FEB 2015 30 Day Rule/30 Day Focus Pic and Discussion Thread

As mild as the 89 is I think the SS can be a bit milder. I'm even considering selling my '59 SS because I have the Aristocrat that is more aggressive, though not off the chart by any means. Yeah, it's tough to tell with two variables but not impossible to work it out. The normally mild Derby in a mild SS would create the need for more work I would think.

 

Yeah I was kind of let down because I really wanted to like it. It was an okay experience and if nothing else I'll save it for one of my sons when they get ready to shave. The next search is probably going to be for a heavier razor (something like the 89) that's adjustable.

 

February Focus - Blades
2/6/15 - Day 7
Brush - Omega Pro 48
Cream - C.O. Bigelow
Razor - EJ89L
Blade - (2)
Post - RazoRock alum and AV Musk

After yesterday's less than ideal start for the SharpEdge I was ready to see if day two would provide the same improvement that the Sputnik experienced. So....off we go.

First pass went smooth and the auditory feedback was still nice. Finished and felt the neck was still a bit rougher than I would like after a pass. Second pass I went XTG and focused on the neck especially. Ended very well. Very near DFS. In fact, on busy days it would be a DFS and out the door. A couple of trouble spots on my neck. So, third pass was modified to the neck only and using diagonal XTG instead of ATG. Seeing if I could clean it up without the irritation that ATG created yesterday. Very nice finish. Definitely DFS, near BBS. Ready to pronounce a huge improvement and go to day three.

Alum - Yep, there's the problem. Alum lights my neck up like a neon light. Wow, burn baby burn. Irritation everywhere. Rinse, splash the musk and burn baby burn. Clearly there is a lot of irritation from this blade. Not at all as friendly for me as the PTFE blades.

Grade - A2. Without the irritation it would have been a great shave. Wasn't bad with the irritation but I can do better with other blades. So, day three will seal this blade's fate. I am already suspecting it will fall out of any chance of my rotation, but not sure I'd send it to the comrades in demolition either.

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I'm considering an adjustable in the not too distant future but going to stay vintage. Either a slim or a black beauty. I've started prowling antique malls hoping to stumble on one of those or else a Fatboy. The prices of fatboys on the web tend to scare me away.

 

I have found that the SS works much better with very sharp blades. Maybe something like Feather, Med Preps, 7 o'clock yellow or black. You might want to give that a try before giving up on it.

 

While traveling, did another two pass cold water shave. No irritation, and a little closer than last time, but only a visable passable shave. Looking forward to hot water when I get home.

 

Thought I'd check back in here. I've been going two weeks strong with my current setup, but just received the Arko Classic Natural Krem yesterday. I used it for the first time this morning, and it's obvious that it's going to replace the Nivea AS Balm in my lineup. It's just so good! Blends perfectly with my Arko stick, and has an awesome consistency which is perfect for dry cold winters.

 

For neck comfort, I tend to go NS then 90degree XTG. I have found that more aggressive razors are more comfortable on the neck. I think aggressive razors allow for less pressure and stroke count, reducing chances for irritation.

Agree totally. An SS performs best with sharper blade types.

 

Focused February


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Dad's Schick Revere Handle Injector
Chinese Schick
L'occitane Plisson Synthetic
Proraso Eucalyptus Tub
Today's Great Cheap AS™ Is Stetson Cool Moisture!

I love this setup. Great shaves every time! May switch up the soap soon. Happy Saturday!

 

I heartily agree. Today is day 7 of the focus, and for as much as I totally enjoy the Schick I1, I am finding that I am getting more neck irritation than I did with either the GEM MMCP, or the EverReady 1914. Both are much more aggressive razors, so I believe I subconsciously took more care with technique: angle and pressure. I still got a BBS+ shave, but with redness on the neck.

 

02/08/15 February Focus on Blades

Prep – MR GLO
Razor - Mongoose Satin B2
Blade – Kai Sharp (1)
Brush – Ever Ready with TGN Finest
Lather – Strop Shoppe Baker Street
Post - Witch Hazel and Clubman AS



Thanks to Charlie, aka @wristwatchb for his gift of MR GLO preshave soap. This is the first time I used a preshave soap. I could tell it provided a very slick base to build the lather. Coupled with the slickness of the Strop Shoppe, I had a exceptional 3 pass shave this morning. The witch hazel and Clubman proved a nice finish to a great shave. With the great weather today, I am off on the motorcycle to the N GA and NC mountains for a nice day trip.

 

2/8/15

Prep: Cornhusker's Lotion
Lather: TSD Grey Vetiver type
Brush: BodyShop synthetic
Razor: Weber PH
Blade: Rapira Platinum Lux (2)
Post: Captain's Choice Cat O' Nine Tails

I generally think of myself as a pretty quick learner but a couple of things occurred today which reminded me that I'm not that sharp sometimes. Oh, my shave was good, but I learned or relearned a couple of items. First off, why do I insist on babying my brushes and soaps? I've struggled a little having a decent lather for my 2nd and 3rd passes with several soaps lately. Here is what I used to do - wet the puck and pretty gently swirl the brush bristles around on the soap for 30-40 seconds and then face lather. Today (and yesterday for my head shave) I pushed the brush down much harder and loaded the heck out of the soap. Viola! Enough lather for 3,4,5+ passes and the lather was slick and dense and shiny and great.

Second, despite the fact that I have a relatively hair free top of my head, anytime I shave my head, the razor blade just pretty much gets chewed up and spit out by the end of the shave. I used a fresh Rapira Platinum Lux yesterday afternoon for my head shave and today's face shave was decidedly "tuggy". Oh yeah, I remember that now. Since our weather is warming back up, I will likely get back to every day or every other day head shaves. I need to keep a single razor dedicated to head shaving, so I grabbed my Gillette New SC and have it on deck for later today or tomorrow morning.

Back to my blade focus. The combination of a head shave and face shave did not give the Rapira a fair trial, so it will be up on deck again in the next week or so. I've loaded a Shark in for tomorrow's shave.

 

I decided to move by the EJ89 until I get some sharper blades for the SS. The weight just feels more comfortable to me even though I have carpal tunnel which surprises me but it's probably just because I've become use to it. I learned that my lather issues were from me shaking my brush out to much. All the advice I got when I first started was to start with a rather dry brush and add water as needed. Well I took that advice to far and wasn't giving my soap enough water in fear of adding to much. The lather today wasn't anything special BUT it did stay slick on my head throughout the entire shave instead of drying up.

Let me start this off by saying I recently received a package as part of a BzzCampaign. A package of Schick Hydro 5's. What a convenient campaign to be asked to be a part of and given that I recently switched over I wanted to give them a try. I didn't get as close of a shave on my face but it wasn't a bad shave at all. If I was traveling and forgot to pack up by DE I would gladly shave with on of these. I might even shave my head in the morning with one since I can go a lot faster but I haven't decided yet. Now the part that I'm really liking is my neck/throat area. NO irritation or tugging at all! That is the part I dread the most during my shave. I can probably accomplish the same thing with my DE and I will strive to achieve that but, that is something major to accomplish with little effort on my part. Are they worth the money? Who knows, I got them for free to review and haven't looked up the price tag yet but, from my last experience with a disposable this was completely different.

And no I'm not going to go back but it might have swayed me to use them from time to time.

 

I think I'm the same way handling my brush and some days I just don't notice that, that might be the difference in my off and on days. Also a good note to think about for using the same blade on my head and face. I shave both several times with the same blade so I'll have to pay attention and see if having separate blades for both improve anything for me.

 

I only tried a full head and face shave with the same blade once. Since I only shave my head twice a week and it's fairly thick (well where it still grows hair) it didn't go well. I have found an Astra SP in my Merkur 23c will go two shaves on my head, and I'm going to try it on a third this morning as it seemed in good shape last time. Then back to my EJ89 and a Gillette Yellow for today's face shave.

 

February Focus - Blades
2/6/15 - Day 7
Brush - Omega Pro 48
Cream - C.O. Bigelow
Razor - EJ89L
Blade - (3)
Post - RazoRock alum and The Veg

Final day on the Yellow. The blade's shave characteristics have been consistent. Smooth, nice feedback, and leaving too much work after each pass. I mentioned on day 1 that I noticed drag on the ATG third pass, and that didn't show up on day 2, but I did a modified third pass that day. Today on the ATG it dragged again. Almost sticking to my face and I had plenty of slick Bigelow laid down. Unacceptable.

Alum absolutely was hot and nasty. Didn't even put The Veg on my face, but used it on my head instead since I shaved that before. Didn't want to deal with a second burn on my neck today.

Grade for today is B2. I would love to make it a B3 but my criteria demand I stick with a 2. I did get a DFS.

FINAL - A- /2 and I think I'm being a bit generous by standing with my criteria. This is a blade that will not be a part of my system at the moment. I am willing to give it another try in a different razor at some point, but for now it ranks 4 out of 4 in the trial. My ranking so far 1)Voskhod 2) Sputnik 3) Gillette Silver Blue 4) Gillette Yellow.

COST - Best price on today's web is $18.00 including shipping, so 18 cents a blade. Not a bargain, especially for me.

I am going to change the blade order at this point. My plan was to move to the 7 o'clock Green, which is a stainless blade. Given the problems with the Yellow platinum, however, I am going to the 7 o'clock Black next, which is the Super Platinum Indian blade by Gillette. I want to compare the two platinums back to back, and I suspect if I have the same kind of irritating experience (literally) with the Black tomorrow it may be a one day wonder. Should be interesting. Now, on to something fun for the day!

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It is amazing how that blade smooths out without dulling.

 

I really like the MR GLO. Didn't notice any irritation but then the witch hazel post shave probably helps with that. Had a fantastic ride today thanks for asking. I was under the weather for most of January so I missed out much of my riding. Now I have to make up for lost time.

 

It is ironic that I now just shave it off. In high school and college my morning hair routine was an hour long and involved more products than most women use today.

 

I actually keep a few Gillette disposables around just for trim ups with my head shave. Sometimes when I get done with it I find that a couple of small areas pop up that seem a bit rough. The disposable knocks it down quickly with a quick pass. When I was using Fusions and other carts to shave with I hated shaving my head because it was a pain to keep the blades from clogging. Using the disposable twin just to do quick touch ups though doesn't have that problem. Like you I'll never go back to the carts and disposables, but they can serve a purpose in a pinch.