October 21
20's Old Type
Astra SP (2)

Just another one-pass CCS. Nothing to see here... move along...

JR

It's ok, according to most who've met me the mold they used to make me was broken, melted down, and sent in a thousand smaller parts to the ends of the world so they could never again be used to create another like me. Speaking of 30 blades I'm looking at another blade focus in the next couple of months. Still have lots I haven' tried so it's probably getting close to time to break out the blade vault and see what's hiding in there. I do have a couple new Chinese blades along with a bunch of Indian ones I haven't yet loaded up. And a couple of blades that are "origin uncertain".

I plan to do a blade focus in November. America's blade - Feather! All month. All year. All the time. Yeeeee haaaa!!'

Does Japan know their blade is the new Dallas Cowboys edition?

I am just about with you Charlie. So far Feather has worked in all my DE razors I have tried it in and is actually the preferred in all the OC razors and the Slim. I will revisit the Lab Blues since I have a good many on hand and if they give me any issues, they are gone in a PIF. I enjoy following along on other's blade trials.

This is turning into a boring focus Every blade is giving me comparable shaves. Either I picked nothing but quality blades or my skills have improved to the point where I can shave with anything. It could also be that I have been using the same razor everyday and will start butchering my face when I switch razors. Today's blade is:

Yet another two pass BBS with just a little touch up. This blade is smooth and I have no complaints.
SOTD
EJ DE 89
Viking Sword (1)
Rubberset 400
TOBS Coconut cream
The Veg
I used my Veg sample and my wife commented that I smelled nice today. I must be one of the chosen
Have fun!

With the above shave, it was great! The next day I even skipped a shave since there was not much there to shave off. But today, my lower neck has a significant amount of ingrown hairs. Could that be from the blade having to many shaves on it? Maybe too close of a shave? Bad reaction to the alum? I'm stumped.

When I get a BBS or DFS plus on my neck, I often get ingrown hairs before the next shave. When I first started wetshaving, I got these all over my face, but it calmed down. Now I only get them where the skin isn't used to being shaved that close. I think the skin will figure out how to react better when it happens more often. YMMV of course.

That's good to hear and makes sense. I'm sure my skin is in complete shock going from 1 pass with a cart to 2 or 3 with a DE. Think I should skip a day or just proceed with shave as normal? I'd hate to skip again since my 39c arrives today But that would be deviating from the 30 focus wouldn't it?

I don't shave everyday. I get serious irritiation and ingrowns if I do. I have made a couple of attempts at daily shaving, but it is much more comfortable for me go every other day. Longer whiskers seem to be easier to cut, and it gives my skin time to recover. My best advice is to try a couple of different things, and do what ever works best for your face.

I shave every day and look forward to it. Haven't had an ingrown since I started DE shaving. As my technique improved giving me the ability to go with a shallower angle all my irritation disappeared. Keep working on technique, try to use a shallow angle and maybe easing up on the pressure might help.

....these aren't the droids you're looking for.

I can give you some pointers on how to make it more exciting if you'd like.

Yet another two-pass BBS?
It must be tough being you MrC?!!

I'm sure it must be the three Ts - Technique Trumps Tools, or if you sell real estate - Technique, Technique, Technique!

Congrats!

No, the 30 day Rule doesn't mean a shave each day, just when you do shave, you use the same tools.

I'd agree with both @Drygulch and @Herm2502 .

Your idea to give your skin a break is a wise one especially after coming off carts. Your skin will adjust in time. I went through a very similar experience when I first started in May. If you want to try to help your skin along, try Tend Skin. I found it in Walgreens. It helped me along with the bumps.

Good luck Joe!

I'm getting the best shaves of my life. Face is BBS with two passes and the neck always needs some XTG cleanup. The only recent blood was when I got careless and nicked my Adam's Apple. I give all of the credit to this focus thread. I have been doing this thread for three months and my skills have improved tenfold. A big thanks to all of you guys. You have helped me a lot! (I feel a group hug coming along)

I could go back to Feather Artist Club Saturdays for that

I would skip a day on the shave and let your face heal. I had a couple outbreaks of ingrowns right at the very beginning of using a DE (ohhhh so long ago over the summer). Giving my face a day to rest in between some shaves definitely made a difference. I continued to use my aftershave balm even on the day off just to keep the face moisturized etc. Not sure if it did any good, but I can't imagine how it would have hurt.

You are definitely doing well with your Rule. Keep to the same tools for the 3o days as much as possible. It really does make a difference. You don't have to shave every day but basically any time you shave during the month, try to use the same tools and procedures so the technique gets ingrained in muscle memory and, as @Bama Samurai says, you can shave in the dark.

Edited to add that @ Rufus T. basically already told you everything you needed to hear! So +1 on what he said.

Thanks William, I think you'd agree that getting advice from multiple people to our shave questions, even if it's the exact same advice, helped us along when we struggled with shave issues.

I know it helped me to hear it from the many experienced guys on here...and it still does!

Definitely help when getting the same advice from different people. Even though I know no one would point me in the wrong direction, the ease my brain factor is a lot higher when everyone is pretty much in agreement with each other. Thank you all again.