April 2017 30 Day Rule/Focus Pix & Discussion

I have never timed a shavette shave. ( I actually have a Dovo Shaveette) I feel it happening soon though. Maybe an excuse for another video. "How fuzzy lost that ear".

 

April 13, 2017
Colonial Razors “The General”
Feather Pro (6)
WDC-8 with Druida Manchurian
Reef Point Test Depth
Witch Hazel with Menthol
Cool Water EDT

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We seem to have skipped spring and went straight into summer. I am really enjoying the clean crisp scent of Test Depth during this warm weather. With a nice slick lather as a base, I elected to continue with my normal 3 pass routine followed by touch ups. I prefer soaps with high residual slickness so that touch ups can be done with just a splash of water with no need to relather. Overall a very smooth drama free near BBS shave. I hope everyone has a great Thursday.

 

Excellent picture and post Clint.

 

Gillette Tech
Perma-sharp Super
CTAPT SC
Semogue BC Mistura

 

Yesterday's shave. 30 day crew, meet Helga. Helga, 30 day crew. Helga is 7/8, quarter hollow, Irish tip (but slightly muted,) with black horn scales. Koraat makes an awesome razor. Three passes and BBS.

 

Great setup and picture Adam.

 

Thank you Doug. It's almost Friday.

 

Beautiful razor Adam.

 

Gorgeous razor, Adam.

 

Wonderful picture, Clint!

 

That's the prettiest Helga I have seen!

 

April 13 SOTD:

Razorock Plissoft Brush
Stirling Frozen Tundra
'40's Gillette SS
Stirling Unscented PSB
Stirling Glacial Lemon Chill AS

It was a great shave this morning. Two passes, just a bit if clean up, and I was done with a DFS. Frozen Tundra is one of my favorite Stirling soaps, and while the Glacial Lemon Chill doesn't necessarily match the scent, the menthol between the two really works well. It is my last day of work this week, and this was a great way to start my day. I hope everyone has a great day!

 

That same question could be said of soaps. Once you fine a good one, why continue to try others?

For me, I have been in the situation, in other hobbies, where what I liked got discontinued. Trying several and getting a list of blades that will work just allows you to find an alternative more easily.

Besides, variety is the spice of life.

I have heard of many here buying several bulk packs of different blades. Some find one blade to get extra close but cannot use them daily. Others find a good daily blade but will only get them a CCS but it allows them to shave every day and feel more comfortable.

And finally, there is the frugal Frank reason - I paid for all these blades, why not use them!!!

 

SOTD April 13, 2017

Blade: Chinese Schick
Razor: Schick E2 injector
Brush: Surrey badger
Lather: Route 66 Rum Runner
Post: Witch hazel splash, Stirling Mountain Man aftershave
WTG, touch-up

Nice and easy shave this morning with the Schick E2 and Route 66 Rum Runner. Terrific lather - rich, shiny, protective - all the positive qualities you want. One pass with touch-up for a really smooth shave. Stirling's Mountain Man finished it all off nicely.

Have a great day!

 

beauty of a brush, and I like how it reflects on the razor.

 

April 13 - Saponificio Varesino Dolomiti and the return of Dark Chocolate!!

Merkur 34C
Treet Platinum (Day 2)
Dark Chocolate
DIY PSO
Saponificio Varesino Dolomiti
Alum/Thayers/Nivea SPSB

this is my second to last Pass Around box sample that was sent ahead. I have heard very good things about this soap so I was anxious to try it. I have to question which version this is for a few reasons. First, SVD is a triple milled soap and the latest has a grey color due to the clay being now used. The sample was in a printed stickered zip lock bag. The sample was rather soft and amber in color.

Believing this to be a triple milled soap, I expect to need to use less than a softer soap so I only grabbed half of what was in the bag. There wasn't much to begin with but I feel confident about a gram or just less should be fine. The bag had a nice clean orange scent to it but it was faint. Dark Chocolate's knot (JE #148) had been set about 5 days ago using the DAP aquarium silicone recommended here. I felt confident it was well dried and I wanted my best brush involved with this soap.

Upon lathering, I smelled nothing at all. This adds to my belief this is an older soap. This is what SV says about this soap, 'The fragrance Dolomiti rise by a top note of light citrus lemon, with a hint of sage. The core is floral and definitely lavender, with a hint of cloves and black pepper. The tail amber and woody vetiver, patchouli and cedar wood characterizes the personality of the perfume The indication Beta 4.0, indicates the course of product development, initially as a Beta 1.0 and improved step by step.' I started with less than a 1/2 tsp of water and decided to walk it in slowly. It melted away quickly and made a nice paste like lather. a few drops later, I had a nice thick and creamy lather.

Finger testing indicated I was pretty good so I proceeded to shave. Upon application and my 3 passes (WTG, XTG and ATG) I noticed this soap was truly silky. I maintained a very light touch hoping to improve on yesterday's shave. My face, the sound of the Treet blade in action and what remained after a stroke all were showed a far superior silkiness over any other soap. Blade drag was lower, sound was more muted and I believe I felt the razor less. Shaving was like gliding over fine silk. I rinsed my face a little to reveal a little stubble in a spot or two. I ended up doing a 4th pass just because I was concerned the soap was hiding stubble and in fact it was. Yes, that is how smooth and excellent glide this soap has.

Alum was stinging lightly but subsided quickly. BBS was chased and caught. Face had an almost smoothness like it was pumiced smooth. Only way I can describe it. The soap left a smooth slickness after the razor passed that I desire but whatever residual rinsed cleanly. I really like this soap. In all, this was a pleasurable shave.

Wishing everyone a wonderful Holy Thursday.

I normally will never desire to order a soap without having smelled it first, this might be an exception. I very much liked this soap. I feel this is definitely a top tier luxury soap.

 

13 April 2017 TGIT Blade/Soap
Focus Shave

Today is the last shave of the week(company gives us off for Good Friday)
So, jonesing for some Bay Rum, I broke out the Route 66 "Rum Runner" instead of the Razorock XXX. I've recovered my soap lathering mojo and the 10098 whipped up a fantastic lather. The Ball end Tech/GSB combo was at the top of it's game and delivered a DFS+ shave. Next and last blade of the Focus is going to be Wilkinson Sword. Since this is gonna be my travel razor I've decided I need to test a blade I can pick up anywhere. The only traveling I do is down to Texas to visit my son or Florida for I&I. Besides I miss my rotation. So after the Wilkie, I'll carry on with my Soap Focus, but be back to using my rotation.
So a splash of VIBR and we're off and running!
Good day my fellow Denizens!!

 

Thank you Jim.

 

That Avon Maxwell 23 Tribute A.S. is an interesting one. Goes on with a bit of chill(although not as cool as, say, Skin-Bracer), but the chill melts down to a nice comforting feel later on.