growth: 1.5 days
Shave 10
Running short on time so I went to a cream I knew I could quickly get a consistent, thick, slick lather. AoS Lavender Cream fit the bill. Only did one pass with the straight but it did 95% of the work. Merkur Derby finished the job off nicely.

1st - WTG: N/S on face and neck
2nd - XTG: E/W face w/Merkur
Clean up - ATG/XTG: w/ Merkur Progress DE with Derby (2 shaves)

Cheers,
Eric

 

Razor A: Ever-Ready 1914 WW1 SE
Razor B: Gillette Black Handle Flare Tip P1 1970
Blade A: Gem Blue Star SE (3)
Blade B: Feather (3)
Brush: WDC-5 Boar w/ Green Handle, Whipped Dog Knot.
Soap: TSD Iced TSD Signature
A/S: Fine L'Orange
Day 17

Good shave this evening. Iced TSD Signature is a great shave soap. Two passes with the Ever-Ready and a cleanup with the Flare Tip. Still not that good with the Ever-Ready around the chin. It will come though. Fine L'Orange is a good A/S. The brush still needs some work.

 

I'm going to use TSD iced Barber Shop tomorrow for the first time. Got my TSD soap order today. Hope the A/S is here tomorrow.

 

Just keep telling yourself that. WE believe you...

 

September 17 Focus Shave 14

I changed the order of my passes. I added an extra XTG and it seemed to results in a little bit closer shave. The new passes is now number 3 and it is a milder pass than the prior 3rd pass. The shave was DFS and when I applied the alum there was no irritation. A success but still not near BBS territory. Not my closest SR shave but the least irritation ever.

Proraso Pre Shave
SMN shaving cream
M&F blonde badger silver tip
Dove Bismark 2
PRC hanging strop
Alum block to keep my fingers dry
Razor Rock Tight Buns AS
Speick ASB
Creed Green Irish Tweed

 

Sweet! When are you releasing the record? A YouTube video perhaps??

 

Sorry the Personna Red didn't work for you. I hope your next shave is a winner!

 

The Crazy Ivan in SEptember!
September 17

Razor - Ever Ready 1914 Lather Catcher
Blade - (3)
Brush - Vie Long 12705 - The Horse
Soap - Tabac
Post - Cold Water, Alum, Nivea

Well day three of the PAL BC has arrived. Will it or won't it make it through the shave? I have babied this blade a bit by drying it and dipping in 91% alcohol after each shave to keep rust at bay. Even with this precaution there is some slight rust beginning on the edge this morning. We won't know the effect until we start. Oh, I also hand stropped it to try and smooth it out a bit.

The Horse and Tabac today, another great combination though I almost didn't get enough water in the mix. Tabac is forgiving, though, so if you get it too dry to start you can add water and keep going and it produces great lather that way. Again, one of my favorite soap scents. Ok, lathered up, ready to go, razor in place, angle set, let's go. Hmmmmm. Actually better than I expected and no worse than yesterday. Second stroke is the same and I am able to finish the WTG pass with no problems. Except....it's not quite as smooth a one pass finish. Lathered up and the XTG was not any worse either for feel but there was a bit more work to do to finish the shave up. Went ATG all over and slid the neck. Had to do a bit of scrubbing to get a DFS and it isn't as good a DFS as yesterday but still there. Water, the alum for the extra burn and Nivea to cool off.

I would have to say that the Lather Catcher does a fine job and the PAL BC is a good carbon blade. But, it's a carbon blade so life is shorter and shave is a bit noisier and rougher. Still an enjoyable three days overall going retro with this setup. As for the SE race I'd put the Gem 1912 over the Ever Ready 1914. And, I would put the Gem PTFE blade over the PAL BC, but again, two different blades so I don't expect an even comparison.

Tomorrow Ivan is going crazy again....it's another Chinese blade, the Patrix. Be afraid, be very afraid.

 

Day 17 - SEptember 2015

30 Days with a Schick G


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Same setup as yesterday, but I did change out the blade. The result was an easy near BBS version of the two pass automatic smoothness. Really focused on shallow blade angle, and the razor just does the rest. I am kind of surprised people ever could be convinced that five blade carts are better than this! Alum was cool, so was the afternoon. Somehow the Broncos are 2-0 despite an abject inability to block anyone in the run game. Other than that...all is quiet in Colorado.

Have a fantastic Friday!
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