JUNE 2015 30 Day Rule/Focus Pic & Discussion Thread

Finally with some free time and much needed rest I got in a straight shave today. I used some new soap my wife bought for fathers day which one of them was really nice and the other I'll have to work on the right water ratio. I'd say it was an acceptable 3 pass shave especially since I haven't used a straight in awhile. I'll spend tonight catching up on this thread as I've probably missed a bunch.

 

Happy Aniversary!

 

Allot of anniversaries on this thread. Congratulations!

 

Thank you. I guess June is a very popular month for weddings.

 

Shave #3 of my 30 day focus
6-8-15
Razor= Dovo astrale 6/8 round
Soap= Lea
Brush= VDH Boar
Alum = Osama/ to aid in skin stretching
AS = Himalayan Bay rum
Aloe = banana boat
ASB = dove

I am getting to know this shaver a bit better.less irritation at the end of shave. The razor is feeling good in the hand.

I am becoming aware that this blade's edge is holding up quite nice. I do believe the rumor about Dovo's factory honing isn't worth a tinker's damn per Glen's infamous knowledge.

A very nice clean dfs/bbs after DE clean up (neck and under jawline). I rather enjoyed this shave.

I am really liking this Lea shave soap...
my face really turns out soft,and happy happy.

Keen Blades & smooth shaves Gents


Shave #4 in 30 day focus
6-11-15

Razor= Dovo astrale 6/8 round
Soap= Lea
Brush= VDH Boar
Alum = Osama/ to aid in skin stretching
AS = Himalayan Bay rum
Aloe = banana boat
ASB = dove

Better shave today The edge is holding up rather well, by this time the blade would of needed a
appointment with the chrome ox.

I am hoping that the edge on this dovo will hold up for this focus without taking to the hones.
Has anyone else had an edge issue with their Dovo? Another smooth DFS shave today with DE cleanup. No weepers since my last shave with my square point.

Keen blades & smooth shave Gents

 

World Tournament of Blades - Russia vs. the World!!
June 11, 2015
Prep - Hot shower and towel
Brush - Omega Pro 48
Soap - MWF
Razor - Razo Rock TTO
Blade - (1)
Post - Alum, Nivea Balm

Well after yesterday's surprising bad performance by the Kai we go to India for a challenger. The Super-Max Platinum by Vidyut Metallics. This is a platinum I like, as the Indian plats seem better for me than the St. Petersburg blades. Still the Pro 48 and the Fat so here we go.

Got a GREAT lather out of the MWF today. Best so far as I soaked the puck a bit longer and shook the brush a couple of extra times. Really got the brush loaded and the face lather was magnificent. Yep, thanks to @Bama Samurai I have a new top three soap if not number one! Had the Super Max loaded in the RRTTO and off we went. First observation, this is not a level 1 sharp blade. It's nice, it gets it done, but it's no Kai on sharpness which may not be a bad thing with this razor. First pass was a bit rough, not horribly so but enough to take a notch off for smoothness but it felt good as far as irritation went. Lathered again and went XTG. About as smooth as the first pass but I picked up a nick on my left jawline. That doesn't help. Neck was beginning to feel a bit rough after the pass so I did a quick cleanup on a couple of areas and stopped. Yes, ladies and gentlemen, I actually STOPPED BEFORE doing any more damage. I had already decided that the sharpness was a 2. Again, sharp, but not on the same level as some. But, definitely up there. Smoothness....this one stumped me a bit but I decided due to the nick I had to dock it a point. It would have been a 2 but it became a 3. Irritation? This one surprised me because I felt it was going to be horrible. Nope, not so. Actually a very quiet alum pass. Even the nick wasn't too bad by the time I hit it with cold water. So, a 2. The finish? This one was tough. In fact, I was again happy I had little time to post so I could have the day to think about it and check it. I thought CCS at first given how it originally felt. After it settled a bit, though I decided it was better than that and by the feel of it tonight it had to be a DFS, if only slightly. I docked the nick onto the smoothness and not the finish, just to be clear. DFS is a 2.

Total - 9.

The winner of the round is the SUPER-MAX PLATINUM!!!

Am I surprised, yes. However, after yesterday not as much as I would have been. The Kai really under performed. Now, I think part of the blame falls on me for poor choice of razor for the matchup. However, I can't put it all on that as there wasn't a huge difference. A one point win is as close as it gets so both blades suffered the effects of my choice to an extent.

New round tomorrow. We go to Greece with the Bic Chrome Platinum. It's opponent, the Indian Super-Max Super Platinum. It's two great cuisines and cultures battling it out for the right to battle the SM Platinum.
Bring your friends...get here anyway you can as we move on to the next round.

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I have always got irritation free shaves with super-max platinums.

 

My experience with them as been the same, especially in a mild razor. Very comfortable blade. The Super Platinum has been even a bit better for me so we'll see. If it wins the next round and they go head to head I'll put in the right razor choice and we'll have a great comparison. Still think the blame for the past two shaves goes to my choice of razor.

 

June Open Comb Focus
Day 9

Prep: Hot shower
Razor: Gillette New SC
Blade: Voskhod
Brush: Omega 10083 Boar Brush
Lather: TBS Maca Root Shave Cream
Post: Cold rinse, Alum, Witch hazel, Proraso Green

 

Day 10 - 11 May 2015

30 Day Rule with a Cadet OC!


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Day four on this blade went off without a hitch! I caught a nice 2 pass late afternoon before going open to Denver for the evening. My face feels great 7hours post shave. Williams is getting workable. I think the key is to use twice as much soap as needed, then add a bit more. I continued to try to repeat the exact routine stroke for stroke, and it's getting more solid each day. Mostly wanted to stick with the cool chrome tones in the photo, so I went with a true face freezer with a cool label, TSD Iced Subzero AS Splash. It's Osage level cold and I also like the AS for its great skinfeel. Other than that, all is quiet in Colorado!

Have a great Friday!
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Maca Root shave cream is one of my all time favorites.....

 

I manged to get NINE days out of the Derby Extra. Today the shave was a solid DFS, but not up to the previous quality. I found, over the last few shaves, that I have been doing the SR skin stretching, talked about earlier in this focus. I found it to give a great result with much less work, or touch ups. I will be working to perfect stretching the skin from now on. I think it is time to toss this Derby delight, and on to the next contestant of the blade is right.....

So far, Absolute sharpness....Feather.
Longevity Derby, then Astra SP, Personna Israeli Red
Smoothest Voskhod


Next up to bat: Personna Lab blue

 

For general consumption:

Go order some TSD AS after you visit this link below. I love it and think any shaver with an eye for performance and value would be impressed too. @Queen of Blades offers a wide variety of products in a VAST array of scents. From preshave balm to AS, soap and other goodies...go check it out!


Www.theshavedenshop.com

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Now that I am back from vacation it is back to my focus on using a straight.

Proraso pre-post for the prep
Strop Shoppe Instinct soap
Esty silvertip badger brush
Dovo Bismarck #2 6/8 carbon blade with ebony wood scales.
Drygulch classic american bridle strop with linen.
Alum block to keep my fingers dry
Speick AS
EJ aloe vera ASB
Sonoma Scents Studio Tabac Aurea EDT

It feels likes it has been along time since I shaved with a straight even though it is just 5 days. My return flight was cancelled so I had to catch a flight through Hong Kong's airport instead of Macau. If felt like I was in the move "Trains, Planes and Automobiles" as we raced from the Macau airport to the ferry terminal to catch the boat to Hong Kong airport and finally to the plane.

I was tired an decided to go with just two passes. They went smoothly and quickly. I did the last two passes with my Lather Catcher, I wanted to keep that rigid blade feeling. A good smooth shave with just a little bit of irritation. I will go back to 3 passes Saturday morning when I have the time.

 

Cold water shave focus day 12:

Homemade PS Oil
Vie-long Horsehair Brush
Kiss My Face Lavender SC
Gillette Ball end tech
Stirling Unscented PSB
TOBS Sandalwood AS

 

06/12/2015
Razor – Gillette Red & Black New Deluxe
Blade – Feather (2)
Brush – Rubberset 400-3 with WSP HMW
Lather – TSD Signature
Post - Witch Hazel and Captain’s Choice Bay Rum



I am enjoying the R&B New Deluxe because I get consistently great to fantastic shaves with this razor/blade combo. Another near BBS 3 pass shave this morning. I used the TSD Signature lanolin soap and found it easy to lather and very slick. As Chris @Bama Samurai said above, you should consider giving TSD products a try. Finished up with a splash of CC Bay Rum. Hope everyone has a great weekend.

 

Day #1 of 5; 30-Days of June
The first day using one of my favorites from my assortment of SRs—a vintage George Wostenholm & Son—a large-bladed late 19th century, full-hollow razor that delivers an exceptional shave with ease.
Compared to the previous two June razors, the Red Imp and Rodgers, the Wostenholm has a slightly wider blade, a less severe tip than the Imp, and a more traditional shape that has a slight taper from 7/8" at the nose to just over 6/8" at the heel. Side Note: this Wosty blade was acquired (found at antique shop) at the same time as I received the Rodgers (another birthday gift from my wife). I used black horn (with some white feathering) for the scales.


I've had dozens of shaves using this razor and always look forward to shaving when it pops up in the rotation.
After I made some dense, slick IK lather, the Wosty noisily shaved with ease. After five challenging days with the Rodgers, this razor was a piece of cake!
Despite the large, broad blade and slightly intimidating appearance, —and even after dozens of shaves— I've never drawn any blood with this razor—a rarity for the amount of shaves its given me.
Darn near BBS results after 3 passes plus touch-up. Great start for a five-day stretch!

 

Hey guys! This ends tonight!

Random Sale @The Shave Den Shop

 

June 12, 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) (3)
After Shave: Proraso Aftershave Splash Green


(anyone tired of this photo yet?)

Three consecutive days using a 2-pass shave. (WTG, XTG ) I changed due to a skin reaction - was getting razor bumps for the first time in my life. Razor bumps still there but not expanding. May get some product to help rid the few I have. Will also probably take tomorrow off from shaving and give my skin a rest.

Very nice shave today.

I had watched a couple more videos about shaving trouble spots. One of the tips I picked up regarding the jawline was to open my mouth somewhat wide when doing this difficult area - It really helped! The jaw drops to a different part of the skin and 'flattens' most of the area I'm trying to get to. I'm also experimenting with my regular stroke - bringing the razor handle much closer to parallel with the floor. Things are beginning to click in this ol' noggin!

Cheers!
RT

 

June 12 - Shave 9
Prep: Hot Shower
Brush: Omega 48
Preshave: Stirling Mentha Preshave oil
Soap: TSD Lanolin 2x iced Barbershop
Razor: AJ Jordan (Gemstar custom) square point blade, 5/8", strop x 30 on gemstar bench strop
Growth: 1 day
Post: Cold water splash, Clubman, Alum
Passes: WTG, XTG, WTG

First time this week I used my first straight - AJ Jordan with square point. I sadly didn't respect the point. Even after I read someone's post earlier that repeated those instructions 3 times! Nice little nick on my neck. This is the end of my first full week of everyday straights. As long as I'm not chasing a bbs, I think that I can pull off the M-F straight. Just have to be more mindful of what I'm doing and what equipment I'm using at the time. I discovered this week that I prefer the audio feedback of the full hollow blades vs wedgish ones.

First pass N/S, VERY loud as I passed sideburn to jawline. 2nd and 3rd passes were much quieter - to silence! I know i have a shave I'll enjoy when I hear nothing back from the blade.

Be safe and have a great weekend all!
E-