OCT 30 Day Rule/Focus Pic & Discussion Thread

I think shaving is a lot like other activities such as motorcycle riding or shooting. Each require the new user to spend the time developing basic skills and to continue honing those skills until they are ingrained in ones muscle memory. All three of the activities listed have huge choices in equipment to use. Many times this works against new users. They spend their time and money in search of the perfect tool to achieve the results when all that is required is solid practice.

For new shavers I believe sampling 5 or 6 blades is more than enough. Pick one and start to practice on the technique. Perfect can be the enemy of good enough. Your taste in blades will change as your skill improves anyway. The same with razors. Just pick one and practice. After getting the technique down, you'll know better what you want in the razor.

The other similarity in the activities noted above is for participants to get caught up in the smallest details, be it tire pressure, blade choice or the bullet weight/powder combo. This level of detail can overwhelm people new to the skill. While all these details do matter, they matter less to the new user. The small details matter most only after you have the basic technique down. Then you can appreciate and recognize the small changes producing the results you desire. Plus you have a solid baseline in case experimenting does not produce positive results. For me, I know I have fully mastered a skill when I no longer overthink what I am doing, but just do it. It becomes more Zen like and I can just enjoy the experience.

 

...and while we're at it let's break out the Ouija Board!

Desperate times call for desperate measures!

 

Invoking the spirit of Gil Hodges?

 

..and Casey Stengel!

 

"The small details matter most only after you have the basic technique down." - @clint64

Truth

 

I feel like cold water makes the hair stand up and makes it easier to see/feel/cut. Touch up is usually the difference between DFS+ and BBS.

 

I really feel like optimal angle is more shallow than we are first inclined to believe. Good day today!

 

If you can see my signature line, I just flat out stole that quote, fair and square! I love it!

 

I see what you did there.

 

The guys on this thread are going to rewrite shaving conventional wisdom. I truly believe that. We already have.

 

October 29, 2015
SOTD - World Series - Travel Day

Morning shave
Hot Shower
Soap: Barrister & Mann Diamond Shave Soap
Brush: Omega Pro 48 Boar
Razor: Gillette Goodwill
Blade: Gillette Silver Blue (1)
TSD Witch Hazel
Aftershave: Old Spice 1967



I used GSBs during my two-month training regimen and appreciated their smooth, comfortable dependability. Same result today. If I ever do an extended period of shaving with this razor, GSB would be the top blade candidate.

World Series Travel Day
Today “travel day” means a day off for the players with a relatively quick jet flight of about three and a half hours - KC to NYC. But it wasn’t always that way.

As with the history of transportation, baseball leagues owes its growth to the growth of the rail system from the late-1870s until the mid-1950s. Roads and bus travel didn’t come until the 1930s/40s for short trips. Regular air travel in the mid-1950s led to cross-country expansion in baseball.

For over 75 years, baseball teams did their traveling by train.

Players like Harry “The Hat” Walker, Phil Rizzuto and Eddie Matthews described the rails as the very best way to travel because of the camaraderie it helped build among teammates. They would hold “bull sessions” to talk baseball, learn what made each other tick and be better for it on the field. Coaches kept tabs on their players and sportswriters were able to cover teams more extensively as they traveled long distances with them on the same passenger cars.

The boom in baseball leagues owes itself to regular train travel. During that time, game times would be set to correspond to train schedules. A trip from St. Louis to New York would take over 24 hours. So World Series teams at opposite geographical locations may have 2 days of true travel time, while an intercity “subway” Series would just be played one day after another until finished.



Play Ball!
RT

 

That's fine Chris. I am glad I made some sense. I think it's important for everyone, but even more so to new shavers, to keep an eye on the big picture and not be bogged down in the minutiae.

 

Get Off My Lawn!!!

 

my approach as well. though as a relative newbie I am not where you are with the overthinking, I'm at the other end. Just when I think I can "sense" the correct angle, the blade reminds me I've gone too far - OUCH - and back to the cap I go. I suppose that muscle memory comes slower at my age.

 

Side A - I love the grill!

 

I hope you remembered to bring home that complimentary shave bowl?!!
Gosh you stay at the fanciest places!

 

Agreed 100% - thanks for being here when it finally came time for me to learn traditional wetshaving. Technique, technique, technique!

Nailed it Clint!
I was thinking of a similar metaphor. Most any kid who learns to ride a bike should be on training wheels. Learn the skill/technique of balance first. Then take the training wheels off.
Same thing with razors and blades. I've learned the techniques, so I fear no equipment. (I didn't say I'd try any equipment...I'll leave that to @NCoxSTL !!!)

Yet I am going to remain on the 30DC to have the regular reminders, so I can one day join Clint and others in the Zen world!

 

I was about to defend my honor and point out gear I wouldn't try....but in my case it is gear I wouldn't try AGAIN. And even that could change. I Mean, what about the Flying Eagle in the Aristocrat? That might be passable......ok so yeah maybe I do need help.

 

No. I left it behind

 

shaved this morning with Proraso white whipped into a lovely lather by my WD synthetic. Triangle hole ball end tech was loaded up with a blade that never worked for me in any other razor, the feather. I eased through a 3 pass shave making sure I kept no pressure and rode the cap. I ended the shave thinking i had done well. I didn't see any blood or redness and it seemed to be near BBS. Then the clubman came along to tell me how wrong I was. I felt like i had been dipped in fire face first. The redness came up and spots began weeping blood. It was terrible. I had even hand stropped the blade trying to smooth the normally harsh too sharp blade.

hopefully tomorrows shave on the feather is better. Today my face hates me.