January 2016 30 Day Rule/Focus Pic&Discussion Thread

Broken toes are the worst... And you're right, at least it was sharp.

 

Not shown, but the mint rosemary is my favorite but I've been using it for a couple months but the vanilla I used tonight was pretty awesome. The lavender is pretty flowery. The sandelwood is better than tobs but not as nice as aos imho. I'll keep you posted but Simpsons cream is a really nice cream especially at 7 bucks a can!

 

Straights Focus January 12:

Homemade PS Oil
Stirling Synthetic Brush
Stirling Ben Franklin SS
Ralf Aust 5/8
Stirling Unscented PSB -- Mentholated
Stirling Ben Franklin AS

Yesterday's shave was a little better than I thought, as I woke up this morning not really needing a shave. I had a couple a rougher patches on my chin and neck, but the rest was almost a SAS without touching the razor. But since I work at a refinery (or at least that is the excuse I will use), I went ahead with my planned shave. I did decide to keep it to one pass, though. After working through a WTG pass. I was pretty smooth. The few patches I had noticed earlier needed a little touch up, so I spent a little time working those. I ended up with a CCS. The alum was very quiet as I wrapped up my shave with a little Stirling splash. My Tuesday is off to a great start, I hope everyone has the same.

 

1/12/16

Phoenix Double OC
Rapira Super Stainless (1)
Vulfix Super Badger (660)
C.O. Bigelow cream
Georgetown G12 Scuttle
Pinaud Clubman Original



Second shave with my Phoenix DOC loaded with a Rapira Super Stainless.
Used the C.O. Bigelow cream in anticipation of our upcoming trip to Florida. I hadn't used it since October. But I forgot to pull out the Frank Shaving Pur-tech Synthetic brush. I'll do that tomorrow. Did face lather and 2 full passes: Pass 1 XTG. Pass 2: ATG. Both with good reduction. Followed up my second pass with a medium amount of touch up with the lather already on my face. A cool water rinse and a medium amount of touch up in a few of my trouble spots brought me both a weeper and the baby. The Pinaud Clubman stung a bit today, but settled down quickly. The C.O. Bigelow left me with enough lather for at least another pass.

A nice comfortable BBS from the Phoenix DOC and the Rapira Super Stainless. C.O. Bigelow is easy to lather and pretty slick. It has the added benefit that my wife tried it while we were on our last vacation and really liked it. She wanted to use some last week, but the tube was empty. So, perfect excuse to stock up again.

Have a great Tuesday!

 

01/12/2016
Razor – AlumiGoose with Triad Ti
Blade – Feather Super Pro (5)
Brush – Shavemac Silvertip D01
Lather – Catie’s Bubbles Santal Sensuelle
Post - Witch Hazel followed by Captain’s Choice Sandalwood



I was up a little later than usual last night watching the College Championship Game so I am running a little behind this morning. Given that I decided to just go with a 2 pass shave, ATG followed by XTG. With touch ups in my usual spots, I ended up with a near BBS which is my normal for a work morning. Finished up with a splash of CC Sandalwood with menthol added. I hope everyone has a great Tuesday.

 

Only the Russian women use chisels, (heavier beards).

 

Blackbird
Persona (6)
Palmolive Lemon
Omega 10066
Old Spice

I continued with the 2 passes shaving downward only. Had a small touch up to the right jaw and chin and everything is great! 6th consecutive shave with near bbs results.

 

SOTD
January 12, 2016
Prep: Hot Shower. Axe Energizing Face Wash Boost
Razor: Gillette Aristocrat Junior #49
Blade: Personna Lab Blue
Lather: Crown King Sacré Bleu
Brush: RazoRock Plissoft
Post: Thayers Cucumber WH. Gold Bond Ultimate
Aftershave: Macho Sport. Fine L'Orange Noir
Superb shave. I really like the RR Plissoft brush. Day 3 of my Brut/Brut knockoff experience. Today Macho Sport, a big 8 ounce bottle for $1. This bottle does not have a flow re-stricter and that was an issue at 4am. No sting or burn at all, nice lemony, woodsy scent, because there is no re-stricter I probably used more than enough. So much that after about 10 minutes I had to wash my face, head and arms with soap and water. I went with Fine L'Orange Noir. Of the 2 Brut aftershaves I tried this week, Attitude and Dominant, and the knockoff Brut, Macho Sport! Dominant was #1 followed by Macho Sport and Attitude.

Never let the things you WANT
Make you forget the things you HAVE!

 

Third shave with the Merkur Futur - testing the limits



- RazoRock Mudder Focker
- Whipped Dog High Mountain Badger
- Merkur Futur set on 6
- Sputnik blade (#3)
- Pinaud Clubman (sample)

Now this was odd - definitely not what I had expected.

The Merkur on 6 was not noticeably more aggressive than it had been on 4 yesterday. On the contrary: I think ATG it was actually more gentle - and I have no idea why. Maybe the lather was a bit slicker than yesterday's, maybe I had a better angle or the stars aligned in a favorable manner. Whatever the reason might be - it was another enjoyable and very efficient shave with my new Merkur. Two passes, first WTG with some very nice reduction, next one A/XTG - no touchups necessary (at least I thought so). Wide open the razor gives some really nice audible feedback - a crackling sound as if you were walking over frozen snow I like that a lot.

Finished with cold water rinse and a nice splash of Pinaud Clubman. Another funny twist: My wife hated the scent directly from the sample vial but really liked it on me today. I like it too - but similar to the Lustray it seems to rather dry out than provide any skincare. But it didn't burn - that's something.

I would have rated this shave as a nice BBS one, but now, about half an hour later, I realize that I missed one of my trouble spots along the Jawline ... I can feel some roughness there ATG. So A- for smoothness and A+ for irritation today.

Have a great day everyone

 

30 Day Focus - Hard Soap
I'm on the road this week so I used my travel kit which includes Arko and my EJ DE89. I do like this soap. It face lathers like nothing else I've used. The lubrication is adequate as well. The only downside is that is makes my skin a little dry. I just finished off a tuck of Bic blades yesterday and I'm glad they are gone. Used a Feather today and remember why they are one of my favorites. Great shave today.
SOTD
Arko
AoS Pure Badger
EJ DE89
Feather (1)
MK Sport Cologne
Have fun!

 

I bet Frankie made a pretty good A.S.

 

The ears to Adam's apple pass is the one I have been struggling with too. That is ATG for me as well. Let me know if you figure out any tricks to make it happen.

 

I feel like a shorty would make it easier. I can't get my skin flat enough for the width of the razor unless I tilt the blade at a dangerous angle. The left side I got fairly smooth with a nice hardly felt stubble only when I put some pressure on my fingertips and rubbed ATG but the right is pretty rough. I might hone up a razor I have without scales and see if I can maneuver it better in that spot. Learning to use my left hand would probably help me but it feels like I could kill myself so I haven't tried more then a few times.

 

January 12, 2016 (Shave 6 of this Focus)
Razor: Cattaraugus model B52T 5/8 muted square tip
Strop: Drygulch Leatherworks Chromexcel Horse/ Linen
Soap: Jabonman Lima-Incienso
Brush: 28mm Ubersoft in Aluminum handle
Post Shave: Cold water rinse, Alum Bar, Witch Hazel
Aftershave: Lustray Blue Spice

Focus for this month is seeing how different treatments affect the edge. Second shave with Chief Cattaraugus, first one was off Welsh hones, with Chromium oxide, linen, and leather stropping. This time it was off a Colorado natural hone, with linen and leather stropping only. I am also going back to only two passes, with touch up. Three passes was giving me too much irritation, and not much of a better shave. I did a N/S and a S/N pass with no touch up today. Razor was sharp, but didn’t feel really smooth. I think that’s because I didn’t use the pasted strop. Neck was DFS plus, which is better than it has been with three passes. Had a couple of rough spots on my jay though. Calling the overall shave a DFS, B for closeness, A for irritation, C for smoothness, and B for keenness. Next shave will use the pasted strop, and see if that brings the edge back to where I want it.

 

How do you like that Lustray Blue Spice? Been thinking of ordering some.

 

I tried using my shorty on this pass and inadvertently stabbed myself in the neck. Nicely honed round tip dig right in. Good times.

 

I've never used a shorty but my parker style shavette makes this pass easy which is why I feel like I could do it with a shorty. I still struggle seeing around the scales while I'm shaving that direction on the right side. Maybe I should just break down and start using my left hand for February or March's focus. I'm not fond of round tips. I think I have one and I may cut it off some time and make it a spike tip.

 

Scent is classic old man or barber shop. Skin feel is good. Scent is not too long lasting. I have been using it as a splash on my non-shave days as well, because I really like the smell. Its a good inexpensive aftershave.

 

It looks like you have the DOC figured out! Sharp blades, low angle! Cool photo today too!

 

What a fourth quarter!