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

30 Day Focus March 5, 2016

Noxema preshave
Gillette Heavy Tech / Gillette Silver Blue
Semogue / Cella
WH / shea butter / Proraso ASB
Today it was the battle of Flash versus Cella. Cella, of course won!. This Semogue brush has shorter bristles and it seems to work better in small soap tub...like Cella. A great shave. Enjoy the Saturday gents!

 

3/5/16

Gillette Birth Quarter Tech (Y3)
Gillette Platinum Plus (2)
Vulfix Super Badger (660)
Stirling Margaritas in the Arctic
C.O. Bigelow
Georgetown G12 Scuttle
Pinaud Clubman Original



An interesting shave and one I hope I don't repeat anytime soon. I decided to finish off my Stirling Margaritas in the Arctic. There was just a small ring in my sample container and I thought I might not have enough, so I brought out the C.O. Bigelow to have on hand if needed. I was surprised that I was able to get what appeared to be enough product, and went to work in my scuttle. The lather looked good, but really wasn't. My first pass revealed that it was just too dry. No glide. My razor skipped around. I made it through that pass and added water to the lather until it looked much better. I applied it to my face and found that it was too wet. Still no glide and now, no cushion. Seemed little better than soapy water. I squeezed out my brush and that looked good and felt slick, so I did some touch up with it. Looks can be deceiving. I rinsed off my face and found that I had barely a DFS on my neck and jawline. My cheeks were better: DFS+. I'd had enough of the Mita.
Rinsed out my brush and scuttle and then went with the C.O. Bigelow for the save. Built the lather in the scuttle and it really turned out well. I did almost a full pass because of the large areas that still needed reduction. Then, a cold water rinse and some additional touch up on my neck. The result? A BBS. The Clubman burned like fire and my neck was red afterwards, but started feeling nice shortly afterwards.

Not something I'm anxious to repeat, but I don't feel any discomfort, so all is well. I often test a small amount of lather off my brush with my fingers once I’ve built my lather. It looks like I was too accepting of what I thought I felt when evaluating the Mita lather. I’ll have to pay closer attention to this in the future.

I hope everyone has a nice Saturday.

 

Injector Focus
Today I used my new Schick E-4 after using an E-2 all week. After one shave, I didn't notice any difference. I got a fantastic two pass shave and am really starting to like the Type E razors.
On a side note, you guys in the focus group really brought me out of my shell. This is my 3000th post and I wouldn't have half that without you guys. I have learned so much in here and look forward to checking in daily.
SOTD
Route 66 Retro Spice
Jayaruh #44 brush
Schick E-4
Alum
Déjà Fougère AS
Have a great weekend!

Time for a group hug

 

03/05/2016
Gillette Red & Black New Deluxe
Feather (1)
Rudy Vey with Shavemac Finest
Jabonman Citricos
Witch Hazel
Folsom & Co Capri
Whipped Shea Butter


​

This shave was a great start to the weekend. After spending a week with a the Shavemac D01 I wanted some soft luxury. This brush with the Shavemac Finest Knot is the softest most luxurious brush I own and it whipped up the Jabonman effortlessly. For the razor, I went with the Red & Black New Deluxe. It's similar to a New LC but does shave a bit differently. Using a 3 pass shave with minor touch ups I am near BBS. Finished off with a splash of F&C Capri. Overall a very enjoyable shave. I hope everyone has a great Saturday.

 

I think my "focus" will be to put a temporary halt to purchasing anything special. Just yesterday, I sent in for a couple Chiseled Face aftershaves, and that should do me well, with all else I have(including the raffle prize). Bill Mennen, if you're listening, don't worry ol'man, I'll make you happy come summer with your Skin -Bracer(that goes for the late Jack Palance, too......"confidence is sexaaaahhhh, don't you think?)"....but I'm in good shape as spring approaches,.

 

Thanks!
It was in decent shape, I cleaned up some light staining, then sent it to @gssixgun who fixed some edge issues and honed it up nicely. Shaves great!

 

Oh no Charlie!! Any mention of a knee injury makes me squirm-ish... ice, keep it up, stay off it, shop online for something nice for your Bride.
Charlie, feeling my head right now 17 hours since I shaved I can't feel a growth pattern, now that you have me thinking about when I go 48 hours without shaving my head I can feel a pattern only when I'm doing touch up. I have a full head of hair still and I can't feel the growth pattern because the hairs are too close. If that makes sense?
Yes my back is feeling better!! Thanks for asking.
Get better Charlie!!

 

Congrats on 3000!

 

Razor: Gillette Super Speed Flare Tip 1955
Blade: Wilkinson (6)
Brush: WDC-7 Silvertip Olivewood Handle 24/67
Soap: Route 66 The Perfect Gent
A/S: Route 66 The Perfect Gent (test)
Excellent shave today with this brush, soap combination. I set the loft a little higher on WDC-7 (50mm). This seems to be a perfect loft for me. The lather was amazing which made a DFS easy to obtain.

 

SOTD
March 5, 2016
Prep: Hot Shower. Noxzema
Razor: Gillette Super Speed Flare Tip E1
Blade: Ladas
Lather: Beaver Woodwright Captain's Pipe
Brush: RazoRock Plissoft Disruptor
Post: Thayers Rose Petal WH. Gold Bond Ultimate
Aftershave: Myrsol F/Extra
Great shave! First time using Beaver Woodwright Captain's Pipe. WOW!! WOW!! Tobacco and cherry. Awesome. I can't wait for the matching aftershave to arrive. 3 pass very smooth shave, although I wanted to keep going I stopped.
Never let the things you WANT
Make you forget the things you HAVE!

 

Straights Focus March 5:

Stirling Synthetic Brush
Stirling British Leather SS
W&B Congress Razor
Stirling Unscented PSB
Stirling British Leather AS

I just got this razor on the mail yesterday, which I won in the TSD raffle. A big thanks to @entropy1049 for donating it. This is my first wedge, and I immediately could tell how heavy the blade was. In my short time shaving with straights, I have found I prefer heavier blades, so this was perfect. On my first stroke, I could tell how quiet the blad was compared to my other razors. It was definitely a little different.

I only had time for a single pass, and I ended with a CCS. Tomorrow, I plan to wake up early before everyone else so I can get a multi-pass shave in. Based on today's shave, I may not need to shave Monday morning. I know it is only one shave, but I really enjoy this razor.

 

Saturday's Shave
Cold water this week
Pso-Homemade mint oil
Razor-Gillette Flair Tip Super Speed
Blade-Feather (3)
Brush-Omega S
Soap- Van der Hagen
Thayers Witch Hazel
ASB-Nivea Sensitive

I was working with 2 days growth tonight, it felt great to relax and let the past few days disappear, if only for a while. In my cartridge days, 2 days growth meant lots of irritation, not so tonight. I really like the Flair Tip/Feather combo and it worked great tonight. 3 passes, WTG, XTG and ATG for a DFS, BBS above the jawline. One nice thing about not shaving yesterday was I got to see my growth patterns. I have several swirls under my jawline and those are definitely my trouble spots. I finished with Thayers witch hazel for the first time tonight, I really like the way it feels and I will be using it over alum unless I'm bleeding. Have a great evening folks!

 

Today I leave for the motherland so I will not have any focus shaves. My travel kit includes a Ikon SB and CJB pain stick, neither of which are part of this months focus.

I will stop by Vegas first then onward to see my dad in South Carolina. I will check in when I have time to check everyones progress.

 

Safe travels

 

Have a good trip!

 

When I was you I dislocated my knee cap (patella) several times, very unpleasant. I hope it is just a minor injury and recover quickly.

 

I am forced to say it again-the Kent is upside down (chuk yuk yuk)

 

Safe travels!

 

Keith, I shattered my patella! 5 surgeries later it's still no good, the only answer is a complete knee replacement.

 

Keith,

Safe journeys to you! I hope you have a nice time in Nevada and a good visit with your father. We'll keep the Dark Side Bakery running smoothly in the interim. Have a nice trip!