May 2015 30 Day Rule/Focus Pic-Discussion Thread

Patient and logical

 

Each lather during my May badger brush focus has improved. I think I am figuring out how to face lather with these badgers. Load the well shaken brush like I mean it right on the soap and then within 60 seconds or so I am ready to shave. Today I used the Dusy Kabinett and it was just fantastic. Slick, shiny and protective enough for 2 good passes. The resulting shave was as near BBS as I ever get.

If you are getting the urge to move away from something before the 30 days focus is done, I strongly suggest you stick with it. I was ready to move away from the badgers after about 10 shaves. Advice on this thread and encouragement from you all made me stick it out and boy am I glad that I did. I didn't know that face lathering with a badger could be this good.

 

MAYhem & Mercy
May 21, 2015
Prep - Hot shower and towel
Brush - VDH Boar
Soap - Arko
Razor - RazoRock TTO
Blade - (2)
Post - Alum, Nivea Balm

The RR TTO is definitely a great razor, at least with my experience so far. Giving it the Baili to figure it out seemed reaonable. The more aggressive razor with this dull blade should make it work better. Alas...my hopes and dreams were dashed. I definitely felt the extra aggression with more pulling and roughness and for a short time I thought I'd get improved results. Nah....just a pipe dream. Same result as yesterday with an inconsistent result. I even J-hooked the XTG pass, used the Gillette Slide on my neck and buffed some areas that seemed to resist smoothing out. I can call it a CCS after all that and a lot of alum burn today. But....since I can go to work without having to change anything it's a pass! Yes, the Baili passed both Mercy shaves, though barely.

I think there are basically three options when it comes to this blade. Shave as normal and just accept a less than desirable result. Put in the extra time to work it down to something slightly better. Dispose of it and vow never to put one in a razor again. I'm choosing the third option. Now, if I am travelling across China and run out of blades and this is the only blade available? I'd check to see if Russia could airlift me a Voskhod. Just a thought. Happy Thursday.

 

This is very good advise. It takes time to learn new things and I have to caution myself not to give up to quickly. Congrats on figuring out badgers. While I enjoy boars and synthetics, I really prefer badger brushes. It always amazes me the difference in feel between the badger brushes.

 

05/21/2015
Razor – Mongoose B2 with Jürgen Hempel Ti
Blade – Feather Super Pro (9)
Brush – Rubberset 400-3 with WSP HMW
Lather – B&M Seville
Post - Witch Hazel and Myrsol F Extra



This mornings shave would have been near prefect were it not for my error ending up with a pretty good nick above my lip. Oh well. The B&M Seville soap is an excellent slick soap. Just be sure to add water slowly. I really like the scent as well.

I am already thinking about June's Focus. I think I will be taking a break from the Mongoose for a while. Leaning towards an OC DE month. With a New LC, New Deluxe, Old Type and AT&T M2. Still just in the planning stages and subject to change.

 

Day#20 of the 30-Day Focus
..and Day#7 of 7 with the Böhler Stahl Straight Razor.

Final day of using the Böhler Stahl and today's shaving experience was just as good as the initial shave six days ago. After a standard pre-shave stropping regimen (35 linen; 50 leather), every shave this past week has been ultra smooth, fast and efficient. The only 'round point' razor this month, I did find myself moving quicker than normal through the passes since the threat of sharp-point 'puncture & pain' was not present.
Onward to a new razor tomorrow….

 

OC month sounds interesting. Unless you're ready to try something straight.

 

Not likely. I might eventually get there for 1 or 2 days a week but can't see SR shaving on a regular basis.

 

Too funny. But you never know.

 

Blade Focus Day 21:

Homemade PS Oil
Vie-long Horsehair Brush
Stirling Electric Sheep SS
EJ Chatsworth Barley
Derby Super Stainless
Stirling Unscented PSB
Stirling Glacial Lemon Chill AS

A bit better on day 2 of the Derby. A nice shave this morning with no irritation.

 

I love love LOVE my new straight. I'm going to forgive the post office on this one as I received my new strop at the same time. This razor has a bit more weight which I find more comfortable and it also seems to be way sharper. I went with my normal three pass shave and it's been the best straight shave so far. Don't get me wrong there are some rough spots and I got a pretty nice cut on my cheek but for not shaving in awhile I'd have to say the results were better than expected. Hopefully things will really start to come together once I get more acquainted with this particular razor but I'm sure glad I made the purchase.

 

That, my friend, is what a typical square-point razor cheek slice looks like! Easy to do which is why round-points are often recommended for beginners.
Consider it a 'initiation mark'.....

 

I wear it with pride!

 

Fantastic looking razor. Looking forward to your upcoming posts as you master this SR.

 

I hope you and your bride are enjoying springtime in the hills! Have safe travels.

 

Day 21

30 Day Rule with a Schick!


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I realized as the blade hit my face that I had neglected to change it. Day nine at this point, maybe?

I was able to get really good lather going today, so I decided to attempt one pass BBS. While I didn't get yo my goal, one XTG pass was good enough to pass inspection, albeit with a little touch up. A nice easy shave on a blade that's really only tugging a little, possibly emphasizing the importance of lather. The key to success today seemed to be slickness of the soap when used with the stretching techniques I been mentioning. This month I have really been focusing on staying true to the growth pattern. Much like @TroyM stated above, I also learn great stuff each month. One reason I keep doing a rule/focus is that I feel it let's me fully experience the potential of whatever tools I am using that month. I should probably change my blade tomorrow....

Have a Happy Friday!
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That is so cool. All of it...very nice looking strop! Razor looks amazing too! It's really neat how it all arrived at once. And remember, a scar now is nothing more than a story later! I hope you really get the most out of it! Good Luck!

Kudos to @Drygulch on the design!

 

SIGH.... My three day pass is over, and I'm back to prison....(well, I do work there.....) This last week-end was our Victoria Day (for Queen Victoria) long week-end, and I finished my last shift on the Monday Morning. My Bride (all of 6 months!) and I both had the three days off together....BLISS. Today, on my first night back, I had my day two shave with the Astra SP it was almost as good as first pass shave as yesterday, but a little less smooth. My result was a great two pass DFS - BBS, with a little irritation on the neck, which was probably technique, not blade. Another great blade.... Now to figure out how many shaves I can get on this blade.....

 

Brush Focus: Day 21/30
Brush: Frank Shave Brush, Rosewood, Best Badger 22/55
Gillette Super Speed, Red Tip (1955- A-3)
Gillette Platinum Blade (7)
Soap: Proraso,
A/S: Gillette
Old Spice Coffee Mug.(soak brush)

Yesterday's shave went very well. I've used this brush with a number of soaps, all have worked well. Other than the fact that I had to polyurethane the brush with a couple of coats when I received it this is a good shave brush. The Gillette Red Tip is an outstanding razor. Thanks @Omaney. I haven't tried the Gillette Blue Tip yet, but will soon. I have also been very pleased with the Gillette Platinum Blade. Today I will start my shave week with my another Frank Shave Brush, Beechwood, Bes Badger, and Gillette 1965 (K-4) Slim Adjustable and the Platinum Blade. Outstanding shave week.
Golf Tournament today, should be fun. (Teachers Tournament).
Have fun and play nice.