OCT 30 Day Rule/Focus Pic & Discussion Thread

I get a decent lather from Williams. It really isn't that much thinner then anything else. It just feels wetter. I've used it exclusively since i was a teen learning to shave.

 

I did a month with it right before you joined TSD. I got to the point where it worked pretty well. It's like the Veg, we just think it's fun to write about.

 

I still prefer the feel of it for a straight. Other soaps feel too thick until then get too runny. Williams gives me a slick protective lather that is this enough for me to still see the shape of my face. I like that for straight shaving, keeps me from setting it down too hard and getting cut.

 

I will try it in the future. That all makes sense really. Thin lather as a design spec, because it's for straights. I'll buy it.

 

always worked for me. That's why I keep one puck wet and sealed up and some extra in the box stashed in the medicine cabinet. As long as they Las I should be good for at least a few years in Williams alone and adding my other soaps and oils I could probably shave for 15 years without buying more.

 

I plan to shave in the morning so I spent a little while tonight trying to lather Arko. The soap hates me. I can get a great lather. The stuff truly explodes like everyone says. I can get thin lather, thick lather, never ending lather. But it does not feel slick at all to me.

So I did a test. I lathered half my face with Arko and half my face with Stirling Spice. I did the Arko side three times. Once face lathered with what I thought was a decent amount of product and water. Once with an excessive amount of product and an even greater amount of water. Finally bowl lathering with lots of water and the quarter size product. Every time the Arko produced great lather but was more sticky than slick when running my finger across my face and it was no where close to the Stirling.

I was hoping to use the Arko as a travel soap. Fortunately I won a PIF of a Tabac stick that I plan to try and I am placing an order for a LA Toja stick among other soaps. I will revisit Arko at some point but this experiment is temporarily suspended.

 

...and that, good gents, is called ymmv. I am like that with Astra SP. I really want to like them, but can't make it work out right for some reason. I am sure either La Toja or Tabac will work out. Don't sweat it too much. This shaving stuff is multiple skill sets. Your lather technique developed using a bowl, give it some time to learn the ways of the shave stick.

 

Do an experiment sometime...

Use bottled water to make lather. No tap. Maybe Arko doesn't like your water mineral content?

 

@Bird Lives - whatcha think?

 

Have not thought about that one. Maybe this coming weekend will be a bottled water experiment. Though I am fine just writing off the Arko. Not like I am out much. The bottled water would be as much as the stick of soap.

Will be trying the Tabac stick in the morning so can see if I can get that to work. Plan to start by face lathering the way I would while traveling without a bowl. LA Toja will be next after it arrives and I will hold you responsible if it is no good. Kidding of course!

 

Good deal. It's possible the water on the road might be better for Arko as well. I suggest taking it along, if for nothing other than experiment.

 

I used Arko in western KY on a spring trip. The water in that area is very soft, and lathers much easier than the rock hard water in Colorado.

 

October 26, 2015

The Eve of World Series Week

Finishing up on OC October. I've introduced myself to four OC razors.
Gillette New LC
Schick Type C1
Standard Safety Razor
Gillette Goodwill
Today will be my first shave with the Goodwill.

Morning shave
Hot Shower
Soap: Barrister & Mann Diamond Shave Soap
Brush: Omega Pro 48 Boar
Razor: Gillette Goodwill
Blade: 7 o’clock (Blues) (1)
TSD Witch Hazel
Aftershave: Old Spice 1967



I'm warming up for the start of the World Series on Tuesday with a shave soap that captures the scent of the ballpark! It brings me right back to the smell of the grass, clay dirt and even a hint of tobacco, beer and a bit of mustard! I couldn't be more excited to see my hometown team back in the Series - Amazing!

Play Ball!
RT

 

Could very well be a water issue...quick think Bama!
I usually make sure my beard is completely hydrated...then hold the soap's open end under hot running water for like 20 seconds....then apply by rubbing the stick in tight circles on my face...re wet and wipe ATG strokes on my whiskers til every hair has it's own little white ball of Arko hanging from it....
For the last minute of this I have had my brush being blasted by hot running water in the sink while I've been appling the soap...Now I pick up the brush, a couple wrist snapping shakes to get rid of excess water and hit my face scrubbing....and I'll dip the brush tips into the sink water if I need more water...and I just scrub with the brush til I have the lather I want...

The only time this hasn't worked for me was with some strange water in some hotels...like salt water in the shower...But usually Arko is bullet-proof....If you have tried my technique to no avail it could be a ph balence thing too...

Thoughts?

 

Only one taker? Is that because the answer is so obvious ?

 

Another one sold. Thanks Doug @Douglas Carey for putting this together.

 

I'm in! The calendar looks very classy. Thanks Doug and Kerry for making it happen!

 

10/26/15
Gillette NEW LC
Vulfix Super Badger (660)
Kiss My Face Lavender and shea moisture shave cream
Aqua Velva Ice Blue

Shave #1 with a fresh Gillette Silver Blue in my New LC.
Face lather and 2 full passes: Pass 1 XTG. Great reduction. Pass 2: ATG. Rinsed and did a minor touch up where I could easily feel stubble. Very nice DFS at that point. A cold water rinse followed by a small amount of touch up and the baby came home. The Aqua Velva was mild today.

A nice BBS from the Gillette Silver Blue in my New LC. Smooth and comfortable. There were times when I was tempted to make sure I had a blade in the razor. The Shave My Face cream is vegan and the fragrance seems very faint, almost non-existent. It gave good protection and rinsed off more quickly than the Proraso.

Have a great Monday!

 

October 26th SOTD
Two days’ growth
Preshave: Hot Shower
Razor: Union Cutlery Spike (near) Wedge, 11/16
Strop: Drygulch Leatherworks Oiled Latigo
Brush: Handturned Tulip Poplar Badger
Soap: Homestead Ranch Goat butter soap, Rosewood
Postshave: Cold Water Rinse, Alum Block, Thayer’s Witch Hazel
Aftershave: Pinaud Clubman with M-Bomb added, Pacific Shaving Co, Caffeinated Aftershave

Today was not a good shave. I really struggled with this soap, and getting it to lather well. I think part of it might be the size of the cup it comes in, which is smaller than my brush head. I got out my Omega 1066 to see if it would do better, but didn’t start over, just added to the existing lather. Ended up with a very thin soap with very little glide or cushion. In my best Neal (@NCoxSTL) voice, I asked myself what’s the worst that could happen.

Did one and a half passes, since the shave on Saturday was such a good one there wasn’t much to work with. ATG, then XTG for the touch up on the neck and chin. I realized that my face was a little tender, like I had used a paint scraper rather than a razor. The Alum was like a solid full armed swing slap to the face. Witch Hazel did nothing to calm that down. Clubman felt like getting round housed while recovering from the earlier slap. Waited about 10 minutes, and used the Caffeinated Aftershave Balm. Did two rounds with that, and my face is still irritated.

Smoothness was a DFS, Irritation today was a D-. (Keith, @Keithmax, I am totally stealing the way you rate shaves.) On the plus side, check out my new watch and ring set. Have had the watch band for a while, but finally put a new watch in it.

 

We all have off days. Maybe the next shave will be better. Cool watch and ring.