08/04/2015
Razor – Gillette Slim (J3)
Blade – Gillette 7 O’clock Black (2)
Brush – Brothers Bristles with WD HM
Lather – B&M Latha
Post - Witch Hazel & Myrsol F/Extra



I dialed the Slim back up to 9 this morning. A 3 pass shave with touch ups rewarded me with a near BBS. I am with Neal, even though the results are satisfactory, I am not enjoying the Slim as much as my New OC razors. Even on 9 the Slim is not nearly as efficient as either of my New OC razors. Hope everyone has a great Tuesday.

30 day Focus - Day 3
MDC Lavender Face Lathered
Sputnik Blade (Day 1 on blade, Day 3 on Sputnik)
Slim Adjustable set to 8
3 passes

The new blade produced a tug-free shave today. But, I have noticed that the Sputnik just doesn't seem to leave me as clean shaven as the Ladas. I have been getting good shaves, but my face has felt rougher late at night than when I use the Ladas.

You'll enjoy the slim. You can decrease the angle to a very shallow and still get a very nice shave. Have fun with it!

8/3/15 SOTD (Shave 2 of this focus)
One and a half days’ growth
Prep: Hot shower
Razor: “Our Leader” JAS. G. BARRY Co. Chicago, ILL’S Made in Germany
Strop: Drygulch Chromexcel/ Linen (50 laps Linen/ 50 laps Leather pre and 10/10 post)
Soap: The Shave Den Iced Yin Yang (Lime & Lavender with Menthol)
Brush: Omega 1066 Boar
Post Shave: Cold Water Rinse, Alum Block, Thayer’s Witch Hazel
Aftershave: The Shave Den Splash Iced Yin Yang (Lime & Lavender with Menthol)

Monday night shave. After Sunday’s shave being just a little tuggy, I took this razor back to the translucent Arkansas stone, and did a little more work. I think I got it this time! Razor was very smooth, and I got the lather perfect after adding a bit more water a couple of times. Did a N/S pass that felt like I was just wiping the lather off, and had to check the sink to see if I got whiskers. I did. For my second pass, I did XTG on my chin, jawline, and neck, with lots of skin stretching using Alum on my fingertips. Third pass was S/N, which is mostly ATG. Used a bit of pressure, but wasn’t feeling irritation. At this point I could have stopped. I had a few rough patches in my normal spots, but overall it was a good shave. I decided to chase the baby a bit, something I have never done with a straight. Lathered up, carefully stretched my skin, and laid the blade almost flat on my skin. Did short strokes with no pressure. I caught the baby! It is now 10 hours post shave, and I still have a BBS on my face, chin and jaw, and just a little bit of prickliness on my trouble spots. Alum gave a little feedback on the chin I shaved five times, but not bad. Aftershave splash felt great.

Adam that is fantastic. Congrats on catching the baby and with a straight.

August Focus - Slim and Feather AC
August 4
Razor - Feather SS AC
Blade - (2)
Brush - BoS (Omega 10066)
Soap - Mitchell's Wool Fat
Post - Cold Water, Alum, Nivea

It's Tuesday so a day off shave with the Feather this month. Took my time getting everything ready, got some extra soak time on the brush and the puck of MWF and settled in for what I hoped would be a great shave with the Feather. Seems like I dialed the Fat in perfectly today. While loading the brush I was already producing tons of lather so that was great. The face lather was like watching lather explode out of the brush. Nice nice nice. Grabbed the Feather and eased into the right side WTG pass. Felt great and did a great job on the face and neck. Changed grip for the left side and it also went about as well as it ever has. The Japanese style is coming along, if slowly. Worked close to the goatee line and rinsed, relathered and reset. XTG this time and on the right side it was pretty nice. One of my better efforts. The stroke is chin to ear on the right side so the start is a bit tricky sometimes. Finished it and went chin to ear on the neck as well, almost a Gillette slide angle without the sliding involved. No, I'm not crazy. Switched to the left, going ear to chin and that is also a bit tricky to start. Tricky enough that I got a very minor cut as the blade dragged just a bit from too much angle at first. Wrong set down, basically. Worked that into the goatee line well then went ear to chin on the neck. Third pass, mainly neck only for some tough up and I have a very nice DFS in two and a half. I also have a slightly off goatee as my work into the left edge took a bit too much off near my mouth. The left side line is a bit thinner than the right now. Glad I didn't go ahead and make one more pull into it or I'd have to be redoing the entire goatee!

Overall a nice shave for a Tuesday and other than the minor cut and a couple of very small nicks against the left goatee at chin level it's all good. Happy Tuesday!

Thanks for the encouraging words and the tips on getting the most from the razor. The one pictured is the razor I am using. Holding it nearly parallel is what I have been doing (when I am paying attention to my angle like I should) for my N-S areas. I have noticed when I am doing passes E-W or W-E that I am having more trouble maintaining the angle. This is what caused me the problem with the jaw line. I have decided to forgo the ATG and will stick to WTG and XTG until I can consistently get the angle right with the razor. I did not shave today but I am going to let the additional beard growth work for me in plotting out the directions. My goal is to have the directions all figured out using that interactive chart so I can develop the passes that will result in the best and smoothest cut.

One other suggestion, listen to the blade. If you turn off the water and the fan in the bathroom, you can get pretty good audible feedback of the whiskers being cut. Its easy to hear this on the cheeks. Then, rather than trying to find a specific angle on your neck jaw and chin, adjust the razor until you hear the blade cutting. This made it much easier for me to find the angle with pretty much any razor.

Thanks for the suggestion. I have been trying to go based on the audible feedback. I think it is how I managed to get my angle right most of the time on the cheeks and jaw line. I am going to put both tips into use and hopefully will have the angle down and repeatable by the end of the 30 Day Rule. Thanks again!

Razor: Gillette Executive (1960)(5)
Blade: Gillette Platinum (2)
Brush: WDC-4, Silvertip Badger, Butterscotch. (VIG) 24/67
Cream: C.O. Bigelow 1838
Bowl: Old Spice Mug
A/S: Gillette A/S Lotion
Day 4

Got the cream mix tonight right on this evening. I really like the Gillette Executives weight and sturdy handle. It is an effortless shaving razor. It give a very close 3 pass shave.

It just takes a little experience!

Douglas-

Is that razor comparable to a Fat boy?

He's right about the sound. When you hear what a good pass sounds like, you'll surely know it.

It is basically a dressed up FB. IMO

Day 3 - 4 August 2015

30 Day Rule - Phoenix OC


​

Day three of my and it's back in the oven here in Colorado. I had a really nice, enjoyable two pass shave to help cool me off! This razor is probably a keeper. Rapira is still getting it done on day 3 and the more I use La Toja, the more I like it. Don't be surprised if I eventually cut my soap inventory down to Arko, La Toja, TSD, and Proraso. IMHO those four soaps are all top tier performers at mass market price points. As for today, the Alum felt good, no weeping, and a healthy splash of TSD 2x Iced FW-type cooled me off and left me ready for a nice evening with Mrs. Samurai. Other than that...all is quiet in Colorado.

Have a wonderful Wednesday!


​

August 4, 2015

Adjustable August Slim-apalooza
30-Day Focus - Gillette Slim Adjustable

Mid-morning shave.
Hot Shower
Pre-Shave Oil: Gingers Garden
Soap: Catie's Bubbles Mile High Menthol
Brush: Omega Pro 48
Razor: Gillette Slim Adjustable
Blade: Gillette Silver Blue (1)
TSD Witch Hazel
After Shave: TSD Milk and splash Lemon
Mustache Wax: Dirigo Blue


Another day at the same settings as yesterday:
4 - WTG
5 - ATG

Put in a new GSB today. Shave was almost as good as yesterday. The slight downgrade was no doubt mostly due to my decision to not do touch-ups or multiple strokes on the same area.

I figure this will force me to focus on technique and will help me better assess the quality of the shave, as I search for the best settings for me.

I had minimal growth on my cheeks 12 hours after my shave yesterday. After that and the less than perfect shave today, I'm going to increase my settings by one tomorrow.

Cheers!
RT

Well sir, anyone who'd admit to this bunch that you just shaved "blade-free" moves to the top of my "truth in shaving" list!

Oh-oh, with comments like that you better watch out for the Russian Blade Committee!

Clint, I just started using my Slim, but I don't think it will outperform my New LC, either. My New LC was more efficient than my FB on 9, and I don't think the Slim will shave much differently. So, I agree with you and the Shenanigator.

However, I'm sure no razor on earth would compare with an E X E C U T I V E. I'm just a simple workin' man, so I'll probably never find out for myself.

Thanks For that comparison Clint.
We all know about the YMMV postulate, and I've only had one shave with my New LC, so perhaps I'll do a 30-day with it next month for comparison.

I may have missed it, but where would you put your Fatboy in that comparison? ( if you have one)