August 2020 30 Day Rule/Focus Pix & Discussion

Thank you, Gary.

 

Excellent shave setup and results, Joe!

 

Good morning, Gary!

 

Terrific shave and photo, Bruce.

 

Seems common for headshaving, even straigth users tend to a DE or SE for headshaves.

My goal is just to learn a straight razor technique, but I doubt I'll actually go there over my favourite DE's.

 

August 4th

Gillette Toggle
Voskhod (2)
MrEE #1
Stirling Executive Man

I've been simplifying my shaves for the last month or so. I skip the preshave, face lather, and only use alum if I mess up somehow. 2 passes is usually enough and the results are usually DFS or better.

2 pass BBS today. Usually the toggle is a little rough on me, but this shave was really nice!

 

awesome toggle shave Evan,good morning..

 

Tuesday's Shave

1978 Gillette Super Adjustable 109 Black Beauty (Y1)
Gillette Platinum (1)
Lowborn Supply 'Storm'
Stirling 'Electric Sheep' Shaving Soap
Dickinson's Witch Hazel
Osage Rub
Florida Water Cologne

This was one of those shaves where I finish and just think, WOW, what a great shave. I just received the 100 pack of Gillette Platinum blades yesterday and was eager to try them for the first time. I've been watching their price on Amazon lately and they finally dropped to $12 so I quickly made the purchase. The blade performed very well to say the least. I've been happily using Gillette Silver Blues for a couple of years and figured I would like these Platinums too - I may just like the Platinum blade a touch more as it felt smoother. It is a similar shave feel to the Gillette 7OC Super Platinum (black box), and a much better shave than the green or yellow 7OC blades (from my experience). The mutton tallow base of Electric Sheep leaves a better post shave feel than Stirling's already great beef tallow base. Osage gave me a great chilled finish and the Florida Water added it's unique aroma toning down the medicinal scent of the Osage.

Today's 3 pass shave with the birth year/quarter Black Beauty left me with a BBS+ finish with no hint of irritation or mishaps. I add the "+" sign to the BBS rating because of the great post shave feel with no irritation. With the stress levels I have had lately, this is exactly what the Dr. ordered (if there was a shave doctor...) to take my mind into a better direction.

I hope y'all have a great day!

 

awesome adjustable shave and pic Andrew..

 

August 4th

Stirling SS and AS - Barbershop
@jtspartan BRM w/TGN 28mm Silvertip
Riga Razor 8/8
Phoenix Artisan Accoutrements ASB - Star Jelly

Jason's blue resin maple handle with the TGN knot, and Stirling Barbershop shave soap....awesome on every account for a wonderful face and bowl lathering experience. Now...on to the new acquisition.

All I can say is wow. Friggin WOW. New standard to meet for any straight in my den. First time I shaved with one of Glen's honed edges (the Friodur he rescaled and honed), I immediately sent him a message about how smooth it shaved. Repeat that for a couple others I've managed to snag on BSTs and put through a pasted strop session before using (namely DD Damascus steel). But the Riga Razor....it shaves like buttah. Melted, pure buttah. Glides effortlessly with zero resistance and as if nothing it wouldn't mow out of the way. Very quiet scrunched feedback, quieter than anything I have. Low shaving angle, barely a spines width required. Absolutely scary sharp out of the box! Oh my, as unforgiving as my Feather AC DX Kamisori with a new Feather Super Pro blade. First pass I opened the mishap from yesterday....and added a couple eye watering owzers across invisible facial blemishes that didn't exist (or weren't found) yesterday. First pass check all over....honestly the smoothest reduction I've had with ANY shave after one pass/go round. Even with the mishaps, color me impressed with how smooth the first pass felt. Second and third passes....my typical two legs of XTG strokes, but not significant reduction over the first pass. I did get areas smoother, but at the cost of irritation (too much pressure). BBS today?....well, no. DFS+ really. I'll have to work on 2nd and 3rd pass technique with this razor as it'll have to be different than my usual. It's like a new race horse....gonna take a few rides to find the balance for perfection.

I think I'll finish this week with a mini rule, same everything for Wed/Thur/Fri. Looking forward to tomorrow's shave already!

Oh....to point out the mirror finish on this blade....check out the brush reflection, will have to play with that in future images.

Hope everyone has a Terrific Tuesday!

 

awesome shave and pic Blair..

 

Outstanding shave, Even! The Toggle is a beauty!

 

Thank you, Gary!

 

Beautiful gear, Blair! Glad to hear you had such a great shave with the new razor - a stunning one at that!

 

wednesday sneak peek..

 

The stars were aligned. Great shave, Andrew.

 

@gssixgun hones a mean razor. Beautiful set-up today, Blair.

 

Thanks Joseph!

Yes, Glen does. He did an incredible rescale and hone on my Friodur. One of my favorites.

But...to be clear, the Riga Razor was honed by it's manufacturer, Sergej of Riga Razor.

The two edges probably at the same level of sharp between what Glen did on the Friodur and what Sergej did on the Riga Razor, but the RR is possibly double the weight, and completely a different steel and grind.

 

Sincerely appreciated Andrew!