July 2015 30 Day Rule/Focus Pic & Discussion Thread

Did you say this right? Did you really mean to say that you rubbed the soap bar directly on your face?

 

30 Day Rule - July 2015
July 23rd
Razor - Feather SS AC/Gillette New LC
Blade - (6) (4)
Brush - Omega 10066 (BoS)
Soap - Mitchell's Wool Fat
Post - Cold Water splash, Nivea

No Artist Club today. Took a day to let things heal a bit more especially under my chin. I also discovered a mosquito bite under my left ear from our time in the woods on Tuesday so let that have a day to get out of the way. Did get a very nice two pass DFS from the New and Voskod. Stayed with the BoS and Fat and man I really do like that combination. I may need to buy a couple more of those brushes just to have around and I could convert fairly easily to daily MWF use. I'm going to have to use the Vie-Long with it some too to see how it really does with it.

Back to the Feather in the morning and another week to continue to dial it in. I feel like taking it a bit easier is helping the results overall even if it takes a bit more time. That's why I think my plan for August will be beneficial as it will feature the Feather again, but not exclusively.

 

Totally envious of the view there....and the fact I'm not the one sitting there admiring it instead of the razor. Sheesh.....it's having a better vacation than I will this year!! Glad you're enjoying yourself!

 

This one is paying attention. I believe he really meant that!

 

Love the lather method! If you simply popped in a GSB into a new (to you) razor and had a great shave, that means you now have things you can teach. You have had an awesome first fifty-three days with the 30 Day Crew! Thanks for sharing it all with us! Like @Jayaruh states...Finally, shaving is fun again. Enjoy the the vacation!

 

You need to just hire a cut man like it's the UFC. Strangely, I got mosquito bit this week also. Summertime, when the living's easy...

 

Day 23 - 23 July 2015

30 Days of Maggard and MITA!


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Day three on this blade. Automatic! Finished up the Myrsol Blue sample from @Rufus T. , and settled in to enjoy a summer evening with Mrs. Samurai. Other than that...all is quiet in Colorado!

Have a fabulous Friday!
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Yes, the Force is strong in this one.

 

If I get a cut man I want a ring girl as well. It's a matched set.

 

yep!

i think i saw it somewhere on somebody's signature line and...well, you know us newbies, we just take everything the TSD experts say we should do...and do it!

 

Are you saying that last line to me or the razor?!!

 

Thank goodness no blood was shed again today...at least except for them nasty mosquitos!

 

well a little meditation may just be the thing you need Grasshopper?

 

Remember, there's no money back on this one Charlie!

besides, what would I know...i've never even used one myself!

 

Thanks Charlie!

and as for the razor in the photo...now you know why Neal sent me to Lloyds of London for an insurance policy before he'd agree to send it!

 

Can you believe it @Bama Samurai - someone actually reads my posts!

 

or we can call it what it simply is - dumb beginner's luck!

and I am enjoying it!

 

1956 Gillette Super Speed Flair
Vulfix Super Badger (660)
Georgetown G12 Scuttle
Proraso Sandalwood cream
Aqua Velva Ice Blue
Current Blade under review: Gillette Silver Blue

Shave #1 with 4th Gillette Silver Blue blade. Fine BBS results, a great shave. Very close, really comfortable, no nicks, weepers, irritation or razor burn.
2 Full passes: Pass 1: WTG on my face (N/S), and XTG on my neck (N/S). Pass 2: ATG. At this point, I had a solid DFS and almost a BBS shave.
Lathered up those areas that needed touch up. I used some stretching to get the remaining spots. Several of them always require more attention, I used blade buffing on those. The Aqua Velva burn lasted less time than yesterday.
It occurred to me that while my blade angle is fine for most of my face, in some areas I either need to be more exact or use a more aggressive shaver/blade combination. In some areas, the stubble can't be felt after my 2nd pass unless I drop my chin and that area of my neck becomes slack. In other spots, I can't feel the stubble unless I press against my neck a bit as I come toward my Adam's apple under my jaw line. I may reach for the Fat Boy and use it on these areas to test the aggressiveness hypothesis.

A nice 2 pass shave from the Gillette Silver Blue. I really don't know if I can tell a difference between the Silver Blue and yesterday's PolSilver Super Iridium. I think either one would give me a fine shave. For the purpose of my current focus, I'll use the Silver Blue as the basis of my comparisons until something better presents itself.

 

July 24th, SOTD (Shave 13 of this focus)
Two days’ growth
Prep: Hot shower
Razor: Cattaraugus Cutlery Co Green Lizard Model B54GL
Strop: Drygulch Chromexcel/ Linen (20 laps Linen/ 20 laps Leather pre and 10/10 post)
Soap: The Shave Den Iced Yin Yang (Lime, Lavender, and Menthol)
Brush: Spalted Maple Brush with Badger Knot
Post Shave: Cold Water Rinse, Alum Block, Thayer’s Witch Hazel
Aftershave: The Shave Den Iced Yin Yang Splash(Lime, Lavender, and Menthol)

Feel like I am getting to know this razor better. This is my 4th shave with it. It’s a light razor that is very thin, and requires all of your attention. I got a little too fast on my clean up pass today, and managed an almost inch long cut on my jawline from setting it down too hard. Good news is that it is sharp and smooth again. I increased the number of laps pre-shave. Not sure if that is in my head or not, but it shaved great today. Did my normal N/S, S/N, and half pass on my neck, and was rewarded with a DFS plus. Alum got my attention this morning, partly due to the cut, and the weeper on my chin.

Noticed something with the menthol soap today, and wonder if this is true for other people. I whipped up my lather in a bowl, and set it aside as I prepped my razor. I took a little longer on that than normal, and had to work the lather some more, as it had started to fall in on itself. When I had it built back up, and worked it into my face, it was cold for the first pass. Typically, if I use menthol soap, I don’t feel the cool until my second or third pass as the water works on the menthol. Is letting the lather sit for a bit the best way to feel the menthol on all passes?

 

30 day rule - Day 24
MDC lavender Face Lathered
Ladas blade
Slim Adjustable set to 8
3 passes


The 30 day system has really helped me get my technique down to an art.

Yesterday I did a face lather with MDC unscented and Stirling Glacial Obsidian. Since they are both hard soaps, it is nearly impossible to load both on the brush. So, I rubbed the the Stirling on my face and loaded my brush with the MDC. If you have an alternative method for using 2 hard soaps while face lathering, I would love to hear it.