January 2016 30 Day Rule/Focus Pic&Discussion Thread

The technique you're using on the Semogue is a good one, I do it that way also.

 

Straights Focus January 14:

Homemade PS Oil
Stirling Synthetic Brush
Stirling Port-au-Prince
Ralf Aust 5/8
Stirling Unscented PSB
Tabac AS

Today's shave was not quite as good as yesterday, but still very good. I have just a little bit of irritation, and managed a DFS. I used a combination of soap and AS that was one of first I had, but I haven't used in a while. It was a nice start to my day, which is SWMBO's birthday.

 

01/14/2016
Razor – AlumiGoose with Triad Ti
Blade – Feather Super Pro (7)
Brush – Shavemac Silvertip D01
Lather – Tiki Cabernet Neroli
Post - Witch Hazel followed by Folsom & Co Shambala



Another great 3 pass near BBS shave this morning even though I did end up with one weeper due to my error. I am really enjoying the Tiki Cabernet Neroli soap. It performs very well and I like the red wine and citrus scent. Finished off with a splash of F&C Shambala to keep the citrus theme going. I hope everyone has a great Thursday.

 

Hmmmm.... Reminds me of the last time I used a Derby.

 

I've decided to just keep using the Persona blade until it no longer feels right or isn't getting the job done. Shave 8 was effortless, smooth and comfortable. 2 passes with the blackbird and another near BBS.

Have a great day!

 

SOTD
January 14, 2016
Prep: Hot Shower. Axe Energizing Face Wash Boost
Razor: iKon B1 Standard
Blade: Personna Lab Blue
Lather: Chiseled Face Sherlock
Brush: RazoRock Plissoft
Post: Thayers Cucumber WH. Gold Bond Ultimate
Aftershave: Chiseled Face Sherlock
I'm not sure if I could get a closer shave without any problems..The iKon B1 Standard is serious business. I don't feel the blade on my face but it sure does hack away my whiskers. CF Sherlock is a fantastic product.
Never let the things you WANT
Make you forget the things you HAVE!

 

Excellent blade, beautiful bowl.

 

I found with certain razors, like my super speed, I have to do some j-hooks around either side of the Adam's apple if I was going to get anything close to BBS. Other razors it is not required, but that one did every time. Of course, in that area I have hair that grows in about every direction so the overlapping j-hooks probably figure out a way to get ATG and XTG to most of it.

 

Happy birthday to your wife! Hopefully y'all have some good plans to celebrate! Enjoy the day!

 

J-hooking scares me! I'm not sure I'm ready for that yet. I have to really watch my neck and be careful down there. Perhaps J-hooking can be learned with time, but it frightens me at the moment!

 

Thursday, January 14, 2015
One Blade
Feather FHS-10 #3
Paladin Butterscotch Marble PK-47
Barrister and Mann Bay Rum
Which Hazel +Menthol, Whipped Shea Butter
DCCS Small Batch Shave Tonic

One thing for sure, it's had to put down this razor. It's just that good. Today's shave was the usual two passes +Clean up. On the third shave out of the gate, the FHS blade remained reasonably smooth. There was some tugging, but the end result was another fabulously close shave, closeness A and Irritation A+. The smells of today's shave were excellent. B&M Bay Rum +1, Cucumber Melon Shea Butter, and the Small Batch Shave tonic. This was my third shave with The One Blade. All three were excellent shaves.
Have a terrific Thursday everyone.

 

It was 5 or so months before I even tried it the first time. It was a couple months later that I decided that it would become a regular part of my routine if needed in that area. Definitely no need to rush into techniques like J-hooking. Get the basics down and take your time getting good overall technique then see where things stand with your neck. You may find it is not needed or only needed in limited circumstances. The main thing for me was determining beard growth direction and making certain that my XTG and ATG passes actually were XTG and ATG. Once I got that figured out, much of my neck became significantly better without the need for j-hooking or other techniques.

 

Tabac's been around a while, I see.

 

That's interesting. I use my semogue boars the exact opposite way. What always works for me: Let them soak for a few minutes and just give them one slight shake, so that there's no water dripping from the brush but it still is soaking wet. Swirl on soap for 10 to 20 seconds (depending on the soap) and then face lather. Don't have to add any more water 90% of the time.

 

Longer than me, but I like the AS. I have yet to try the soap, though.

 

Hello everyone. Today's shave (this time without the cat):



- RazoRock Mudder Focker
- Whipped Dog High Mountain Badger
- Merkur Futur
- Sputnik (#5)
- Man Sunrise Orange

Another nice, very close to BBS shave with my Futur set on 6. Just two passes XTG and ATG and a little touchup work. I really like how this razor shaves wide open. It is just as close as the R41, but smoother. On the other hand shaves with the R41 seem to last longer, but that can also be a disadvantage, since I want to shave every day

The new Aftershave smells just awful. And I mean really really awful. It was pretty good as long as it was still in the bottle, but on my skin it's just cheap, overwhelming, bothersome awfulness. Even washing my Face with apple scented soap did not help. Quite the opposite of Clubman that changed from meh to really nice from bottle to skin.

Down the drain with that stuff. It was inexpensive, just over 2 bucks, so not a big loss.

 

Razor: Gillette 1947 Super Speed
Blade: Personna SS Lab (6)
Brush: Frank Shave Finest Badger (travel brush) 20/45
Soap: Gillette Menthol Cream
Bowl: By Clement Hoeck
A/S: Myrsol Blue

Another excellent shave. This certainly qualifies as a DFS . Keeping with the blue theme.

 

Great picture Doug. Love the blues!

 

Thank you very much. I also love the Blues.
Funny how you don't realize what others notice says something about yourself. My wife mentioned that I have been using the same razor for over two weeks. That I've been using soaps and brushes longer than usual. Maybe I have been stuck in a routine.

 

January 14, 2016 (Shave 8 of this focus)
Razor: Cattaraugus model B52T 5/8 muted square tip
Strop: Drygulch Leatherworks Chromexcel Horse/ Linen
Soap: Barrister & Mann Seville
Brush: 28mm Ubersoft in Aluminum handle
Post Shave: Cold water rinse, Alum Bar, Witch Hazel
Aftershave: Lucky Tiger Aspen

Good shave today. Did some touch up on my translucent Arkansas stone, and stropped on Chromium Oxide pasted strop. Had quite a bit less irritation from just doing a two pass shave last time, so I wanted to keep that going, but get as close as possible. Ended up doing a N/S pass, S/N pass, and a third pass on my chin and jaw line that is XTG. Soap gave a great lather, and I can actually see the bottom of this tub now. It’s the only one of my current 12 soaps that is anywhere near gone. This one is actually on the buy again list. Alum was fairly quiet today. Lucky Tiger Aspen has very little scent, and leaves the skin feeling good. Overall DFS shave, B+ on closeness, A- on irritation, B+ on keenness, and A- on smoothness. I am loving this razor.