No Variation November - A TSD Challenge

November 2, 2015

No Variation NoVember

The No Variation theme month comes at a great time for me having acquired some new equipment.
I've had only two shaves with this razor in order to choose a blade to use exclusively this month. Also about half a dozen shaves with the soap and brush. So this will be a great month of learning.

Razor: Mongoose B3
Blades: Feather Artist Club Professional
Soap: Saponificio Varesino Manna
Brush: Omega 31025 Scarlatti Boar



Three-day growth, three-pass shave (WTG,XTH,ATG)
If first impressions mean anything, 30-days with just this gear will go by quickly.

Cheers!
RT

Baseball Postscript
Thanks to all TSDenizens for tolerating me this month and one of my other passions. Being part of this site, we all share the passion of shaving. You’ve made me comfortable enough here to share another one. I believe passions are that which make life most enjoyable. I wish you all the delight of life through yours.

“Baseball breaks your heart. It is designed to break your heart. The game begins in the spring, when everything else begins again, and it blossoms in the summer, filling the afternoons and evenings, and then as soon as the chill rains come, it stops and leaves you to face the fall all alone. You count on it, rely on it to buffer the passage of time, to keep the memory of sunshine and high skies alive, and then just when the days are all twilight, when you need it most, it stops.”

- A. Bartlett Giamatti, (Former Yale University President and professor of literature and MLB Commissioner)
Take Time For Paradise: Americans and Their Games​

 

Monday's


Dove Men Face Wash
Tabac Shaving Soap
Jayaruh #27 Silver Tip
Gillette Super Adjustable
Astra Super Platinum
CWR, Asma Alum Block
Thayers Lemon WH
Aqua Velva AS​

The second of NoVember is a rainy, rainy day. I understand that the Royals won the Series last night.

The Tabac Shaving Soap face-lathered well with my Jayaruh #27 Silver Tip brush. Two passes with my Gillette Super Adjustable razor and an Astra Super Platinum blade gave me a close, comfortable shave. After a cold water rinse, alum block, and a final cold water rinse, I finished off with Thayers Lemon WH and then Aqua Velva after shave. I am clean, smooth, and refreshed...

Second shave of No Variation NoVember.
​

 

I'm a night shaver. I like having the extra time to relax and Zen through my shave.

 

When I used to work for a living, I would shave at night, too. It freed up prep time in the morning. Now, I am up before the wife and have all the time I need to shave, and I am pretty all day.

 

Thanks Kevin!

 

Oh really? I hadn't heard that Jim!

Kick a guy when he's down...cold, so cold man...but then, What would you expect from a guy who shaves with cold water so much?!!

 

I don't know if it was because I skipped the wtg pass or not, but today, my neck is a little tender with some tiny little red dots. Not ingrown hairs...I've had them before. After my shave last nigh, I had minor irritation, less than normal I'd say, but today it feels a little irritated. Hmmmmmmm.

 

So sorry.

 

Progress at setting 3
Astra SP
TOBS Grapefruit
Asylum Brush
For all you golf players out there..as in golf, I am searching for consistency in my shaving. Bama provided a good shave "swing thought" for me in another post..."ride the cap." So this will be my montra for the month. It helped yesterday and today. Off to a good start for the month.

 

Well....I think I will do this one with you fellows! Great idea!

My first shave of November was this morning.

My setup for the month:

Merkur Slant Razor
Big Ben blade
Tabac Soap (Big Surprise! Huh!)
Oscar11 Marigold with TGN 26mm Finest
Thayer's & Adidas Dynamic Pulse for post care

Today's shave was great. Expect for I didn't do the touch up I usually do on the front of me chin. I forget things when leaving at 2:30 in the morning.

 

November 2

Feather Artist Club SS
Feather Professional (2)
Semogue 830
MdC scented
Two passes plus touch-ups
Thayer's Lavender witch hazel, unrefined shea butter, and Fine L'Orange Noir

Goals
Further develop my two-pass shave technique by practicing the basics
Break in and get more experience with the Semogue 830
Get more experience with MdC



This evening’s shave included two mostly WTG passes and provided a DFS+ on my cheeks and an SAS on my neck. Overall, it was an improvement from last night's shave, and I'm encouraged.

Focus. I took twice the time I normally take for skin prep and face lathering. 100 brush swirls on the MdC provided a significantly better lather.

Focus. I proceeded slowly, but I still managed to get one small nick (lip again, ugh) and a few weepers. Focus again. I worked at the trouble spot under my nose by slowly removing the whiskers using tiny WTG strokes, re-lathering several times in the process, and I got a much better result. Even my chin is fairly smooth, although most of my weepers occurred just above my chin. My neck could be closer, but I'll give myself some time before I attempt my usual ATG strokes there.

I experimented with small XTG and ATG strokes on my cheeks. The areas where I went ATG are super smooth, which goes to show what a great shave this razor is capable of giving. The alum stung again. When I regained consciousness, I finished up with cold water (felt great), witch hazel, and unrefined shea butter. I'm saving the Fine L'Orange Noir for tomorrow morning.

Have a great Tuesday!

 

Shave 2 NOVember 2

Just finished shave number 2. Yesterday I noticed I had a lot of extra lather left over. So today I wanted to see If I could stat finding the correct amount of cream to use.( Note I have always used hard soap and face lathered. This month is like I am starting new with all of my tools.) I took less cream this time and put it at the bottom of my bowl. I just scoop some out with my finger. (I would love to hear how you all measure out your creams.) Using my synthetic brush I ran it under the water for a few seconds and just gave it 3 light shakes. Started to mix the cream and the lather started building right away. I had to add just a bit of water. After 30 more seconds I had another fine batch.
I lathered up and started my shave. WTG The razor started singing right off the bat. First pass went smooth as silk. I wet my hands a bit and rubbed my face to check a few things. First to see how the reduction went and second to see if my lather left any slickness. Happy to say lather was really good. My reduction was the normal good on my face. Decent on my neck and a bit more under my jaw. This is the norm for me. The darned jaw.
Second pass i tried to pay more attention to my jaw line and upper lip. XTG all over. I went extra slow on the jaw and lip. Minced off and checked slickness and reduction. Yes the jaw felt like the rest of my face. Lather left a nice slick surface.
Pass 3 ATG. Went smooth as well no nicks at all. I wet my hands some and checked for slickness and remains beard. Really slick and the usual little bits under my jaw. I tried something I have never really done before. I buffed the trouble area with out adding more lather as my face was nice and slick. Worked out ok. I did not want to try for anything more. Things went very well tonight. A truly DFS. Minced my face with cold water and went with the VIBR again. Like I said before It lets me know right away if I abused my face. Just the nice light tingling sting. No burning sensation.
Will shave again on Wednesday.
I think I will be learning a lot this month. Who knows maybe even get a BBS.

Tom

 

I was thankful I was allowed to be bummed about the Jays losing without any ribbing from you Mericans.....

 

Day 2


Another irritation free DFS in the books. My focus this month is to get a close shave without any irritation. The type F has left me with irritated skin after getting a "too close" shave in the past

 

I hope you did not hit your head on the sink. That was the funniest line i have read all week. I could picture it.

 

Day 2

No Variation November!



GSB and the Utopia still getting it done right!

Have a terrific Tuesday!
​

 

i am still laughing about this. My wife thinks I lost my mind.
You made my week and it is only Monday.

 

That's why she doesn't wake up until you're finished shaving. She's the one who has to look at you all day... she sure must love your purdy face.

 

Sorry about your Mets, RT and the end of what was an exciting fall classic for you. Would you like a little whine...