30 Day Rule/Focus; May 2023. All Are Welcome!

Hi everyone!

I want to thank all of you for sharing your shaves last month. Again, this thread wouldn't exist without all of you contributing. Each of you plays a part in sharing your knowledge with the rest of us so that we get better shaves. I appreciate you all. So let's continue to make this month of posting our shaves informative and hopefully add a little humor as well. Calling Charlie @wristwatchb to lead us in shenanigans. Lol!

It's May! We are in the middle of spring! It's nice to see the lawns turning green and the trees with leaves on their branches. Soon, it will be summertime and the beaches, the picnic areas, etc. will have crowds enjoying those venues. For those south of the equator, the fall brings cooler weather and trees with colorful displays along the landscape. It's the time to bring out the sweaters and maybe enjoy a nice hot beverage.

So, what is this month's theme? Traditionally, it was Mayhem May. Members would invent ways to shave using unconventional means to do so. One crazy stunt by a former member pasted a blade on a popsicle stick. Another would tape a blade on his finger to shave. Others would replace shaving soap with non-shaving items. If you decide to do something on the more dangerous side, then please be aware you do so at your own risk. For the record, TSD doesn't endorse any potential dangerous techniques.

The main theme is Menthol May. It is quite self-explanatory. Use soaps or preshaves or aftershaves or a combination in your setups. I'm sure most of you will be doing some menthol shaves.

An alternative theme is Mix It Up May. This could be using soaps and aftershaves that you normally would not use together. It could be using a blade that you wouldn't normally use in a particular razor. It could be changing the order of shaving your beard. You may think of something else, but whatever you decide is fine.

Another theme is Maximum May. If any of you have adjustable razors, then you may consider shaving on the max setting for the entire shave. I would think this would be a sub-category of May Mayhem.

Finally, it could be Merkur May. If you have a Merkur Razor and/or blade, then that's another option to join in the fun.
Of course, there is always the default option of shaving anyway you would like without following the themes for this month.


Ok, let's continue with the basic tenets of this thread!
I want to welcome all the veterans of the 30 DC and all the newcomers. This thread is for the purposes of improving your shave technique so that you will consistently get great shaves. There are a number of ways to do it. These are suggestions so feel free to do whatever you want in regards to your shave.

The 30 Day Rule
Take ONE razor, ONE blade, ONE brush, ONE soap/cream and use them EVERYDAY this month. Yes, everyday. But Trigger, I want variety! I know you do, but until you perfect your technique, it makes little sense to constantly change the variables of your shave.

The Focus
For you out there that are not up to the rigors of the Rule, there is this alternative:
Vary the gear for each shave, save for perhaps one or two elements.
This is a more accessible challenge for the majority of shavers. I like to pick a particular aspect of the shave, be it the lather, a certain blade or a new razor, that needs breaking in, and not change it daily, until I have mastered those tools.

Ok, to keep the thread on a nice even keel, I ask everyone to follow the thread etiquette as listed below:
1. New Members always welcome. Start anytime.
2. Old Members always welcome.
3. Respect everyone.
4. Refrain from political conversation.
** This includes, but is not limited to: Covid-19, treatments and/or advice.**
Please keep these discussions off of this thread.

I also want to suggest that we should try to assess our shaves as to why it was good or why it was not up to your standards and express these reasons in your comments. The spirit of this thread is to improve our shaves and if we share the reasons why a shave was good or bad, then we are giving our experiences to encourage good technique and discourage bad technique so that we have great info to get better shaves. I am not suggesting that we do it for every post, but I think it would make for a healthier thread if we start to do it more than we have in the past years.

Moreover, you don't have to do a rule or a focus. You are free to change your setup on a shave to shave basis.

Finally, I want this thread to continue to be a friendly place. It is ok to disagree because that is how we learn from each other, but let's encourage and respect every member. Yes, even if you think they are off the wall. Let's face it! We all are a little off because of our different Aquisition Disorders. Lol!

Let's have a group hug!



Also, let's have a great May of awesome shaves and fine fellowship!

Sincerely,

Joe (Trigger)

 

Hi everyone. My phone had a glitch and it downloaded this thread twice. I notified Joanna to delete one of them. Until she does, I am going to ask you to post in both threads so that your posts won't be lost. Thank you for understanding. Mea culpa.

 

Mix it up & Menthol May along with usual eclectic diverse set up sounds a good Joe.

 

You are already causing some Mayhem.

 

SE Shave # 329 - MICROMATIC DECLARATION GROOMING MONDAY

Rating: 5 / 5

Razor: GEM Micromatic Bullet Tip
Blade: GEM Stainless
Brush: Shore Shave Creamsicle Swirl 24 mm White Synthetic
Lather: Declaration Grooming Darkfall
Aftershave: Declaration Grooming Darkfall
Additional Care:
Omega Alum
Dickenson’s Original Witch Hazel
Stirling Unscented Glacial Balm

I decide to go with Darkfall for this morning’s shave although I considered a repeat of last Monday’s shave with the After the Rain due to our very wet weekend.

Another fine lather was offered up by the DG soap with the assistance of the synthetic brush.

My face feels super smooth and irritation free.

As far as my plan of attack for this month, I have not totally sorted it out in my mind as of yet. Perhaps a few Merkur shaves, 1508.5 Project - Calle Ocho or even a specific artisan week focus. I will keep my Sample Shave Sunday’s.

Hope you all have an enjoyable day.

 

My birthday shave this morning was the same.....closed out the

prep-Dial 4 Men Bodywash
shave-Zingari Man(Explorer)
brush-CrownnKing Duro Spindle Tali
razor-Gillette Sensor Deuce Pivot DisposeABLE
A.S.-Stoylin Unscented
Fragrance-Pierre Cardin cologne

Very nice shave but for the miss at the usual area(under right ear, nexrt to sideburn). I solved the mid-Cactus problem by going South to North there. Much taken off. Clean&clear everywhere else. 2 passes. No cuts, Knicks, Polka-dots. The Stoylin Unscented is a nice A.S. Followed up with Pete Cardin cologne. Most Outstanding. Happy May, everyone!

 

I had to lead the way. Lol!

 

Awesome start to the month gents.

 

Awesome start to the month Joe! I'm sure that you will come up with a theme.

 

monday
#58/platinum
simpson
kaizen
fine



good morning gents
fabulous shave with the #58/platinum combo
kaizen lather was excellent.
platinum to finish .
awesome
have a fine day everyone
​

 

Marvelous Monday and start of the month shave Gary! Have a marvelous day!

 

Tatara Masamune with open comb plate.
Astra SP blade (2).
Tatara/Semogue boar shave brush.
Fine Accoutrements Snake Bite soap.
Timeless Razor shave bowl.
Irish Chestnut by Andy Hilfiger.

Awesome shave to start the week and month. The Tataras are just a solid feeling razor in the hand.

I'll probably just mix things up this month and I appreciate Joe piloting the plane.

Happy Monday everyone!

 

Terrific Tatara shave and a great way to start the month Danny! Thanks for your words of encouragement. Have an Alabama Awesome afternoon my friend!

 

OK, my first shave for this month was a headshave with my Gillette Slim Adjustable. It was loaded with a Gillette Winner Blade. I decided to use the Van der Hagen Sandalwood Shave Cream that comes in a tube. This shave cream doesn't really give a voluminous lather, but it is pretty slick. I got a nice error-free cueball on a 3 passer and minor pickups. The alum feedback was non-existent. Splashed on the Aqua Velva Ice Blue AS to finish. I didn't take a pic because I usually do so when it's a face shave or a combo of face and headshave. I am giving my face a rest today and will shave my beard stubble tomorrow. I want to have enough growth to use one of my traditional straights. Take care.

 

thank you Joe.

 

Happy Birthday Paul. Very nice shave!

 

Thank you Gary.

 

Thank you Joe.

 

Very nice dome shave Joe. LGR!

 

Wonderful shave Danny.