January 2016 30 Day Rule/Focus Pic&Discussion Thread

I am missing the B2 and B3, but I think I have everything else covered. Still need to shave with my B1 and C2, though.

 

Ouch! Wishing you a speedy recover.

 

I agree.

 

So many razors, yet only one shave per day.
We all have such problems!

 

SOTD January 14, 2016
Focus day 11

Prep: Warm shower
Blade: Rapira Stainless (4)
Razor: Wet Shave Club 3-piece
Brush: Satin Tip 'The Purest' synthetic
Lather: Proraso White
Post: Witch hazel splash, Nivea sensitive balm
WTG, touch-up (jaw and neck)

Efficient CCS shave this morning. There was a bit of tugging on my beck on the first pass. I think it was probably due to the lather drying a bit again because it didn't replicate during touch-up. I'm not sure if it had to do with the blade or not, but I don't think so. The Rapira blade has been a good performer all along.

I'm still going with the "less is more" approach as far as number of passes. I caught myself pressing a little too hard about halfway through the shave so I need to remind myself about pressure. However, my technique has definitely improved.

Tomorrow I'll be trying out a new-to-me Omega 10049 boar brush, courtesy of The Bargain PIF and @Marverel. I tried a few test lathers last night and - WOW - the amount of lather was quite prodigious. It'll be fun to give it a spin in an actual shave. Not sure of my soap choice yet though. I've thought about Arko, VDH luxury, MWF, a Soap Commander, or Maggards Tobacco and Leather. All of those are in a mug or a container that could withstand that large brush.

Hope you all have a great Thursday!

 

The technique you're using on the Semogue is a good one, I do it that way also.

 

Congrats on your good shave today! Tabac is a favorite of mine also.

Enjoy your Slim! I did a 30 day focus with mine back in August. Because it's adjustable, it can take on many different characteristics.

 

I made a nice discovery this morning during my shave. I had been doing two ATG passes on my lower neck. The results have been good, but it always required some touch up to get near BBS. This morning, I went ATG for the first pass, and I did some XTG j-hooks for my second pass. The results were much better. I'd call it a much more productive second pass. I'm near BBS without the need for those additional touch-ups.

There's always something to learn when you stay focused on your technique. I hope you gents have some good shaves today, and I look forward to learning from you as well.

 

Straights Focus January 14:

Homemade PS Oil
Stirling Synthetic Brush
Stirling Port-au-Prince
Ralf Aust 5/8
Stirling Unscented PSB
Tabac AS

Today's shave was not quite as good as yesterday, but still very good. I have just a little bit of irritation, and managed a DFS. I used a combination of soap and AS that was one of first I had, but I haven't used in a while. It was a nice start to my day, which is SWMBO's birthday.

 

01/14/2016
Razor – AlumiGoose with Triad Ti
Blade – Feather Super Pro (7)
Brush – Shavemac Silvertip D01
Lather – Tiki Cabernet Neroli
Post - Witch Hazel followed by Folsom & Co Shambala



Another great 3 pass near BBS shave this morning even though I did end up with one weeper due to my error. I am really enjoying the Tiki Cabernet Neroli soap. It performs very well and I like the red wine and citrus scent. Finished off with a splash of F&C Shambala to keep the citrus theme going. I hope everyone has a great Thursday.

 

Hmmmm.... Reminds me of the last time I used a Derby.

 

I've decided to just keep using the Persona blade until it no longer feels right or isn't getting the job done. Shave 8 was effortless, smooth and comfortable. 2 passes with the blackbird and another near BBS.

Have a great day!

 

SOTD
January 14, 2016
Prep: Hot Shower. Axe Energizing Face Wash Boost
Razor: iKon B1 Standard
Blade: Personna Lab Blue
Lather: Chiseled Face Sherlock
Brush: RazoRock Plissoft
Post: Thayers Cucumber WH. Gold Bond Ultimate
Aftershave: Chiseled Face Sherlock
I'm not sure if I could get a closer shave without any problems..The iKon B1 Standard is serious business. I don't feel the blade on my face but it sure does hack away my whiskers. CF Sherlock is a fantastic product.
Never let the things you WANT
Make you forget the things you HAVE!

 

Excellent blade, beautiful bowl.

 

I found with certain razors, like my super speed, I have to do some j-hooks around either side of the Adam's apple if I was going to get anything close to BBS. Other razors it is not required, but that one did every time. Of course, in that area I have hair that grows in about every direction so the overlapping j-hooks probably figure out a way to get ATG and XTG to most of it.

 

Happy birthday to your wife! Hopefully y'all have some good plans to celebrate! Enjoy the day!

 

J-hooking scares me! I'm not sure I'm ready for that yet. I have to really watch my neck and be careful down there. Perhaps J-hooking can be learned with time, but it frightens me at the moment!

 

Thursday, January 14, 2015
One Blade
Feather FHS-10 #3
Paladin Butterscotch Marble PK-47
Barrister and Mann Bay Rum
Which Hazel +Menthol, Whipped Shea Butter
DCCS Small Batch Shave Tonic

One thing for sure, it's had to put down this razor. It's just that good. Today's shave was the usual two passes +Clean up. On the third shave out of the gate, the FHS blade remained reasonably smooth. There was some tugging, but the end result was another fabulously close shave, closeness A and Irritation A+. The smells of today's shave were excellent. B&M Bay Rum +1, Cucumber Melon Shea Butter, and the Small Batch Shave tonic. This was my third shave with The One Blade. All three were excellent shaves.
Have a terrific Thursday everyone.

 

It was 5 or so months before I even tried it the first time. It was a couple months later that I decided that it would become a regular part of my routine if needed in that area. Definitely no need to rush into techniques like J-hooking. Get the basics down and take your time getting good overall technique then see where things stand with your neck. You may find it is not needed or only needed in limited circumstances. The main thing for me was determining beard growth direction and making certain that my XTG and ATG passes actually were XTG and ATG. Once I got that figured out, much of my neck became significantly better without the need for j-hooking or other techniques.

 

Tabac's been around a while, I see.