No Variation November - A TSD Challenge

Shave 3 NOVember

Today went great again. Shave 3 on my first blade. It seems to have gotten really smooth. I am curious how many shaves I can get from this blade?
Zero irritation DFS +. Used Brute AS today. Totally digging this razor.

 

Lol, thank you. Dry Tech...no irritation

 

Shavers log...
Shave date: 11.04.2015

Third shave of this 30 day journey. Still going WTG and added a third pass WTG to see if results would vary. The alum has provided encouraging feedback and to my surprise not in the neck area. That's a first.

Observations are as follow... and I would welcome feedback from members of shave fleet.

I settled on Astra SP Blades because they are the ones that most consistently provide me with a confortable shave. So working with them for 30 days seemed like a logical choice. Now I have noticed that at best I can get two shaves out of one blade... and that's pushing it. I've flipped the blades and or rubbed it 10 times against my forearm... but cant bring myself to using those blades more than twice.

I wonder if that's an indication that I'm using blades that are probably not the best for my skin... more testing most be done...

 

Hi! I am glad you have chosen to stick to one setup for learning. That choice will greatly accelerate your learning curve and allow you to develop good sound technique. It sounds as if you are doing well. The blade life issue and the irritation issue are likely two sides of the same coin. First off, two shaves and out is a good guideline for learning. Otherwise you risk adjusting technique to accommodate a dying blade. As for the coin, you are likely using a blade angle that is too steep, scraping your skin and rolling the edge of the blade. Flipping and palm stropping won't fix these issues. You are using the DOC, which is a somewhat mild razor, and also a fave of mine and many others. The key to using any DE razor is to "ride the cap." This means always keeping the top cap of the razor in contact with your skin, insuring a shallow 10-20deg angle of attack against the skin. This should make the razor glide easier, it will avoid scraping excessively, and will over time allow you to avoid dulling blades so quickly. When shaving, angle is the single most critical technique factor to monitor and hold constant throughout the stroke. If, after this month is over, the irritation persists, I would advise switching to a PTFE coated blade like GSB or Voskhod. Any time you need help, you are cordially invited to just drop a message >here<, it's the 30 Day monthly focus thread, and is dedicated to new shavers and devoted to talking technique. Cool group of guys and they would love to help! Good luck with the DOC this week! Great shaves are coming really soon!

 

Great info. I'm looking forward to putting it to use. Thanks bama

 

I will try eight again, it's possible I was having an off day, but tend to like razors a bit aggressive these days.

 

Jim-

It was about this time last year that you replied to one of my posts about face lathering. You explained your methodology and reasoning, and forever changed the way I did things for the better. You and GDC essentially set the foundation for every bit of my shave routine. Thank you.

 

Could you, by any chance, point me to that post? I'm still not sure about my technique, maybe that will give me some new insights as well. You live, you learn - right?

 

Thanks, Chris. Those are kind words indeed. I am glad to have been a help. Face lathering is where it is at, IMHO. And of course Cold Water.

 

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Thursday'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 7 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...

Fifth shave of No Variation NoVember.
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Shave #5 in November and actually 14th in a row with the same setup. Its working well. This razor and soap require very little thought in my morning shave.

Prep: Hot shower
Lather: The Soap Exchange tallow
Brush: Vie-Long 13061M
Razor: Weber PH
Blade: Astra SP
Post: Ogallala Bay Rum Limes & Peppercorns

 

I am finally making progress Today I managed a two pass shave with no real damage. I got one little weeper while trimming around the goatee. I lathered up and did a WTG pass and then lathered again and cleaned up with an ATG pass. I actually have what I would call a DFS.
It is amazing what can be accomplished with a, "This #%?! thing isn't going to beat me" attitude. These focuses have helped me immensely.


SOTD
TOBS grapefruit cream
Rubberset 400
Feather AC SS
Feather Professional (5)
Pitrulon Swiss AS

 

Day 5 - no variation

Another DFS with this morning. The only issues I'm having is the Schick Platinum Plus blades don't stay sharp like the Chinese Schick blades do. My second day on this blade and I could feel it not as sharp as yesterday. I get 7-10 shaves from a Chick blade. At the rate Im using Plat Plus blades I wont make it the entire month. I do have Chick blades on order so hopefully they arrive before Im forced to use the army surplus blades left over from WWII Ive got.
The B&B boar brush is starting to break in nicely. It is becoming a pleasure to use.
The MdC shaving soap is great stuff and looks like it will last forever.

 

Progress
Asylum Brush
TOBS Grapefruit
Astra SP
Really enjoying this month so far keeping the same rotation. Getting to know the Progress and the best angle for me. Last two shaves were at setting 3. No issues at all. Nice comfortable shaves. Do need to pay attention to how much water I use with the cream. Felt a little dry one day.
Things were going so well I thought I'd try the Progress at 4 this morning. And............not so bad. Had a nice shave. Nice and close. A little burn on the upper lip from too many passes but over all a nice shave.
Is it possible to have a smoother shave and less irritation with a more aggressive setting on the Progress? Seems counter intuitive but it was a really nice shave this morning at setting 4.

 

Thanks that worked pretty well. I usually don't face lather but with this big brush I enjoyed it and got very good results. Had to swirl the brush in the soap once or twice between passes to tighten the lather a bit.

 

Today's shave was a good one. Had the Progress set at 3 for a 3 pass shave. No feedback from the alum block. Thanks to a tip from Bama Samurai the Sterling brush face lathered great.

 

Shave 3 so far. As far as I can tell right now it was a pretty good 3 pass shave. A little bit of bite from the alum block in my lower neck, but that might just be from the irritation from the day before not being fully healed.
I paid very close attention to the head of the razor staying in contact with my skin. Small strokes and rinsing very often..
Very little stubble, so I guess it could be considered a DFS. But tomorrow morning will tell that tale since that's when I notice any problems. Hoping for none.

 

November 5

Feather Artist Club SS
Feather Professional (5)
Semogue 830
MdC scented
Two passes plus touch-ups
Thayer's Lavender witch hazel, unrefined shea butter, and Alt Innsbruck

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 seems a lot smoother and more comfortable on its fifth shave. I completed WTG and ATG passes with no problems. Skin irritation continues to slowly improve. I hardly felt the alum, and the shave was very comfortable. The areas between my upper lip and nose and my lower lip and chin represent my biggest challenges. I've yet to master proper skin stretching in those areas. I'll call it a DFS+ shave, with an A- on irritation.

I never lose respect for this razor, but I'm finally starting to enjoy using it again. If I continue to do OK, I'll start shaving in the mornings before work.

Have a great Friday!

 

Day 5 - No Variation November!

SOTD - 5 November 2015



Utopia 3-piece
Gillette Silver Blue (5)
L'Occitane Plisson Synthetic
Proraso Barbe Dure
Alum
TSD 2x Iced FW AS Splash
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And for the fifth consecutive day, the GSB delivers! Automatic 2 pass smoothness is back in style. It's all about the angles with these 89-type razor heads. Been a long, productive and generally happy day. Other than that...all is quiet in Colorado.

Have a fabulous Friday!
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Sorry, I went to bed before I saw this. I will try to look for it.

The summary was that he liked the simplicity and skincare of stiff boar brushes, face lathered. No bowl means less clutter on the countertop. And I was having really bad irritation while learning. He suggested that I ease up on the prep and switch to cold water. It worked, and I've used cold water ever since.

What about face lathering do you need to work on?