January 2015 30 Day Rule/30 Day Focus Pic and Discussion Thread- All are Welcome

SOTD
January 14, 2015

Prep: Hot shower. Axe Shield Face Wash
Razor: RazoRock Stealth Slant
Blade: Astra SP
Brush: L'Occitane Plisson
Lather: CRSW Nouvelle Fougere
Post: Alum.Thayers Lavender WH.
Aftershave: Floid Black
Outstanding shave. The RRSS slide over my slick face, CRSW is one of the slickest soaps I've used. Floid Black is a very pleasant aftershave.
Go out and get it!

 

Day 14
my 30-day rule
razor: Ever Ready 1924 SE
blade: Personna GEM teflon coated (4)
brush: Vie-Long 04312 Cachurro horse hair
soap: Williams

I am quite relieved to report that yesterday's recalibration did the trick... and boy is my face relieved! Today was the fourth shave on the blade, but I did not notice any of the signs... but, as I've confessed, I frequently go one shave too far. Ain't there on this one yet, though!

I claim a BBS(rf) for today's shave. Any leftovers are minute spots of micro-stubble that you certainly can't see and can only feel in one particular direction. It is as good as yesterday's shave and could be marginally better.

ALSO... I finished with my implementation of @HolyRollah 's shave balm. >here< It is FANTASTIC! Soothes, moisturizes, and lasts most of the day. In fact, the scent I added lasts longer than when I put it in a splash. I suspect the fragrant oil binds with the shea butter, so lingers.

NOTE: Though I agree with @GDCarrington on locking ALL variables to maximize learning, I am switching brushes a little bit. Though some hate Williams for its (lack of?) lather, it is a pretty well known entity to me. I can tell when a change of brush effects a change in lather.

 

Ah, yes. The Zen Baby Surprise. Isn't it ironic, just like my "less effort" shave today, that you get what you want when you stop trying?

I would say that Yoda probably is a great shave instructor, but isn't he a reptile? ... and if he is, why does he have tufts of hair? ... none of which is on his chin! Wait! Yoda applied Jedi light saber shaving techniques to his reptilian chin hairs, so they will never grow back unless he wills it!

What fun would that be?

 

Glad you are enjoying it, Sean!

 

1/14/2015 30 Day - Shave # 14

Prep - Hot Shower
Razor - Mongoose Satin B2
Blade - Kai Mild (2)
Brush - Rubberset 400 with WSP HMW
Lather - Soap Commander Confidence
Post - Witch Hazel and CC Bay Rum AS



I rushed yesterday's shave and while the result was acceptable the stubble returned earlier in the evening than usual. Decided to wake up a little early and slow down a little. Today was a 3 pass shave, WTG, XTG and ATG with touch ups in my usual trouble areas. Much better results than yesterday but the real test will be this evening. As usual Soap Commander proved easy to lather and provided slickness and cushion to the shave. Loved the feel of the Bay Rum on a cool rainy morning.

 

SOTD 14 - BSG:

Prep: Shower, Proraso PreShave
Soap: Arko
Blade: 7'oclock SharpEdge (yellow)
Razor: Ball End Tech
Brush: 24mm WD Black Badger
Post: WH, club mend

I tried a cold water shave again this morning, good results again, and I was able to get very close again, without irritation(so far, the day will tell I guess). 1 WTG, 1 ATG With a couple touchups. Also XTG on my neck.

 

Tuesday and Wednesday! Days #11 & #12 of the 30 day BSG challenge

• Music: Bach, Violin Sonatas (Tuesday) / Philip Glass, Glasspieces (Wednesday)
• Prep: hot washing cloth
• Brush: TGN a grade silvertip badger in Oscar11 handle
• Soap: Cella
• Razor: birth quarter Gillette Slim (@ 4, 5, 6 & 7)
• Blade: Derby #2 & #3
• Shave: 3-pass + touch-up
• Post: cold water rinse, DR Harris Bay Rum AS

Yesterday wasn't a very good day. No energy at all, so no post. I did shave, however. So, on to that:

Yesterday and today I concentrated on stretching at the throat (more precisely: not overstretching). Usually I stick my chin up and pull the skin down at the collarbones. Yesterday and today I refrained from pulling the skin down. That resulted in less irritation. Yeey! Two great shaves.

Have a nice day, ya'll!

 

Kerry-

is that a real street scene from NorCal? Cool pic!

Listening to your thoughts on skin stretch and the neck area...good stuff!

 

No. App.

 

Great photos all around!

 

Day 12 of 30
BSG
30 Day Rule with a Slim
​

J2 Gillette Slim Adjustable
Kroger Israeli Personna
VDH Kit Badger
TSD Lanolin Shave Stick - Barber Shoppe Scent
Today's Great Cheap AS™ is Kroger Arctic Blue!

Lab report later! Hope everyone is shaving well and having a great Wednesday!

 

30 Day Challenge
5 Month noobie.

Prep: Hot shower Nivea Face Wash
Brush: WD 22mm
Soap: C.O. Bigelow
Blade: Personna Lab Blue
Razor: Gillette Ball Tech 1951
Post: Alum Block, Old Spice

No shave yesterday today's shave was a very smooth 3 pass shave I'm really enjoying this Ball end Tech. I have noticed when I do a 3 pass shave with no shave the day before my shaves seem to be smoother and longer lasting then if I shave on consecutive days. Will have to see if this pattern holds true.

 

1/14/15 - BSG - RESET Day 9

Prep - Hot Shower, towel soak
Brush - Omega 48
Soap - Proraso Green
Razor - '46/'47 Aristocrat
Blade - Voskhod (3)
Post - Pinaud Clubman

Another day of trying for a 2 pass DFS and much improved, although some extra buffing did occur. Still, I managed to get my face DFS, neck is better with the same two trouble spots lagging behind but better than yesterday. It's not lasting as long in the day with only two passes but it is very presentable and nice to cut a little time off. Will continue to try for DFS all over in two as the challenge continues.

​

 

My day 17 shave resulted in weepers in the same spots as yesterday. Bad technique, or areas to be gentle with until it heals? I'm not sure how long the coated stainless GEM should last. So far so good.

 

01/14 – Day 14 of the 30 Day Rule - Shave #12 with the Weishi

Objective: Survive a month using low end entry level products.

• Growth: 1 day
• Prep: Hot shower; Corn Huskers Lotion
• Lather: Arko – Face lathered
• Brush: Escali Badger
• Razor: Weishi 9306/Microtouch One
• Blade: Derby Extra (4)
• Post: Alum; Dove Men’s Sensitive AS Balm

Today’s Results: Another two pass XTG-ATG today and it was another DFS. No weepers or nicks or irritation. I pushed the Derby blade to a fourth shave and it handled it okay but had a few tugs near the end. Weishi and Arko are performing well. The badger… well, I really look forward to other brushes!

 

Mike, turn the antenna so that the image becomes clearer!

 

Day 12 - Thirty Days with Merkur 34c (Jan 1-Feb 4 [No shave on Saturdays]) BSG 1-14-2015

Hot Shower and Prep - Neutrogena Men Invigorating Face Wash, & Wm. Neumann & Co. Peppermint Leaf Bar Soap
Razor Merkur 34c
Blade Astra SP (6)
Brush - Plisson Synthetic
Lather - Poraso Green
Post - Warm & cool water rinse, WH, RazoRock Problem Solver Lime AS, Gold Bond Ultimate Men's Essential Lotion

Two Passes instead of going N-S, S-N I did a WTG & ATG seemed to be better results . Only a few touch ups for a pretty decent DFS+

 

SOTD
January 15, 2015

Prep: Hot shower. Axe Shield Face Wash
Razor: RazoRock Stealth Slant
Blade: Rapira Swedish Supersteel
Brush: Custom 22/52mm Silvertip KonigShaveDesigns
Lather: Klar Kabinett
Post: Alum.Thayers Lavender WH.
Aftershave: Fine Platinum
New custom Slivertip brush. 1st time using Rapira Swedish Supersteel, sharp and smooth. Excellent shave. I love Klar Kabinett!
Go out and get it!

 

Day 15
my 30-day rule
razor: Ever Ready 1924 SE
blade: Personna GEM teflon coated (5)
brush: Omega 31064
soap: Williams
finish: HolyRollah's awesome DIY balm >here<

OK, I think I'm there. Shave #5 on this blade and a very respectable BBS(rf). I think I've sussed the ER 1924 well enough to know its limits (and possibly recognize — if not remedy — some of my own!). I am turning a little lukewarm on finishing out this 30-day ride. I suspect there may be a couple of lessons left, but they have to be finer points by now.

For example, I noticed a rather minor detail today. I took extra (slow and careful!) time on the trouble spots on the first pass, applying a little early stage buffing. This delay gave some of my lather time to dry a bit — nothing new, really. I normally wet the razor, carrying as much water as I can to the face to sort of "quicken" a lather that's turning a little pasty. Because of the 1924's big, flat surface area, I think it "drags" through the pasty lather slightly more than a curved head on a DE. Could this extra drag contribute to razor burn? Quite possibly, but I suspect to a lesser degree than the operator error I've documented in this thread!

I haven't tried corking a new blade yet, but I think I am otherwise out of frontier on the ER 1924. That gets me jonesing to move on in the rotation. I fear the next 15 days may drag more than a ER1924 through pasty lather!

 

1/15/2015 30 Day - Shave # 15

Prep - Hot Shower
Razor - Mongoose Satin B2
Blade - Kai Mild (3)
Brush - Rubberset 400 with WSP HMW
Lather - Soap Commander Confidence
Post - Witch Hazel and CC Sandalwood AS



I took my time today and did a 3 pass shave. Ended up with a near BBS without any touch ups. Maybe this is the way to go. Really like the CC Sandalwood AS but wish the scent was stronger.