April 2015 30 Day Rule/Focus Pic & Discussion Thread

Nice setup.

 

Noob goals -

1. Work on razor technique for 3 areas: 1. edges of the mouth, 2. sides of the chin, 3. under the mandible
2. Try one different brand of blade. One blade lasts a whole week, but that 60-blade assortment is taking up space...
   
3. Shave everyday. This light beard really does not need it. All the fussing feels so good.

 

Great goals! I like number 3 because you've discovered the essence of shaving...it's the time spent enjoying the process that really counts. I used to shave every other day because I hated doing it so much. Days off? Forget it! Wouldn't go near the razor. Now I shave every day and usually wish I could do it again!

 

Aggressive April - Day 9 (4/15/15)



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

Excellent early morning 2 pass shave today! WTG & XTG, nice and smooth, no irritation, no blood (besides from my nose again, I see the ENT Friday to hopefully get that taken care of).

 

Welcome to the 30 day focus. Very worthy goals. By concentrating on your trouble areas, you should see a big improvement over the next several weeks. I know it made a huge difference in my technique.

 

I'm really slacking this month, I can't even remember the last day I shaved. Today I'll break the cycle and make sure it's the first thing I do when I get home.

 

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 12- Hot shower with a cold water finish. Tea Tree soap for body and hair.
Homemade PSO was applied to whole face after returning from golf yesterday for wind burn. It worked perfectly.
Day 6 for the Wilkinson Black blade and it is still hanging in there. Still happy with all my gear and I'm getting good shaves.

 

FB focus day 15:

Homemade PS Oil
TSD Pumpkin Spice Lanolin Soap
Vie-long Horsehair Brush
FB w/Astra ST set on 4
Aqua Velva AS

This was the first time in a while I used the Astra SP. A good shave this morning, nice and smooth. I am really glad I have been using the FB, as I feel I am getting this razor down now.

 

04/15/2015
Prep – MR GLO
Razor – Mongoose B2 with Jürgen Hempel Ti
Blade –Feather Pro (1)
Brush –Rudy Vey with Shavemac Finest
Lather – Catie’s Bubbles Santal Senuelle
Post - Witch Hazel and CC Sandalwood AS



Happy Tax Day! Maybe after today my world can turn to something more normal. Having used this razor so much this the first of the year, I always get consistently good shaves but ever once in a while the shave is just that much better. This morning was one of those mornings. Fantastic 2 pass shave this morning. Using a shim with a new Feather Pro yielded on of my best shaves. Enjoyed the Catie's Bubbles which proved to be very slick allowing me to clean up a couple of small areas with only a splash of water. Paired with the Captain's Choice Sandalwood AS, I feel ready to tackle the crazy day ahead.

 

I would like to shave everyday, but my face doesn't react well to it. I end up only being able to do an ATG pass, which leaves lots of ingrown hairs and bumps. (My beard is fairly curly, so I am prone to these.) I get much better shaves with two day's growth, and can do a three pass shave. Since I enjoy the process of shaving now, I prefer to wait until I have enough whiskers to do it well.

See what works best for you, and go with it.

 

Arko April Focus - CJB Kamisori
April 15, 2015 - Week 3 Day4
Prep - Hot shower and towel
Brush - VDH Boar
Soap - Arko
Razor - CJB
Blade - (5)
Post - Alum and The Veg

Change of technique today to use the CJB in true kamisori style. Only used the right hand and kept the same side of the blade to the face for the entire shave. On a kamisori that would be the flat or "Omote" side. I made sure to take my time and try to set the blade properly before taking a stroke. Only a couple of very minor weepers, one on each cheek, where I tended to want to ride the tip instead of the flat of the blade. Bad habit, very bad habit. Finished DFS/CCS with the CCS being on the neck. Lots of alum burn and The Veg became a body splash today. Off to the races!

 

Arko April continues
I haven't shaved since Saturday evening as I'm saving up for a barber straight shave on Friday with a good buddy. But I did use my shave den shop iced signature stick for s great face washing this morning. I so needed the break from the arko smell. It's not that it's bad, just... Smells... Old I guess. I don't know how else to explain it. Of well. Half way through the month...

 

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 13- Hot shower with a cold finish and Tea Tree soap & shampoo.
Getting a good lather with the cream not sure if I would stay with cream, however, on occasion I may use some. I have a small car so I don't need to wash it every night. I'll keep a few creams on hand . Been changing my grip on this smooth handled razor in all three passes. I find hold the razor deeper in my hand works best for me. I also tried a few suggestion I have read here about shaving around the Adams Apple. None work as well for me as the stretch method. In fairness I have use the stretch method for years, and it made be just something I'm used to and comfortable with.
Enjoying this focus 30 day period and I believe I will be a better shaver at the end of the 30 days.

NHL playoff start tonight, so if I'm absent you'll know why.

 

Todays shave was rather relaxing. To be honest I think I've had the same Voskhod blade in my slim since the beginning of April. I went ahead and made my first past even though it was tugging. The stars must have aligned just right after my first pass because my wife came in and said I received a package today and what was it? 100 of Russia's finest razors! Made the switch to a new blade and what a difference, even though I knew it would make a difference to switch I'm not sure why I didn't in the beginning. A few rough spots on my neck remain but I chopped through who knows how many days of growth with no real discomfort or disappointment so I'll call today a victory.

 

Long live the mighty Voskhod! :rah:

 

I am behind in my reporting....
Monday, I switched back to the Schick Krona and continued to use the Lord Blade (3) I find this to be the sweet spot for me. Considering that in November, I thought the shave was rough, I really find it to be very mild, and at times, it does not feel like a blade is in the razor. I continue to end up with a DFSor better. I nicked the mole again.... need to attempt to avoid it, so it will heal.

 

Tuesday, I had an early shave, (10 am--- remember, I work nights!) I used the same setup as Monday. I found that if I use a J "stroke" or whatever it is called, under my chin, I get the best whisker removal with the least irritation. Another 2 pass DFS to BBS shave.

I LIKE ARKO!!!

 

Today was my regular pre work shave (2100 hours). (shave 5 on the Lord Platinum) As I had a little more beard than usual, the shave, I thought, was much smoother, and as a result, a better result. At the risk of sounding like a traitor, I really like the Krona, as opposed to the GEM SE shaves. I think it is right up there with the Schick injectors..... I have some try-a-blade samples coming in, to give me some more experience with the DE blades.

 

FB focus day 16:

Homemade PS Oil
AOS Ocean Kelp SC
WD Silvertip Brush
FB w/Astra SP set on 4
Captain's Choice Bay Rum AS