January 2016 30 Day Rule/Focus Pic&Discussion Thread

Thanks, Roby, for the kind words!

 

Is there a test later?

 

Yes. Open book. Eyes closed.

 

SOTD January 11, 2016
Focus Day 8

Prep: Warm shower
Blade: Rapira Stainless
Razor: Wet Shave Club 3-piece
Brush: Satin Tip 'The Purest' synthetic
Lather: Proraso White
Post: Witch hazel splash, Speick, a/s, Nivea sensitive balm
WTG, XTG (neck and jaw line only), minor touch-up

This combination continues to work well. Proraso White is easy to lather and goes on easily, sometimes a little pasty, but never thin and disappointing. It has been a great choice for the focus.

The Rapira blade is the Stainless variety. I used the Swedish Supersteel all last week. The Stainless seems to be a good choice for me. It worked well today and I'll see how it does the rest of this week.

Have a great rest of the day!

 

1/10/16 Head Shave

My focus on the Blackbird includes head shaving every few days. BB did another fantastic job on my scalp.

Prep: warm wash
Lather: Palmolive Lemon cream
Brush: Omega 10066
Razor: Blackbird
Blade: Persona blue (4)
Post: Clubman Vanilla

I ought to note that I am trying to use up this tube of cream that has been bouncing around in my Dopp kit for a couple of years. I love the stuff. Might get some more in 5 years when I use up the rest of my soaps!

 

+1

 

Menthol Monday, January 11, 2016

One Blade
Feather FHS-10 #2
Varlet Beehive
Route 66 Frozen Margaritas
Sterling Magaritas In The Arctic Witch Hazel, Unrefined Shea Butter
Chiseled Face Cryogen

Last minute change. Krampert's Frostbite Soap and Aftershave instead of the above. Today's shave was cold, smooth, and close. Two passes, closeness A and irritation A+. Have a great Monday everyone.

 

January 2016

Straight Feather Goose Focus

January 10



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 - (7)
Brush - Wolf Whiskers Custom Silvertip
Soap - Mitchell's Wool Fat
Post - Cold Water, Alum, Nivea, The Veg

It's finally FRIDAY!!! Yeah, I know, just for me. Strange week coming up, though, as I am off tomorrow as usual but flying to Chicago in the evening. Then I have three days of meetings there and will be home Thursday evening late. Friday is off, then Saturday and Sunday back on. Current temperature in Chicago is 8 degrees. STL is only slightly warmer. Great time of the year to fly North.

Having said all of that it's also time to say that day seven on the Feather Pro in the Mongoose was another great shave. The WW brush and MWF is almost as good as the BoSFat. And, two passes and a bit of touch up later I had BBS to head to work with. I'm still debating the feel of the Goose for me. I love my vintage DE's so using this, while definitely a treat and an incredibly fine razor, almost feels like cheating. Maybe if there was a Russian blade option for the razor but I have yet to find a Russian AC blade. Anyway, great result and......I finished with the Veg again and guess what.....yep......great sales day. Superstitious or not, I've found my A'S. Not only is it delightful to wear it's also MONEY baby!!!

Enjoy your Monday morning as I sleep in a bit. Oops, didn't mean to be rude.

​

 

Neal, I'm glad you're enjoying the Goose. Have safe travels to Chicago.

 

Thanks. Commuter jets both ways and I love those planes. A lot more fun than the big boys.

 

Great shave, last two days. Now the bad news...Project SR is on hold. I cut my left index finger while working with a wood chisel. It required two stitches, and I am gonna hold off on SR until I get the stitches out. No need for anyone to worry or be concerned at all, it was a superficial wound, it just needed some help. I'll be all good in 8-12 days. If any off the newer guys want me to work through things on a DE for the next ten days, I'll be using a Weishi or an 89 type and would love to help you enjoy your new gear.

 

Oh yeah Tom, congratulations on what sounds like a breakthrough shave -- that's my experience too. One of the coolest facets of the focus is that I'm finding out things I had not expected to. I am very pleased discovering the regions of my beard that often give me trouble -- they are revealing themselves like crazy! I know that this will help me in the future, no matter WHAT setup I'm using -- my beard is the same and, very likely, the same problem areas will continue to need special attention. That's the good news . . .

The bad news is that my face is aging, and the number of trouble spots for shaving does not decrease as I age -- the aging neck is particularly prone to sag and add a new dimension of difficulty for shaving in that area (the gobbler). The only solution is to adjust my technique, and that's a major benefit of a focus like this -- getting all the other elements of a complete shave into a comfortable groove, so I can focus on areas needing work.

So -- I'm thoroughly sold on the focus idea (thanks again, Bama Samurai) and I will be doing many similar focus strategies on my own in the future. I've got an idea to have a focus including all the blades I'd previously decided I did not like, giving each one a fair second chance -- fascinating.

 

Chris, I'm glad your injury wasn't too serious. Heal up quickly and completely, my friend.

 

Thanks Charlie. Mostly my finger is annoying, just needed a stitch to stay closed. It's not deep, no real damage done, didn't even really hurt.

On Second thought, tomorrow is FB with Murica's finest blade.

 

I am glad to hear that a focused approach suits you! There is something to be learned each month. I like the idea of your blade revisitation tour. It will be interesting to see how/if your opinions are different this time around.

 

Three days in Chicago calls for a trip to Q Brothers shaving shop on Lincoln Ave.

 

If only I had the time. Unfortunately this is all business. No real free time so that sucks.

 

That does suck. You should retire like me.