DEC 30 Day Rule/Focus Pic & Discussion Thread

Is it a message I am missing... SR guys seem to favor goatee/mustache/Van Dyke/circle beard? Hmmmm..... Kinda explains all the fabulous facial hair in Civil War photos.

@HolyRollah

 

Well I've had my goatee for 12 years at this point. Had it before, just never this long. I will say it's nice not to have to worry about shaving my lip or chin. No worries there. It's just maneuvering around the thing that gets tricky at times.

 

I'm going to attempt full shaves, but will use a DE/injector for tricky stuff at first.

 

Thank you, Mark!

 

Chris, I think you will enjoy SR shaving. I can only speak from using the Pain Stick, but it takes the concept of focus to a different level. I spent about half my shaving time on my lip and chin area. If I could shave these areas close and avoid cuts, then I called the overall shave a success. That's where I learned the most about the importance of skin stretching, direction of growth, angle of attack, taking my time, etc. It required persistence, but the shaves kept improving. In three months, I'm sure you'll develop solid technique.

As I look forward to SR shaving, I expect blade edge maintenance to be my biggest challenge. I plan to do this on weekends when I have more time. Straight Razor Saturday?

 

That handle looks fabulous on the Cobra head!! FABULOUS!!

 

Thanks Kerry! It's a big improvement over the stock handle.

 

Mark, cosmetically it's very appealing, I can only imagine how great it feels in your hand. WOW! That's the best combination I've seen done.

 

SOTD
December 27, 2015
Prep: Hot Shower. Axe Energizing Face Wash Boost
Razor: Gillette Flare Tip Super Speed 1959 E1
Blade: Ladas
Lather: Route 66-Retro Spice
Brush: RazoRock Plissoft
Post: Thayers Cucumber WH. Gold Bond Ultimate
Aftershave: Fine L'Orange Noir
Great soap! Great shave! Retro Spice does everything right. Easy to lather, slick, plenty of cushion, so far very moisturizing. Great scent. Great value. Great packaging. Great customer service. Thank you @Salty Belle
Never let the things you WANT
Make you forget the things you HAVE!

 

I would like to shave everyday but I know how I am. If I plan for every other I might get 6 or 7 bonus shaves in a month. I'll feel bad about it if I plan for everyday and miss some.

 

12/27/2015
Razor – Gem 1912 Damaskeene
Blade – Gem Stainless PTFE (8)
Brush – DK7 with Druida Manchurian
Lather – TSD Yin Yang
Post - Witch Hazel and Folsom & Co Capri



I have used vintage Gem razors for each weekend shave this month. It is fitting that my best shave with the Gem razor this month would be the last. All the practice and attention to technique paid off this morning. Going with a traditional three pass shave with particular attention to blade angle throughout the shave got me close to a BBS shave. I decided to push it with touch ups and buffing to catch the baby if possible. Success with an A+ for closeness and A+ for irritation. I hope everyone has a great Sunday.

 

Focusing on my mongoose and blades for it. Love the razor, best blade so far is the KAI Sharpblade, very smooth!

 

Thanks

 

Route 66 is a great soap.

 

I've decided to cut my IKON 102 SLANT focus short. It's been a wonderful month of really close, comfortable shaves. In fact, the BBS after BBS routine was getting a bit boring LOL. IMO this head design is nearly perfect. I think if I tried to nick myself it would be difficult. If you examine the head, it looks like very little blade is exposed, making one think the shave will be very mild and inefficient. In fact, the exact amount of blade needed is exposed, no more, no less, to make the razor very, very efficient. On top of that, it normally only took 2 passes to get the great results vs. my normal 3.

So, what my focus has done is to make me reconsider my fondness for vintage razors. This far and away provides me with my easiest, most comfortable shaves.

 

With the exception of two weeks and two ill advised shaves, I have had a horseshoe mustache of various leanghths for 22 years. Regardless of how I remove the whiskers, I have zero desire to have a naked lip. It does cover up the difficult areas around the mouth, but as Neal mentioned, lining up the facial hair can be difficult.

 

Razor: Gillette Aristocrat w/case
Blade: Gillette Silver Blue (7)
Brush: Semogue 1305 Tri Color Wood Handle 22/55
Soap: TSD Iced Barber Shoppe
A/S: TSD Iced Barber Shoppe

 

Beautiful photo, your Aristocrat w/case is too super duper !!!

 

Back to the Russian Straight. Three passes for a DFS. I did 10 laps on a pasted strop, 10 laps on linen, and 20 laps on leather before each pass. Not the most comfortable shave, but I focused on blade angle, skin stretching, and wiping the lather off rather than pressure. There was burn with the alum, but not pain. Closeness was a B, irritation was a C-. Technique Trumps Tools.

 

That pretty much says it all. I also agree with your findings.