DEC 30 Day Rule/Focus Pic & Discussion Thread

This will be part of my focus next month. Today was the second try of skipping the pasted strops and so far I think touching up on finishing stone followed by pasted strops give me a smoother and closer shave. But that is just 2 data points. I will also try different pastes next month.

 

If you will please I'd like your opinion on a 30 day rule for me. I started wet shaving with all the necessary equipment on Christmas day. I've tried two brand of blades so far and a few soaps. I will be getting two more razors to add to mine (thanks to The Bargain PIF by @Marverel) and I'll need to try those too.

I don't feel like I've had adequate time to investigate blades and try all my soaps to pick the 30 day combination, plus not having the other razors to try out. Is it acceptable for me to enter the 30-day rule and January's forum whenever I'm ready? I'm anticipating another two weeks or so and then I will have worked through a good many blades and will have a decision on what to focus on.

The new Focus, or rule in my case, begins tomorrow and I want to participate but I need a slightly different timeline that the calendar month. My 30 days would encompass two months of forums.

Please let me know what you think!

 

I can be a pleated pants guy when I'm forced to wear something other than jeans. It doesn't happen too often, though. It must show in my posts.

Stay warm out on the prairie. It has been unseasonably warm here in Kentucky so far this winter. I'm lovin' it.

By the way, I didn't know men on the prairie drank Coke Zero. I figured they thrived on mountain stream water and strong coffee boiled over a camp fire. I guess anything goes when Millenials go west.

 

Thanks Neal. I'll return the pleated pants, but I plan to keep my lucky rocket ship underpants.

Congrats on surviving two shaves with that fearsome razor!

 

If it were me, I would focus on the razor you have right now and perhaps stay with 1 soap. You can roll through your blades to get an idea what might work. You'll get plenty of support here for that kind of approach.

 

Your FB is a beauty.

 

Thanks. And apologies to all who were counting on cashing in on the will. As far as the rocket ship underpants, we'll let them go this time. After all, we'd hate to take away any luck to do with underpants. We all need more of that.

 

I would follow Troy's suggestion. By sticking with one razor for the first 30 days you'll have a base line for trying new razors and soaps in following months.

 

Thanks Troy and Clint! I'll stick with my current razor before adding the others in.

 

I thinks that is a great idea. Once you truly master the first razor then all the new ones fall into place much more quickly. You'll be truly surprised how much your skills will improve I the first month.

 

Please feel welcome to participate in the thread even before you lock down your set. We love to help. Someone get this man some Russian blades to try.

 

Well, if Neal tapped out on the Russian straight, I am going to call my DFS+ good enough, and put my Russian straight back in the roll. Will have three day's growth for tomorrow's shave.

 

Well don't let me stop you from having fun.

 

PM sent on the Russian blade front.

 

December 30 Day Focus--Gillette Executive and Stirling Kong

Razor - 1958 Gillette Executive Adjustable
Blade - Gillette Silver Blue
Brush - Stirling Kong
Soap - Stirling MITA
Post - Cold water, witch hazel, Fine L'Orange Noir


As promised an update on the @Rufus T. (Vince) versus @Bama Samurai (Chris) adjustable settings challenge. I have shaved 7 times since my last report on December 15. Many shaves occurred with a couple days growth, which made for some more difficult conditions. I tried to even those shaves out between having the more aggressive setting on the WTG pass (Vince's setting) and having the more aggressive setting for the second ATG pass (Chris's recommended setting). Over the course of the shaves I used the Executive on 7 WTG and 6 ATG for two shaves, 8 WTG and 7 ATG for one shave, 6 WTG and 7 ATG for two shaves, and on 7 WTG and 8 ATG for one shave. I also did one shave with both the WTG and ATG shaves on 8.

After having the above shaves, I have concluded that all the settings can produce excellent DFS or BBS shaves. I had one problem shave and that was because I was determined to shave even though I felt horrible and had terrible coughing fits. I managed to get a scratch (no idea how I did it unless I coughed while actually shaving which I really tried to be sure not to do) and one weeper. I should have just said to heck with it and gone back to bed, but I was determined! Ended DFS, but at the expense of the scratch and weeper. Every other shave produced little to no irritation even when having multiple days' growth that the blade had to get through (and that is no easy feat with my thick coarse beard).

My conclusions to this point are that Vince's settings win for when I have a heavier growth. Having the more aggressive setting on the WTG pass and getting that extra dose of beard reduction seems to make more difference than having less initial reduction and going more aggressive on the ATG pass. This was more true when using 7 as the aggressive and 6 as the lesser settings than it was in comparing settings using 8 as the more aggressive setting. Once I got to 8 I really did not notice any difference in the shaves. That being said, when I was doing a shave one day after having shaved, Chris's settings seemed to produce consistent BBS with no irritation. No real need for beard reduction so getting good reduction and then having it more aggressive so no need to really push it on the ATG pass seems to work well. So in the end, as much as it will probably pain both Vince and Chris (I am sure Vince more than Chris) it really was a tie. For those days that I have a thicker beard, getting the reduction on the WTG pass is necessary to end with a BBS shave and lowest possible irritation. On days in which I have shaved the previous day, then it is hard to beat the BBS and no irritation from Chris's settings. So, in the end I will be using both depending on how long it has been since my last shave.

When shaving on 6 and 7 I got BBS shaves consistently with no or incredibly low irritation. I think using 7 as the aggressive setting and 6 as the milder setting will be my favorite settings and will be the ones I use with the Executive most in the future. There was a slight increase in irritation when using 8 no matter when it was used. Nothing bad, but something definitely noticeable. I plan to do another shave on 8 for both the WTG and ATG settings and make sure I have the angle down before moving on to 9 for both. I am not going to alternate settings with 8 and 9, as I really am just using 9 to say that I have. I really think 6-7 is the sweet spot for this razor. I am also planning to try various blades with this razor in the future. So far I have only used the GSB, which has been a great blade. I plan to eventually give it a go with the Ladas blades, and maybe even a feather blade.

So after the duel between Chris and Vince the end result is rather boring tie.

Today's shave is the one listed above. I used the Executive on 8 for both passes. Ended up today with a DFS which would have been BBS if I had not had the slight irritation that I had. I guess for closeness it was BBS, but it gets points off because of the sting from the aftershave. Love the aftershave. My fiancee got me the Fine sample pack and it has some excellent scents in it! L'Orange Noir is definitely a keeper for me!

 

Glad the shave was relatively uneventful. Not glad for the popcorn sellers who were put out of business because no one came back for seconds. Sorry to hear the second shave was more of the first (pretty sure that was expected) and was so rough. At least you have a nice piece of Soviet engineering to hang up as a conversation piece and a dare for anyone you have over for parties!

 

Great introduction to the latest focus I look forward to another 30 day journey with you all

 

My mistake I just ended up on page 1 of December focus and got a little confused.

 

Had a great shave yesterday but no time to post I went with the maca root for the first time and it was great. It was a little to good in that it was so slick it was difficult finding touch ups. I didn't chase the baby as I was going for beers with a mate I had every intention of converting, so I didn't want to chance any imperfection. The good news is I was successful after a whole hour of selling traditional shaving my mate agreed to give it a go. The only downfall is I have to lend him my first set up as he is to tight fisted to pay to try. Not a problem I'm just a little protective of my first razor it's where my journey began and I hope to pass it to my son in future. He will look after it and if it means I can help a good mate get out of cartridges it's worth it. I also have the 1924 to look forward to for our next focus. I'm currently sat at the front door like a dog as I spotted the post man earlier and it's due any day now

 

12/30/2015
Razor – Gillette Super Speed (J4)
Blade – Feather (2)
Brush – DK7 with Druida Manchurian
Lather – B&M Seville
Post - Witch Hazel & Myrsol F/Extra



Another great near BBS 3 pass shave with touch ups this morning. I might be able to squeeze one more shave out of the B&M Seville soap. I have enjoyed using Seville and would recommend it to any interested in trying Barrister and Mann shaving soaps. I finished off with a splash of Myrsol F/Extra and I am off to fight Atlanta traffic. I hope everyone has a great Wednesday.