OCtober 2016 30 Day Rule/Focus Pix & Discussion

October 24, 2016
iKon B1 OC with Hempel Ti
Feather (1)
Doug Korn DK7 with Druida Manchurian
Route 66 Twisted Tweed
Witch Hazel
Floid Blue

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Changed things up a bit this morning and went with the iKon B1 OC. After whipping up rich slick later with the Route 66 Twisted Tweed, I proceeded with a traditional 3 pass shave paying attention to my trouble spots as I went. After minimal touch ups, I ended with a near BBS. It was just not worth chasing that one spot on my lower right neck. Finished off with a splash of Floid Blue. A great start to the work week. I hope everyone has a great Monday.

 

The scales are nice and tight. I am just using the tee to hold the razor up.


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Menthol Monday, OCtober 24, 2016

PAV Brushworks with Envy White
Krampert's Finest Frostbite
Timeless OC with UFO TiTAN Fine
Personna 74 #21
Mentholated Witch Hazel
Krampert's Finest Frostbite Aftershave


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October 24, 2016- OC Focus

Razor: Gillette 160 Goodwill
Blade: Astra SP (1)
Brush: VdH Boar
Soap: VdH Luxury

Back to the New LC-based Goodwill and a mild Astra SP blade. Two days growth neatly erased for a DFS+.

Two small weepers, though which stopped with cold water and Alum. I seem to be in a bit of a paradox, though... I've been getting some of my closest shaves ever lately, but it seems to be at the cost of nicking every pimple or other imperfection on my chin. Kind of frustrating, really...

 

I meant to comment after yesterday's shave and the surprise blood, but didn't get a chance.

I'm curious how you would characterize the Platinum Plus in terms of the usual adjectives (e.g., sharp, smooth, etc.)? I'm not sure I'm good at using the terms correctly, but what I have noticed is that while I have gotten some really great shaves with both the Platinum Plus and the generic Personna, I also seem to be more likely to draw blood with one of those two blades. Admittedly, much of that is probably technique failure on my part, but I was curious if you noticed some attribute that might make them more bloodthirsty than, say, a good piece of Russian steel?

 

Oct. 24
Soap - Proraso Green Tub
Brush - Omega 10098 Boar
Ceramic Suribachi Bowl
Blade - Blade - Gillette Silver Blue - Russia
Razor - 1937 Gillette Sheraton
Aftershave - Lucky Tiger with a added splash of Pinaud Lime Sec

I'm pleased to report an uneventful shave this morning. I must admit that the Sheraton is a world class shaver, but I have a cache of neglected razors that are begging to be used. On it's second day of use, the Silver Blue blade mowed down a load of foam and whiskers & the Sheraton never clogged and rinsed easily. I rode the cap for a DFS two pass shave and the citrus finish was nice and refreshing.

 

Yes, you need a light weight hammer and a solid piece of metal for an anvil. Be careful not to over tighten it. Glen recommended tapping repeatedly, rather than banging away. Put your finger on the anvil and hit it. The amount of force that doesn't hurt is the amount to peen with. Tap a few times on each side, test the tightness. Repeat as needed.

 

Almost sounds like a "Hold my beer" moment!

 

What a "purdy" pic!

 

My best badger from Stirling is very nice too, but larger. Doesn't want to sit in my razor/brush holder. It is very nice though and holds more lather than one could ever possibly use in one shave. Easy to maintain and no funky animal smell. Stirling makes very nice brushes.


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Let's see. Characterizing the Platinum Plus. It is sharp. How sharp? Between Voskhod and Feather. In other words, high end and enough that it turns rough and dangerous in an aggressive setting.....like a Feather. But.....it stays smooth in the mid range. It's smooth until you get too much gap/exposure. At that point it turns a bit rough. I think the slight nick I captured was a result of it being just a bit sharper than the Personna.

 

OCtober Focus Abandoned

Vintage Williams Stick & Omega Pro98
Gillette FatBoy on 9 / Voskhod blade
Alum and Pinaud Special Reserve AS


One of our TSD members, Paul @Paul Turner confessed he has been using canned lather. I think he tried modern Williams Mug soap. I treated him to a sample of my Vintage stick to hit the USPSystem today. If he hasn't procured one yet, brush shopping will ensure shortly. Enable much?
Goaded on by folks who have embraced Aggressive Razors I'm abandoning my OC Focus and training up by maximizing my FatBoy. Riding the cap cures many newbie razor burn issues. It sure helped me. So much that with a vintage lather, three + passes, and a great Russian blade my alum was cool and the shave a DF one. Double splash of Indiana Jones cologne and I'm out the door!

 

I'm going to reply to myself with some added data. When I went to shower this morning (late mornings on my day off) I noticed some trouble spots on my neck from last night's shave. I didn't notice any blood last night at all, but there are some areas of red where I was apparently right on the edge of bleeding. I didn't give it my best effort on the final pass since I knew I was going to be BBS, so it can't be pressure or technique. The blade is just that harsh on the 9 on the Slim. That would indicate a very sharp blade, which can be a good thing, but it needs to be kept in a bit less aggressive environment. At least for me.

 

Thank you.

 

Shenanigans Alert!!!

 

Okay, that makes sense as some of my best shaves with the Platinum Plus were in a Tech. It also lends credence to a suspicion of mine that as my shaves have improved, I'm now trending (or needing to trend) toward more milder razors. Too much exfoliation, maybe?

 

I almost expected to see "I dare you" at the end of his post.

 

There could be something to the idea that as technique improves the need for "extra help" from aggressive razors declines. You know how to use the razor to get the best result with the blade so the result is much more a function of how you use the tool instead of how the tool itself works. Hmmm. Sounds a bit like Technique Trumps Tools!

 

Maybe, but it's also bordering on a tolerance/safety issue. I definitely think my technique has improved to where I can get a very nice shave from a much milder razor. OTOH, you, yourself, have demonstrated TTT by shaving with devices that no sane person would consider and done so successfully. Me, I'm at the point where a Slim set at '6' is almost too much razor and, the last time I used one, actually ran down to 4 instead of 5.

 

Are you calling me crazy?!