You're


Well first off, newbies don't get to deem. So that's strike one.
(You get two more strikes.)
However, you do get points for self-reporting.

Give yourself some credit for the progress you made so far. No big.
But I'm learning that the commitment to that first month doing a Rule has really set me up well to cement some basic skills - and it helps so much when you finally get to experience all the bright and shinies!

One way I would reward myself during the Rule (and alleviate some of the boredom) would be to rotate thru as many aftershaves and post balms as I'd like. The month will go by quicker than you think. Stay with it.
Cheers!
RT

Strike three? No more cookies.

August Focus - Slim and Feather AC
August 12
Razor - 1964 Gillette Slim (J1)
Blade - (1)
Brush - BoS
Soap - Saint Charles Shave Sandalwood
Post - Cold Rinse, Alum, Aqua Velva Musk

Yes, I'm still here. It's now 12:19 a.m. in St. Louis and I've been home for about a half hour. Dinner is reheating in the microwave after a rather long day making people's dreams come true. So, finally, here's my report from this morning's shave.

Switched to the Ladas for a few days. One of my favorite Russians, certainly my favorite Russian stainless blade. Want to see what it will do in the Slim with different settings. I grabbed the Omega 10066 and decided to try the Saint Charles Shave Sandalwood again. This soap is made about 15 minutes away from me and I really really want to love it and be able to buy a lot of it. The Sandalwood scent is great and I've heard great things about their other scents as well. I have a sample of the Bay Rum that I will try as well. The problem? Inconsistent and dissipating lathers. So, away we go. The Slim is on 5 today.

Left the brush wet and went after the St. Charles. It seemed to load well and even began to produce a lather in its wooden bowl. Got a good brushload and went for the face lather. Actually not too bad. Great scent and I got a good coating that seemed to last well through the first pass. The actual shave was smooth with some feedback. Nice feel to it and good result on the first pass. The Ladas is a bit noisier than the Voskhod, probably due to the lack of Teflon. Lathered for the second pass and yep, there it is...the lather wants to dissipate. Kind of like Williams only not quite that bad. Worked the face lather a bit extra and it seemed to improve slightly. Did an XTG and got another good pass out of the blade and razor. Third pass for the neck and I had trouble getting the lather. Squeezed the brush and didn't get much out of it so I reloaded a bit and got a good enough lather to work. Finished DFS but puzzled by the soap.

As far as the razor and blade go, I think 5 on the Slim with Ladas isn't bad but I expect 7 to be better. That's where we'll go tomorrow, well actually in about six hours. I'm going to stay with the Saint Charles and try different brushes, water etc. until I either figure it out or have to give up on it. I'm hoping I'm smart enough to make it work. Hope everyone had a great day! I'm way behind on here but I'll catch up.

Blue was always more my color, although I did at one point.....and I'm not making this up........have a purple suit. Not lavender, not light purple, not really dark purple, I'm talking PURPLE! I had the matching coat and slacks and also slacks that were white with purple flowers on them. I wore a pink or lavender shirt with them, collar popped and my turquoise choker. You wanna know how to get chicks in the 70s? Yeah baby!!

This is my brother who is ten years older than me. This was at his prom in 1973 with his now wife. They have been married 40 years. Dig the purple crushed velvet tux. Vintage 70s

Now THAT'S what I'm taking about.

Too awesome for any further commentary.

08/13/2015
Razor – Gillette Slim (J3) set on 9
Blade – Ladas (3)
Brush – Rudy Vey with Shavemac Finest
Lather – MdC Fougere
Post - Witch Hazel & Fine Platinum



Another very good near BBS work morning shave. I am really enjoying the Ladas blades in the Slim. Look forward to trying them in other razors.

Phoenix Comparison Focus Day 12:

Homemade PS Oil
Stirling Synthetic Brush
TSD Lavender and Rose Wheat SC
Phoenix Dbl OC
Stirling Unscented PSB
The Veg

A DFS this morning. Results very similar to the TV Special, but the two razors feel differently getting there. Both are comfortable shaves, they are just different.

@Bama Samurai I should be getting my new Mongoose in the next couple of days! When it arrives I'll be joining this fine fun group for the remainder of August, and the new September focus group.

30 day Focus - Day 12
MDC Lavender Face Lathered
Rapira Platinum Lux Blade (Day 2 on blade, Day 6 on Rapira Platinum Lux)
Slim Adjustable set to 8
3 passes


Yesterday's shave was superb and today's feels the same.

I did the same thing with my Mongoose for the first Focus thread in January. I look forward to following your posts as you try the Mongoose.

Kerry-

Awesome! The Mongoose has been a popular choice in previous months. Can't wait to see how you feel about it!

August 30 Day Rule

Razor – Lord L6
Blade – new GSB
Brush – VDH boar
Soap – Stirling MITA
Post - WH (M-bombed) and Clubman AS

I did not want to receive strike 2 and get one step closer to no cookies, so I went back to the VDH boar brush I have used all along. Produced great lather with the MITA. Putting in a new GSB after the last one easily made it 5 uses and probably could have gone more, but I wanted to be safe. The Lord razor and GSB blade are definitely a great combination for me. Focused again on the directions I am shaving based on the mapped beard growth. Also continued my focus on the angle and getting it right so I hear the feedback I want.

Overall, an excellent shave. Started the first pass on the cheeks and realized very quickly the angle was wrong. I was not holding the handle nearly as parallel to the floor as I needed. Changed the angle and the audible feedback immediately changed from the sound of scraping skin to the sweet sound of slicing through beard. Followed my beard growth with a WTG pass all over. An excellent first pass and if I had to stop, it would have looked acceptable at that point. Still could feel the stubble when rubbing the back of the hand on the neck and face, but it looked much better than many of the shaves I see around the office.

Second pass was XTG and this one was incredibly smooth. Love the Stirling soap and its lather. Can stand up to anything! The blade just glided slicing everything in its path. My skin was not in its path and never suffered at all thanks to having the angle and no pressure! Finished the second pass, and other than a couple small spots on my chin it was exceptionally smooth. A couple spots of touch up and I called it a day with a VERY smooth shave that might just pass for BBS, but at least was DFS+



One day closer to Friday!

August 13, 2015

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

Morning shave.
Hot Shower
Pre-Shave Oil: Gingers Garden
Soap: Arko
Brush: Omega Pro 48
Razor: Gillette Slim Adjustable
Blade: Gillette Silver Blue (3)
TSD Witch Hazel
Post Shave Balm: Gingers Garden
After Shave: Vintage Old Spice 1967

Slim settings at:
8 - WTG
9 - ATG
No touch-up or repeat strokes. This is as much about technique as it is about finding the best settings on this razor for me.



Very nice shave again. Just a single nick on each corner of my mouth.

I will keep this set-up at least through the rest of the week, perhaps try a full 9 on both passes, and then ratchet-down to try out a new blade brand during the rest of the month.

Cheers!
RT

Well done! (not just on the strike and cookie issues either)
Seems your ability for consistent shaves is increasing.

Just an observation on beard mapping.
I did similar mapping early on in this process, as I found that knowing the grain direction is another key to a close, comfortable shave. I have noticed that my grain mapping awareness gets more keen as I get more familiar with my beard. I'm frequently running my fingers across different sections of my beard all day / night. (I think I'm developing an affectation!) Not just to show me where my technique may be flawed but also to give me better sense of grain direction.

Also, I use a very exaggerated skin pull upwards in order to flatten the area at and just below my jawline. Obvious to many, but it wasn't immediately to me, depending on which direction I pull, I alter the direction that my razor needs to travel. Just looking in the mirror normally it goes one way, but pulling distorts it towards a different direction that I need to adjust to with each stroke.

My fiancee asked me a couple days ago why I was constantly playing the the sides of my neck. It was then that I realized I was subconsciously testing and verifying the direction of my beard growth. At least I am not alone with this neurotic condition.

I am glad you mentioned about the stretching of the face and how it relates to grain direction. I stretch along the jaw line, but also around the chin (and do some facial contortions to get the chin area smooth). I did notice that the direction I stretch can certainly impact the direction of grain and so I need to remember to be consistent with all stretching so the shave is consistent.

Thanks again for the encouragement!

Planned Day 12 - 13 August 2015

30 Day Rule - Phoenix OC



Phoenix OC
Rapira Swedish Supersteel (6)
L'Occitane Plisson Synthetic
La Toja Shave Stick
Alum
TSD ISZ AS Splash


Have a fabulous Friday!
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Blade angle is everything as you work out the map! @Rufus T. has covered it really well in relation to skin stretching.

Nice work!

Was the setting at 8 the difference?

I have heard this referred to as faceterbation. Do not mention this term to your better half, or you will hear it. Often.