April 2016 30 Day Rule/Focus Pix&Discussion Thread

You are absolutely sure you wanna do that? As if one month with the Derby wasn't enough, you just have to add Arko?
BTW - I have to be a smartass here: It's Fatip, not FatTip. Nothing fat about it

 

I actually like Arko!!! Derby is from Turkey, just like Arko. Turkey is lean like the razor (gotcha). I am conflicted though, I should be using a Russian blade. But in the news, according to some Putin-like leaders in Russia, Turkey might be back on the menu...so I went first. I didn't know what else to do!

 

You read my mind, this is Korea so Soju will be the anaesthetic of choice.

 

I have been debating give it a try... I just need to find a way to get it shipped. the 'less savoury coercive spell casting' was the nail in the coffin, I have to try it.

 

Okay - so I just finished my first straight razor shave this month:



- Jeeves of Hudson Street "Conservatory"
- Mühle STF 23mm
- Gold Dollar 208
- Tüff sensitiv Rasierwasser

First time I used this particular Jeeves soap. "Conservatory" (former "Mountain Rain") is a very "green" scent ... reminds me of a mix between a freshly mowed lawn and a greenhouse full of exotic flowers, spiced up with a bit of earthiness and a hint of pine flavor. At first I did not like it as much as the other two Jeeves soaps I have ("Turkish Bath" and "Eucalyptus & Spearmint"), but I think this one might grow on me. Performance is top notch as usual - easy lathering, great slickness and very nice postshave feel.

I performed 2 and a half passes today - one full pass WTG, another full one XTG and after that something between X and ATG on my cheeks only. I left out the neck because it already felt a little irritated. Holding the razor feels more and more natural now, though I still can't decide on the best way to shave XTG. I think it is most efficient when I shave the left side of my face with the right hand and vice versa.

I can easily shave N-S now. What I'm still struggling with though is keeping the correct angle all the time. Well - I guess I have enough time to learn it.

I'd rate this as DFS - Aftershave was pretty quiet, so it was a nice start into the April focus.

 

Yes, I've only had 6 shaves with the Rapira in my Techs, but they were all BBS. I'm looking forward to it!

 

4/2/16

Gillette New LC
Rapira Super Stainless (3)
Vulfix Super Badger (660)
Mitchel's Wool Fat
Georgetown G12 Scuttle
Pinaud Clubman Original



Third shave in my New LC loaded with the Rapira Super Stainless. I have a wedding to attend this afternoon and wanted above all to have a comfortable shave. The MWF provided plenty of rich creamy lather that was nice and slick.
Did 2 passes. First pass up on the cheeks, along the jaw lines toward the chin, and down on the neck (where I caught a mole slightly). Second pass from the neck tendons in to the center of the neck, slight angle (ear to nose) on the cheeks in a couple of spots, and down on the jaw joints. Used the lather I already had to redo the center of my neck with a few upstrokes. A cool water rinse followed by a small amount of touch up: down the tendon lines on my neck and on the two trouble spots on either side of my Adam's apple. The Clubman stung a small amount and settled down quickly. The mole I caught didn't bleed, but will take a while to settle down.

A nice comfortable surprise near BBS shave. I hope you all have pleasant surprises in store for you today too. Have a great weekend!

 

"Blame" the Derby!

 

04/02/2016
Gem 1912 Damaskeene
GEM PTFE (1)
WDC-8 with Druida Manchurian
Tiki Cabernet Neroli
Witch Hazel
Folsom & Co Capri
Whipped Shea Butter



​

The WDC-8 whipped up the Tiki into a rich slick lather. The soap's scent is a delightful mix of red wine and citrus. This is my first time using the Gem Damaskeene this year. For me I have better results when I palm strop the Gem Blades before the first use. This seems to make the first shave on the blade smoother. With a nice slick lather as a base, I could hear the whiskers being mowed down on the first pass. This is one loud razor. I usually have a lot of trouble with Gem razor above my lips but today was much easier for me. Overall the results of 3 passes and touch ups were not quite my normal near BBS but pretty close. I think with more use I can do much better. Finished up with a splash of F&C Capri. I hope everyone has a great Saturday.

 

Best of luck Perry. Hope to see you soon.

 

I should also have noted in my 30 Day Focus that another challenge will be for me to come up with a different picture for the same soap over the month!. This shouldn't be a problem because I always mix up my pre-shave, brush, and post shave treatments. Today for April 2, 2016

Proraso preshave cream
Gillette Heavy Tech / Astra SP
Simpsons Special / TOBS Natural
Proraso Green ASB

 

SOTD
April 2, 2016
Prep: Hot Shower. Noxzema
Razor: Gillette Super Speed Flare Tip E1
Blade: Personna Lab Blue
Lather: Mystic Water Jeff's Lavender
Brush: RazoRock Plissoft
Post: Thayers Rose Petal WH. Gold Bond Ultimate
Aftershave: Folsom & Co. Capri
This Gillette Super Speed Flare Tip very well may be my favorite razor. Second time using Mystic Water Jeff's Lavender, fantastic soap!! I most definitely will be adding more Mystic Water Soap. Btw, I lathered this soap like I do every soap, no issues at all.
Be a blessing to someone else

 

Well, the more I thought about it and saw all my goodies at home, I've reconsidered for this month. I will join in! My focus choice will be right up the alley for @NCoxSTL and other cartel folks. Adam (@Drygulch) sent me four types of Russo blades in the Upgrade PIF from last month.

Therefore I plan to use Russian blades this month in my DE razors. I'll post when I can because I'll be out of town a few days this month. Plus I will use some SE razors from time to time and don't have Russian blades for those. But I'll still post my shaves in here regardless.

I'll chose from Rapira, Voshkod, Gillette, Sputnik, and others throughout the month.

I'm glad to have a focus and will enjoy the thread yet again!

 

Not all uses are for evil purposes. I guess it's a white magic component, but I've only used it as aftershave / cologne.
There are alternatives,such as Liushen florida water . Produced in China and from my reading a popular product. I have not yet found an American seller so no opinion or comparison.

I've found a soap that was designed to pair well. Offered by The Shaving Shop, and produced by our very own @soapbuddy also know as Gingers Garden , Acqua di Florida is a tallow soap. The scent is very true to Murry & Lanman's product.

 

Perry, sounds like a good plan for the month.

 

Into to straight razor shaving (Day 1 of ??? days)



MEDIC!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!



So I received my straight razor this morning bright and early. I tested the edge on my arm and it cut through a patch of arm hair like butter so I figured it is shave ready (tiny voice in my head was hoping it would be dull ) Got everything ready for my shower (Soap, brush, ect) and hopped in the hot shower. Got out of the shower and started soaking a hot towel as well to prep the beard even more. While the towel was soaking I did what I am sure many other first time straight shavers have done....I wrote my will, kissed, hugged, and told my kids and wife I love them and set up voice activation on my phone so all I would have to do is say call 911 and I would have an ambulance en route to me while I quickly bleed out.

Fast forward to the shave itself... I had to fiddle around finding a comfortable way to hold it (looked at a few videos and it turns out I was holding it the right way...yay I got something right!!!!) I used soap commander courage for todays shave (oh the irony) and made my lather a little wetter then usual. Face lathered for about a minute and was happy with it. Well nothing else to do but shave right. I looked at the 208 and then quickly over to my Gillette NEW LC (my back up life saver while learning the Straight) and then to see if the voice thing was working I said call Dad. Sure enough it did and got a little "pep talk" from him (He's been using a straight since I was in diapers) and the "pep talk" translated into friendly terms where suck it up you chicken. Thanks Dad..... Alright I have stalled enough lets just get this over with and get on with finding out what's for lunch today at the hospital.

I took my sweet time with this to the point where I had to relather a few times as I was getting dry. I preformed 2 passes with the straight (WTG/Something mixed with WTG/XTG). First pass was slow but painless. Found the angle fairly easy it was just now preforming the pass and getting my hands to stop shaking which happened after the first stroke or two when I saw there was no cuts or anything. I struggle on my left side as holding the straight with my left hand was not easy so I did my left side with my right as well. Moved on down to the neck and this was what was scaring me the most. I very slowly found the angle and in the shortest strokes known to man began to shave my neck. No nicks cuts or irritation. Hell I think I was just psyching myself up this isn't so bad (oh just you wait)!!! I finished up my neck on my second pass with another WTG pass (not risking XTG or ATG yet) and I would rate it SAS-DFS. Relathered my cheeks for my final pass XTG. Right side went perfect and can easily call it a DFS on that side! The left side however was a little tricky at first as I was struggling placing/finding the angle for XTG as it was a little awkward. Finally found it and started shaving when all of a sudden I see blood and a good amount but I don't see/feel a cut anywhere. Finish what little is left on the left side and call it a DFS. Quickly rinse water onto my face to wash away the blood and start looking for the cut....no where.. all of a sudden I see a gleam on my earlobe... while finding the angle/placement on the left side I came to realize I sliced my earlobe (Not insanely bad although there was quite the bit of blood)....oh well...now I don't have to pay if I ever want to get my ears pierced as I can do it for free at home. My face and neck however....are DFS all over with only a little irritation on the neck. First straight shave a success in my books!






Gold Dollar 208 6/8ths
Soap Commander Courage Shaving Soap
JR #23 Silvertip Brush
Maggard Alum Block
Styptic Pen
Soap Commander Courage AS Balm
Fine Platinum AS Splash

 

Congrats @Mr. Freeze93 ! You are now a Straight shaver. Give it another 99 shaves and you will know you have become an Experienced Straight shaver.

 

Excellent write up! Congratulations on your first successful SR shave! I'm really happy for you!

 

Congrats! It gets easier from here on out!

 

Soap Focus
My favorite brand of soap. There isn't a close second.
SOTD
Route 66 Lumberjack
Rubberset 400
Gillette Toggle on 6
Feather blade (2)
Alum
Thayers Witch Hazel
Déjà Fougère AS
Have a great weekend!