JUNE 2015 30 Day Rule/Focus Pic & Discussion Thread

I have to say yes Bama's question.

 

June 9, 2015

30 Day RULE - “Lather, Rinse, Repeat. Lather, Rinse, Repeat. Lather, Rinse….”

Morning Hot Shower
Prep: Pre-Shave Oil - The Art of Shaving
Soap: Arko
Brush: Omega Pro 48
Razor: Gillette Tech “Fat Handle”
Blade: Gillette Wilkinson Sword Stainless (India)
After Shave: Proraso Aftershave Splash Green

Shifted from a 3-pass to a 2-pass shave today - WTG, XTG and a vow for no touch-ups.

Have previously noticed a couple of razor bumps - something I've never experienced before. I’ve been shaving 7-days a week since I joined TSD in May (unusual for me, pre-TSD). So perhaps between that, the unusual heat here in Seattle this past week (90 yesterday!), and my cart tendency to go over different areas of my face repeatedly - the bumps may be a warning to recheck/revise my routine as well as a reaction by my skin to all the scraping.

So I’m going to be strict about the 2-pass for the rest of the week and maybe skip one day altogether this weekend. I’ll also need to constantly remind myself of no repeat strokes on the same area! and break that cart habit.

Speaking of bad cartridge habits…I still find myself rinsing the razor after a single pass using just one side of the razor and forgetting that it’s called a double edge! Some habits die hard!

The shave today still felt pretty darn good. No missed spots, my skin was just not as smooth on some of the more difficult contours of my face. I don’t think anyone will ever notice, except my wife as she’s the only one allowed to touch my face!

Thanks again to all on this thread who advised me on some of the remedies above.
Cheers!
RT

 

I'll make sure to soak up the last bit with a butterscotch muffin!

 

How's the TSD Yin Yang scent and effect? I was about to order a sample.

 

Changing over to SIX for June (one every 5 days). Nearly two down; four more to go!

Adding this one to the June Razor Mix... Vintage C-Mon Cadillac

 

Purdy

 

Once I got used to cold water I decided I was going with cold forever.

Very interesting scales!

Skin stretching was a big advance for my shaves as well!

I am with you Patrick! Everyone should be on SOTD everyday! It's one of the greatest, most dynamic threads. When I am on TSD, reading SOTD is one of the first things I like to get caught up on.

 

Give the 2 pass routine a little time. Your skin will likely adjust and calm down and smooth out. My complexion went through phases at first also.

 

World Tournament of Blades - Russia vs. the World!!
June 9, 2015
Prep - Hot shower and towel
Brush - VDH Boar
Soap - Proraso
Razor - Razo Rock TTL
Blade - (1)
Post - Alum, Nivea Balm

Last Russian in the tourney. It's the crocodile cutter...the Gillette Nacet. I remember this blade being pretty nice in my trials if a bit short-lived. So here we go against the 6 of the Ladas. It's Russian against Russian - Mostochlegmash of Moscow vs. Gillette of St. Petersburg.

Great Proraso lather leads to the first pass which is......a bit disappointing. Smooth but didn't seem to get as much reduction as I'd like. So another lather and back to the second pass. XTG and it seems a bit less smooth than I like. Finished well short of the DFS on the neck and I swear I can already feel some irritation on my face. Third pass on neck, XTG/Gillette Slide and I shouldn't have tried it. Finished with a barely DFS and I'm sure I saw a bit of blood but couldn't find the nick/weeper when I was done. Grabbed the alum and holy cow. Lit me up good. Even the Nivea wasn't comfortable going on. Wow. So much for my memory. My notes from the trials were a bit more accurate. Not my favorite blade by far. But, who cares what's my favorite...let's grade it.

Sharpness...given the poor results on each pass this one is a 2.....at best. I'd go 3 but I want to be generous. Smoothness....Not horrible but not perfect either. 2 it is. Irritation.......Yeah, this is a 4. Ouch. Ouch. Ouch. Result......debated between the CCS and a DFS. Decided a barely DFS.......2.

Total - 10. Annnnnnnddddddddd....you're OUT! I think I have one tuck of these around now so you may see these in a future PIF. Anyway, the winner is......LADAS!!!!!

This completes the Russian sweet 16 bracket! Going on to the Elite Eight will be the Voskhod vs. Gillette Silver Blue, and Sharp Star vs. Ladas. First, though, we turn to the World challengers. Tomorrow....the KAI!

 

Ladas versus Nacet is basically a bye to the next round...

 

The scent is a very nice non sweet citrus but like most citrus scents it does last very long. Overall I'm very impressed with the performance of the soap.

 

Excellent, I'll probably get a sample. Thanks Clint!

 

There's a round in the world side that an even bigger bye but don't tell anyone. lol

 

Does it start in mid-June?

 

No problem. I hope you enjoy it. I have it as well as the Signature scent. Both are very good.

 

Razor: Gillette Redtip, (A-3) 1955
Blade: Gillette, Platinum (6)
Brush: Fendrihen Silvertip Faux Ebony Handle, 22/49
Soap: Synergy Shaving Soap Bay Rum
Mug: Soak my brush in the Old Spice coffee mug for about a minute.
A/S: Captain's Choice Bay Rum

Another good lather tonight with the Synergy Soap. Like the bay rum sent and the great lather it made. So far the soap, lather focus is going great. I'll change brushes on Friday and start over using the same soaps.

 

June 9

MdC facial soap
Muhle R41 (2013)
Feather blade (day 3)
Omega Pro 98 boar brush
D.R. Harris Almond shave cream
Two passes
Alum, Thayer's Lavender witch hazel, unrefined shea butter, and Nivea Sensitive Post-Shave balm

The R41 loaded with a Feather blade has given me some of my best DE shaves ever - near BBS with no irritation in two passes. It's 18 hours post-shave, and I really don't need to shave in the morning.

I hope you all are having a great week!

 

Day 8 - 9 May 2015

30 Day Rule with a Cadet OC!


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Actually had a really easy 2 pass a have today! Apparently whatever was off yesterday was all better, I even got some decent lather from the Williams. The Alum was relatively quiet, no blood today. The weather is really starting to feel more like summer, so I decided Florida Water would be the perfect finish. Other than that, all quiet in Colorado.

Have a great Wednesday!
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June Open Comb Focus
Day 8

Prep: Hot shower
Razor: Gillette New SC
Blade: Voskhod
Brush: Omega 10083 Boar Brush
Lather: Proraso Red
Post: Cold rinse, Alum, Witch hazel, Nivea Sensitive Cooling ASB

Nothing much to add today either than I'm really enjoying this experiment.

 

Proraso is something everyone should try. I have the red, green and white tubs. Great performance!