DEC 30 Day Rule/Focus Pic & Discussion Thread

I've never seen the "heavy" label... Very cool.

 

Thank you.

 

Put it in an envelope and send it to me, please.

 

What's your address?

 

Teasing is mean.

 

Keep a eye on your mail box.

 

:mail:

 

If not cold water, then try just luke warm or tepid water. Hot water can make irritation a certainty for some folks.

 

This is almost as funny as the usual Veg discussions. My family is giving me the same weird looks as I read the comments and laugh.

 

Tomorrow will be an overload the brush day. I thought I had plenty today before I started in the scuttle, but it turned out I didn't. I'm also going to go with warm water instead of the very hot I used today. I've heard (and passed on) that hot water can make the lather dissipate, but I didn't even follow my own advice.

 

Excellent!

 

December Focus

The Twelve Blades of December!

Hard to believe we've almost put this year to bed. Wow. Where did the time go? But, here we are and as a gift to everyone here I'm offering up my shaves with twelve blades that have never touched my face, randomly paired with twelve of my DE razors. Two shaves with each setup to finish on Xmas Eve. So, sit back, get the fire burning and enjoy what I hope is an enjoyable month of further proof Technique Trumps Tools. I hope for that....my expectations aren't as optimistic.

December 9

Razor - EJ DE89L
Blade - (1)
Brush - BoS Omega 10066
Soap - Mitchell's Wool Fat
Post - Cold water, Witch Hazel, Nivea

Well, the moment we've all been waiting for. The first Chinese entry in the twelve blades of December. In my search to date, only the Remei blade has proven to be worth considering shaving with. Every other Chinese blade has been HORRID! So, with four Chinese blades on the menu between now and xmas it's not a good feeling stepping up to the shave today. But, the randomizer was good to me, giving me a great razor to work with. The Edwin Jagger DE89L is a solid mild performer that can usually be counted on to save the day with a questionable blade. Hopefully the shaving gods have shown mercy with that. I took the safe route with the lather, going to BoSFat for a fantastic lather as always. Everything should be set.

Now to the blade. It's the Cloud, made by the Shanghai Cloud Blade Manufacturing Company in, of course, Shanghai. The coating? Well, the wrapper says it is "reinforced with nanosized nitrogen alloy". What does that mean? It might as well be in Chinese for all I know about it. But it does say it's "ultra-sharp". That's reassuring. Nothing to do but saddle up and start the shave. Deep breath, settle down and here we go. First stroke was not good. But, not as bad as I expected. Continued through the first pass, WTG and I can say two things. If this is "ultra-sharp" I don't want to try anything less sharp. The second thing? It feels rough in addition to lacking a great edge. But, it did get a decent reduction during the first pass. Not great, but it did do something. Second pass XTG and now it's less pleasant, not that it was all that pleasant to begin with. More drag XTG and I can feel the irritation starting. Had to have a third pass, of course. Went ATG on the face and that wasn't horrible but not something I'd do every day. Gillette Slide on the neck and I will say that is the worst feeling G-slide I've ever had. Really rough and almost dangerous feeling. Ouch. Irritating as well. And not just on my temper. Really turned my neck red as I finished.

Witch hazel for an incredibly hot burn and Nivea to cool it all down. Somehow when you see the word "Cloud" you think soft, fluffy, enjoyable. However, this blade is anything but. Again, not horrible to the point of not able to use it, but I certainly am glad it's only two days on this one instead of my usual three. Curious to see if it improves on the second shave or gets worse. I fear the latter. No blood, though, so another plus. Hopefully that will stay the same through tomorrow as well.

Hope your Wednesday was a good one. Since Wednesday is now my Monday I'll save hump day remarks until Friday, which is now my Wednesday and your Friday. Which of course, makes your weekend my Thursday and Friday so I can have my weekend after your weekend. Simple, right?

 

No blood with a Chinese blade is basically a win! Glad it didn't treat you too bad.

 

Yeah, I found it hard to be too upset given the no blood factor. One more day, though. If it roughens up it may change its mind.

 

Hot shower
Gillette flair tip (found some problems with fatboy)
Feather HI blade
Taylors sandalwood cream
EJ badger Brush
Nivea AS Balm

So I found some issues with my fatboy tonight. I was just looking at how the blade sat and its alot closer to the "comb" on one sode then the other and its closer to it one end then the other. So I recon its gonna need some work. I figured it may not be the best to ise since i am working on technique i want a noce straight edge thats consistent. So i picked up my flair tip and it looks good all the way around so i used it tonight.

I went with a cold water shave tonight. I mean tap all the way to the cold side. And believe it or not it was very refreshing and i had a very minimal bit of irritationon my neck. Not even enough to write about really.

I did a 2 pass shave (WTG/XTG) onface and neck and got a DFS so im pleased with tonights shave.

I REALLY wanna get some supplies with some menthol to them for Jan's shave next month. I wash my hair with tee tree shampoo and it has a real nice cooling effect afterwards that i really enjoy.

Never know, maybe the cold/menthol style of shave is whats right for me. Haha

 

It's been a rough week when it comes to checking in. I'm on a business trip that entails very long days. Just wanted to check in a let you know I am sticking to my focus. I left my normal travel razor at home and brought my birth quarter SuperSpeed. I did keep my normal travel brush and Arko soap in the kit. I keep forgetting how much I like Arko. I am getting great shaves with this setup.
SOTD
Arko
AoS Travel Brush
1961 SuperSpeed (G4)
Feather blade (2)
MK Sport Cologne
Have fun!

 

And your blade selection? I may have to dig out the Arko tomorrow morning. Haven't used it in a very long time.

 

Good call on the Flair Tip. Now you should be all set! I am a big advocate of cold water shaves. Glad it worked out for you!

 

I am down for an Arko Thursday! Let's do it, Veg too if you use it!

 

After a few false starts and the box tour, dull razors and lazy days I've decided that the holiday month isn't a good month for a straight razor focus. I'm altering my focus to something less dangerous for the holidays. I have a few new products I have acquired and a never ending supply of blades U haven't tried so I'm going to do a blade focus. 3 days a blade with a different razor for each day. Day one, Fat Boy set on 9, day two old type, day three Super Speed. I'll be randomly pulling out of my tryablade sampler so no sneak peeks except, I don't have a flying eagle blade. I was hoping I did for a terrifying shave at least once just for your entertainment (and my curiosity) but it wasn't in the tryablade sampler I got 4 months ago.

Today's shave was a bunch of unknowns for me. I lathered Mama Bears Black Code type for the first time. I used the Razorock Plissoft for the first time, I used a Croma blade for the first time and I used the FatBoy on 9 for the 2nd time.

I took some scrapings of most of the soaps I didn't get a chance to try from the box so I could get an idea of what I like without keeping the box for the month it would take to try everything. Since its a small amount I have it in a small dollar store snack cup that is smaller then an applesauce cup. I was about to give up loading because It looked like I wasn't getting any trying to load in such a small dish but when I dipped the brush and started face lathering my brush suddenly found masses of soap overflowing the brush and my face. It didn't seem as rich as a tallow soap but it was thick slick lather with plenty of protection. I also really liked the black code scent. It was another soap that I didn't like sniffing the puck but inc it lathered the smell became so much more complex and pleasurable.

I loaded up the Fat Boy set it to 9, checked tightness and alignment and away I went starting with an angle somewhere between XTG and ATG. G-slide on the neck and a 2nd full ATG pass and I was at a DFS -. I touched up the rough spots gave up and relathered for a 3rd buffing pass with J-hooking and it didn't get much better. DFS solid this time and I could feel my neck not wanting to do this Being afraid of the irritation I pulled out some Thayers Lilac Witch Hazel and called it a day.
I hope that I'll have better luck in M Oldtype tomorrow.