No Variation November - A TSD Challenge

This mornings shave was another 3 pass two passes on 4 ATG on 2.5. Using this method or just leaving it on 3 with a Lab Blue blade gives a great irritation free shave. This has been a nice learning experience this month. I've dialed in a new razor and using the new Sterling brush I've gotten pretty good with face lathering something I've struggled with in the past.

 

Day 19 - 19 November 2015

No Variation November!



Utopia 3-piece
Gillette Silver Blue (19!!)
L'Occitane Plisson Synthetic
Proraso Red
Alum
TSD ISZ AS Splash under Pinaud Lilac Vegetal

Have a fabulous Friday!!

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Shave 9

Good shave in spite of a less than rich lather...turned out a little watery... Sad face...I guess I didn't get all the excess water out of the brush...otherwise a good shave day heading into the weekend.

Enjoy the weekend!

 

Friday's

Happy Birthday, Mom. She would have been 89 years old, but lost to cancer in 2005.

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
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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...

Twentieth shave of No Variation NoVember. Two-thirds through.
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I decidedthat 12 days in a row with the same blade was enough. I was still giving nice shaves but I could feel a reduction in smoothness. Today I loaded a new Feather Professional blade and proceeded to get an extremely nice DFS two pass shave while removing the top of a scar. This blade is so sharp that I hardly felt it. Styptic powder wouldn't stop this one and I had to rely on tissue and pressure. Even with this little error, I was very happy with my shave and am really starting to like this razor.
SOTD
TOBS Grapefruit
Rubberset 400
Feather AC SS
Feather Professional (1)
Chrome Azzaro Legend Cologne
Have a great Friday!

 

Valid conclusions! Thanks for taking part.

 

Planned Day 20 - 20 November 2015

No Variation November!



Utopia 3-piece
Gillette Silver Blue (20!!)
L'Occitane Plisson Synthetic
Proraso Red
Alum
TSD ISZ AS Splash under Pinaud Lilac Vegetal
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I am planning day twenty on the GSB. Lots of work to be done this afternoon before a night out with Mrs. Samurai. Nice day on the prairie, snow moving in tonight. Other than that...all is quiet in Colorado!

Have a great afternoon!

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November 20, 2015
No Variation NoVember
This month is perfect for me to learn skills with new-to-me equipment.

Razor: Mongoose B3
Blades: Feather Artist Club Professional (7)
Soap: Saponificio Varesino Manna
Brush: Omega 31025 Scarlatti Boar
AS: Changes at will. Today: Saponificio Varesino Manna AS



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

I think I’m reaching a point where my technique application is approaching the level needed to properly use this razor.

What I mean is - the unique attributes of this razor have caused me to seriously adapt my approach in order to apply proper technique. This is mostly due to the weight and size of the razor head.

For instance, the increased width of the shaving head requires me to adjust my line of sight in order to view my shaving angle…because if I am even slightly off with the angle, the scalpel-like Feather Pro slits my skin immediately - most unlike the “early warning system” associated with the coated blades of a DE. In time of course, I will just be able to use the angle of the handle to guide me. But it’s taking time to build that muscle/eye memory.

Another challenge is the razor weight.
Its heft is most welcome on the “down” stroke (WTG/XTG) where gravity works quite nicely to provide all the downward pressure necessary to just hold it against the skin, to where I just have to guide the razor.

However, the ease of that stroke totally flips to something I’m struggling with on the “up” stroke (ATG). On the upstroke, the head weight works against gravity and my fingers/hand, due to the angle of the handle. The required blade/handle angle is such that the head’s weight will make it fall away from my face, unless my fingers/hand apply more muscle to keep it against my skin. The more muscle, the more pressure, the more likelihood of blood! The force necessary is so much different than I am used to applying with DEs or ultra-light injectors. I have found it to be quite off-putting and I am experimenting with different grips on the handle to compensate.

This is what I mean by having to adapt my approach in order to apply proper shaving technique. It’s just taking me longer with the Mongoose than I’ve experience with the dozens of vintage razors I’ve used this past 6 months.

Keep in mind, and don’t get me wrong - this razor provides a fantastic outcome. Five hours after my shave, my skin is still incredibly smooth - as though I’ve just now finished the shave…and growth is minimal the next day. But - the price of that outcome is much more work than I’ve experienced with other razors with nearly similar results.

So for now, the shave outcome will keep me working at this through the end of the month and possibly into a second 30-day focus into December.

Cheers!
RT

 

One question?

 

Another DFS today.
Merkur 39c
Personna reds
WSP T formula
WSP pure badger
Alum
Changed up the aftershave today, the cooler, drier air is finally moving in so I went with TSD Burmese woods milk.
2 passes with very little feedback from the alum. Finally getting the hang of this.

 

No Variation

I received my order of Chick injector blades and have had fantastic shaves two days in a row. I think these blades actually get better after the first day.

 

Just finished another great 3 pass shave.
ER1912
Gem ss (4)
AOS sandalwood shave cream
WD synthetic on my brush 3D
AS Brute
After 14 shaves with the same equipment I can tell you I am going forward to the end of the month. I have several new weapons to try. My ER1912 is definitely a keeper for my rotation. It gives me very good DFS with little effort. Using the same razor also has been giving me much better shaves under my jaw than ever before. This tells me my technique has been wrong trying to shave that area. I now as a standard for that area use a short buffing stroke along with having the razor at an angle Maybe 15 deg max. This really seems to help that area. Zero nicks or weepers all month. This is how it should be.
On a little side note. I am sure everybody already knows this but, the 20 minutes or so spent shaving is really the only true alone time in my day. This along with the shave is something I truly look forward to every other day or every day.

Tom

 

Hodge
That F type is a work of art. Nice stuff.

 

I polished it a bit last night and now its gleaming....

 

I have not varied my shaving habits. I am still using my 2015 Gillette Fusion Flexball Proglide
I just have not been posting. I need to get my act together again. Dealing with estate settlement problems.

 

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Saturday'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...

Twenty-first shave of No Variation NoVember.
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Why did you ditch the Weber?

 

I have the Weber, I did not really ditch it. I will probably start using it again in a month or so, I like the shave from my Gillette Flexball I started using the Gillette due to problems with my hands going numb and i find that using it I get no Nick's or Weeper's. I really miss using my WeberDE, but until I get the problems with my neck and hands going numb I need to use the lesser of two evils.

I am able to hold the Gillette easier than my Weber. The Gillette is like holding a feather as compared to my Weber or my ATT Razor set.

 

Planned SOTD for 21 November 2015

No Variation November! - Day 21



Utopia 3-piece
Gillette Silver Blue (21!!!)
L'Occitane Plisson Synthetic
Proraso Red
Alum
TSD ISZ AS Splash under Pinaud Lilac Vegetal


Have a great weekend!

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I just got the closest shave yet from my type F. Day 3 with a Chick blade provided a great 3 pass BBS. i did change it up and made my first pass ATG which I usually avoid all together beacuase of irritation but today was near perfect. The HTGAM Bay Rum aftershave did burn like hell but thats typical for this stuff.