No Variation November - A TSD Challenge

Monday's


Dove Men Face Wash
Tabac Shaving Soap
Jayaruh #27 Silver Tip
Gillette Super Adjustable
Astra Super Platinum
CWR, Asma Alum Block
Thayers Rose Petal 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 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 Rose Petal WH and then Aqua Velva after shave. I am clean, smooth, and refreshed...

Sixteenth shave of No Variation NoVember.
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That's OK, guys. It was a TSD Challenge, not a TSD Mandate. You gave it a try.

 

there is no 'try'. :ahem:

 

November 16, 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 (3)
Soap: Saponificio Varesino Manna
Brush: Omega 31025 Scarlatti Boar
AS: Changes at will. Today: Myrsol Blue

Trying to return to work today after my accident, as well as getting back to my regular weekday shaving routine. If I can keep it up, I think these last two weeks of the month will still provide me with enough focused learning on the Mongoose.

Two-day growth, three-pass shave. (WTG,XTG,ATG) Face-lather.



I’m determined to work with this beast and not against it. I’m getting used to its unusual (for me) weight and length. By the end of the month I’d like to get locked into a comfortable zone with it and experience all it can do.

To get there, I’m making a very conscious effort this week to find the optimal shaving angle. Today I stayed flush with the angled part of the head (or 'cap slant') on all strokes. This resulted with very efficient passes regarding whisker reduction. But by forcing myself to not perform repeat strokes and touch ups, I did not get the BBS ‘dolphin skin’ of previous shaves. My stroke coverage was fine, I did not miss spots, but apparently the last pass of ATG was not enough to wipe out all signs of whiskers as it has in the past.

My only assumptions can be is that I got BBS only because of repeat strokes and touch ups - therefor I’m suspecting that the optimum shave angle will require me to drop the handle down a few degrees. I’ll try this tomorrow.

I have also noticed that this razor / blade combo is not as forgiving as all the dozens of DEs and SEs I’ve used. A slight misangled approach and it was quick to cut me without warning. This is not a complaint, just a realization that this is a very sharp combo that requires solid, consistent technique -
and I welcome the challenge.

Cheers!
RT

 

?

 

MrBird - perhaps it might occur to you that all the new razors you've been trying these past few months has made you focus more on your technique and has given you better results with your less-utilized razors?

 

Planned Day 16 - 16 November 2015

No Variation November!




Utopia 3-piece
Gillette Silver Blue (16)
L'Occitane Plisson Synthetic
Proraso Red
Alum
TSD ISZ AS Splash under the Veg

Will check in later after the shave! We are over the half way mark! We can do it!

Have a terrific Tuesday!
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November 14 morning & 15 evening

Feather Artist Club SS
Feather Professional (5 & 6)
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

My routine this month has become WTG on the first pass and ATG on the second pass. I have more control of the razor going ATG rather than XTG. DFS+ shaves have become the norm, with slightly better results when I take extra time. I still require a lot of touch ups around my mouth, chin, and under my nose. Duration between shaves is about 36 hours, as I've been alternating between morning and evening. Shaves with this set up have been very good, but they require a great deal of concentration. I'm convinced that a two-pass BBS is achievable with more practice.

Stay smooth!

 

A dfs today! But I have come to the conclusion that the BBS shaves that I did have the past couple of days aren't good for me. I just get ingrown hairs.
I'll gladly settle for these dfs I'm getting with no funky spots on my neck.
Loving this sledgehammer!!
Happy Monday y'all.

 

Day 16

Im getting desperate for injector blades. Im starting to dislike Schick Plat Plus blades more each time I use them and have resorted to pulling used Chick blades from other razors until my order of Chicks gets here. Today was an ok shave with a used chick blade. Loading the type F isnt as easy as the other Schick razors and the blade can be damaged easily. Maybe im becoming too fussy as Im not happy unless im getting great results....maybe thats to be expected using the same equipment each day.

 

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Probably true to a certain extant.....But the thing is, all these razors are winners in their own right...Not a loser in the herd....I always thought those '40s style Super Speeds were incredible razors with the right blade. And Perma-Sharp Supers have always been my favorite DE blade...And those Pre WWII Ever Ready razors; both the 1914 and 1924; are just about perfect in every way. And of course that Schick Simplified Automatic, that you laid on me, is the gauge that all coolness is measured with at my place from now on....So I'm just lucky that I have enough "chops" or experience to be able to appreciate these guys for what they are worth....}8^))

BTW....How is your back coming along....I was so sorry to hear you were in pain...I hope you're doing better...

 

November 17

Feather Artist Club SS
Feather Professional (1)
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

Everything came together for a great shave this morning. WTG, ATG, a few touch-ups, and I'm DFS+ with no irritation. Alum was quiet. I'm enjoying the combination of the Semogue 830 boar brush and the MdC scented soap more each day. It has been fun following everyone's progress this month. I'm especially encouraged by my pain stick brothers and the strides they've made.

Have a great Tuesday!

 

​

Tuesday's ​

Dove Men Face Wash
Tabac Shaving Soap
Jayaruh #27 Silver Tip
Gillette Super Adjustable
Astra Super Platinum
CWR, Asma Alum Block
Thayers Rose Petal 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 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 Rose Petal WH and then Aqua Velva after shave. I am clean, smooth, and refreshed...

Seventeenth shave of No Variation NoVember.
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Thanks for the well wishes man, I wouldn't wish this on anyone. I'm improving. Probably another month or so before I get back to form.

Glad to see you're still around and enjoying all these great shaves of yours.

 

Oh yeah! another exciting Army - Navy game!

 

November 17, 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: Proraso Green



Two-pass shave. (XTG,ATG) Face-lather.

@clint64 you were right!
I used a cutting angle just a bit off the slant part of the cap by dropping the handle ever so slightly. I got more feedback and a more complete cut - both being most noticeable on the ATG pass.

Four hours later and I’m still smooth, unlike yesterday. So I will continue to work at using this new angle consistently. Hoping that with about 10 more shaves this month I can find that consistency. But as Clint also commented to me at the beginning of the month, it would probably be best to do a second month focus with this razor to solidify the technique.

That’s the dilemma.
I already have my next 5 - 6 months mapped out just with the razors i currently own!

Cheers!
RT