I had a very lazy few days off, as far as shaving was concerned. After getting off Friday Night, I did not shave again until Sunday afternoon. With almost 30 hours between shaves, and my usual days off razor switch, I went back to the GEM MMBT. I just got my shipment of TSD subzero soap, new Witch Hazel in Russian Leather, and a few aftershaves. I ended up with a very nice DFS after two passes!

Today, being menthol Monday, I again used the subzero, with my WD silvertip. It was day six on the Derby Extra, and I got another wonderful DFS shave. I followed up with the Iced Eucalyptus witch hazel, and the sub zero aftershave. All in all a very refreshing shave!

You can't hijack this thread. Read the first post

The razor bump issue you are experiencing will lessen over time as your face smooths out and all of the damage issues from cartridge shaving has abated. Try judging your shave three different ways:

1. Was it a comfortable shave process?
2. Do you APPEAR TO BE clean shaven?
3. How does your face feel 8-16 hours afterward?

The ability to really get after and chase the baby will just happen. Just keep your focus on precise shaving with good angles, and don't worry over BBS. Learn solid and replicable techniques and routines and master your beard growth pattern for now. You have already gotten the hang of this, it won't be long until it's nearly perfect every time.

And skipping a day now and then may actually be beneficial to comfort as you learn, when I was brand new, a 48 hour interval was all my face could handle until I got some skills down.

Finish your coffee completely, there are sleepy kids in Africa....

Razor: Gillette Redtip, (A-3) 1955
Blade: Gillette, Platinum (5)
Brush: Fendrihen Silvertip Faux Ebony Handle, 22/49
Soap: Stirling-Cool
Mug: Soak my brush in the Old Spice coffee mug for about a minute.
A/S: Lucky Tiger
So here I go again. I thought for sure that using this soap, which I believe to be as hard as any shave soap I have would prove that a stiffer brush would work better with this particular soap. Darn, wrong again. This soap worked perfectly with the Silvertip brush. A great 3 pass shave with a cool soap. Perhaps it is the preparation of the soap that is more important than the brush. Stay tuned.

Stirling is known to be a tricky soap.

I can't remember where I saw the video of the person showing different ways to create lather, however, the adding of 2 teaspoons of warmish water to the soap, and ring out the brush before starting to work the lather has been a game changer for me. The Stirling soap whipped into a great lather in no time at all.

Part 1 - Dry Method:
Part 2 - The Wet Method:
My preferred - Part 3 - The Marco Method:

How are you liking the cold water so far?growing on you?

World Tournament of Blades - Russia vs. the World!!
June 8, 2015
Prep - Hot shower and towel
Brush - VDH Boar
Soap - Proraso
Razor - Razo Rock TTL
Blade - (1)
Post - Alum, Nivea Balm

I'm late but I'm here. Not a bad shave today as the tournament enters its 7th day. Up today is the Ladas...a stainless blade. I have used this blade before and like it so let's see how it performs in the tourney. Lathered Proraso Green and got down to business. First pass very smooth and the blade seems sharp enough. No issues and I lathered for the second pass. XTG as always and a very nice result though not as nice a finish as some blades. Still DFS after two but needed some touch up under the neck to finish. Ended with a nice DFS. Now, one thing I did notice today was the return of the 5 o'clock shadow. Seems a bit rougher than usual as the day wore on so I'm going to take back a bit on the sharpness. May not have been quite as close as I first judged.

So, sharpness is a 2....some issues though not major. Smoothness is a 1. No issues there at all. Irritation is a 1. Stainless normally agrees with me and this one is no different. Just a minor burn from the alum on my neck. Result is a 2...DFS.

Total - 6. Not a bad performance at all. I don't use too many stainless blades, but when I do, Ladas is a top choice. Tomorrow we go with the St. Petersburg stainless...the Nacet!

Day 7 (2) - 8 May 2015

30 Day Rule with a Cadet OC!


​

I am later, but it's still Monday in CO. Day 2 on this blade went pretty well with one exception. I got a little cavalier on the left pass and got scraped a bit on the jaw. Still learning on Day 7, but sadly learning not to be careless. The Alum sealed it right up and the Barbon thanked me for being alive. Barbon is herbal, oak moss and strong menthol, and very herbal in tone. It kinda smells like something barber shop, but in an east Europe kinda way. I think next month is gonna be a Stirling month, kudos to @Seabs for rolling out the vids! I logged on Sunday to find I was drawn the winner in a @Bobcat PIF, contents of which I will use next month in a 30 Day way. Also, lots of cool new blades out there with the SR crew, I hope they treat you right!

Have a great Tuesday!
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June Open Comb Focus
Day 7

Prep: Hot shower
Razor: Gillette New SC
Blade: Voskhod
Brush: Omega 10083 Boar Brush
Lather: Maggard London Barbershop
Post: Cold rinse, Alum, Witch hazel, TSD Sandalwood AS Milk

Today I tried stretching the skin out around the neck to get a cleaner shave. Worked like a charm! The Gillette New is a fine razor that gives me joy!

Most definitely growing on me. I'll be honest, I didn't think I would make the month when I started. But, this has become the shave method of choice for me. When the weather cools in the late fall, I may try hot water again, but the cold water feels too good now.

Thanks. I appreciate you taking the time to do this.

Cold water shave focus day 9:

Homemade PS Oil
WD High Mountain Badger 30 mm
Stirling Port-au-Prince SS
Gillette Slim
Stirling Unscented PSB
Brut Classic AS

The cold water shaves are really working out. I'm the water is very soothing, as is the cold razor.

June 9th, SOTD (Shave 6 of this focus)
Two days’ growth
Prep: Hot Shower
Razor: Sears Craftsman 5/8 round point
Strop: Drygulch Chromexcel Horsehide/ Linen (20 on linen, 50 on leather)
Soap: Homestead Ranch Goat Butter Soap (mixed scents)
Brush: Omega Boar Travel
Post Shave: Cold Water Rinse, Alum Block, Thayer’s Witch Hazel
Aftershave: Aqua Velva Classic Blue Ice
Tunes: Steve Earle: I Feel Alright album

In a hotel room, have my strop tied to the closet door. Brought the good stuff so I can shave right this time. Did a two pass, plus touch up. I picked the round point to avoid cutting my face up before going to a corporate training session. I did have a DE ready as back up, but was able to do it all with the razor. Two pass with touch up, and DFS and so close to BBS I can taste it!
I forgot how much I like this soap. It’s made at a farm about 30 miles from where I live. Slick lather, but have to make it kind of thin. Leaves the face feeling good. Face lathered for the first time in a long time, and used the travel boar brush. This one still sheds. I have had it for a few years, but probably used it less than 30 times.

06/09/2015
Razor – Gillette Red & Black New Deluxe
Blade – Feather (2)
Brush – Rudy Vey with Shavemac Finest
Lather – TSD Yin Yang
Post - Witch Hazel & Myrsol Antesol Sample



A great work morning shave with 3 passes and near BBS. If you have not used the TSD Soap you should consider adding it to your rotation. I find it very easy to lather and the post shave feel with the lanolin is great. Plus you get to pick from an huge selection of scents and menthol levels. Finished off with Myrsol Antesol from the sample pack.

6/09/15 - A Month of Proraso!!!

Proraso Red Soap
Omega 11047 Mixed Midget
1921 Gillette Single-Ring
Pol-Silver Blade (2)
Fine Snake Bite
Splash of Clubman

Day 3 of 5; 30-Day JUNE Rule
Early start in the morn so an evening shave was in order. Third consecutive day using the big Rodgers razor, but last night was my first use of a beautiful hand-made strop made of Red Latigo from Drygulch Leatherworks (Beautiful craftsmanship, Adam! @Drygulch ). Great draw and supple leather…a quality piece of shaving gear! Three-passes, plus some swooping touch-up strokes. DFS results.
Strop: 30 on linen/60 on the leather…post-shave, another 15-20 laps on the leather to ensure a dry edge. Have a great Tuesday, all!

June 9 - Shave 6
Prep: Noxzema face wash
Brush: Omega 48
Preshave: Stirling Mentha Preshave oil
Soap: TSD Lanolin Bay Rum
Razor: Heljestrand No 24, French point, 5/8"
Growth: 1 day
Post: Cold water splash, Clubman, Shower, TSD Milk sub-zero AS,
Passes: WTG, XTG, WTG

SWMBO commandeered the shower from me and I was on a tight schedule this morning - no time for dilly dallying. Went to strop with the poor man strop only to find that someone had managed to cut the crap out of it - nothing nice can stay out I guess! I post a pic of that later. So 30 x strops on the gemstar bench the blade to face. Three easy passes. I'm completing the 2nd pass on my neck all with the same dominate hand. Confidence getting my hand into the correct angles without cutting. I'm really enjoying this Swedish blade.

Like Adams (@Drygulch) has mentioned with his wedge, the blade kind of "suctions" to my face on the thin, atg angles. But if I keep a good motion forward with the blade, it doesn't seem to stick to the face. No nicks or cuts today and no de clean up needed. I will need to pay closer attention to lining up my sideburns - a little jagged . Yesterday officially became the one month point of the goatee. Don't know how I'm going to last another 2 months to start the twist on the handlebar...#firstworldproblems :/ics:
Cheers,
Eric