No Variation November - A TSD Challenge

November 3

Feather Artist Club SS
Feather Professional (3)
Semogue 830
MdC scented
Two passes plus touch-ups
Thayer's Lavender witch hazel, unrefined shea butter, and Captain's Choice Bay Rum

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



I almost skipped my evening shave due to some facial irritation. I was discouraged by my first two shaves this week. I decided to attempt a slow, easy shave following a good face prep and an extended face lather. The MdC explodes into a nice, slick lather once you get the hang of it, and I love the scent. I completed a drama-free WTG pass, so I decided to try a careful ATG second pass. For some reason, I have more control going ATG than XTG with this razor.

On each pass, I find myself shaving small areas of my face, applying more lather, and then continuing. I use Alum on my fingertips to help with skin stretching, something I don't normally do with a DE. I'm getting better at nibbling out the hairs under my nose, and I managed not to cut my bottom lip or get a boatload of weepers on my chin.

My face stings a bit, but not like the last two nights. I'm still using too much pressure, and I need to focus more on proper skin stretching. Overall, it was an improvement. I had two small weepers below the nose and one small nick on my right jawline. The alum stung a little, causing minor hyperventilation, but I recovered quickly. The cold water rinse felt great. I followed up with some witch hazel and unrefined shea butter. I left the bathroom for the first time this week without a wad of toilet paper in my hand to catch blood drips. I have some CC Bay Rum on hand for tomorrow morning.

I rate my overall shave a DFS+, with some areas BBS. I feel as if I have now crossed under the St. Louis Arch, heading westward toward the quiet Colorado prairies.

It's almost Wednesday, and I hope you all are having great week!

 

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.

 

You are correct in your assumption.

 

Wednesday'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 6 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...

Fourth shave of No Variation NoVember.
​

 

I use 8 with the Feather. Realistically anything six or higher gives me a great shave.

 

Today was day four with the dreaded Feather AC SS and I am starting to see some improvements. I did an uneventful WTG pass with no irritation or weepers. This gave me enough confidence to try some ATG cleanup on my neck. I managed to get a CCS with only only one minor weeper on my neck. It wasn't even bad enough to require the styptic pencil. I'm still not going to be overconfident and will not chase BBS for a while, as I don't need any more scars

 

November 4, 2015

No Variation NoVember
This No Variation month is perfect for me to learn skills with new-to-me equipment.

Razor: Mongoose B3
Blades: Feather Artist Club Professional (4)
Soap: Saponificio Varesino Manna
Brush: Omega 31025 Scarlatti Boar
AS: Changes at will. Today: Myrsol Blue



Razor / Blade - After my usual shave on Tuesday, this morning I woke up with the least amount of growth the day after a shave than ever. I guess that speaks to the quality of the cut of this combo.

Thanks to a suggestion from @clint64 I’m working on figuring out the best attack angle around my mustache and goatee/patch with the oversized head of the Mongoose. Otherwise it will require a two-razor shave with an injector doing the trim work.

Another great shave today.

After the initial impressions from three shaves with this Razor / Blade, my goals for the month are to:

• develop an efficient two-pass shave pattern eliminating missed spots.
• develop a trim strategy around facial hair.
• determine the “best for me” system on number of shaves per blade.

I will report as well on the soap / brush combo by the end of the week.

Cheers!
RT

 

Day 4 - No Variation Novemeber!

4 November 2015



Utopia 3-piece
Gillette Silver Blue (4)
L'Occitane Plisson Synthetic
Proraso Barbe Dure
Alum
TSD 2x Iced FW AS Splash

Have a triumphant Thursday!
​

 

November 4

Feather Artist Club SS
Feather Professional (4)
Semogue 830
MdC scented
Two passes plus touch-ups
Thayer's Lavender witch hazel, unrefined shea butter, and Fine Platinum

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

The Feather blade settled down on its fourth shave, and so did I. First pass WTG, followed by an ATG second pass. Slow, steady, and focused. Lost my focus once and caught a small nick on my neck. It was the best shave so far with the Feather AC, and even the alum didn't sting too much. Skin irritation from my first three shaves is slowly improving. All things considered, I'll call this a DFS+ shave, irritation B+, and fairly comfortable to boot. My Semogue brush is slowly breaking in, and it seems to release the lather better. Maybe I'm just getting used to it. I love everything about the MdC - lots of slick, thick, nice-smelling lather!

I've enjoyed following everyone's progress so far this month. Happy Shaves!

 

Since the redness is in the general area of the crease in your skin, I'd say pressure. Nice shirt, BTW.