Nice review of your first DE shave. Sounds like you're hooked! Now go easy on the faceturbation.

Many thanks. I have been the recipient of many PIFs gifts and try to help when I can.

Just curious, I was looking at the ATT site and don't see S1 or S2 razors. Are these the solid bar and OC slants or does it have to do with the blade gap as well?

Both S1 and S2 are based on the R plate in terms of gap. S1 is a safety bar and S2 is OC.

You can view them here on the site:
http://www.abovethetie.com/?store_cat=34&sub=true

Posted my setup pic earlier. Here's the scoop.

BSG Rules
Using 1918 Gillette Old OC
Omega Pro 48
Proraso Green tub
Voskhod blades

My dates are January 1-30.

My goal is to master my first open comb razor while continuing to work my overall technique into place. My biggest issues at this point are the tendency to apply pressure in trouble spots and to work too fast. I'm pretty sure the 1918 will force me to slow down and keep the pressure off as I work each pass.

I am also giving Voskhod a full 30 days to impress me like I think they will. My earlier test with one put them in my top 3 blades. Going to see if they hold that ranking and improve as I get better.

As a side note, following the 30 day rule I am going to continue for several more days but change to Gillette Silver Blue blades. This is to compare GSB directly against Voskhod with no other variables. This was a suggestion by Bama and a good one. I may continue on with a couple more blades as well just to sort out preferences, performance issues etc.

Daily posts begin Thursday. Hope everyone has a fun and productive 30 days!

Proraso certainly has some brush staying power also

Well, I have FINALLY settled on the razor for the 30 day challenge. I was originally going to do the Phoenix but realized I have over a dozen SE razors that I have never used. After much deliberation here is my 30 day rig.

1912 Gem Damaskene Razor
GEM Stainless Steel Coated Single Edge Blade
Vie Long 12705 Horse Hair Brush
C. O. Bigelow Menthol Shave Cream
Super Safety Razors Large Stainless Steel Shaving Soap Bowl

Having never used the razor, blades and a horse hair brush this should be interesting. I am waiting to see how The Vie Long compares to my Omega Boar. The Blades are fresh in from Razor Blades and More and seem to be well regarded in most of the posts I have seen.



The razor is my newest and must be the one from this 1911 ad.

Nice. Arko! I seriously thought about it...I really like it.

Even the fearsome boar benefits from a brush with greatness, and that is the lemon scented gift to shavers we mortals know as Arko. Or I just like Arko. YMMV greatly, but I may have had a stinky boar. I will cop to dish soap when asked about my Omega 48. But I really like it now. I have heard this varies a lot.

It's probably just letting any soap remove the undesirable oily residues. I've read on this forum about how any real hair brush might carry a characteristic smell, much like fresh leather. You will be amazed in 30 days how soft that brush will become relative to now. Any soap will so. My boar also became easier to use as time went on, and makes easy voluminous lather of most soaps. If I get it loaded up, with the right amount of water, I can almost do 4-5 passes I think that's why I like mine. It simplified learning for me. I feel like once I get the 48 loaded up, it's all about the blade...the soap in the brush is enough to do it. Again YMMV.

My 30 days will start tomorrow. Actually today I guess, since I'm writing this so late, but after I get some sleep.

So... Dec 31 to Jan 30, BSG Method
Cadet TTO–14
Voskhod
Semogue 1305
Arko

I was originally planning to use TOBS Grapefruit, but changed to Arko just now since I haven't used it much, although I have really liked it when I did.

I'll get a pic in the morning. I really think the Cadet TTO–14 is just beautiful.

This is a great point to start! You did your homework by watching videos. It seems to have paid off! Never worry about long winded...the important stuff is gonna start like 12-18 hours after you shaved. How does it feel then? Did you notice that it's different than using a cart razor? It feels pretty cool to be cutting your beard rather than scraping the face as much, huh? It's all about the technique most of the time. Great shaves can be achieved with any tools, you have a good setup going. Thirty day rule number two was Proraso for me. See you after day 2!

Awesome! Is that a boar brush too?

Yes, boar. And I'll be face lathering the entire 30 days.

As I work nights, I tend to shave at 20:30 hours, before I go into work. I decided to start the 30 day program, on the 30th, to "beat the rush". As I like the menthol and Eucalyptus, I am using the Mbomb, and the TSD WH with Eucalyptus. I may choose to not use the menthol, but that should not affect the shave. I hand stropped the PTFE Gem about 10 times per side before using the new blade.

Today, I was especially worried about just how things would go, as I had a BBS shave with the Shick G last night. I even contemplated waiting and not shaving tonight, the result from last night was that good. As it was, I was especially careful to use only the weight of the razor, and no other pressure. I was also conscious of the blade angle, and was listening for the razor to talk to me. I did the usual pre and between pass noxzema, and usual shower prep. I ended up doing a N-S pass, a XTG on the cheeks, which at the jaw line, becomes ATG. I then did a S-N pass. I ended up with no weepers, a bit of roughness on the right neck ( being right handed), but generally a very satisfying DFS, with no "zing" with the WH, and only minor with the Old Spice AS. In my estimation, a really good start to the month!

December 31st, 2014 SOTD (Shave 3)

Razor & Blade: '63 Gillette Slim and Gillette Platinum
Brush & Bowl: Semogue 1460 brush and hand thrown soup bowl with flat bottom and ridges
Soap & Aftershave: Maggard Orange Menthol

Three days growth, razor set on 3. Had some irritation on my neck from the last few shaves so wanted to give it an extra day to heal. Prep was just a shower. Started my shave with the blade I had used for the last two shaves. Very uncomfortable, so I put a new blade in. That was it. So lesson one is two days for this blade.

DFS all over. Didn't chase the BBS on the neck and jaw, but did scrub a little on my trouble spots on my neck. Those are BBS. Overall, good shave.

Please let us know what you think of the brush. I really enjoy my VL 13061M. I use it for face and bowl lathering. I like the bit of scritch it gives but really enjoy the way it can make lather. Mine had a bit of "horse/stable" smell for the first few uses but cleaned up nicely just with use.

You guys make life so difficult for me sometimes. Having to choose 1 item to use in a month. Its like being in the bomb squad and deciding whether to cut the red blue or green wire

Not many SE 30 day rules...nice razor! How much DE experience before this? I almost chose injectors, but am only really trying to learn my razors since October...so ultimately decided DE again.

SOTD
December 31, 2014
New Years Eve Shave
Prep: Hot shower. Axe Shield Face Wash
Razor: RazoRock Stealth Slant
Blade: Gillette 7 o'clock Yellow
Brush: L'Occitane Plisson
Lather: RazoRock XXX
Post: Alum.Thayers Lavender WH.
Aftershave: RazoRock XXX. RazoRock Milk
Go out and get it!

In addition to the settings, you can adjust the pressure on a razor through the grip. Gripping close to head yields more control, gripping near the end of the handle adds more pressure in my case. I am glad you are doing this. I will begin dialing in my Slim very soon. Your comments about beard mapping are right on!

So how is that black race car of a slant treating you? I am looking forward to a month of seeing a veteran shaver talk about different aspects of a new razor. I may end up having to go hybrid rules too...life happens! And I think you are doing the 30 unique photos...very nice!

Good one! Those SE razors seem a bit less forgiving than DE? I like that you talk abou audio feedback!

-16 up here near Denver last night. How is it down south?

-14 overnight


#30daychallenge SoTD 12/31/14

Prep: warm wash and Cornhusker's lotion
Lather: Klar Kabinett
Brush: Vie-Long 13061M
Razor: Gillette New LC
Blade: Voskhod Teflon (2)
Post: Proraso green aftershave

Oh man, just a couple of days of the same gear and the results are better!

Locking myself into this.

Objective: Survive 30 days using low end entry level products.

• Prep: Corn Huskers Lotion $6.99
• Lather: Arko on a Stick – Face lathered $4.55 for two sticks
• Brush: Escali Super Shedder Badger $12.95
• Razor: Weishi 9306 Microtouch One - $4.99
• Blade: Derby Extra - $9.14 for 100
• Post: Alum bar $6.98; Aqua Velva Ice Blue $4.89; And maybe a lot of styptic $1.99

$52.48 to get in the door - Final price for one month will be tallied at the end of the 30 days.

Someone had to do it. All kidding aside I am really curious to see how this goes. Hopefully the Weishi doesn't lock up or fall apart. I'll start 1/1 and end 1/31.

A brave and adventurous soul. Love the brush name. That's the one that leaves a trail so you can find it again from what I have heard. Will be interesting to see how you do. I don't think the Weishi will be the problem but hey, it's all for science right?