SEPT 30 Day Rule/Focus Pic & Discussion Thread

September 10 Focus Shave 7

Three passes and some clean up on my neck. I had two weepers but when I applied the alum no irritation. Final results middle of the road DFS.

Homemade Pre Shave
Razorock Mudder Focker
Etsy silvertip
Hart Steel 7/8
PRC strop
Alum block to keep my fingers dry
Speick AS
Muhle ASB
Creed Himalaya

 

I may end up bending my focus some. I got 2 sticks of Turkish goodness and they are calling my name. I may be tempted to use them at least today. Arko and a Schick G1 with a fresh blade? I think so.

 

I'll shave today cause it's relaxing and I sit around and faceturbate all day and no one knows. Too weird? Lol. I do like that post shave feel after about 2 hours though.

I do the normal 2 or 3 passes

 

Congrats on your first year.

 

Tonights shave was great. I used Arko smeared right on my face and as soon as I hit the wet brush to my face I had so much lather that it was falling off my face in globs. I made 2 passes on my face XTG and ATG and achieved automatic BBS with no touchups or irritation. My neck was more difficult it took an extra pass and some touchup under the jawline to nab the baby and I'm suffering very minor irritation. I have to say that although the smell of Arko isn't amazing, it isn't bad either. It is lingering so far on me but it plays very well with my Nivea sensitive post shave balm and the bug repellant smell of the Arko has mixed with the Bergomot scent of the shave balm to make something that I am my fiance enjoy. I used my Schick G1 with a fresh Chinese Schick blade. I'm very happy with the way the Arko performed and even happier that the G1 was "in" tonight. I have had some of my best and worst shaves with this razor since the month started but once I get it consistant I think it will be a regular in my rotation.

Next month I think instead of going with the theme that seems to already be in place I will try to get my Gillette Tech and Gillette Stirling razors to behave. If I can't then they will be in my list of things to PIF, maybe in the next box tour. I would threaten my Super Speed but my girlfriend has claimed it for herself. Life is too short to deal with poor shaving razors. I'm getting such amazing results from my Fatboy, Old Type, Decollete, and Schick that the rest aren't worth keeping unless I can get good shaves out of them.

 

Cookie for you!
Remember - it's science. You are performing post shave research for the betterment of society!

 

Why not? and the multiple choice would be B. instead of doing a WTG I would start with across the grain and if that did it for me I would quit if not I would do a ATG pass as well.

 

Two cookies for you!
(Though a guy with a monogrammed razor probably doesn't need cookies!

 

Day 10 of my month full of Jack Black shaving cream. So far I've been face lathering but since this cream seems denser and thicker than others I've used I decided to switch to a shave brush with a smaller knot and pre-lather the cream in a bowl before finishing up in the face, adding again water in tiny quantities until I felt I had the right consistency.
Today was back to a straight, I opted for my full hollow 7/8" Dorko blade by Wacker Sr.
Awesome shave, nice and smooth, aided by the great cushioning of the JB cream They do take their 'triple cushion' claim seriously it seems, which explains why the cream is so thick (the word 'sluggish' comes to mind...)

 

That's the spirit, Cookie for you!

 

Congrats on the anniversary Clint! Just finding out that it's your 1st year just amazes me on the depth of knowledge you've acquired! Something to aspire to!

 

Congratulations on a year of DE shaving! I hit the 100 DE shave mark myself this weekend. Love it!

 

I like being a lab animal in this experiment. Is there a maze? Besides the maze that is RAD or SAD. I suppose those would be more rabbit holes though.

 

Oh and I do like that post shave feel. Not sure why it said don't

 

Careful Alice, you never know where that Rabbit's going to take you!

 

Day ONE of SEVEN
In my abbreviated September focus (mentioned waaaay back in my post#422 in this thread), I am taking for a seven-day test drive a rather unique and highly-intimidating straight razor.
An Italian-made custom razor of damascus steel from the shop of Mastro Livi, on loan to me from TSD member entropy1049 (Mike). The razor is the largest I've ever used (both the scales AND the 1.0" wide and extremely sharp blade) that looks more like a meat cleaver than shaving device.

My first shave I used my favorite thick-lathering soap (MdC) and approached this shave, as I do with any new SR, with caution and patience. This was especially important due to both there sharpness of the blade and the unfamiliarity I had with a razor this size. With the first pass, I could definitely feel the keenness of the edge against the skin as the razor removed with ease what stubble it came across. After two passes, my face felt quite smooth with no hint of irritation nor blood. One final lather & pass was a sufficient first trial. A splash of Snake Bite afterwards gave me no indication of excessive irritation, just the sharp sting and coolness typical of the aftershave. Darn near BBS quality shave—and I was not going to chase after it on the first round.

This razor is BIG in the hand. It almost feels like an olive wood billy club.
Fortunately I have large hands and could comfortably maneuver the razor. I would not recommend a blade this size for beginners to straight razor shaving as one can easily misjudge the edge and slice one's self.

This should continue to be an interesting shaving week with this beauty!

 

My lab code name is Alice???

 

Down the rabbit hole into the Wonderland of ADs!
(With the rest of us...just wait til you meet the MadHatter!

 

Absolutely gorgeous razor! I am way too much of a klutz to ever try a straight razor but that thing would be amazing just to have as a display!

Thanks for sharing that one with us Kevin and for the beautiful picture! Look forward to the remainder of the shaves!

 

The Crazy Ivan in SEptember!
September 9

Razor - Schick E2 Injector
Blade - (2)
Brush - Omega Pro 48
Soap - Arko
Post - Cold Water, Alum, Nivea

Second day of the E2. Looking forward to it when I got up since it was so good yesterday. I chose the Pro 48 and Arko lather factory today and as always it took about 4 seconds to have enough lather to fill the Mississippi. Away we go. First pass was very nice like yesterday. The angle seems pretty automatic, especially with the feedback it gives, and I finished up with a good WTG pass. XTG was also good though I noticed one slight nick or weeper right on the goatee line on the right side. Lathered up again for a third pass. Went ATG on the face then XTG and G-slide on the neck. Realized as I came across the neck right to left under the goatee that I had acquired a couple of nicks right there as well. Either I got too aggressive with pressure in that area or I misjudged the angle. Whatever the cause the alum proved it out. Very nice burn against the goatee and the neck was pretty hot too even though there was no more blood anywhere. Overall no real complaints. Using a less flexible blade may have something to do with it as well. I'll give it another run tomorrow and focus on keeping pressure off as well as holding angle on the neck run. Nivea cooled it off and I was off to sit at my desk and watch nothing happen at work today. Not my favorite kind of day. Hope your Wednesday went better!

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