No Variation November - A TSD Challenge

Tuesday'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 Tabac Shaving Soap face-lathered well with my Jayaruh #27 Silver Tip brush. Two passes with my Gillette Super Adjustable razor on 5 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...

Normally I shave with a different soap every day and change razors each week. Since starting NoVember, I don't have to think about the next day's shave. Cleanup is quicker and it has "shaved" at least a minute off of my routine.

Third shave of No Variation NoVember.
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I won't bother posting a photo since I apparently don't have the technical skills to remember to take a picture. But, NONOVEMBer will remain the same every day! Weber PH, Astra SP, Vie-Long 13061M and The Soap Exchange tallow soap and all is good. Easy and slick two pass shave this morning with a fresh blade and I look as good as I ever do (not saying much)

 

Today was much better than yesterday with the Feather AC. I took my time and did a one pass shave today without any blood. While I don't have a BBS, much less DFS, I have an acceptable shave without any irritation. I think the, "what happened to you" comments will start to taper off today. I will concentrate on getting the WTG down before attempting more ATG. Have fun!

 

November 3, 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 (3)
Soap: Saponificio Varesino Manna
Brush: Omega 31025 Scarlatti Boar
AS: Myrsol Blue



I shaved on Monday with a three-day growth and then again today.

Initial impressions:

Razor - having only used vintage DEs, SEs and injectors, the Mongoose feels brick heavy and looks the size of one as well as I place it up to my face. It seems to demand one use no pressure, using your hand to just steer the beast. The ATG pass takes getting used to as one must pull the weight of the mongoose upward. I initially tend to "choke up" on the handle as I do an upward stroke. My stroke count and pattern appears to change slightly due to the width of the cutting head. Even though it is wider, it may actually help in my approach to trouble spots on jawline and neck. The shave angle appears to be found almost naturally by design.

Blade - the Feather Pro is sharp and smooth. The razor/blade combo just sliced throughout my three-day growth with no problem. By far the best first-pass reduction that I've experienced.

It will take time to figure the best attack angle around my mustache and goatee/patch. A few weepers developed there today. But with just two shaves, I'm drawing a quick conclusion that once consistent, good technique is achieved with this razor, BBS shaves should become an every day occurrence. (Just like today!)

More later on the soap and brush combo.

Cheers!
RT

 

Have we been having fillet of Briancheek for breakfast?

 

I'm gonna have to pass on this month. I went through all of October using one soap, one razor and one brush while away on my trip. Good luck to all the participants.

 

Had a nice 3 pass shave this morning. Very close and smooth 12 hours later just a little stubble. Alum just a little warm which normal for me with most razors. Had the Progress set on 3 for all three passes.

Both my razor and brush are new. Getting used to the synthetic brush has been a challenge I seem to either get to much or to little water in it.
Do you soak a synthetic brush like boar prior to mixing?

 

no, it need not be soaked. just wet is sufficient.

 

I shake out most of the water and add back a few dribbles at a time until the lather feels right. I face lather. It might be easier to add water to a bowl lather but I'm used to how I do it.

 

3 pass shave today, 1 WTG and 2 across the grain. Skipped the ATG just to see if that helped a little.
Merkur 39c
Personna platinum
WSP T formula
WSP black badger brush
CC bay rum
Alum
Cold water
It was an ok shave, I definitely wouldn't call it a DFS, I can feel the stubble remains, but only when I wipe across the grain. The alum was cold on the cheeks and just a little warm on the neck.
The aftershave was a bunch cooler than normal though. So I guess there was less irritation bypassing ATG.
I guess it is a better shave than I think, I just hate stubble.

 

Day 3 - No Variation Novemeber!

SOTD - 3 November 2015



Utopia 3-piece
Gillette Silver Blue (3)
L'Occitane Plisson Synthetic
Proraso Barbe Dure
Alum
TSD 2x Iced FW AS Splash

Have a wonderful Wednesday!
​

 

It's about to snow out here on the prairie! Hurry! Alum is still my fave part!

 

ATG is probably not really necessary to look and feel well groomed for normal days. If you spend your time focusing on maintaining proper blade angle and pressure, easy ATG will just appear someday soon.

 

Just finished up a month on FB. At the end of the month, I tried it with a Feather. It was a great shave, but I noticed that while I can use 8 for a blade like GSB, Feather made my skin a tad sore on the neck. Dialed back to 6, Feather was the best shaves all month. What are your dial settings for Feather?

 

I use a Plisson daily, similar knot. On a soft soap like that, I place a tablespoon or so of water on the soap and then use the dry brush to pick up all the water as I load the brush in a swirling motion. I then wet my face well, add another tbsp or so of water to the knot itself, then go-to-town face lathering, adding water as needed.

 

Width of cutting head affects pattern and stroke count. Love it!

This is yet something else new shavers might want to consider. Changing razor models necessitates learning a whole new routine and minor techniques. These things take time to develop. I am having a similar experience with my heavy Utopia. But, like you state, BBS should be automatic by the end of the month.

 

Thanks David!

 

I'm assuming that changing blades - not blade brands, just blades - doesn't disqualify one on the grounds that there's 'variation'?

 

Do you think this is from pressure or angle or both? I'm a little stumped since I didn't go atg. Also last night, there seemed to be no irritation in the spot.