January 2016 30 Day Rule/Focus Pic&Discussion Thread

SOTD January 28, 2016
Focus day 25

Prep: Warm shower
Blade: Astra SP (5)
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

Nice CCS this morning. Smooth, efficient shave. One pass with touch-up is all I needed. This was the fifth shave with the Astra blade. I will probably change it out tomorrow just for the sake of trying a new blade. The Astra could probably go a few more shaves and still be smooth. I've been really impressed with it this week.

I wish you all a great Thursday!

 

January 2016 Focus -- Blade search for the 1958 Executive

January 27

Razor: Gillette 1958 Executive adjustable
Blade: Feather
Brush: Stirling Kong
Soap: Proraso Red
Post: Cold water rinse, Witch Hazel, Fine American Blend


So I went from one of the dullest blades on the planet to what I have always heard is one of the sharpest. It lived up to its hype. It is a very sharp blade. Maybe even a touch sharper than the Bolzano. BUT it is no where near as smooth as the Bolzano or the GSB. Definitely sharp, just not sharp and smooth. Now I understand this blade has a tendency to get better and smoother after one use so we shall see what tomorrow and Friday bring.

On the first WTG/XTG pass I decided to try it at 6 instead of 7 just because of knowing the sharpness of this blade. Great reduction sliced through my coarse thick beard growth with no problems. Again just not as smooth feeling as the Bolzano. The second pass ATG I cranked it up to 7 and started at it. Again no problem for the blade slicing through what remained of my beard. Ended up with one weeper on my chin which I never noticed until just before the final cold water rinse. It closed immediately after the rinse so no problem.

After touch up it was a very good shave which was pretty much BBS for closeness but because of the weeper and a small patch I found about 4 hours after the shave I won't give it the BBS designation. The shave lasted me a good 9-10 hours which is excellent for me. A good blade so far and looking forward to tomorrow if it gets smoother.

 

Thank you, Mark!

 

IMO when you get right down to it Clubman is one of the best values. I enjoy the entire line.

 

27 January 2016

Day 27 - 90 Day Intro to SR



Whipped Dog "Sight Unseen" 5/8
L'Occitane Plisson Synthetic
Route 66 - Lumberjack
Alum
Pinaud Citrus Musk

Another DFS!

Have a terrific Thursday!
​

 

Agree. Used the Citrus!

 

+1. I have tried several, and the have all been good.

 

That Citrus Musk would appear to be an interesting competitor against Pinaud's "regular" Musk.

 

Sounds like the perfect night to me! Two changes....change "pizza" to Imo's and a pitcher of Schlafly. Bud is off limits since the damn Belgians bought them. Schlafly is a fantastic local brewer gaining ground by leaps and bounds. Their wheat bear is particularly good!

 

Finishing January on my feet!

Razor - Mongoose
Blade -
Brush - Vie Long 12601 - The Pony
Soap - Tabac
Post - Cold rinse, Alum, Nivea, The Veg

Back on track with the first work day in awhile. I was a bit off schedule since I'm still trying to get things going again. But, the shave was great. The Mongoose still performs exceedingly well with the Feather Pro providing a near BBS on two passes with some touch up. Not much though. Then, to celebrate being back on my feet it was time to finish with the Mighty VEG!!!! And, in true form it worked again, providing a successful sales day to get things restarted. It's a privilege to be chosen!
Hope your Wednesday was as good as mine ended up being. Not bad for my Monday at all. Now, if only I was fully recovered I would have come home to the best beer in STL these days. I have a six pack of Hefeweizen waiting for my return.

​

 

SOTD
January 28, 2016
Prep: Hot Shower. Noxzema
Razor: Gillette Flare Tip Super Speed 1959 E1
Blade: Personna Lab Blue
Lather: Tiki 1920's Barber Shoppe
Brush: Maggard 24mm Synthetic Marble Handle
Post: Thayers Cucumber WH. Gold Bond Ultimate
Aftershave: Clubman. Route 66 Casablanca
Fantastic shave. Tiki 1920's Barber Shoppe is excellent. This Maggard Synthetic brush is a great brush, I'm having a hard time putting it down. Route 66 Casablanca aftershave lotion is excellent!! I really enjoy the smooth shaves I get from my Gillette Flare Tip, effortless.
Never let the things you WANT
Make you forget the things you HAVE!

 

Straights Focus January 28:

Homemade PS Oil
Stirling Synthetic Brush
Stirling Cool
Ontario Cutlery Co
Stirling Unscented PSB
Old Spice Classic AS

I am going to finish up the week with this razor, and then swap to a new razor injury received. I had a nice shave this morning making a WTG and a little clean up along the jaw line and chin. This left me with a DFS. Have a great Thursday!

 

01/28/2016
AlumiGoose with Hempel Ti
Feather Pro (5)
Rudy Vey with Shavemac Finest
Tiki Cabernet Neroli
Witch Hazel
Folsom & Company Shambala
Whipped Shea Butter


​

A fantastic, automatic 2 pass near BBS shave this morning. The Tiki soap was very easy to lather into a wonderful slick lather. The red wine and citrus scent added to the experience. Finished up with a splash of F&C Shambala followed by whipped shea butter. I hope everyone has a great Thursday.

 

Beautiful brush clint

 

Thank you Tom.

 

1/28/16 - no photo today. The Blackbird and Persona blue blade continue to provide outstanding 2 pass shaves. I did a little touch up on my neck and called it good. This blade is really starting to impress me. Shave #12 was nearly as smooth as shave #1 and shows no signs of letting up. I will keep using it until it no longer provides a good shave or at least for 2 weeks - which will take me to Saturday. Not sure if that would impress my frugal Scots grandmother, but it does me.

 

I'm amazed how good your blades are doing. Is this entirely down to the blackbird or is technique a factor?

 

I'm thinking that the razor has a lot to do with the angle. I seem to instinctively get a low angle and I think that helps.

 

If angle has bearing on a blades lifespan then my angle is horribly wrong on my 1924. I'm barely getting 3 shaves per gem. Could be something For me to look at.

 

I know nothing about SEs so hopefully someone will chime in. I can't honestly say if the razor has anything to do with it, other than perhaps a placebo effect. But, I've never gotten this many shaves out of a DE blade, unless it was back in the late 70's when I started shaving off the soft down of an early teenager.