January 2016 30 Day Rule/Focus Pic&Discussion Thread

January 8

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 Small Batch Shave Tonic

Have a fantastic Friday!

 

Very photo Charlie!

 

Thanks Roby. I appreciate your encouragement. I hope you're having a nice week and are enjoying some great shaves!

 

I am and I hope you are too. I enjoy seeing everyone's photos it's inspiring and gives me ideas for my own. I appreciate the time everyone puts into it.

 

Do you like the Classic over the King Cobra?

 

I have never used a King Cobra. Sorry, I was comparing it primarily to the Mongoose. I am enjoying the shaves from the Classic.

 

Sorry about that. I thought you had a KC. I think the Cobra Classic is about as good as a razor gets for me. I'm diggin the OneBlade too but we're still hooneymoonin'.

 

Great surprise mail call!

 

Jan 8 Focus Shave 6

Today's razor is my hand forged Rasurpur Western grind kamisori. I love this razor and would use it more except it bites. I love the way it looks, handles, feels and the great edge it always has but the spike point and heel bite. This razor was refreshed on a Shapton 12k then stropped with Dovo red/black then 0.1 diamond paste.

The first two passes were wonderful, I did not get bitten once, the blade was smooth and very sharp. During the 3rd pass I was bitten twice. Despite the blood I went ahead with the fourth pass with went smoothly. The edge is very sharp, for some reason this razor always has a very sharp edge after being touched up. It was also smooth. I am not sure if it is the razor or the way touched it up.

A definite BBS and the alum gave just slight feedback.

Irritation A- Closeness A Smoothness A Keenness A

Queen Charlotte Soaps Green Irish Tweet Type cream
Shavemac Silver Tip
Whitehead scuttle
Rasurpur Western grind kamisori Shapton 12k, Dovo red/black diamond paste
PRC strop
Razorock Tight Buns AS
Speick ASB
Creed Green Irish Tweed

 

Beautiful gear @Keithmax

 

Really enjoying the 30 focus and am realizing the benefits thereof. What's been happening with my 30 day focus:



Proraso White is a nice if nondescript soap. Reminds me of the girl in high school that had a crush on you but that you always thought you could do better than. Old Type #1 + Gillette Silver Blue are not a match made in heaven. It's been awhile since I've used a GSB and this experience causes me to wonder if I'd over rated them if not outright, then certainly for the price. Today was a Semogue 2000 shave -- like me third one. So far, I don't really get how to lather it most effectively. It always seems to retain more water than I'm thinking and seems to not want to let go of the weak lather I'm getting with it. More practice before final judgement! Proraso White doesn't interfere with Aqua Velva which is a good thing.



Another day of Proraso White. Second date doesn't ignite any more spark than the first. Old Type #1 finds itself a nice mate with the Israeli Red. One of the better shaves I've had of late. I tried a little brass handled boar I got off eBay as my last purchase of 2015. Nice little brush. May need a new knot. I was reminded that you don't need the huge brushes for a decent shave as this is probably a 20mm and at most a 22mm. Brut is an aftershave I could do without as I've said before.



Mitchell's Wool Fat! A saftig version of Proraso White. Still not the exotic girl of your dreams, but you're a fool if you look further. Another shave with the Old Type #1 plus the Israeli Red. Not quite as good a shave as yesterday but I blame technique. Shaving is a little bit like golf or a video game where sometimes you got it and sometimes you ain't. Second shave for my new Omega 98 Pro and I'm already pleased with the shave quality. Definitely will mature to be different from the 48 Pro but I can't say which I'll ultimately prefer. I'm going to have to take some steel wool or something to that handle though. The molding seam makes it feel cheap to me. Clubman remains a fun aftershave for me.

 

I think I am really starting to get the Cobra Classic. If I had not been a little rushed this morning, the shave would have been one of my best with any razor.

 

Glad to hear your shaves are getting better CJ! Just keep at it and you'll be sitting pretty in no time. And if your wife is anything like mine, she will continue to take pleasure at ribbing you about your shaving "hobby"! Watch for the rolling of the eyes.

 

SOTD January 8, 2016
Focus day 5

Prep: Warm shower
Blade: Personna lab blue (1)
Razor: Wet Shave Club 3-piece
Brush: Badger
Lather: Maggard Tobacco and Leather (sample)
Post: Witch hazel splash, Nivea sensitive balm
WTG, XTG (neck and jaw only)

After four days with Proraso White and a Rapira blade I have switched it up, per the focus guidelines I created. New blade today with a Personna lab blue and a new soap in Maggard's Tobacco and Leather.

CCS results today. My weekday shaves are quicker affairs because of my timeline in getting ready and getting on the road to work in the morning. The one day beard growth has been fairly minimal so the one pass on my upper face combined with a XTG pass on my neck has been a good procedure.

The Personna blade performed well. It seemed to have more of an audible presence than the Rapira. I will go back to a Rapira on Monday and will be able to further compare the two, but the Personna lab blue performed well for me today.

Maggard Tobacco and Leather soap was easy to lather. It's more like a croap than a soap. It's very, very soft. It didn't take much to get a big glob on the end of the brush, and then face lathering was not difficult. The post shave slickness was great and the post shave feel has been nice and comforting so far.

No nicks today and haven't had a nick in the past few days. That's a great improvement! Of course I'll probably get one tomorrow after saying that out loud. In any event, I feel confident that my technique is improving and I'm learning the vagaries of my face as compared to my routine and what I SHOULD try for each morning as opposed to what I WANT every day. Each day won't be a DFS and I certainly haven't reached BBS yet. I'm not gunning for either. I just hope for a CCS with minimal passes and when I have more time I can do more passes or touch-up.

I enjoy reading about everyone's adventures with their chosen focus. Have a great Friday!

 

Nothing like a little Roy Orbison to round out an evening!

 

Friday, January 8, 2015

AlumiGoose with Triad Aristocrat Ti
Feather Pro #1
Simpson Chubby 3 Super
MDC Fougere
Fine L’Orange Noir
BB Classic

I had a most excellent shave today. Two passes + clean up left me with a near BBS Closeness A Irritation A-. If it were not for a Zit it would have been perfect shave. The alumigoose sings when it flies. It’s audio feedback is more pronounced than the Mongoose. The lighter weight makes for better maneuverability under the nose, around, and under my chin. Chubby 3 is like a giant, soft face mop with a backbone that gets better when splayed. This brush is a major ‘Lather Monster’ like nothing I’ve ever seen. MDC is still my #1 with performance second to none. Finished the shave with L’Orange Noir and for later some Brooks Broothers Classic for my night out. TGIF my friends! Have a great weekend gang.

 

Her eye rolls are notorious haha

 

Can't go wrong when Bruce Springsteen is one of the backups.

 

And, yes, they use Feather blades.

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January 2016

Straight Feather Goose Focus

January 7



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.

Razor - Mongoose
Blade - (4)
Brush - Omega Pro 48
Soap - TSD Lanolin Bay Rum
Post - Cold Water, Alum, Nivea, The Veg

It's back to the Mongoose for a few days. Still on the same Feather Pro so it's the fourth day on the blade. I typically get a week out of one in the Feather SS so shouldn't be a problem here. I went to the big brush and the TSD Lanolin for the lather. I'm about to the bottom of the TSD soap. Seems like it didn't last long but it may be because my main two soaps are MWF and Tabac which seem to last an eternity.

First pass was excellent. It's interesting to shave with a Feather Pro in this razor as the pass is so wide. Covers a lot of real estate fast. WTG on the pass and a re-lather for XTG. I did have a minor nick on the jawline near the chin on the right side but nothing major. Probably got a bit heavy handed. Again, with the weight of this thing, you don't need or want any pressure. Did an ATG and ended BBS and very happy with the shave overall. The alum was quiet and I used the Veg for the third day straight. My sales have been high every day I've used it which proves the worth of the Veg - it attracts people with money who are susceptible to its awesome lilac scent and my awesome sales pitch. It truly is a magical product!

Thought some of you who own the Mongoose might like a coffee mug that expresses how you feel about this razor. It does seem to be excellent and definitely unique and effective!

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