February '16 - 30 Day Rule/Focus Pix & Discussion Thread

SOTD February 14, 2016
Focus day 14
Shave Den Sunday!

Prep: Warm shower
Blade: Personna lab blue (2)
Razor: Vintage Gillette Slim (on pass-around from @youngunn)
Brush: Trader Joe's synthetic
Lather: TSD Bay Rum lanolin
Post: Witch hazel splash, TSD Iced Bay Rum, Nivea sensitive balm
WTG, XTG, touch-up

A continued break in focus in order to shave with the loaned Slim again. Nice shave again today. I really like that razor. The Personna blade worked well again as expected. My synthetic brush from the Trader Joe's kit whipped up enormous amounts of lather from the TSD Bay Rum soap. That soap is truly top-notch. It has beautiful lather, great scent, and the post-shave feel is the best of any soap I've used. I can't say enough good things about TSD soap.

The TSD Iced Bay Rum went on nice and cold and I finished with Nivea balm. This was a great shave in the end.

I'll be back in focus probably on Wednesday when I begin using the open comb head on the Maggard MR1 razor. I hope to use the Slim for Monday and Tuesday's shaves before sending it on.

I wish you all a great rest of your Valentine's Day!

 

Sounds great what do you find witch hazel adds to the post treatment? My mum has bottles of the stuff I'm thinking of getting some.

 

Charlie, I know how great that cancer free news sounds. Congrats to your bride on being a survivor! I can imagine the blessing she is to you, and I know you are one to her.

 

Thanks for the kind words and the great product recommendation I will certainly check it out. Enjoy the rest of your evening

 

It's a mild astringent that helps clean out the pores of your newly-shaven face helping to fight off acne, ingrown hairs, etc. I had not used it until I started wet shaving. I don't know if it's a must-have item by any means, but I enjoy using it at least for the skin health benefits.

 

Sounds good I've been getting occasional spots on my head and neck from my PSO so this could counter act it. Thanks

 

Great things to scrutinise as part of the fault finding process.

 

Thanks Chris.

 

February Focus - German blades

February 14

Razor - Merkur 23c
Blade - (2)
Brush - Wolf Whiskers Custom Silvertip
Soap - Arko Stick
Post - Cold rinse, Alum, The Veg

Happy Valentine's Day everyone! Hope you got to spend at least part of the day with what you truly love. You know, your razors, soaps, blades etc. I stared lovingly and longingly at my stash of Russian blades before leaving for work this morning. Blew them a kiss and promised to love them always. Oh, and I told SWMBO Happy Valentine's Day. Bases covered.

Second day on the Merkur Super Platinum as I work through the Germans. Yesterday I was less than impressed, though compared to some blades it was nothing to complain about. So, hopefully there will be improvement today with a shave on the blade to smooth it out. Arko and the Wolf for lather. I love whipping up the face lather with this brush and Arko just makes it fun.

First pass felt like it might be a bit smoother, though nothing as smooth as the Bolzano and Wilkinson. The effectiveness was about the same as yesterday. Good, not great, but that's why we have additional passes. The XTG second pass was a bit more effective today leaving me with a decent DFS in need of some touch up in several areas. I did a third pass over the entire face and neck with ATG and G-Slides as normal and managed to finish with a DFS. Closer to BBS than it was after two passes but the baby isn't going to show up with this blade it seems. However, no weepers etc. today like yesterday so I'll give it back a half stein. Still loses a half for the DFS finish. And, the alum was hot enough again today to lose another half. So, a total of four steins for the day. I don't think this blade is in danger of winning the trial. I will say, though, that if this is the worst blade out of the ones on trial and these are my worst shaves.......then this month will be far better than some of the other ones I've done. We'll know for sure on the Merkur tomorrow!

​

 

I have some

 

President’s Day
Monday, February 15, 2016

Soap: Krampert’s Frostbite
Brush: Elite Razor Scarlet Burl
Razor: The One Blade
Blade: GEM Super Stainless #2
Post: Krampert’s Frostbite Aftershave

 

Great picture!

 

Thanks Charlie. All three of the Schick repeaters are extremely cool looking and marvels of engineering for their time.

 

I'm glad you were able to pull off this shave. Your description just added another razor to my wish list. Thanks, I think

 

I did go a little overboard with the lather, didn't I?

 

Thanks, Mr. C!

 

SOTD 2/15/16
Razor: Cattaragus Chief’s Head
Brush: TGN 24mm Finest, hand turned Maple
Soap: Barrister & Mann Lavender, Lime & Cedarwood
Post Shave: Cold Water Rinse, Alum, Witchhazel
Aftershave: Fine American Blend

This razor is my favorite to use. Spent some more time with it on my finishing stone. Didn’t use any Chromium Oxide on a pasted strop this time. Got a much smoother shave right off the Translucent Arkansas. Did a three pass shave, and it was very smooth. Very little sting on the alum, and none on the Fine. I think this razor just has the right balance and steel to be compatible with my face. Happy Monday!

 

Thanks!

 

Amazing picture with an outstanding brush.

 

Monday
30-day-focus / Omega 20106 / MEM Olive / Swedish Supersteel



The Omega is still a favourite of mine. It's been sheddin a few hairs - I wonder if it'll stop or continue. Maybe 7 have been shed since new.
The Supersteel is the same - 4 comfortable shaves with 3 passes.
Today with the fifth it felt a bit dull/rough, so if that continues, I've found my max with this blade, which is 4.
Still not loving the MEM. It gets the job done. It's a future PIF I feel.
It was my first time using the vintage Gillette Wild Rain. OMG why did it ever discontinue?? That scent is amazing!​