January 2016 30 Day Rule/Focus Pic&Discussion Thread

Thanks! I've been quite pleased with how things have improved this month. The blade angle and pressure continue to improve. But I've been pleased the most with my decision and discipline to limit the number of passes and avoid irritation. My cheeks don't need multiple passes for a comfortable shave, although I do have to shave the neck area twice generally. I'm not getting BBS by any means but I'm not trying either. When I have more time one day soon I'll go through two or three full passes for that amazing smoothness, but for now I'm content to improve and get enjoyable shaves.

 

When I first converted, I could only stand to shave every 48 hours, but after a couple of 30 Day Rules in autumn 2014, I developed good enough technique that two passes every 24 hours yields DFS automatically. Limiting passes really does help. Keep on keeping on!

 

Blackbird focus-evening head shave

I received a new brush via a trade today - Bob Quinn E7 with WSP high mountain white knot. Wow, what a brush! After I cleaned the brush I went ahead and scalp lathered up with the Soap Exchange tallow soap and had a quick 2 pass head shave. Excellent results!

 

You've got the right idea. And when you do those three passes, they'll be very light and very rewarding!

 

Thanks, Charlie. It has been a very good month shaving so far. I never really thought I would be able to make straights work every day, but I have seen it is definitely possible. It is also a lot of fun.

 

I am pretty certain that I could make this work out so that I only needed to shave every other day. It seems that the shaves last a bit longer with a straight. Even though I did not get my face quite as smooth this morning, I now have about as much growth as I normally would with a DFS using a DE.

 

Thank you, Mark.

 

Jan 20 Focus Shave 15

I may be in my head but I think I like the edges from my new Shapton 16k so another round with a razor touched up with this stone.

I refreshed my Hart Steel 6/8 round point following a routine I learned from @entropy1049, using a pyramid starting with a Shapton 12k ceramic and finishing with a Shapton 16k glass stone. Then out of caution I used a pasted strop with Dove red/black. I then stropped the blade.

The shave felt smooth, the edge kind but sharp. 4 passes and one tiny nick and one tiny weeper. I felt like I nailed the shave and the alum test gave a little bit of feedback, I thought there would be zero but instead just a little. I also caught the baby. So another good shave. I really think it is more technique than the edge. I am over 100 shaves with SR now and I feel I am getting more consistent.

Irritation A- Closeness A Smoothness A Keenness A-

Castle Forbes Cedarwood and Sandalwood
Thäter silver tip
Whitehead scuttle
Hart Steel 6/8
SRD strop
Speick AS
L'Occitane Cade ASB
Amouage Memoir Man

 

Shave eight of my january focus. I've pushed my Astra SP blade longer than I usually do, and I'm crediting the focus with that -- my angle is much better and, as a consequence, my shave is smoother.

 

It appears Boar and Synthetic are headed for a photo for runner-up, from the survey. I know, I know.....11 long days left.

 

We loved it. Our 8 year old grandson adored the Harry Potter areas and the Hogwarts Express train between them. Universal really did a great job. It is easily the most popular part of their combined property in Orlando. The same folks that designed the sets for the movies designed the buildings at Universal. I fell in love with the series after previewing the first movie before showing it to our nephew. Wound up reading each book before seeing the movie. Give in to your fiancée and your daughter. If you haven't seen the movies or read the books, check them out and watch with them. You'll be happy, they'll be happy, life will be good. And you might even enjoy the park more afterwards.

 

I found a Christmas gift set in the back of a closet at my moms. It was a 5 year old Gilette fusion power set. Today I used the canned gel and the aftershave balm with my WD 6/8 straight and got a 1 1/2 pass CCS. My last shave was Friday so it had quite a bit to mow down. I wet my face drippy before I rubbed on the gel foam. Whole pass N/S and a Hal pass on the neck S/N. I was really only after a close trim. I'll shave well tomorrow.

 

Planned SOTD January 20, 2016
Focus day 17

Prep: Warm shower
Blade: Rapira Stainless (2)
Razor: Wet Shave Club 3-piece
Brush: Satin Tip 'The Purest' synthetic
Lather: Proraso White shaving soap
Post: Witch hazel splash, Nivea sensitive balm
WTG, touch-up

Smooth CCS this morning. This combination works quite well for me. I mentioned in the SOTD thread that I have been bearing down more with the Satin Tip brush while loading and while face lathering. It's a really soft brush and I've been getting better results with more pressure. The soap suds spill all over the side of the Proraso container, but I just catch all of that with my left hand and apply it to my face before face lathering.

Nice shave overall. Hope you all have a great Wednesday!

 

January 19, 2016

30-day focus with my Schick Type C1 - The Simplified Schick Automatic Razor.

Shave 12

Razor: Schick Type C1
Blade: FergieFeather (1)
(Feather AC Pro, cut down to fit as suggested by @Billyfergie )
Soap: RazoRock P.160

Growth from Monday's shave with Personna74 was minimal, but just enough stubble on chin and jaw requiring a workday shave for afternoon meetings.

I did two passes (WTG, ATG). Had used a Feather AC Pro in a Mongoose in November, but wanted to do WTG just to get a feel for the blade in the C1.

I'm very confident with my blade angle having gotten used to this razor in the first half of the month. But this blade is so very sharp - it showed me where my technique is not perfect with three weepers that I never felt - cheek, chin, corner of mouth.

If nothing else this blade will definitely cause me to laser-focus on my technique with every stroke. It certainly requires a 'feather-like touch.'

Other than the few weepers that disappeared with cold water and sealed shut with witch hazel, this is certainly a blade that could see regular use in the C1 and I look forward to trying it in other injectors as I get as comfortable with those as I am with the C1.

Cheers!
RT

 

Which MacGyver episode was this?

 

Also @Drygulch

I did that the day after @RaZorBurn123 was writing about the efficiency of his new razor. This technique may have some SR potential.

 

Very nice! Indeed, lower and more consistent blade angles prevent "rolling" or "blunting" the bevel of the thin DE blade. When I first started, I was blunting the edges, without realizing it, by using a high a scraping angle. Three days and any brand I tried was dull. After learning more correct technique, I got 21 shaves from a GSB, 12 from a Derby and can hit 5-7 easily on any blade. Glad you're getting unintended good results!

(This was my experience only, and is not intended as a predictor of usable blade life for anyone else. Too many variables involved.)

 

As I look at the vote distribution, it's interesting that a majority of shavers do not use badger. That actually surprises me quite a bit.

 

Beautiful brush! Good trade.