Hello everyone.

It's December. 2024 moved ever so quickly. This is the time of year where the Spirit of Christmas is quite evident. People are more cordial and giving this time of year. In my six years as a member of the wetshaving community, I have been piffed many items and I have also done so in return. I am always on the lookout for someone who may be interested in our hobby so that I can piff a razor, soap, etc. to him or her. May I suggest we keep our eyes and ears open during this season when an opportunity arises to surprise someone and introduce them to wetshaving via a pif. With that said, it's time to hint to your loved ones what you would like under the Christmas tree to add to your shave den. Btw, it's no shame to buy a little something for yourself. Lol!

Monthly Themes

There are two themes for December and they are pretty straightforward. It's DE December. That's right! Get out your favorite double edge safety razors. It doesn't matter if it's vintage or modern because you are the master of your shave cave.

Of course, there are some of you that don't want to be tied down with a shave regimen. Good news! There is Do Whatever you Decide December. It really is self-explanatory. However, there is a catch if you go this route.Try not to cut yourself. Lol! Seriously, whatever route you take, just enjoy your alone time during your shaves.

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.

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 great shaves and fellowship in December!

Sincerely,

Joe (Trigger)

1st December 2024.



​

Shaving Recipe for today.

Prep: Warm shower:/Cien Sensitive Shower Gel.

Pre:
Cold wet flannel to my face.
Pears Transparent bar Soap.
Brush: Yaqi 24mm Naples Tuxedo Synthetic.
Bowl Lather.
Bowl: Tesco's Ceramic 'Cosmo' Side Bowl.
Lather: Pearl Shaver's Spirit Shaving Soap.
Blade: Dorco Prime Platinum. (D2)
Razor: Baili BD177 Rose Gold TTO.

Post:
Cold Water Face Rinse./Cold water face wash with brush squeezing's,/Alum Rub./Cold Water Rinse./Homemade (~Autumn/Winter mix~) peppermint lavender, eucalyptus, + Tea Tree essential Oils Mixed Together With Care+Witch Hazel./Blue Stratos ASL./Nivea Men Replenishing PSB./Blue Stratos EdT.

Greetings,

First Sunday morning shave of December 2024.

A new eclectic shave set up to start December.

A great performance from the Baili BD177 Rose Gold TTO to start my month off wonderfully.

The Dorco Prime Platinum blades work well with the Baili BD177 Rose Gold TTO feeling comfortable & smooth.

Finishing the shave off with a few small of squirts of Blue Stratos EdT to the pulse points.

My face is feeling super smooth & smelling divine.

Keep safe and enjoy your Sunday ladies & gentlemen.

My first December shave had some problems at the beginning but got better in the end. Clean and clear everywhere but for Cactus Nation, where I had 2 cuts close togrther. Thanks to the cold-water rinse and Stephan A.S., the cuts became red-ball sunsets. I also missed that area at the right-sideburn again, but caught it at the close of the shave, to "save" it. Sir Hare is a fine artisan company -on each of its soaps, you see "Barber Approved" stamped right on. Fairly Outstanding.

That razor looks great. Awesome start to the month Barry.

Thank you Joe.

fine way to start the month Barry.super sunday shave.

-The-Sunday-Shave-
new sc
soc boar
london gin club



good afternoon gents
splendid sunday shave
lovely lather built with the soc boar
smooth 2 passer with the mew SC,minor pick ups
matching splash to finish..
awesome
***
you all know this is a favorite month.. ..DEcember
have a fine sunday everyone
​

December 1 SOTA

Good afternoon.

Straight Razor Shave #588
Thiers-Issard Spartacus
Omega Pro 49 Boar Brush
Angora Soaps Midnight Lavender SS and AS
Stirling Alum Block
Personal Care Witch Hazel
Beard Growth: 29 hrs



Did a rare 2 pass shave for an error-free smooth and comfortable shave. I refreshed this razor on my pasted strop and so I really didn't need to do a third pass.

I picked my Angora Soaps Midnight Lavender and loaded my brush off the puck to prep my stubble by facelathering. Therefore, no lather pic is downloaded on this post. Suffice it to say that I made a thin, slick lather that performed well.

I splashed on the witch hazel and the matching aftershave to end this session. I am off to 7-11 to get my medium size decaf coffee and then on to church. Take care.

I knew that DEcember was your favorite month. I hope you weren't doing your happy dance while shaving. Lol! Anyway, great setup and shave Gary.

awesome sunday shave and pic Joe.cool razor.love your modern choppers Artie and Max,but there's something about a cool vintage...

Thanks Gary. I agree that vintage razors have their charm. I am glad that I have such an array of different types of razors and that I appreciate their differences.

yes sir .i would have to agree.

Great intro, as usual, Joe!

I am maybe going to go with a third option that we did a few times in the past -- "Decadent December". Decadent December involves pampering yourself by hauling out all your fanciest gear, possibly but not necessarily the most expensive or most spiffy stuff but definitely the items you consider your most luxurious "treats".

November sort of fell apart on me. I did several shaves in the last part of the month that I never documented myself or reported here. My sister decided to retire from law practice at the end of this year so she put the small downtown house that she used as her office building up for sale this fall. It sold conditionally at the beginning of November with the sale finalized in mid-month -- for a possession date of monthend. Which meant she had to get everything packed up and moved out in about two weeks. Naturally, I got drafted to help.

This was greatly "helped" by a couple monster snow falls this last couple weeks that almost shut down the city -- just what you need when trying to get loads of stuff emptied out of a building.

Plus, all that heavy snow had to be shovelled off walks and driveways...

By the time that was all finished, I was too sore to move much for a couple days....

December "should" be quieter and much less physically demanding. So I will try to check in more often this month.

Wonderful start to the month Barry.

Very nice introduction Giuseppe.

Most excellent Gary.

thank you Joe.thankfully no dancing but quite happy..

glad you survived the month intact John.happy DEcember.

thank you Joe.

DE Shave # 558 -DEcember Shave - Merkur 37c

Rating: 5 / 5

Razor: Merkur 37c Slant
Blade: Gillette Silver Blue (4)
Brush: Classic Shaving Silver Blue
Lather: Barrister & Mann Season of the Witch
Aftershave: Barrister & Mann Season of the Witch
Additional Care:
Omega Alum
Dickenson’s Original Witch Hazel
Stirling Unscented Glacial Balm

First, my thoughts for the plan of the month. Yesterday, I completed my 200th straight razor shave of the year. (Yes, the need in me keeps a spread sheet of the razors used for each shave by month). I have completed 200 straight razor shaves in each of the past 3 years. As I result, I have position myself to use predominantly DE razors for the month of December. The only challenge will be whether or not I have the willpower to wait until January to use a straight again. We shall see.

I opted to use my longest tenure DE razor in either of my two dens, the Merkur 37c, for the first shave of the month. The badger brush whipped up a nice lather which was sufficient in assisting the razor in a fabulous three pass shave. The end result was a super smooth and comfortable shave.

The one other aspect of this month will be to finish off the PAA Atomic Bay Rum soap as well as featuring some seasonal soaps and splashes such as Ginger’s Gsrden Festivus,
B & M Dickens Revisited and B & M Nordost.

Of course there will be Declaration Grooming Micromatic Monday.

Here’s to some great shaves to close out 2024.