January 2016 30 Day Rule/Focus Pic&Discussion Thread

Glad things are going so well. Everything about straights appeals to me. They look cool as and the art form itself is very cool but from what I've heard it seems very time consuming and high maintenance. Would this be a fair comment?

 

I will go on record as saying I prefer a more aggressive DE setup. After trying aggressive injectors and learning how to shave with high blade gap and exposure, out in front of aggressive geometry, I hurt myself trying to get smooth with mild razors.

 

At least the chain saw is heavier than the razor so you can't get them mixed up.

 

Astra is a Russian blade and probably the bang-for-buck champ of DE blades, you're in the cartel already! We're insidious like that.

 

To be fair I've not chased the baby with a mild set up for the same reason. But I'm starting to settle for a dfs when pushed for time. I think saving the aggresive set up for a BBS at weekends will be both a treat and better on my skin.

 

Fair comment. It's more maintenance and fuss... But the "cool" factor is there in spades. Honestly, Tom, I would wait until you can shave in the dark with any safety razor for two pass dfs+ automatically. Get sloppy with a DE, you get razor burn, but sloppy with an SR means off to surgery for some sutures! Had I started just a couple months after converting from carts, I would have quit in frustration. Hanging out for a year let me learn everything I needed. It's been kinda easy for me because the blade and strop are the only two things I am learning. I mastered prep, lather, etc long ago freeing my mind to just shave!

 

I had no idea Astra was Russian. There's the newbie in me shining through. I've been in the cartel since day 1 and had absolutely no knowledge of my own involvement.

 

Glad to have you totally back and will continue to pray for your healing.

 

Happy to have you back. I'm glad you are feeling better.

 

I will certainly wait. I can't hand on heart say I've mastered the 1924 yet. Plus my wife would kill me with my new straight if I was to buy one. Thanks for the insight though.

 

When you are totally solid with the 1924, SR would be a reasonable progression. Those wide open razors teach you what good blade angles feel and sound like, critical feedback in straight razor world.

 

You fear the wife will give you the old "Glasgow Smile"?

 

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glasgow_smile

Many of my ancestors were Welshmen and Scots, love the slang.

 

I agree, the shaving is easy to learn. Stropping takes a little focus, and maintaining your edge takes a little more. The biggest challenge for me has been actual honing. It's taking more time than anything else related to shaving, but is the most rewarding when I get it right.

 

Haha I always knew it as the Chelsea smile from football (soccer) culture. I was unaware of the Scottish roots. Anyway I think my wife would skip that. I picture her doing it similar to the most chilling use of a straight I've seen in the movie drive.

 

I would say I only save about 5-7 minutes shaving with a DE. Mainly because I don't strop, dry, and polish my DEs after I use them. I agree with Chris that you have to have a good feel for how any blade is cutting on your face before you go to straights, or at least it makes it easier.

 

Is honing at all similar to sharpening a chisel? Can it be done on a power bench grinder?

 

January 26 - Day 6, Shave 5
Edwin Jagger DE89
Feather (2)
Pre-Shave Oil
Omega 10066 Boar Shaving Brush
Reef Point Dragon’s Blood
Alum, Pinaud Clubman
Mod Cabin Honeysuckle beard oil

Getting better at good lather, better at technique, another great shave!

Tried a black and white myself

 

I would love to work up to a straight razor. I never thought I would until I started using a DE. But now that I'm so into this, I have a goal of getting there. As you say, I'm a long way off from that. Someday...

 

January 26, 2016

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

I’ve been testing a variety of blades all month with this razor as I’d like to be comfortable using it as my travel razor.

Shave 17 - prior to hitting the road for a work retreat for the week in the Cascade mountain range of Washington state.

Razor: Schick Type C1
Blade: NOS Schick Twin Injector 1973 (2)
Soap: Saponificio Varesino 70th Anniversary
Brushes! : Rooney 3/3 Faux Ebony - "Super" Silvertip and
Stirling Kong Synthetic



This is the 6th and final blade type this month in the C1.
The wider and thicker twin blade was not made for this razor, but I was encouraged to give it a try by the experts over on the Injector and SE Party thread.

The combination of yesterday's and today's shave have proven why. Yesterday's shave was so close that I awoke this morning with minimal growth. This has happened a few times already this month. My reaction has been to go for the one-pass ATG shave.

Maintaining a very light touch (no pressure) and keeping the razor head flat against the face are the keys to a great shave with the C. This one-pass was going very well so I did some buffing on my trouble spots and was rewarded with the closest and smoothest shave since I left carts about 9 months ago. Minimal irritation in those buffing areas but repaired well with witch hazel the AS balm and a bit of cream from Gingers Garden.

Five hours later and I still have that 'dolphin-smooth' skin all over.

Would someone please confirm that facial hair grows at the same rate now in the winter as it does in the summer? Because I don't want to wake up from this dream.

Cheers!
RT

ps to an inquiry about the Rooney from @wristwatchb


Charlie, your question spurred me to do a side-by-side comparison today with the Rooney badger and the Stirling synthetic - one on each side of my face. I've used each of them two or three times on their own before. Am I right to assume a break-in period for the badger? Regardless, They are both great brushes right now.

Based on the side-by-side today:

Softness on face - Stirling
Lather production - Rooney
Water retention - Rooney

Each of those elements really were a remarkably close call and would not have been as distinguishable if I didn't do the side by side. Both are great big brushes and may keep me from needing any other brushes of that type.