January 2016 30 Day Rule/Focus Pic&Discussion Thread

I agree with you about Proraso. It is the first shave cream I found that I really liked and I stayed with it for months. As for blades, here's a link to a page I found very valuable. It's by our own @GDCarrington. He did a blade comparison with a ton of blades. Everyone is different of course, but it might help you zero in on the blades you might like to try. That's how I used it.

https://sites.google.com/site/gdcarrington1/home/de-blade-challenge-ii

 

January 5

Gillette Flare Tip Super Speed (Z3)
Feather (1)
Rudy Vey Shavemac two-band silver tip
Route 66 Lumberjack
Two passes plus touch-ups
Thayer's Lavender witch hazel, unrefined shea butter, and Fine Platinum

 

Razor: Gillette Gold Tech 1940's
Blade: Gillette 7 O'clock Super Platinum (4)
Brush: Vie Long Cachurro Horse hair 20/60 Birthday Gift. (new)
Soap: Elvado Classic Shaving Soap
A/S: Booster Iced Lime
TSD M Bomb

Getting back on rack after the holidays. Focusing this month on my Tech razors. Todays shave was very good and a little bit different. It will take some time to get used to this razor I believe, therefore, it will.

 

Congrats on the good shave! You've done a lot better than I had at the same point in my wet shaving transition.

 

Will the blade steel stand up to it?

 

I temper my steel with the Veg, so yes.

 

January 4, 2016
(Verbosity Warning - read at your own risk of narcolepsy!) @wmbjr - here's your chance at paybacks.

My 30-day focus begins today. I will spend the month using my Schick Type C1 - The Simplified Schick Automatic Razor - as it was called.

With it’s compact design, my goal is to use it exclusively as my travel razor. So I want to build up my technique with it, as well as determine the best blade for my use with it. I hope to try four different blades for 4-5 shaves each.

I’ll use soap and brush combinations that I will normally travel with.

Hot Shower
Soap: Arko Stick
Brush: Rubberset 300N 'Plastiset' Nylon 2-tone Brown/Amber Lucite
Razor: Schick Type C1
Blade: Schick (China) (1)
TSD Witch Hazel
Aftershave: Myrsol Blue



I’ve used this razor about half a dozen times since I purchased it last summer.

Today was a 2-day growth, 2-pass shave.
The razor and blade combo were mostly a smooth, clean and comfortable experience. I enjoyed it, but definitely have some things to work on. Conventional wisdom has it that the blade angle for this razor should be similar to using a straight - meaning the handle is almost horizontal to the floor. This will take a bit to get used to as the handle is much heavier than a conventional injector razor.

My need to focus on that took me away from focusing on coverage and I missed a few spots. I also repeated strokes which led to noticeable irritation. So I’ll have a few things to work on and keep me busy this month.

In addition to the above, I’ll say a few things about Arko.

When I first took up this type of shaving last Spring, Arko came as part of my DE starter kit along with an Omega 48 brush and a vintage Gillette Tech. I spent nearly 2 straight months using nothing else. (Yes, just another unsubtle plug for TTT - Technique Trumps Tools! We have to have technique dialed in before we can adequately assess our tools.)

So I got to know Arko.
Some see it as a love it / hate it product. I was a bit put off initially by the scent.
Then I realized that back in my childhood we used bar soap with a similar scent.
(“Vincent, it’s bath time!” But Mom I just had one last month!)

I got to where I liked the scent then and I do again now.

Some folks also complain about Arko being drying. I agree. For me it can be a very drying soap, so I’ve learned that it needs massive hydration. I relearned that today.

The Arko stick is convenient to use in many ways. I face lather. Break off chunks and mold it into a bowl for brush loading or leave it as a stick and peel the paper back to just “rub the puck on your face” and lather up with a damp brush. I’ve even created a travel stick using an old push-up deodorant container (see photo).

Back to relearning a lesson about the absolute necessity to hydrate this soap. Note the photo and my original Omega 48 compared to the Rubberset I used today - like Goliath vs David!

But this morning I was more focused on blade angles and the cool razor and had not thought about brush difference. I had rubbed the same amount of Arko onto my beard but did not compensate for the brush difference and did not use as much water as I should and drying occurred. I think that’s where the irritation came from also.

I’ll focus on getting the water addition right tomorrow. However, I'm thinking I may have to rethink the loading process. I don't know if this brush can hold two passes of Arko.

Arko is yet another YMMV product. But it usually works just fine for me and appeals to my need for economy in general everyday products. (and that helps me justify splurging on myself from time to time for some of the more exquisite soaps out there!)

Cheers!
RT

 

And that's how it's done.

 

Arko can be drying, that's my only negative observation of it. I bet you'll get it tonight tomorrow.

 

Thanks for the warning. I almost read this at work and snoring doesn't go over well there.
I took the plunge and read your post after work. I found it interesting and not at all sleep inducing. I agree about Arko. I travel a lot and it is my only travel soap. I like the smell and get great lather with it. I agree about it needing a wet brush.
Have fun with your typezzzzzzzz

 

OK -- shave two for january. I find I am taking this as a bit of a challenge. Do I shave against the grain on my upper lip or not? I am going for it, and so far - no nicks! I am very happy with my shave, and very happy to be participating in the test. For my next shave I will pay much more attention to those problematic areas on either side of my mouth (very difficult). Where the lips meet the face is tough territory indeed! Still, I will soldier on, and find that "sweet spot" angle that makes or breaks a good shave.

 

Say MrC, your response wouldn't have anything to do with my Vikings comment would it?
I wouldn't want you to fall asleep next Sunday!


btw - I seem to recall that you've obtained a Repeater as well. Have I missed your review of it during my absence? What is your favorite blade with it?

 

I have a few repeaters that have been ignored because of other focuses. I plan on doing an injector focus next month to rectify that.
I will not fall asleep next Sunday. You can count on that

 

I'm having trouble focusing on a 10 a.m. start for a playoff game for the visiting team. Just part of the bias against the west coast teams!

 

You forget that I live on the west coast as well. We can suffer together

 

See post 226. How's that for succinct.

 

In all seriousness though a really good write up. I am looking forward to your time with the C1 Schick. It is on my list of razors to eventually get a hold of and so I will be watching and learning.

Also appreciate the thoughts on arko. It is a soap I have trouble with for some reason. I plan to use it again soon and see if I can eventually get this thing dialed in. I think to little water is my problem. I just need to over do it on hydration.

 

He does an excellent job presenting his information that is for sure. He is missed around here. I have a group of blades that I am randomly selecting from this month. Some are known and some are unknown like dorco. Kind of an homage to @NCoxSTL without going crazy and risking life or face.

 

Jan 5 Focus Shave 4

Today it is back to the Dovo Master's finished on a Shapton 12k, Dovo red/black paste and then 0.1 micron diamond paste. This first time I forgot to strop the razor but this time I stropped it. What a difference stropping makes. This shave was both smoother and closer than unstropped.

The razor felt smooth but I nicked myself twice. It has been a long time since I nicked myself, a reminder to stay focused and not let my mind wonder. Borderline BBS and the alum gave just light feedback.

Irritation A- Closeness A- Smoothness A- Keenness A-

Los Angeles Shaving Soap Topanga Fogère
Etsy Silver Tip
Dove Master's stainless steel, Shapton 12k, Dovo red/black diamond paste
Dry Gulch strop
Lucky Tiger AS
Speick ASB
Chanel Antaeus

 

Very nice work on the ATG. The nose area is tricky.