June 2016 30 Day Rule/Focus Pix & Discussion

well your friend mine decided to visit me again today! Flipper

SOTD
6/8/16

Pre: Hot shower, Nivea face wash
Razor: Gillette Fat Boy (setting 3)
Blade: Sharp Star (3)
Brush: TGN Finest in Olivewood handle
Soap: Tobac
Post: cold water rinse, Maggard Alum block, Witch Hazel, Nivea sensitive cooling after shave balm

I am really pleased with these Sharp Star blades. I went 3 passes with clean up again tonight on setting 3 on my razor and really enjoyed it, maybe tomorrow I'll try setting 4. I love getting these BBS shaves night after night and am not sure if my technique has gotten that good or it's the blades, and frankly my dear I don't give a D**b, LOL. I just love seeing and feeling that dolphin in the mirror, I know, I know, technically he's not a dolphin, First Pass WTG got great beard reduction and was pleased with the slickness of the Tobac. Second pass was XTG and I was really smooth at that point. Third pass was ATG at that point I just had 3 spots to clean up and I was BBS. I rinsed my face with cold water to close the pores then applied the alum witch wasn't as bad as last night though I got a little tingle. Next was the witch hazel and I had a bit of problem applying that as my face was squeaky clean so I just had to pat it on. I soothed my face with a little Nivea sensitive after shave balm. Cleaned everything up and admired my mug in the mirror, I though for a second that I saw a bit of bluish gray on my face for a second. Anyway tonight was another great shave that I'm attributing to the Sharp Star blade, I may give it another night or two but unfortunately it is my only one right now. Many thanks to NCoxSTL for letting me try one I'm going to have to get more!

 

Sorry for the confusion Permasharp stainless and the Super Stainless

 

Jolly June!!!
Focus Day 3 - Ralf Aust 5/8



Piece of cake! Really gave it a good run on the @Drygulch 45 Strop, and was rewarded with two passes of smooth shaving. As with any razor, angles are key to straight shaves. The two spine width rule seems to place the bevel at the correct angle on most razors. The Aust is no exception! Sitting outside pipe smoking on a 65F night on the prairie. Other than that...all is quiet in Colorado.

Have a terrific Thursday!

 

And a good time was had by all!

 

Very nice report! You now have developed some good technique, and having good blades lets you see how good it can be. So nice to see you get this quickly!

 

Not sure how quickly it is, been at it around two months now. If that is quick it's all due to everyone here for there advice and also to those people that have helped me out with the new shave gear to help me get a better start.

 

That's only sixty attempts! Pretty quick to be getting dolphin on the daily.

 

I guess but the real fun is about to begin, I'm waiting on something to arrive and then I'll start attempting straight razor shaves.

 

You should watch videos, and start doing true skin stretches each day. It's the only way to get easy shaves with a straight.

 

Already doing that along with using both hands to shave.

 

Very good! I can't wait to see what you've got cooking. Get ready to be patient. It took about 25-30 shaves to get comfortable handling a straight in my experience. By day 57 or so I was pretty automatic. Straights are not hard to learn, but the penalty for messing up far more severe than with DE of any type. You'll be fine, and probably love it.

 

One of the best investments I made toward getting a good straight shave was one of these:

Really helps to get a better view of where that blade is.

 

June Focus Day 8:

Frank Shaving Pur-Tech Brush
Arko
Injector Type J
Stirling Unscented PSB
Canoe AS

 

Good morning friends. Great shave today! First shave with the Hydra that was so generously gifted to me by Guy @ram57 . This soap smells amazing. On first sniff my nose picks out mostly lemon but as the aroma develops the other citrus scents make an appearance with with a subtle zestyness that I cant quite put my finger on and then followed up by some slight floral notes. This soap smells delicious! The Platinum performed well for me today, definitely sharper then the Nacet and Rubie, but not quite Top Tier. Two passes for a DFS. Have a great day my friends!

 

Up and shaved, report later. It's gonna be a hot one in the Lou today but not as hot as the next few days. Gotta love living here. We go from Winter to Spring in about 3 hours, and then to Summer in another 3 hours it seems. Could be a tornado tonight then 50 degrees and the start of Autumn tomorrow.

Hope your Thursday is great!

 

MWF and Stirling Brush Focus
Ok. Time to whine. I just don't understand the MWF popularity. I got a nice lather today but have several other soaps in the den that are slicker, smell better and lather easier. I know YMMV, but I still don't get it. I just put a third of my puck into the mail to somebody that wants to try it. Now maybe it won't last as long
This is what the lather looks like in the bowl.

And on my face.

Looks deceptively like lather to me

Mitchell's Wool Fat
Stirling Finest Badger
Gillette Big Fellow
Gillette Rubie (1)
Alum
Lucky Tiger
Have fun!

 

And how did the Rubie perform ?

 

Actually performed well. If this is the worst blade in the lot, I'm going to be a happy camper.

 

I've never tried it and after reading the polarizing reviews on it I'm not in a rush to do so. I guess that's what so great about this hobby, there's something to please everyone.