January 2016 30 Day Rule/Focus Pic&Discussion Thread

Agony? How come?

 

Thank you! I will let you all know how it went later tonight!

 

Yeah ATG sounds like bump city on my neck

 

I had a bad shave today... A very bad shave, I'm learning a vintage SE for the first time. It's all good though

 

Welcome back to the 30 Day crowd! Your comment about loving the 1924 even though it has punished you makes me ask: you're not related to @NCoxSTL (Neal) are you?

 

Are you a part of "eBay 2016" with @Darkbulb?

 

Haha no, I love it because it's my fault it's punishing me. From what I can gather Neal actively seek razors that will punish him regardless of good technique

 

I guess you just made it ok to rub it in when making new purchases. I was hoping someone would

 

We wouldn't imagine it any other way!

 

Thank you Charlie, I am very excited!

 

I won't be to harsh I've got some major spending planned in February though.

 

Thanks I like to think it's a right of passage that we all must go through in the search for the perfect shave

 

That was some crazy

 

I Don't Know Nothin'

I just had one of the best shaves in awhile and yet... I'm feeling a little discouraged by it. The lowdown:

Old Type generously sent by @
Israeli Red Personna
Penhaligon Endymion
Omega 48 Pro
Thayer's Witch Hazel
Tabac aftershave

So why the discouragement? Because I'm not sure I have anything figured out yet.

As you might have read elsewhere, I'd run across a $5 Old Type while waiting for this one to arrive from Germany. But that first one gave me some of the very worst shaves I had until I happened on "shimming" for some blade gap. Well, I decided to try this second Old Type as Gillette intended and guess what? One of the better shaves I've had. The blade is different. I suppose that could be it but it sure doesn't seem like it should be such a drastic difference. I'll study them side by side I guess and see if I can come up with something. I'm adding figuring out these two SC Old Types to my January 2016 focus.

Anyway, the 48 seems to be breaking in nicely. I'm somewhere around 6-10 shaves in with it and it's already beginning to split and spread. I actually prefer the Omega to the more broken in Semogue 2000 because I seem to get a better lather that is actually willing to leave the brush. But figuring out these boars is one of the things this month is all about so onward and upward.

The "soap" I used was Penhaligon Endymion which I guess is no soap at all but a cream. I never used a cream. I don't know how to use a cream or what it's supposed to be like. So I pushed it around in my bowl with the wet brush. It loaded the brush but it didn't lather per se. Finally, I gave up and just painted what I had on my face and hoped for the best. It worked great! I really liked it whether I used it "right" or not.

Remember how I said I didn't think I could hang with the Tabac smell when it arrived Monday? Well once again I learn that what something smells like in the bottle and what it smells like in uses vary drastically. In use, Tabac aftershave smells very nice to me. Amongst my favorites in fact. From thinking I'd be getting rid of a barely opened bottle, I'll now be on the prowl for Tabac soap. Go figure.

Anyway, I don't get the razor. My brush experience seems to be different from any I've read about. I don't know how to use cream but it worked. I like an aftershave I hated a couple days ago.

Great New Year's shave, but I don't know nothin'.

 

Jan 2 Focus Shave 1

Today's razor and treatment is a Dovo Master's Series finished on Shapton 12k, Dovo red/back paste and then 200,000 grit diamond paste. Unfortunately I forgot to strop the razor before the shave.

The shave felt smooth but I got 3 weepers. 4 passes no problem except for the weepers. The alum test had some sting, given the smooth feeling during the shave I was disappointed. Faceturbation and yes it is BBS.

Irritation B+ Closeness A

Castle Forbes Cedar Wood Sandalwood with AoS Tallow Sandalwood
Simpson Polo 8 Super Badger
Whitehead scuttle
Dove Master's
Forgot to strop
Speick AS
Speick ASB
Chanel Egoïste

 

Sorry to hear about the shave but it is definitely a learning process. Like Clint said take your time and listen for that audible feedback from the razor. One piece of advice I got from Clint and Adam and others was to make sure the water or radio or fan or whatever makes noise is off so it is just me and the razor and I can hear that feedback that it makes to know I am at the right angle. Hope the next shave is a great one!

 

The permanent newbie! Definitely looking forward to reading about your learning process with the straights.

 

Looking forward to your thoughts on the DOC and the various blades. It is one of the razors I would eventually like to own so your month will give me good insight for later!

I also enjoy all your updates on the soaps so looking forward to the other soaps you use this month.

 

January 2016

Straight Feather Goose Focus

January 1

Happy New Year! Well, a year ago I had my first 30 day Rule shave and was off and running. To the newbies I say WELCOME and hang in there! It gets better by the day. And, it gets more fun too. Just think about it, in a year you'll be shaving just like me! Okay, okay, I hear you guys.....yeah, maybe not the best plug for the group. However, technique really is everything. Without it I would have bled to death a few times I'm sure.

For January I'm focusing on two razors, the W.B. Speed Rabbit TSR and the Mongoose, on loan from @Rufus T. Since the Goose uses AC blades I'm using the Feather Pros. So here we go for January 1.

Razor - Mongoose
Blade -
Brush - BoS Omega 10066
Soap - Mitchell's Wool Fat
Post - Cold Water, Alum, Nivea, The Veg

I've been wanting to try a Mongoose and thanks to Vince I have the chance. What a guy eh? My first impression of this razor is two things.....sharp looking and HEAVY. Wow! No need for pressure with this thing. I'm familiar with the Feather Pro from my time with the pain stick but have never had it in a single edge configuration. The first pass was impressive. Felt very smooth and definitely sharp but very controlled and seemed milder, which of course would be due to being in a guard and not just a Feather SS handle. Second pass was XTG and a third pass put the baby to bed. Very impressive. I could have had BBS on two passes with a bit more concentration so I have that as a goal for the month. DFS on one, BBS on two. Great razor and great feel. Of course having BoSFat ahead of it didn't hurt.

I'll stay with the Goose another day and probably return to the Rabbit on Sunday. Hope your year got off to a great start! Mine was good.....busy day at work and I didn't mind at all.

​

 

The cartel approves of this guy. So smart, so quick to learn, such good taste.