Thank you, Chris!

I have reserved comment, but you found a great blade in Super Iridium. Great report!

I like the bottles Folsom uses. They look like 250ml liquor bottles.

This is why people don't go back.

Safe travels my friend.

It's what keeps me using straights!

Thank you. Finally about to leave after an hour and a half delay. They actually flew a plane from LAX to John Wayne ad the original plane had mechanical problems.

Seeing as I am TDY for the next few weeks and really want to ditch the electric, I've decided to give everyday DE shaving another go.

The kit:
- Maggard MR5 + V3A Head + Polsilver Super Iridium
- Simpson Case Best Badger travel brush
- TSD Gunpowder soap
- Alum + Stirling Margaritas on the Ice Balm

I again showered like normal, and let the brush soak in some hot water. Hotel Hot Water + Styrofoam cup = Hot lather.

Once I got the brush loaded, I went straight to my face and could feel the warmth. While I had enough soap for easily two passes, I only decided to use one.

Based on the advice of @Bama Samurai I decided to let the end result be "Looks clean shaven" and not "actually clean shaven." He also suggested just doing two passes. I was going to try and get away with one ATG pass. As I was rinsing my face though I could feel the stubble, and my OCD just kicked in. Instead of lathering up again, my face felt slick with the warm water so I decided to try and just touch up the worst areas. It kind of ended up being an almost complete pass, mainly along the jawline though, the bane of my existence.

I was finally able to put the razor down, with something I'd call more presentable. The alum was OK, burned in some areas, not in others. And the Margaritas set fire to my face, but it felt refreshing. And it gives that faux BBS shave.

We will see what tomorrow morning looks like, and whether the electric needs to be broken out.

I would call that progress. You're getting there!

March Madness
Barbasol and Barber Blade Edition
Planned Day Twenty-Nine



Back to normalcy and routine existence in CO! About to go hit this kit for two passes and see what happens. The Cartel really needs to open a Waikoloa office, and since I don't wanna upset anyone's life, I will volunteer to go run that location. No need for thanks, someone has to! Other than that...all is quiet in Colorado.

Have a nice evening!

Yeah, same as always. It was me not having a "laser-like focus" (TM) on the process. A 1/4 second lapse in attention caused a 3 inches long reminder.

Laser-like focus is a copy written phrase owned by @Bama Samurai and its subsidiaries.

Mark,

I have scars from learning too. Badges of honor!

Yeah. And the beauty of an open blade it that it never ever ever clogs. And hair doesn't grow well in scar tissue so I anve less surface area to shave.

You can also try doing a second with the grain pass along with a little skin stretching. It should make you presentable at the very least.

That's how I got my scar. It's that experience that forced me to use "laser like focus" TM from then on. I have learned a lot from this forum. Have fun and be careful!

As this month comes to a close, it's time for me to look toward storing my fall/winter soaps&aftershaves aside to make room for spring/summer stuff. I'll do 3 or hopefully 4 shaves with TSD Russian Leather beginning tomorrow, and my hope is to finish off the seasonals with a few of "Team Stirling/Clubman". They'll be more than ready to resume next fall. The Russian Leather will be the first soap to go, perhaps even after this round.

When I was newbie, straights freaked me out. I thought I'd never have the guts. But just between you and me, keep it to yourself:

It's a lot less difficult than people might think. It's a little tricky, but almost anyone can shave with a straight. Everyone who has even a fleeting desire should try straights. The shaves are amazing. Will newbies cut themselves? Absolutely. Will it be ok? Probably. Will it be fun? Oh yeah.

Stropping was harder for me.

It's almost Arko April!

Let me guess-will May be "Maggards May"?

I have a pretty crappy hanging strop, and needing to buy new ones one at a time, I bought a 3" modular paddle strop. It works for finishing, stropping and will travel well in my camper. It is also completely idiot proof. You would have to try to roll an edge with it.

Next step is a better hanger, but that is no rush at this point. I just need @Drygulch to sell me a couple of hundred and twenty dollar dog collars and toss one in for me.

Seriously though Adam, my wife saw your collars and wants me to talk to you about ordering some for our Shepherds.