30 Day Rule/Focus; November 2023. All Are Welcome!

Wonderful setups and shaves Joe. I never saw a scale with a notch. I guess it's only for decorative purposes. Of course, I knew you would pic a GEM razor for Micromatic Monday. Welcome back to the cooler climes of Long Island.

 

Welcome to the 30DC, Scott! As you probably noticed the "bounds" are pretty easy to stay inside here as they are quite loose and mostly self-imposed. Your blade focus sounds like a great plan!

I haven't bought any blades in several years, so I can't really comment on the latest and greatest out there. Other than to echo Joe that Feathers have always had a reputation for being the sharpest of the sharp but with rotten durability, good for 1 or 2 shaves before the uber sharpness is gone.

 

14th November 2023.



​

Shaving Recipe for today.

Prep: Warm shower:/ Nivea Men Power 24H Fresh Effect Shower Gel.

Pre:
Cold wet flannel to my face & head.
Wrights Coal Tar Bar Soap.
Brush: Yaqi 24mm Naples Tuxedo Synthetic.
Bowl Lather.
Bowl: Tesco's Ceramic 'Cosmo' Side Bowl.
Lather: Erasmic Shave Cream.
Razor: Merkur 34C. (Face) - Lord Silver Star. (D3)
Razor: Supply V2 (**) base plate. (Head) - Personna Injector PTFE. (D5)

Post:
Cold water Face & Head wash with brush squeezing's,/ Cold Water Face & Head Rinse./ Alum Rub./Cold Water Face & Head Rinse./Homemade (~Autumn/Winter mix~) peppermint lavender, eucalyptus, + Tea Tree essential Oils Mixed Together With 200ml of Care+Witch Hazel/Cien Men Sensitive ASB./Superdrug Forest Fresh ASL.

Greetings,

Early morning face & head shave.

The Erasmic shave cream is a great inexpensive shaving cream that doesn't have much of a scent, but makes up for it's performance and post shave feel.

A close comfortable face & head shave with no errors to report. Finishing the shave off with a generous splash of Superdrug Forest Fresh ASL.

My face & precious swede are feeling smooth, & smelling divine.

Keep safe, and enjoy your day ladies & gentlemen.

 

Tuesday November 14 very early morning (430am here) - Neutrogena No Variant November

Prep: Hot face wash with Aleppo 20% laurel bay oil soap

Razor: Supply 2.0 injector with SE comb plate / vintage US-made Schick Plus Platinum (22); and
Gillette SuperAdjustable on "4" / Red Israeli Personna ( 1)

Soap: Neutrogena Skin Clearing Shave Cream

Brush: none

Lather Bowl: none

Post: rinse, alum, rinse, Portland General Store Black Willowbark Toner

Last shave: early Monday - 1 day (!!!!)




Once again, I stuck with the Cunning Plan(TM) to send the Neutrogena shave cream tube to join the Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald. Nearly there. As far as I can tell, I am now squeezing out the last remnants from the cap area -- probably one good two-pass shave left in it.

I have now shaved for three days in a row. And again, two passes! I am risking falling into a pattern here.

I did the first pass with the injector, and felt that the result was not up to snuff. The blade wasn't tuggy at all but no longer seemed to be wiping the whiskers away as cleanly as it did previously. I think that after 22 shaves, it is time to retire this blade to the blade bank.

Rather than switch injector blades today, I loaded one of my favourite DE razors with a fresh blade and did the second pass with that.

Between the two, I feel very near BBS.

Overall, the alum was a bit warmer than yesterday but no hot spots and no blood or razorburn anywhere either.

I copied yesterday's shave by doubling down on the "skinclearing" aspect of my routine with a healthy splash over my entire face and upper torso of the PGS toner full of naturally occurring salicylic acid coupled with a musty bark scent.

Hope everyone has a good week.

 

Thank you Joe.

 

Outstanding consistency John.

 

Excellent dual shave Barry.

 

Thank you Joe...It's been a while since I've added the Supply V2 to my rotation, after the long run with the Gillette Guard. However, in my December focus month I'll be using it again for my head/dome shaves along with the Treet Swift II Platinum Cartridge razor "Trac-II clone".

 

Thank you Joe and glad to be here. Kids are getting older and it's nice to have a bit of time to slow down again...

 

I also initially started out with Stirling and still keep a couple in my rotation. I layer the bay rum scents because my face has a very short list of what can actually touch it lol. The Barberry Coast and Stirling BR after shaves are both on that list. I will use one of them then add something else with more staying power like the Clubman BR to my forearms. This mitigates the cloviness of the soap and the mix gets many compliments.

 

As always, great shaves, setup and pic Barry. I meant to ask you if you shave face first or dome? Have a great afternoon.

 

Awesome shave and setup John. I think you are enjoying your shaves so much that you are becoming a daily shaver. Btw, that's a good thing.. Enjoy your day.

 

Thank you Joe. I normally shave my dome first then my face most of the time. Occasionally I do my face first. Enjoy your morning.

 

Thank you, Joe and Joe! Actually, it's mainly that I am determined to end that tube of shave cream THIS month .... and one or two one-pass shaves per week just won't do it.

 

Thanks Joe.
Yes, great blades.

 

I see. I do my face first and then the dome.

 

Nov 14 SOTM

Good morning.

Shavette Shave #507
Dovo
Personna Hairshaper Blade (9)
JR # 290 Cashmere Brush
PAA King R Emporium SS
Fine Accoutrements Platinum AS
Stirling Alum Block
Modessa Witch Hazel
Beard Growth: 23 hrs



Decided to do another shavette shave so I picked up my Dovo for this morning’s session. The soap is a mildly barbershop scent, but it makes a nice lather and performs well. It's the kokum butter formula which is prior to the current CK-6.
Here's my lather:



Did a three pass shave that was close and comfortable, but I did get a weep on my chin. I have been changing my technique by using my left hand to shave the complete left half of my face when I go with the grain and against the grain. It's how I caught a weep. I used to reserve doing my chin and stache with only my right hand, but I wanted to expand my straight/shavette capabilities.

The alum feedback was slight so I am cool with it. Splashed on the witch hazel to tone down my skin. Applied the Fine Accoutrements Platinum AS to top off the shave. I am almost finished with this aftershave. I may have at least 2 more hits with it before it's gone. I am glad because I never cared for it because the scent was mild. Anyway, tomorrow is a DE Shave because I will be shaving my face and dome. I haven't decided on a setup as of yet. Take care.

 

Nice going Joe, using the the hand that is a whole new skill set. Lately I have tried brushing my teeth with my other hand (sore elbow) it's not easy!

 

Glad you joined us Scott, always cool to see what others are up to. It's a great way to learn and a fun place to hang out.

 

14 Nov 2023

(No Repeat November) / (Tabac Tuesday)



48 ~50 hours

Prep = Cold Water Prep and shave, Tabac in a tube as Pre shave
Soap / Cream = Tabac (tub)
Brush = Puro Tasso, boar, my first ever brush
Bowl = Timeless
Razor = Muhle R89, my first ever DE
Blade = Gillette Platinum (2)
Passes = 3 + minor touch ups
Post = Usual, followed by Tabac ASL
Damage = none

Score = 9.5 /10
Comments:

Pressed one scoop of the Tabac into the bottom of the bowl and flattened it down a la LatherMeister. Works really well.
Another fantastic shave on 2 day growth. The Tabac in the tube has a more sour scent than the more floral Tabac in the tub. Not bad, but I won’t be replacing this. I aim to finish this as a preshave with maybe one or two face lathers thrown for good measure. The two Tabacs did combine to form a beautiful slick lather that at no stage showed any hint of drying out. I had forgotten just how good this R89 is, I like the weight better than my lighter Techs. The goal going forward is to focus in my usual DFS all over and focus on getting even closer to really smooth in a different part of the face each time. I don’t think it is a good idea to aim for BBS / really close shave in the same area on each successive shave, too hard on the skin

Bit of late post but hope you all had a wonderful Tuesday