April 2015 30 Day Rule/Focus Pic & Discussion Thread

https://www.etsy.com/shop/sarahwelchpottery

 

Thanks for the heads up Troy.

 

Arko April Focus - CJB Kamisori
April 13, 2015 - Week 3 Day 2
Prep - Hot shower and towel
Brush - Omega Pro 48
Soap - Arko
Razor - CJB, 1959 Superspeed
Blade - (3) (2)
Post - Alum, The Veg

Happy Monday. Made two passes with the CJB today. No nicks/weepers or any other issues. Left my face DFS, my neck CCS. Rather than work the third pass and risk mortal injury I picked up the SS and finished it off to DFS all over. Happy with the two passes I got with the CJB and will probably follow this pattern for the rest of the month looking to improve the second pass. It's all just a matter of grip and angle.

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Aggressive April - Day 6 (4/11)



Prep: Hot shower w/ Grandpa's Pine Tar Soap, KMF Lavender lather and hot towel
Soap: Arko
Brush: Omega 13522
Razor: Cadet OC
Blade: Astra SP
Post: Witch Hazel, Nivea Sensitive Balm
Scent: Tommy Bahama Very Cool

Late post after being out of commission most of the weekend. I cheated on my 30 Day Focus a little as I was after a superior shave for my fire department's annual banquet, so I did extra prep and used the soap I have the most confidence in. Had a great 2 pass shave, nice and close, very little irritation but a few nicks. I looked great for the banquet, however, near the end I had the worst nosebleed of my life and it would not stop. On the positive side, I had no less than 5 EMTs trying to help. Fire department events are one of the best places to have a medical emergency. After 45 minutes to an hour, the EMTs and one of our chiefs convinced me to go to the emergency room, conveniently located across the street. It finally stopped right before the dr came in. Ran blood work and it came back normal. Now to follow up with an ENT specialist.

 

04/13/2015
Razor – Mongoose B2 Dr. Bomber
Blade – Feather Pro (10)
Brush – Brothers Bristles
Lather – AOS Sandalwood Cream
Post - Witch Hazel and CC Sandalwood AS



Had a great 2 pass shave plus clean ups this morning. Not BBS but not far off either. Decided to run the razor without a shim this morning. It's not quite as efficient without the shim. Hope everyone has a great week.

 

Aggressive April - Day 7 (4/13)

Prep: Hot shower w/ Grandpa's Pine Tar
Soap: TSD Barber Shoppe shave stick
Brush: Omega 13522
Razor: Cadet OC
Blade: Astra SP
Post: Witch Hazel, Nivea Sensitive Balm

Forgot to take a picture this morning what with having my 4th nosebleed in 3 days this morning. Back to my 30 Day Focus with the Cadet OC. Quick 2 pass WTG & ATG shave, no irritation, 1 small weeper under my chin.

 

Hope the Bic continues to treat you right!

 

Is there any noticeable difference in a caffeinated soap?

 

I can feel the menthol much more than the caffeine. I can say it does perform well, as I never seem to have any irritation after using it. But, that is also true for most of the soaps and creams I have tried. I haven't had any soaps that I feel were the cause of the irritation for me, it has usually been user error. Maybe I have just gotten lucky with my selections. I like this one in that it is a good value and readily available from Target. The smell is nice, with just a hint of menthol. It is slick and provides a good, protective lather. I currently favor the Musco Real Classic cream, and I wouldn't put this in that category, but I am glad it is in the rotation and would recommend it.

 

Thanks again Troy. I've looked at some of her products and will place an order soon. I'm sure you are happy with her stuff?

 

Homemade Pre-Shave Oil.
Razor: Bluebeards Revenge
Blade: Wilkinson Black
Brush: WD Marble Handle Silvertip, 24/67
Cream: Bluebeards Revenge
A/S: Lucky Tiger

Day-8- Hot shower with a cold water finish and Tea Tree Soap and Shampoo. (well I use it as shampoo also.)

Homemade PSO is going to something I use from now on, and I will experiment with different mixtures.
A three pass shave with a forth for touch up, the Bluebeards Revenge Cream, I like this cream and will keep some on hand. Wilkinson Black Blade is doing well after four shaves. I will have to say I'm BIG Shave Soap user and I have many more I want to try. Silvertip brush is a great brush, I'm happy I like Silvertips as I have a number of them.
The Lucky Tiger finish is excellent way to finish a shave.

 

Douglas, my bowl is light and fits my hand well. Sarah's craftsmanship is top notch.

 

Good tune.

 

Appreciate it, thanks.

 

Sorry guys...super crazy in Colorado right now! Really busy weekend and week!

I got in Day 12, a good shave on bade/day 5. Too busy for pics, probably gonna be text posts only for me this week...apologies.

Day 13/6 of Arko April tonight! Will try to get caught up later! Hope everyone had a great Monday!

 

The Bolzano is a trickier combination, for me, than the Bic in my RazoRock Bamboozles RAKE. All else being equal, it was less comfortable and caused a bit of red to appear,

 

Too busy for pics?!?!?!?! You need to set better priorities my friend. This is unacceptable behavior!

Ok, ok, yeah life does have a way of interfering. Hope you survive it all and it is productive for you!

 

April 14 Plans

Stirling Sheep facial soap
Merkur 37C slant bar razor
Feather blade (day 1)
Kent BK8 silvertip badger brush
Arko & glycerin
Two passes plus touch-ups
Alum, Thayer's Lavender witch hazel, unrefined shea butter, and Nivea Sensitive Post-Shave Balm

I used my badger brush to load Arko off the puck today for the fist time. I took the brush to my face and made a ton of lather. I had lather all over the brush, scuttle, my face, and hands! However, it was not as dense and slick as I got from using a shave stick and then face lathering with my boar brush. I'm sure the difference results from my inexperience, so I have some learning to do this week! For what it's worth, I don't notice the Arko scent now as much as I did when I started using it at the beginning of the month.

Happy Shaving!

 

It's all good. I am just having 26 hour days! You guys were rocking in here yesterday!

 

Crazy lather...Arko is the bang-for-buck champ for making lather. When I use my 48, I usually have enough lather left to wash my truck after the automatic two pass...