February 2020 30 Day Rule/Focus Pix & Discussion

Thank you, Jeff!

 

Great shave, Joe!

 

Thank you, Blair!

 

Kapo’s great stuff, Tom, and very cheap, about $3 a tube shipped free.

 

Feb. 6: Hell Week Continues...
As I was looking at the spreadsheet for scores, I became pretty despondent: 5 shaves, and only two of them qualified for a score--the rest were "Dead Is Dead." Morale was low. I needed a win today. Badly. It did not help that my next razor down memory lane was the MMOC...



When I first started shaving with this razor I quickly discovered that it loves to bite, and if it wasn't biting, it was burning. Last month's 30DC was devoted to taming it, and it worked. Armed with my new skills, and Blair's @b1hart inspiring thoughts yesterday on "reverse pressure", I kept the shave light and blood-free. I'm 50/50 now--hardly a win, but I'll take what I can get.

Week 1 Gear

• Blade: Gem SS (1)
• Brush: Kong
• Soap: Soap Commander "Drive"
• AS: Clubman Original
• Balm: Nivea Sensitive "Cooling"

The Shave
Light, light, light "reverse pressure" shaving WTG on the 1st pass knocked some stubble off, but not tons. No biggie. "I'm a shaving-for-comfort guy now," I kept telling myself. Might even get that tattooed right under my "Reverse Pressure" tattoos on my right and left forearms. Towards the end, I snagged the corner of my mouth, and it felt like I got bit. I thought some rather choice expletives, but prolonged scrutiny revealed no blood, so... no foul. Shave on, Johnny!

Pass 2 (XTG), went without a hitch. Not quite as close as I'm used to, but that's a good thing now. I find myself chanting "Reverse Pressure," like a Tibetan monk--my new mantra.

Pass 3 (ATG), goes similarly well. I know for a fact that the south pole of the goat-zone is going to be rough with no touch-ups allowed, but after this week, even if I allowed myself touch-ups, I'd probably forego them. Gotta log this a bloodless win--don't get greedy.

Scores
Comfort: light, but noticeable, irritation along the corners of my mouth and upper lip. Comfort score: 3
Closeness: BBS with scattered areas of DFS and CCS. I'm tempted to log this as DFS, but the south pole and parts of the jaw are particularly bothersome to me. I'm calling it a DFS/CCS--score: 2

Reflection
Something I've noticed. Ever since cutting menthol for this month's 30DC, gone are the 'irritation-free' shaves. I find that odd. It could be that the refreshing tingle I've been feeling throughout the day has actually been a numbed irritation. Years ago there was a song that profoundly said, "I'd rather feel pain than nothing at all." Lately I've been thinking about that phrase--it's incredibly... stupid. I want my menthol back!

 

Great shave report, Evan. Since I do head and face shaves, I never go beyond two shaves on any DE blade. 4 makes sense, but 5 would be the point where I would experience what you did! Have a good day!

 

Wonderful photo and shave report Blair.


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Thank you Blair.


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Thank you, Perry!

 

Fantastic shave and photo. Love the CH2 Synthetic.


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The brush is beautiful Evan.


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Great report, Tim! I really enjoy menthol in my aftershave. Always buy the glacial option from Stirling and add menthol crystals or Frost Drops to splashes that aren't mentholated. Always feel good.

 

Awesome shave, Tom. You really are an international kind of guy--always enjoy seeing what you're going to bring out next

 

Beautiful photo, shave, and report, Jeff! I am shooting for the day I experience a 2 pass BBS shave. Come close a few times, but never the proverbial cigar

 

Fantastic shave and photos, Danny. Love those brushes (especially the little Gillette)
Hope the absconding renter drama turns out okay for you--think I'd rather die than rent a place out

 

Super classy photo and shave, Clint. Nice to catch the baby without ensuing drama

 

Another enjoyable report by TSD’s resident “Shave Empiricist”. As a retired professional empiricist (mathematical statistician) I keep remembering the adage, close only counts in horseshoes and handgrenades. One of my favorite stat jokes, ‘Three statisticians went out hunting, and came across a large deer. The first statistician fired, but missed, by a meter to the left. The second statistician fired, but also missed, by a meter to the right. The third statistician didn't fire, but shouted in triumph, "we got it!"’ Sounds like a good solid shave to me, on average!

 

Lovely shave, Angelo!

 

Another solid Dovo shavette report by the straight razor master! Enjoy your day, my friend!

 

Wonderful shave, photo, and report, Jim. It's nice to see the origin of the "smelling pretty" CT make its way into the shave rotation