The pink is apparently soaking through into your skin and changing essential DNA. Strawberry Shortcake.

stop it your killing me.

SOTD April 10th

Merkur 34c / Feather (3)
Dr Jon's Hydra
Satin Tip The Purest
Homemade Lime AS

No pic today, didn't get around to shaving last night and since I don't have a lot of time to shave in the morning I went with a one pass XTG shave with some face lathered Dr Jon's Hydra. All in all the whole shave took about 5 minutes for a SAS. Maybe it was because I stared XTG but the Feather felt like it had lost a little of its sharpness. Have a great day my friends!

Sorry, when they lob them up to the plate that easy to hit all I can do is swing away! And, unlike the Cardinals so far this year, I can connect!

Welcome aboard! And shame on me for being so late on that! Derby blades are rather an enigma at times. They are a smooth blade but don't get a lot of love. However, in a very aggressive razor such as the Gillette Old Style they can be very nice and effective. I think you'll find that Astra SP gives you a far better performance in most razors though.

Having said that, you are indeed an intelligent fellow to stick with the same setup for 30 days to learn the all important technique. Technique Trumps Tools! The proof is in all of the various gear that many on here including myself can pick up and use without a second thought. Two years ago before we started this little community here I could barely hold a DE89 without slicing my right ear off!

After four months of heavy travel, I decided to take a week off and stay home. I have some honey-does to take care of. It was pretty nice to be able to get up, drink some coffee, have a nice breakfast, followed by a leisurely shave. This is going to be a nice week
Route 66 Twisted Tweed Soap
Jayaruh #155 Brush
Koraat Razor
Thayers WH
WSP Gaelic Tweed AS
Have a great week!

Excellent picture with a beautiful brush Brian.

Gorgeous Koraat, Brian!

Brian, that's a fantastic looking razor and brush. Enjoy your week off, my friend. No "flying the friendly skies" for you this week!

Thank you Doug. I'm really enjoying this brush.

It feels good to be home with my wife and laboring in the yard.

Beautiful razor Brian. The scales are just stunning. Enjoy your week off.

I 've googled around and found the most dividing opinions on Derbys too. Initially, i ordered 100, because in a barber's website, they were very praised as "non jumping, non scratching, non irritating", plus, i noticed that Edwin Jagger DE89s, were coming with them. The price was also low, i read that most people complained that they "don't cut", i thought "good, i am a newbie, i don't want to be cut". I can shave very quickly with Derby. Like 2 strokes WTG (ear to jawline, jawline to base of throat). But, i find myself repassing like 2 times per pass, today i went ATG under the mandible and no BBS, so i am starting to think that in deed they don't cut much or it's me that can't shave properly yet or the combination with Weishi is too mild and maybe the Weishi needs sharper blade, like the Astra, that you mention. However, today i received also a DE89 with 100 Astras. Because i had thought of the possibility that maybe the Weishi needs sharper blade and i thought that maybe Derby will work better in DE89 and the Astra in the Weishi. We 'll see. Tomorrow i also have incoming 100 Shark SS, 10 Personna Blue, 100 Dorco ST-301, 200 Derby extra and 100 Bluebird (these Bluebirds again controversial, but most people say are a bit sharper than the Derby extra despite being made by Derby). From what i googled, these are all "not too sharp" blades, with the exception of the Personnas. Which is why i bought only 10 of them. Because in one of "NickShaves" videos, he says that when you gain in sharpnesss, you have to lose something in smoothness. And i don't think i want a supersharp blade. Some already say that Astras are very sharp. i don't want more than that. I doubt that i will like the Personnas, but we will see. In the Weishi, they might be good, since the Weishi has very little blade exposure.

So, i have 1 milder and 1 more aggressive razor. I can't say i found shaving with Weishi+Derby "enjoyable", like i often read you guys. I felt "grateful" for non being cut. I don't know if i will ever find "joy" in shaving with the blades. That's why i want to try more razors and blades. This said, i think Weishi+Derby, is very good combination for a beginner, to win the fear of the blade. Because, WTG, it's very, very difficult to cut yourself. I was surprised by how much careless i could be. If it wasn't for the fact that i don't put pressure, i became as fearless as shaving with cartridge already in the 2nd shave. I only made a small nick on the edge of my upper lip in XTG, because i was too confident and forgot to tighten my lip and although the blade was having difficulty to go on, i pressed hard, thinking "i can't cut myself with this blade no matter what i do". And i cut myself...

The bad side of being so newbie-friendly, is, i start to think, that you are not really learning much technique, because it's so forgiving. I mean, WTG, i try to remind myself to pay attention, but i just find myself forgetting everything, doing long strokes, repassing with no lather and i still can't cut myself. To the point i think that i won't be learning much of a technique with this combo... But, it's a very useful combo if you want to shave in a hurry. I could probably shave drunk WTG with this combo and i wouldn't cut myself. I 've even passed the blade like 5 times from the same spot (with the lather gone).

Next time, in 2 days, i will try the DE89 plus Derby. Just to see how much of a difference i will notice. I suspect, that Derbys might suit better the DE89 and Astra the Weishi at the end. Provided i don't bleed. Worst case scenario, i can always use Derbys. I know i can't cut myself with them... We 'll see... Then i will go back to the Weishi for my pseudofocus month.

Technique trumps equipment when you start. In 30 days you will have a completely different skill level and different perspectives. I wouldn't get too caught up in swapping equipment out or evaluating more blades until you get some practice under your belt. My advice - pick one of the razors you have, put an Astra SP in it, shave for 30 days, changing to a new Astra SP every 3 days. If you are having trouble, ask for help, as it's probably a technique problem, not a razor or blade problem.

I couldn't have said it better. This is the basis for the 30 day thread. Following the 30 day program will pay huge dividends. As you evaluate new razors, blades or soaps you'll have a solid baseline to judge the different products.

Have you seen my Custom Title? I would think with my spirit of good naturedness, I am allowed a little creative license.

Razor: Gillette Black Beauty (R-2) 1971
Blade: Personna 74 Tungsten Plus (10)
Brush: El Druida Barberpole w/Manchurian
Soap: Frozen Margarita
Aftershave: Frozen Margarita Balm.

Very good three passes with a light touch up. Excellent menthol Monday combination.

Last two shaves. Got a really fast shave with the Barbasol floating head, and got to try the Soapmakers of Awesometown soap. I like the scent, but it's a little hard to figure out something to pair with. From my first use, I would say the base is even better than their previous one.

This morning I grabbed my Kamisori. Training for Mayhem. I got a high grade DFS. Good shave.

Of course, now I am wishing I hadn't gotten as good of a shave. Today's mail call:

I'm saving mine for Mayhem