SEPT 30 Day Rule/Focus Pic & Discussion Thread

Kerry, great photo. That is a really nice looking brush.

 

These threads really make me want all the things!

 

Nice set up. Beautiful brush!

 

Thanks, Clint!

 

Coming from you. THANK YOU!

 

Good morning TSD! I am five pages behind on the thread. Awesome to see everybody around to start the month!

I can't decide between a strict rule or a focus.

The soap is going to be Musgo Real, brush is Plisson, Chinese Schick is my only viable blade option. I currently have three injectors.

And kudos to Charlie Danger ( @wristwatchb ) for the Musgo Real! I will use it all month!

Time to caffeinate properly and read a bunch of posts by you guys, I will shoot some pix, ponder my plan and catch up.

I hope somebody ordered more cookies.

 

I nominate you as Thirty Day Crew Professor Emeritus of Things Shiny.

Edited to add: (Or, I mean this in the fun way)

Professor Emeritous, Shiny Things

 

I confused you and me. Walgreens DE blades are ten. You are working on injectors. My fault!

 

I object! By indirectly pointing out that AS and Balm are not covered in our guidelines...Was I not motivated by the fact that Doug's idea would drive people to browse the forum store, further assuring the future of TSD, enabling you to continue to goad me in a general attempt to seek attention? See, I am all altruistic and cool like that!

I jest!

Nice to see ya! I was gonna tag you later. Charlie sent me a puck of Musgo Real. I hate bowl lathering, and shall instead simply rub it on my face!

 

Today was my first SE focus shave. I used a Valet with a Feather blade.
SOTD
TOBS Grapefruit Cream
Nancy Boy AS Balm
WSP Beard Oil
Florida Water

This is my first time using a Valet. I spent a lot of time trying to find the angle. I went from no angle and no cut to about 30 degrees. Most of the time I felt like I was scraping rather than shaving. I got a close shave, but it wasn't easy. No blood, but I definitely felt the Florida Water. I'm going to try this for at least three more days before moving on to injectors.
Have a great day!

 

For some reason I keep picturing you trying shove your chin in the bowl... Get on my face soap! Don't know why but it's some funny imagery

 

The Crazy Ivan in SEptember!
September 1

Razor - Gem 1912
Blade - Gem Stainless PTFE (1)
Brush - Vie-Long 12750
Soap - Tabac
Post - Cold water, Alum, Nivea, The Veg as a body splash

Greetings comrades to a new month! Autumn is just around the corner so it's that wonderful time of year when we debate whether the coming winter in St. Louis will be Siberian cold or Black Sea Coast mild. Either way, we're sure of plenty of bullets falling from the sky to remind us of the season. Yes, life is good.

To open up this month I've chosen to join the SEptember push for the first three days with the classic Gem 1912. I bought the razor late last year but never got around to trying it. SE's haven't really attracted my attention that much. So, I got a Gem Stainless Teflon blade and figured it's time. I chose the horse and Tabac for a fantastic lather, and, after watching a video of the Gem last night, went to work. I was a bit curious how it would be to set the angle but found it very easy to find it and was instantly impressed with the first pass through the right side. Nice feedback with a two day beard and very smooth. Much smoother than I had anticipated. Finished the WTG pass without a problem at all and really enjoyed it. Lathered up for pass two and went XTG. Again, no issues and I was impressed with the finish. My neck was closer than normal and my face was BBS. With the neck, DFS overall. Very nice. Lathered the neck just to experiment. I mean, it isn't Crazy Ivan month without something crazy, right? How about a Gillette Slide with the Gem eh? So, good lather, got my bearings and the only thing I did differently from a normal slide was to keep the angle a bit more vertical. But, it worked great and the neck finished up BBS and this month started off PERFECT!

Splashed the cold water, grabbed the alum and, well ok so maybe not perfect if you count irritation, but not as much burn as I've created with less lethal looking razors. All in all a great shave. Hit the Nivea to cool off and condition, threw the Veg on as a body splash to make me smell awesome and away to my day off we go. Hope you all have a great start too!

The 1912 relaxing between a couple of 1914 Lather Catchers.

​

 

...then perhaps you'll want to stay away from - Shave Of The Day, The Haul, What are you waiting for to arrive...?, The Mall, and on and on...


(pretty much the whole site! My, we are the enablers. This thread is tame by comparison.)

resist you must!
....except the TSD store....purchases, donations, etc - are always welcome!
and they don't qualify as an Acquisition Disorder!

 

Ladies and Germs, we have a winner!

 

Neal, glad to see your experience was so great!
when possible, would you please post the Gem video URL? I've got some GEMs myself, and look forward to info about shaving with them.
Thanks

 

This month's focus shown in the photo below. One week each. Hollow then wedge.

Henry Sears hollow
Aj Jordan hollow
Random wedge
Dubl duck wedge

 

Sorry to hear about your first shave with injectors. I just had my first and second shave, yesterday and today (both extremely nice shaves), but take all this with a grain of salt as they say...

1 - I've read where some say that the G series is a mid-level aggressive razor. I've started with a J series - with a mild reputation.
2 - I resisted using blades that came with the old razor and instead purchased a pack of new Schicks (made in china). Cleaned the razor also.
3 - Technique - Finding the angle.
- I started with the most shallow angle possible (the flat part of the razor, and the blade, are flat against my face.)
- As I take a slow, deliberate stroke (no pressure) I adjust the angle.
- When I hear the sound of "velcro separating" (as some describe) I hold that angle and continue my stroke.
4 - I back off the "Velcro angle" just slightly (I find it less smooth than I care for) and try to keep that sound throughout the shave. But for now, I'm always starting each stroke with the flat side to my face in order to center my focus for each stroke until the angle becomes habit.

It's working so far and hope this helps you.
Keep working it.

 

Excellent post and very sound advice.

 

Razor: Valet Auto Strop/ Red Tip
Blade: Feather
Brush: Frank Shave Best Badger, Rosewood Handle
Bowl: Knock Out Shave
Soap: Jack's Soap
A/S Fine Platinum
Day 1

First day of my SE September. Made it through with 2 passes and a Red Tip cleanup. Much to learn.