August 30 Day Rule/Focus Pic & Discussion Thread

Rufus doesn't look too happy in this picture

 

I didn't wanna be the first one...

 

We clearly need more work on our technique. Pretty weak shaves there.

 

a fine, well-oiled machine...we're hitting on all cylinders now!

 

@cmorris357

Let's take four minutes out of our lives for a philosophy lesson from Athens...

 

Yes there were some deep thinkers to come out of Athens, GA, but of course they were always ready for a party there too.

 

I know where that place was. Just around Statham a bit before Winder headed out old 29 toward ATL. It burned down a few years ago.

 

:hooray:

 

As part of my Comparison between the Schick E2 and I2 Hydro-magic

Today, I hydrated my whiskers...Used a cake of Williams as a shave stick and face lathered thoroughly (to the extreme..)
Put a new EMS/Personna in my I2 and did 3 perfect passes, WTG, XTG and ATG...
Results were, cheeks and lips BBS and neck DFS...maybe a little touch-up on each side of chin needed to be polished...
Then put a new EMS/Personna in my E2 and did one XTG pass on my neck and jaw line from jaw to chin...
Well I could hear, the razor cutting hair like a 1912 on it's first pass....ha,ha. And things moved up to BBS everywhere and neck and chin was like 'scary' BBS....felt like a store manniquin lol...only soft...Does that sound creepy? Lets forget the manniquin part, reminds me of a Twilight Zone....ha!

Todays Final Thoughts:
I2 did a brilliant shave in the usual, 3 whisker reduction passes....The DFS was better than DFS and you could hear the baby crying very close by.....
The E2 isn't really about Whisker Reduction. This E2 has a real problem with Whiskers...It just wants to annihilate them! I think the E2 has some issues from childhood...But it does clean the whiskers completely away in one or two passes, most effectively. And leaves the playing field, soft, irritation free, and whisker free...I'm telling you, this E2 is a Whisker's worse nightmare! Its not about a casual relaxing Sunday Shave. It just wants you to let it out of its cage so it can 'hurt' any whiskers in it's path as quickly as possible. Then the shave is over, and you'll still be well shaven tomorrow morning. I think the whiskers are too scared to grow right back!

 

That looks like a great razor.

I don't really have the time or patience for stropping and honing otherwise I would be tempted.

I'll stick with the Kai Excelia (for now).
Will probably get a Kai or Feather folding at some point though.

 

If you didn't, I was going to...

 

1959 E3 Gillette Fat Boy
Vulfix Super Badger (660)
Georgetown G12 Scuttle
Noxzema
Proraso Sandalwood cream
Aqua Velva Ice Blue

Shave #1 with the Rapira Super Stainless in my '59 Fat Boy set to 6. Paid attention to the angle and rode the cap.
2 Full passes: Pass 1 WTG on my face and XTG on my neck. Pass 2: ATG. Left my face and neck DFS. Did a hot water rinse and touch up, followed by a cold water rinse and another touch up. Seemed BBS at this point. Splashed on the Aqua Velva and some of the areas I had already gone over a couple of times woke up. One remained after the A/S dried, so no baby this morning.

Near BBS from the Rapira Super Stainless. Comfortable shave, but I spent more time and effort than yesterday and achieved less closeness than with the Rapira Swedish Supersteel.

 

Phoenix Comparison Focus Day 26:

Homemade PS Oil
VDH Boar Brush
Stirling San Antonio SS
Phoenix Dbl OC
Stirling Unscented PSB
Barbasol Pacific Rush AS

I went to a soap I hadn't used in a while, Stirling's San Antonio. Between the soap and the brush, I had so much lather, it ended up everywhere this morning. It was thick and slick. Some of the Stirling soaps will produce lather that is tinted the same color as the soap, and this one does. So not only was the lather everywhere, it was a bit rust colored. Lots of fun, but my wife probably would not have appreciated the mess. Luckily, she is still asleep.

I also picked up the Phoenix again for the last part of my focus this month. In case anyone wasn't sure, I can sum up my thoughts on this razor by saying that I like it. So since I feel I know this razor well at this point, I made a slight change to my focus this morning. I had originally planned on using the same blades in each of the two razors I used in each week, just to eliminate a variable. This morning, I used a new to me blade, the Big Ben Super Stainless. I picked some up at British Isles and had to give them a try. Unfortunately, it wasn't the best shave, as I had a little irritation which I rarely get with this razor. I'll definitely use this blade a couple more times before I make a decision, but my initial impression was not great.

 

30 day Focus - Day 26
MDC Lavender Face Lathered
Voskhod Blade (Day 2 on blade, Day 2 on Voskhod)
Slim Adjustable set to 8
3 passes

Very nice shave today.

 

August 30 Day Rule

I was unable to put up yesterday's shave report due to Time Warner Cable deciding to cut off my internet along with my cable instead of just my cable. Wish there were alternatives for internet, but UVerse and the other options are not any better and actually have worse service where I am. I guess I will just have to be a cable hater that has to hold my nose and keep using them.

Now on to yesterday's shave. EXCELLENT! Only word to describe yesterday's shave! Used my VDH boar brush to whip up some really nice Stirling MITA lather. I am starting to run low on my MITA, but should have plenty to make it through the month. This soap really is amazing. It lathers great, smells great, and leaves my skin feeling great. (Guess I should have said the soap is great instead of amazing.) Anyway, I got a good spread on my face, put in my new GSB, and set to work. Started with my first pass on the face. Really paid attention to the chin and the area under my lip. I did WTG on the cheeks and mustache, but went XTG on the chin and below the lip. It made a huge difference from my normal first pass. Not grail shave level, but very very good! Going XTG on the chin really seemed to make a HUGE difference on whisker removal compared to WTG. On my neck, I did my usual XTG pass and again got a very good, smooth shave. Rinsed, felt around, not too bad.

Second pass I did XTG on the cheeks and some touch-up on the mustache area. All smooth. Moved on to the chin and below the lip area. ATG worked great for the chin. Took my time, stretched and contorted and made funny faces, but it was a great smooth shave! No irritation, no blood, no whiskers! Moved on and did ATG on the neck area. Really pulled the skin tight. Tilted my head and pulled from behind the razor or from across the razor so I could get the best shave in certain areas. Really paid attention to the patch on either side of my neck that seems to grow in every direction. Got it smoother than I ever have before I think.

Splashed with cold water, checked for touch-up areas. Hmmmmm something must be wrong, I am not feeling any areas needing touch-up. Am I losing feeling in my fingers? Faceturbated a while longer, put on the WH and waited, more faceturbation, no whiskers popping up! Smoooooooth as a baby's bottom! WOO HOO!!!!

I decided not to shave today to see how the beard grew back. Right now, roughly 26 hours after last shaving, I have the equivalent of a 5 O'clock shadow. Nothing like I usually have after one day. Plan to shave tonight since I have to be up really early tomorrow. Will use the same process and directions, especially for the chin. It was amazing how much better an XTG first pass worked compared to a WTG. I also think my other two main problem areas, the jaw line and the patches on my lower neck have both settled in to where I can get DFS pretty easily as long as I don't push it too hard. No chasing the baby, but it sure is nice when you catch him!

One day closer to Friday! Happy shaving!

 

SOTD
August 27, 2015
Prep: Hot Shower. Axe Energizing Face Wash Boost
Razor: Mongoose B3 Dr. Bomber Handle
Blade: Kia Captain Titan Mild
Brush: Stirling Synthetic
Lather: TOBS Eton College
Post: Alum. Thayers Cucumber WH. Gold Bond Ultimate
Aftershave: Folsom & Co. Capri
One of my biggest struggles in wet shaving is keeping it at a 3 pass shave. I need to be mindful daily of my joy of shaving, even if I'm in the "shaving groove".. Kia Captain Titan Mild blades are awesome! TOBS Eton College lovely cream, haven't used it in a long time.
Never let the things you WANT
Make you forget the things you HAVE

 

There's a quote I will have to remember! Thanks

 

Beautiful Razor. Congrats.

 

Well, after 27 days using Feather blades, I have come to the conclusion that day two and three will always be smoother than day one. I have palm stropped on day one with no improvement. The next new blade is going on a leather strop. Today's shave was day two and it was very nice.
SOTD
Schick Krona
Feather (2)
AOS Pure Badger brush
TOBS Mr. Taylor's cream
AOS AS balm
Pinaud Clubman AS

Very nice three pass BBS shave.

Have fun!