SEPT 30 Day Rule/Focus Pic & Discussion Thread

Umm....

 

I will be happy to help in any way I can! Its awesome watching everyone explore different ways to shave, and sharing thier experiences!

 

September 22nd SOTD (Shave 10 of this focus)
Two days’ growth
Preshave: Hot Shower
Razor: Henckels Friodur Inox
Strop: Drygulch Leatherworks Oiled Latigo (20 laps linen/ 20 laps leather pre, 10 /10 post)
Brush: Handturned Maple Badger
Soap: Barrister & Mann Lime, Lavender, & Cedarwood
Postshave: Cold Water Rinse, Alum Block, Thayer’s Witch Hazel
Aftershave: Pinaud Clubman

Got a great first pass, almost DFS. Honestly, if my chin had been a little smoother, I probably would have stopped there. Did my S/N pass next, and got a solid DFS. This razor is very smooth, and easy to use. No cuts today. As much as I like the Red Imp, the spike point can be a bit much for everyday use, at least at my current skill level. Stuck with two passes to keep working on my focus.

Finished this strop last week. After selling my previous Oiled Latigo strop, I missed the heavy draw of it. Draw is the amount of resistance on the leather when you strop the blade. I don’t think it makes a difference on how the razor performs, but is more of a personal preference thing. More draw makes me slow down and focus on keeping the razor flat on the strop. Since I loaned my horsehide strop to another member, it was a good excuse to have another one of these.

Very little burn on the Alum, but the Clubman bit pretty hard. Ended up with a BBS on my chin, face, and jaw, but DFS on my neck again. If anyone has any good suggestions for videos on how to do the ear to Adam’s apple pass, I would love to see them. That seems to be my weak spot.

 

I haven't posted in few days but every shave sence my last post has been flawless and even a few BBS like today.and idk about yall but today is going to be a good day for me hope it is for everyone else.

 

When are you thinking of doing the SR focus? I have a couple of razors I have used, but sporadically and only on the weekends. I would really like to dedicate a month to them. Going through it with someone else could be very beneficial.

 

Just checked my spreadsheet. Today was my 75th straight razor shave, and there were 21 shaves with the Feather AC before that. I am closing in on that 100 straight razor shaves that is supposed to be where you are a lot more comfortable. Based on my vacation this month, I know I prefer shaving with a straight, and I have lost some of the muscle memory associated with DE shaving.

 

09/22/2015
Razor – Mongoose B2 with Triad SS Helix
Blade – Feather Super Pro (7)
Brush – Every-Ready with TGN Finest
Lather – MdC Fougere
Post - Witch Hazel and Fine Platinum



A solid, near BBS shave with 2 passes plus touch ups. The little Every-Ready whipped up enough lather for 4 passes. Finished off with a splash of Fine Platinum and I think I am ready for the day. Hope everyone has a great day today.

 

Great pic!

 

Thank you.

 

September 30 Day Focus--Blade Search/SE

Sept 22

Razor -- Schick G Injector
Blade -- Schick (China)
Brush -- VDH Boar
Soap -- Stirling Gin and Tonic
Post -- Cold water splash, WH, and TSD Bourbon Vanilla


Another good shave with the G. It definitely takes effort not to put too much pressure on the razor. I keep telling myself that it does an excellent job all on its own, but it is still not easy. As a result, I had a good first shave WTG on face and XTG on chin and neck. Small amount of irritation on the neck but not bad. Second pass ATG everywhere was good and I managed to not put too much pressure. I still have to start the process with the razor by laying it flat and then moving it out slowly to find the right angle, but it definitely works effectively. Finished with a DFS shave and minimal irritation on my 2 pass shave.

I think tomorrow, or Thursday depending on tomorrow morning's schedule, I am going to try a three pass shave using WTG XTG and ATG everywhere to see how it performs. I think beginning with the WTG everywhere on the first pass will reduce some irritation and will enable me to do the three pass shave without irritation and maybe end up with an even better shave.

Have a great day and Happy Shaving!

 

September 22, 2015

Single-Edge September
So far this month I've shaved with a variety of Schick injectors for the first time (Type C1, C3, E, G, I and J), a PAL Adjustable injector and a few Gems (1912, Featherweight and Pushbutton).

Today is my second shave using a 1941 Gem (Micromatic) "Clog Pruf” but put in a new Gem PTFE blade after about 4 uses.



Two-pass shave.

1st pass - Definitely the most aggressive Gem I've used so far. I got good blade feedback and good reduction on the XTG pass. However, I was not working it well around my goatee.

2nd pass - ATG gave a large amount of feedback, similar to what I’ve gotten from the other Gems in the ATG pass. Resulted in a very nice shave, mostly clean and smooth with no irritation, except...

I finally had one of those shaves that eventually each of us experience at least once, where the little voice in your head whispers - "Walk away."

It started on the first pass, working around the goatee, I knew I wasn't getting it right. Angle, approach, direction, everything seemed, well, awkward. A couple of weepers on first pass.
Then came the second pass, clean and smooth around the rest of the face, yet the whisper continued as I struggled again to get it right around the chin, mouth and goatee - nick - "Walk away"...weeper - "Walk away"...cut - "WALK AWAY"...nick - "NOW, YOU OBSTINATE FOOL!"

No witch hazel or alum could stem the damage.

"What happened to you!" gasped SWMBO as she saw dangles of TP pasted to my face like billets on a telephone pole.

Lesson learned - ditch the ego, - Walk away!

Better shaves ahead!
Cheers!
RT

 

Hope you heal up quickly. I've had those days for sure.

 

Sorry you ended up off road today! It has happened to all of us.

 

You had the same conversation with yourself I had this morning. I didn't get the nicks, but got a lot of irritation. Kept telling myself to put the razor down the whole time it was happening too.

 

And here I thought I was the only one that hears the voices. Mine only talk to me when I have the straight razor in my hand, but they don't talk about the shave very often.

 

Razor A: Valet Auto Strop Model "C"
Razor B: Bluebeards Revenge
Blade A: Valet New Process
Blade B: Feather (1)
Brush: Fendrihen Silver Tip Badger Horn Faux Handle 22/49
Soap: RazoRock Don Donato
A/S: Fine American Blend
Day 22
Excellent shave this evening. Going to finish SEptember with the Valet model "C". Cleaned up with the Bluebeards Revenge. In a bit of a hurry tonight.

 

September 21 and 22nd - week four - focus Henry Sears and Sons Full hollow 5/8"
Razor: Henry Sears and Sons Full hollow 5/8"
Strop: drygulch horse hide strop
Brush: Omega 58
Bowl: KO shave mug
Preshave oil: Homemade Lemon lavender preshave oil
Soap: AoS Lemon Lavender soap
Post shave: cold water, alum, Proaso green
Growth: 1 day
Shave 11 and 12

Monday's shave was a great one - took my time, enjoy the experience and focused on great technique as was rewarded with a bbs. No burn or nicks. I say it's all because of the new presahave oil my daugther and I created based on sara's recipe! But some minor modifications made it epic! It's a bit thicker than aos oil but that's ok as long as it smells great and protects my face! Secret ingredient:

Today's shave was completely rushed and if it wasn't for the preshave, I'm sure I would have burned my face worse than standing next to a campfire that had a bunch of gasoline poured in by surprise! Tomorrow is a new day - same face.

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 (3 and 4 shaves)

Cheers,
Eric

 

Definitely hate to hear about the blood. Hopefully they will heal quickly!

Always listen to the voices. Just think if Luke had ignored the voices in his head. He would have never blown up the death star and the sequels to Star Wars would have been very different.

I need to add a footnote that this advice does not apply if the voices manifest themselves as aa dog controlled by a demon, a la Son of Sam, or anything similar.

 

33 out of my last 35 shave I have been using my Mongoose! I love and have mastered the Goose. It's now time I take a break and try some of my razors that I've used seldom or never. I will continue with my focus and this brotherly group. I just need a break from the same old same old. 3 and out.

 

I know the feeling. But it is a nice problem to have.