March '16 - 30 Day Rule/Focus Pix and Discussion Thread

Hello, and welcome to our little 30 Day thread! Glad you found us!

It is indeed a concept that cannot be quantified numerically. It is indeed a philosophical and strategic approach, rather than a dividing line or numerical limit.

My personal philosophy is to focus on the process, and the outcome will follow. When I first started DE shaving, I would in fact "chase the baby", and this resulted in the usage of too many passes and too much pressure on the razor. The idea is that only when a tool is wielded with optimal technique will it yield optimal results. The general advice of not "chasing the baby" is meant to encourage a focus upon shaving well, rather than obtaining BBS. It has generally worked out better for me this way, as some of my worst, most irritating shaves resulted in BBS.

 

There are so many factors and while technique is critical beard type will also have an impact on achieving BBS. some people can get a BBS easily while people like me need to go ATG on the 4 pass to achieve it and for some it is impossible without a lot of irritation.

Just focus on getting better. This thread is good because it encourages you to focus on your result and why. As you try different techniques, learn your beard and improve your technique the BBS will find you.

Part of the experience is chasing the baby, over shaving and making mistakes, that is how we learn.

Enjoy the ride!

 

I quickly found that chasing the baby cause me lots of irritation, so I stopped. I also found that after working on my technique, the baby could just come on its own. Given that, I tried to build some consistency into my shaves, which allowed me to worry more about technique. I guess that patience is needed for babies.

Cookies make everything better, though.

 

Happy Birthday @Drygulch.

 

Happy Birthday @Drygulch

 

Straights Focus March 4:

Stirling Synthetic Brush
Stirling San Antonio SS
Henry Sears and Son Queen 3/4
Stirling Unscented PSB -- Mentholated
Clubman AS

I am running a tad late this morning, so I was a little quick on the shave. I ended with a SAS, which is more than acceptable for a Friday. Still nice and smooth with the razor, though. Have a great Friday!

 

03/04/2016
Wolfman OC with Triad SS
Feather (3)
Shavemac Silvertip D01
Mystic Water Orange Vanilla Shave Stick
Witch Hazel
Folsom & Co Shambala
Whipped Shea Butter


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Sticking with a 2 pass shave, XTG and ATG, followed by some minor touch ups along my jaw line and neck ended in a near BBS. The Mystic Water Orange Vanilla has a great scent with the sweet warm notes of vanilla leading the way as soap is applied to your face. As soon as I started lathering the scent of orange zest took over. I love the slickness and post shave feel of Mystic Water soaps. Finished off with a splash of F&C Shambala to keep the citrus theme going. Happy Friday everyone.

 

30 Day Focus March 4, 2016
Gillette Heavy Tech / Gillette Silver Blue
Omega / La Toja Cream
WH / shea butter / Proraso ASB

First time shave with La Toja Cream. Very nice, lots of slick lather...scent isn't in my Top 5 , but it is not unpleasant. Very mineral-ish kind of scent. I think I just need to experiment to find a good ASB to match with this cream. I can see this as a nice travel cream. The Omega paired nicely with this cream.

 

March 4 - Straight Shave 6
Henckels Twin Works #50
PSO, hot shower
Omega 10066 Boar Shaving Brush
Route 66 Sea & Citrus soap
Alum, Nivea balm, Pinuad Clubman
Mod Cabin Beard oil

Great shave! Cheeks DFS near BBS. Neck isn't bad, not quite DFS.

 

Your Omega 10066 is looking awesome!! The 10066 is one of those hidden gems.

 

3/4/16 - Shave #81 for the year and Shave #1 with a Gillette Silver Blue

This is my actual first day of my blade trial in the Blackbird. I used a Fatboy for the first three days of the month. The Fatboy is a fine razor, but compared to the Blackbird, is like flying a cropduster instead of a stealthy jet. It got the job done, but without the sleek style and effortless glide of the Blackbird. The Gillette Silver Blue blade was fine enough in the Fatboy, but it is even better in the Blackbird. My chin, jawline and neck are smooth for the first time in a few days. This shave was effortless and if I had a 100 GSBs, I would be set for a couple of years. However, I only have 3 more GSB blades, so now I will see how long one lasts in the bird.

I just may have to put ALL of my other razors in the back of a drawer and let my kids find them after they haul my carcass out of this house in 30 years or so.

 

SOTD March 4, 2016
March focus shave 4

Prep: Warm shower
Blade: Personna lab blue (4)
Razor: Maggard MR1 handle with V2 open comb
Brush: Omega 10049 boar
Lather: Soap Commander Vision
Post: Witch hazel splash, Nivea sensitive balm
WTG, touch-up

Nice shave this morning. CCS results with one pass and touch-up on the neck area mainly. Soap Commander Vision has a fresh, minty scent that I really enjoy. Of course it lathers up nicely and provides great slickness and protection. The Omega brush is a big boar and whips up tons of lather with little time and effort.

I get great results with the V2 open comb from Maggard. My razor choice is pretty limited but I think the MR1 handle with V2OC would be my main choice or daily shaver. It's an efficient razor.

This Vision soap is a sample. I think I've shaved with it five or six times and can probably get two or three more shaves out of it. That's a long life for a sample! I'm eager to try some of their other scents, particularly Endurance. I have several more samples to enjoy.

Happy Friday to everyone!

 

SOTD
March 4, 2016
Prep: Hot Shower. Noxzema
Razor: Gillette Aristocrat
Blade: Ladas
Lather: The Strop Shoppe Russian Tea
Brush: RazoRock Plissoft Disruptor
Post: Thayers Rose Petal WH. Gold Bond Ultimate
Aftershave: Folsom & Co. Black Powder
Great shave. New soap, The Strop Shoppe Russian Tea is amazing. A beautiful orange, clove and spice filled shave of love. This soap is a top performers! Easy to lather, very slick, plenty of cushion, outstanding post shave skincare. I almost didn't want to use an aftershave. If you don't have TSS I highly recommend this one, and you better hurry as they are going out of business
The Aristocrat. The best Gillette ever made.
It's hard not to like the RR Plissoft line of brushes.
Never let the things you WANT
Make you forget the things you HAVE!

 

@Bama Samurai managed nearly a month on a single GSB. If I remember correctly he changed it from boredom more than need. I've only stretched them out 5 days but I'm afraid to try more.

 

Yes, it has really broke in nicely. I can't really compare it against much yet, but I like it.

 

Ha ha.

 

You really seem to making quick progress with the straight! Congrats!

 

Injector Focus
I got a little distracted today by my new brush. My Jayaruh #44 arrived last night and it's purty. I lathered up some Route 66 with it and got a great shave on day five with a Chick blade.
SOTD
Route 66 Retro Spice
Jayaruh brush
Schick E-2
Chick blade (5)
Alum
Ogallala Bay Rum AS
Happy Friday!

 

Thanks. I must have used one in a past life or something. Still a long way from proficient with it, but I don't feel completely awkward either. Just take my time and focus.. It probably helped working on using both hands and skin stretching for a couple weeks when I was using a DE.

 

It took me a while to finally get around to getting an alum block, but it has been a great purchase. In addition to helping like Adam said with stretching and pulling the skin, the feedback on the face after a shave is great. A little irritation, yep it will let you know. A nice well done shave, it is as cool as ice. I only wish Chris (@Bama Samurai) had said something about the alum block before.